Freedom Remembered

Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey C. Baker, 29, of Hesperia, Calif., assigned to 766th Ordnance Company, 63rd Ordnance Battalion, 52nd Ordnance Group, Fort Stewart, Ga. He died May 14, in Sanjaray, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. Baker joined the Army in October 2004. He was on his second deployment. His awards include the Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals, both posthumous.

To be updated…

Spc. William J. Gilbert, 24, of Hacienda Heights, Calif., assigned to 3rd Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. He died May 14, in Sanjaray, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Will was a student/athlete at La Serna High School where he graduated in 2007. He was a pitcher on the varsity baseball team for four years and also played football. Spc Gilbert was an Infantryman who entered the Army from Los Angeles, August 2010. He received Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He arrived at Fort Bliss, his first permanent duty station, in January 2011. His awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He is survived by his spouse. This was his first combat tour.

To be updated…

Spc. Mitchell K. Daehling, 24, of Dalton, Mass., assigned to 3rd Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. He died May 14, in Sanjaray, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Spc Daehling was an Infantryman who entered the Army from Boston, September 2010. He received Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He arrived at Fort Bliss, his first duty station, in January 2011. Daehling’ awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal. He is survived by his spouse. This was his first combat tour.

To be updated…

Sgt. 1st Class Trenton L. Rhea, 33, of Oakley, Kan., died May 15, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, after drowning while attempting to cross a body of water during combat operations. He was assigned to the 603rd Military Police Company, 530th Military Police Battalion, 300th Military Police Brigade, 200th Military Police Command, Belton, Mo. Rhea was an Army Reserve Military Policeman who deployed three times overseas to United States Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan, plus a stateside assignment at Fort Riley, Kan. In Afghanistan, his mission was to train the Afghan Police Force, which Rhea considered very important as it benefited the Afghan people. He has been awarded several military honors, to include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal.

To be updated…

1st Lt. Brandon J. Landrum, 26, of Lawton, Okla., died May 4, in Maiwand, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when his vehicle was attacked by an enemy improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. After graduating from Cameron University with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry Branch. He enlisted in the Army on 10 November 2005 and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from December 2008 through August 2009. Upon receiving his commission on May 2011, he graduated the Infantry Basic Officer Leaders Course and Airborne School. First Lt Landrum arrived to Fort Bliss, Texas, in January 2012, where he assumed the leadership of a Rifle Platoon in Company A, 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment until September 2012. In September 2012, he was selected above his peers to be the Reconnaissance Platoon Leader and in December 2012, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, the Afghan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, the NATO Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. Fort Sill

To be updated…

Born: August 18, 1984
Died: May 4, 2013 in Maiwand, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Francis G. Phillips IV, 28, of Meridian, N.Y., died at age 28 in Maiwand, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when his vehicle was attacked by an enemy improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. Frankie enlisted in the Army on 29 April 2004 in Syracuse, New York. He attended the fourteen-week long Infantry Training Course and Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. Staff Sergeant Phillips’ first duty assignment was to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where on 16 August 2004, he was assigned to 3/504 Infantry Battalion as a Gunner. In September 2005, he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In January 2007, he served in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom for fifteen months. In August 2009, he returned to Afghanistan as a Section Leader for twelve months. Staff Sergeant Phillips completed Ranger School in January 2011 prior to arriving at Fort Bliss, Texas. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment and was immediately selected to be a Team Leader in the Reconnaissance Platoon. He deployed in December 2012 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal with Valor, the Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, the Afghan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, the NATO Medal, Expert Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge and the Combat Infantryman Badge. ANC

To be updated…

Born: August 26, 1993 in Hidalgo County, Texas
Died: May 4, 2013 in Maiwand, Afghanistan

Spc. Kevin Cardoza of Mercedes, Texas died at age 19 in Maiwand, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when his vehicle was attacked by an enemy improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. He graduated from Edinburg High School in June 2011. Specialist Cardoza enlisted in the Army on 12 July 2011. He attended the fourteen-week long Infantry Training Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. Specialist Cardoza’s first duty assignment was Fort Bliss, Texas where he was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment. One month later he was selected to be a member of the Reconnaissance Platoon. He deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as the driver for his Platoon Leader. Specialist Cardoza’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, the NATO Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission, Texas

Spc. Thomas P. Murach, 22, of Meridian, Idaho died May 4, in Maiwand, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when his vehicle was attacked by an enemy improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. He graduated from High School in Meridian, Idaho, in 2008. Specialist Murach enlisted in the Army on 24 August 2010. He attended the fourteen-week long Infantry Training Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. Specialist Murach’s first duty assignment was Fort Bliss, Texas, where he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment and was selected to be a member of the Reconnaissance Platoon as a Sniper. He deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as the Senior Sniper for his Platoon. Specialist Murach’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, the NATO Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. Specialist Murach is survived by his mother, and his brother. Idaho State Veterans Cemetery

To be updated…

Spc. Brandon J. Prescott, 24, of Bend, Ore., died May 4, in Maiwand, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when his vehicle was attacked by an enemy improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. He attended the fourteen-week long Infantry Training Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. Specialist Prescott’s first duty assignment was Fort Bliss, Texas, where he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment as a member of the Reconnaissance Platoon. Shortly after arriving to Fort Bliss, he set himself apart from his peers in the platoon and was assigned as the Assistant Team Leader. He deployed to Afghanistan on 12 December 2012 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal with Valor, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, the NATO Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

To be updated…

Cpl. David M. Sonka, 23, of Parker, Colo., died May 4, while conducting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Dave attended Chaparral High School in Parker. Sonka joined the Marine Corps in August 2008 and graduated from recruit training in November 2008. He attended military police school in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Upon graduation, Sonka attended the Military Working Dog Handler Basic Course at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. From July 2009 to March 2012, he was assigned to III Marine Expeditionary Force K9 Section at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif., and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Sonka was then assigned to the Marine Special Operations Combat Support Battalion, Marine Special Operations Support Group at Camp Lejeune. While there, he completed a special operations training course, and Multi-Purpose Canine Course Phase I and Phase II. He then was attached to 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion as a multi-purpose canine handler. Sonka’s personal decorations include a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and a Combat Action Ribbon. Dave was serving his second deployment and had just arrived in Afghanistan a few weeks prior. Ft. Logan National

To be updated…