Freedom Remembered

Born: September 26, 1985 in Battle Creek, Michigan
Died: November 7, 2010 in Kunar, Afghanistan

Sgt. Aaron B. Cruttenden of Norwood, Arizona attended Thunderbird Academy in Scottsdale before earning his General Equivalency Diploma. He grew up spending his summers in Colorado. He worked for White Brothers Electric as an apprentice electrician for about two years before enlisting in the Army in March of 2008. He was currently serving his first deployment in Afghanistan where he had been for eight months. His Awards and Decorations include, the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal and Combat Action Badge, the Army Achievement Medal and Parachutist Badge. He was also awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Aaron leaves a daughter, Dusti-Rai, his mother and stepfather, Yvonne and Scott Featheringill, his father, Steve Cruttenden and Annette Roth, five brothers, Austin Cruttenden, Spencer Featheringill and Dakota Featheringill, Tavis White and Dustyn White, three sisters, Savana White and Jennifer White and Alicia Cruttenden. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. He died at age 25 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with small arms fire.
Army
27th Engineer Battalion
20th Engineer Brigade
XVIII Airborne Corps
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Burial is at Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado in Grand Junction, Colorado -Sec 2 Row I Site 15

To be updated…

Born: September 1, 1988
Died: November 4, 2010 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Matthew J. Broehm of Williams, Arizona was a young man who shared his faith with anyone who would listen. The Marine who had plans of becoming a youth pastor was married in March of 2010. Matt enlisted in the Marine Corp on September 4, 2007 and was currently serving his first combat deployment. His service awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal. He leaves his wife, Lianna, his parents, Chris and Doug Broehm, a sister, Alicia and two brothers. He died at age 22 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marines
3rd Battalion
5th Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, California

To be updated…

Born: May 11, 1973
Died: November 3, 2010 in Badghis, Afghanistan

Sgt. 1st Class Todd M. Harris of Tucson, Arizona joined the Army in February of 1998. He arrived at Fort Drum in August of 2009. He previously deployed to Afghanistan in 2002, Iraq in 2003 and 2006 and Suriname in 2008. He was previously stationed at Fort Campbell and Fort Bragg. His Awards and Decorations include, five Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, five Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the NATO Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbons, the Army Service Ribbon, the Special Forces Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Air Assault Badge. He also completed the basic Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training, and again with the High Risk component, the Infantry Mortar Platoon Officer training, the Advance Leadership Course, the Warrior Leadership Course, the Airborne School, the Air Assault School and the Combat Lifesavers Course. He leaves his wife, two children, and his parents. He died at age 37 in Badghis province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.
Army
87th Infantry Battalion
1st Brigade Combat Team
10th Mountain Division
Fort Drum, New York

East Lawn Palms Cemetery in Tucson, Arizona

To be updated…

Born: March 6, 1976 in Whidbey Island, Washington
Died: June 1, 2007 in Mehtar Lam, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Charles R. Browning of Tucson, Arizona was born in Washington but moved to Tucson with his family at age 8. After graduating from high school, he joined the Army and served in New York, Kentucky, Panama and Korea. Charles joined the Arizona National Guard after ending regular duty and was deployed to Kuwait during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He began working at one of the two state-run prisons in Florence in January 2004, 10 months before he deployed to Iraq. He worked in the Special Management Unit, for problem prisoners. He returned to work in Florence in January 2006, and stayed for a year before he signed on for a second rotation in the Middle East. He is survived by his wife and two stepdaughters. He died at age 31 in Mehtar Lam, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.
Army
Company B
1st Battalion
158th Infantry Regiment
Arizona National Guard
Gilbert, Arizona

Burial is at Evergreen Cemetery in Tucson, Arizona

Born: August 30, 1988 in Zacatecas, Mexico
Died: August 14, 2008 in Sangin, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Juan Lopez-Castaneda of Mesa, Arizona was born in Mexico but grew up in Mesa. He was a very honest guy, strong in his decisions and very proud serving in the Marines. Juan received his first Holy Communion and was confirmed at Queen of Peace Church. Juan was a rifleman who joined the Marine Corps on June 4, 2007. He was on his first deployment and received the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He died at age 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marines
2nd Battalion
7th Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Twentynine Palms, California

Burial is at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Mesa, Arizona

Born: September 18, 1966
Died: December 24, 2008 in Orgun-E, Afghanistan

Cpl. Charles P. Gaffney Jr of Phoenix, Arizona died at age 42 in Orgun-E, Afghanistan, when his combat outpost received enemy rocket fire.
Army
2nd Battalion
506th Infantry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 8750

To be updated…

Born: May 10. 1972
Died: February 20, 2009 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Master Sgt. David L. Hurt of Tucson, Arizona and Oak Park, Illinois is a Santa Rita High School graduate. He joined the United States Army soon after. David deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in January 2009 as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force, Afghanistan. His Awards and Decorations include, the Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Joint Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Achievement Medal, and Army Achievement Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Combat Infantryman Badge, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Sapper Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge, Drivers Badge, the Valorous Unit Award, and Joint Meritorious Unit Award. He leaves his wife Kelly, daughter Avery and son Wyatt, his mother Bonnie Hurt and father Joe Hurt and his sister, Debbie. He died at age 36 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, from wounds received in Khordi, Afghanistan, when his military vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device followed by small arms fire attack by enemy forces. Also killed was Staff Sgt. Jeremy E. Bessa.
Army
1st Battalion
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Burial is at Green Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Parkton, North Carolina

Born: May 22, 1989
Died: March 22, 2009 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Spc. Adam J. Hardt of Avondale, Arizona died at age 19 at Forward Operating Base Airborne in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.
Army
2nd Battalion
87th Infantry Regiment
3rd Brigade Combat Team
10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry)
Fort Drum, New York

Burial is at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix, Arizona – Sec 58 Site 730

To be updated…

Born: May 27, 1983
Died: October 14 2005 in Makati Medical Center in Manila, Philippines

Cpl Scott J. Mullen of Tucson, Arizona attended Catalina Foothills High School graduating in 2002. He also attended University Of Arizona. Scotty leaves his father and mother, Hal and Wanda Mullen, sister, Kezia Mullen and his brother, Carl. Scott died at age 22 as a result of a non-combat accident. He was on a four day pass from his military base.
Army
5th Battalion
4th Psychological Operations Group
Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Burial is at Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Sierra Vista, Arizona – Sec 3 Site 80

Born: October 15, 1980
Died: September 25, 2005, Afghanistan

Sgt. Kenneth G. Ross of Peoria, Arizona is a 1999 graduate of Mountain View High School where he played drums in the marching band and orchestra. He enlisted in the Army right after graduation. Ken loved flying, running track, being a Boy Scout, and playing in his school band. He loved his family and friends and many people loved him. He also loved a special girl, Anne Lehamnn, whom he met while stationed in Germany. He is survived by his parents, David and Mary Margaret (Peggy) Ross of Tucson, and sister, Stephanie of Denver At the time of his death, he was a helicopter mechanic, acting as a door gunner on his last mission. He was killed at age 24 when his CH-47Chinook helicopter crashed southwest of Deh Chopan, Afghanistan.
Army
7th Battalion
159th Aviation Regiment
Giebelstadt, Germany

Burial is at Evergreen Cemetery in Tucson, Arizona