Freedom Remembered

Born: July 2, 1988 in Phoenix, Arizona
Died: September 18, 2010 in Kunar, Afghanistan

Pfc. Barbara Vieyra of Mesa, Arizona is a 2006 graduate of Skyline High School in Mesa
where she played on the junior varsity softball team her sophomore year. Enlisting in the military was something that Barbara wanted to do to provide a better life for her and her daughter. In the Army Barbie served as an expert marksman who had served previously in Korea. Her Awards and Decorations include, the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with combat service star, Global War of Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War of Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon and Combat Action Badge. She was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. She also had been awarded the Army Commendation Medal. Barbara deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in April of 2010. Barbie enjoyed painting, competitive swimming and dancing. She died at age 22 of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked her unit using an improvised explosive device and rocket propelled grenade fire in Kunar province, Afghanistan. She leaves behind her parents, Raul and Elizabeth Vieyra, her daughter, Evelyn and her sister and brother Guadalupe and Roberto Vieyra.
Army
720th Military Police Battalion
89th Military Police Brigade
Fort Hood, Texas

Burial is at Mesa Cemetery in Mesa, Arizona

Born: August 21, 1986 in Hawaii
Died: February 02, 2007 in AR Ramadi, Iraq

Spc. Alan E. McPeek of Tucson, Arizona was born in Hawaii while his mother was serving in the Navy there. He moved with his family to Arizona at age two and graduated in 2004 from Mountain View High School. Alan worked at an Eegees on the Northwest Side during high school, and was involved in Pop Warner football for several years. At age seventeen he made the unlikely decision to enlist in the United States Army. The typically flamboyant nonconformist was the last person his peers thought would adjust to the rigorous life of the military. He practiced self expression in many ways, but he is most remembered by his many different hair colors and styles. One day it would be gold, another time it would be white. The length would change too, from long to spiked. After he joined the Army, his family and friends gave him a fine send off by hosting a party. They took turns cutting off locks of his hair, getting him ready for his first buzz cut. The military life agreed with Alan and he was working his way up the ranks and was looking forward to being promoted to sergeant next. He was a natural leader and his comrades said he was always there to lighten the mood and get them through some tight spots. Alan was just days away from completing a 14 month tour in Iraq when he was killed. He leaves his mother and her husband, Rose and Kevin Doyle and a sister, among others. Alan died at age 20 in Ramadi, Iraq, of injuries sustained when he came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire. It was his mothers birthday. Also killed was Pvt. Matthew T. Zeimer. He was the fifth former Mountain View student felled in the war on terrorism. Alan was friends with Pfc. Sam Williams Huff and Navy Hospitalman Chadwick Thomas Kenyon. Lance Cpl. Budd M. Cote briefly attended Mountain View High too. They all graduated in 2004, and all died in Iraq. And Sgt. Kenneth G. Ross, a 1999 graduate died in Afghanistan.
Army
16th Engineer Battalion
1st Brigade Combat Team
1st Armored Division
Giessen, Germany

Burial is at Evergreen Cemetery in Tucson, Arizona

Born: April 22, 1986
Died: August 19, 2010 in Puli Alam, Afghanistan

Sgt. Martin A. Lugo of Tucson, Arizona. After graduating from high school he enlisted in the United States Army in September of 2004. He served as an ammunition handler, automatic rifleman, team leader and most recently as a squad leader in Company C, 1st Battalion. He completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning as an infantryman. Then after graduating from the Basic Airborne Course, he was assigned to the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program at Fort Benning, Ga. Following graduation from the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program, Lugo was assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment in April 2005, where he served as an ammunition handler, automatic rifleman, team leader and squad leader. His military education includes the Basic Airborne Course, the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program, the U.S. Army Ranger Course, the Warrior Leader Course, and the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course. His Awards and Decorations include, the Ranger Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge and the Parachutist Badge. He was also awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two combat stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with combat star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Ribbon. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and Purple Heart. Martin was on his sixth combat deployment. He previously deployed three times to Afghanistan and twice to Iraq. He leaves his father, Martin Lugo, his mother and stepfather, Maria Marin and Esteban Oropeza and his sister Leslie. He died at age 24 in Puli Alam, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.
Army
1st Battalion
75th Ranger Regiment
Hunter Army Air Field, Georgia

Burial is at Holy Hope Cemetery in Tucson, Arizona

To be updated…

Born: August 20, 1982 in Gillette, Wyoming
Died: September 28, 2004 in Landstuhl, Germany

Sgt. Tyler D. Prewitt of Phoenix, Arizona graduated from Greenway High School in 2001. He was attending Phoenix College where he played baseball. At the time of the attacks on the World Trade Center in September 2001, Tyler was recovering from a broken jaw from a baseball injury. As soon as he was well enough, he enlisted in the United States Army where he served as a field medic. He leaves his parents, Tim and Jonnie Prewitt, and two brothers Chad and Richie. Tyler died at age 22 in Landstuhl, Germany, from injuries sustained September 24 when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his vehicle in Baqubah, Iraq. His organs were donated.
Army
2nd Battalion
2nd Infantry Regiment
1st Infantry Division
Vilseck, Germany

Burial is at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix, Arizona – Sec 52 Site 294

Born: August 17, 1988 in Riverside, California
Died: June 20, 2008 in Farah, Afghanistan

Corpsman Dustin K. Burnett of Fort Mohave, Arizona is a 2007 graduate of Mohave High School. He also played football for the Fort Mohave Thunderbirds. Dustin had moved to Arizona his freshman year. He was happy and energetic. At age 14, Dustin wrote the following quote, “I will uphold freedoms to people who have none, I seek out those who wish to bring hate and terror to our Country and I want to be a soldier not only of America but of God.” He deployed to Afghanistan on April 1 2008 where he was serving as a medic, something he truly enjoyed doing. He wanted to attend once his commitment with the Navy was up. He leaves his mother and stepfather, Debra and Donald Nuchols and his brother, Devin. He died at age 19 while conducting combat operations in Farah Province, Afghanistan.
Navy
First Marine Division Detachment
Twentynine Palms, California

Burial is at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California – Sec 63B Site 667

Born: Aug.ust 15, 1981 in Houston, Texas
Died: October 11, 2006 in Baghdad, Iraq

Sgt. Nicholas R. Sowinski of Tempe, Arizona is the son of Diane Elaine Traynor and Louis Gerard Sowinski. He spent seven years of his childhood in Saudi Arabia and at age 9, he and his family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. Nick attended schools in the Arcadia, graduating from Brophy College Preparatory high school. Growing up, he had never shown any interest in the military. But in June of 2003, two years away from completing an English degree at Arizona State University, Nicholas decided to enlist in the United States Army. He knew he never wanted a career sitting behind a desk, the Cavalry Scout was more at home as a member of a combat team. Known to his comrades as Sgt ‘Ski’, he received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star and two Army accommodation awards, one signed just three days before his death. In his leisure, he enjoyed camping, skiing, hiking, rock climbing, wrestling, movies, books, music and golfing. An outdoorsman who liked camping and golfing, he also enjoyed watching movies and reading books like, Flags of Our Fathers. He leaves his brothers, Jared and Austin and his mother. Nick died at age 25 from injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad.
Army
4th Squadron
14th Cavalry Regiment
172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team
Fort Wainwright, Alaska

Burial is at Prescott National Cemetery in Prescott, Arizona – Sec A Row B Site 6

Born: August 3, 1989
Died: July 13, 1010 in Landstuhl, Germany

Spc. Christopher J. Moon of Tucson, Arizona attended Tucson High School where he was a star baseball pitcher and outfielder. Chris was the 2006 Southern Arizona Player of the Year and earned a full scholarship to the University of Arizona. But after a brief time, Chris gave all that up to enlist in the United States Army. He deployed with his unit to Afghanistan in September of 2009. His Awards and Decorations include, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Basic Parachutist Badge. Chris died at age 20 at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device on July 6 in Arghandab, Afghanistan. Chris was the 12th Navajo Nation serviceman killed while serving in either Iraq or Afghanistan. He leaves his parents, Brian and Marsha Moon and a sister, Sunday.
Army
2nd Battalion
508th Parachute Infantry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
82nd Airborne Division
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Burial is at East Lawn Palms Cemetery in Tucson, Arizona

Born: January 3, 1984
Died: June 27, 2010 at Forward Operating Base Blessing, Afghanistan

Sgt. John M. Rogers of Scottsdale, Arizona attended Greenway Middle School and North Canyon High School in Phoenix. He entered the Army in June of 2004 and arrived at Fort Campbell in April 2009. At and early age, John had wanted to be a Police Officer. Enlisting in the Army seemed like a great way to get some experience that would eventually help him land a position as an officer. It turned out that the Army suited him fine, the camaraderie and the structure helped him decide that a career with the military was what he wanted. His awards and decorations include: Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Korean Defense Service Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; Combat Infantry Badge; Parachutists Badge; and Weapons Qualification, M4, expert. John enjoyed fishing and being with his friends. He is survived by his wife, Zuleika, his father, John H. Rogers, his mother, Pamela S. Bryan, brother Jimmy, and sisters, Sally and Kayla. He died at age 26 at Forward Operating Base Blessing, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.
Army
1st Battalion
327th Infantry Regiment
1st Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Burial will be at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix, Arizona – Sec 57 Site 354

Born: February 5, 1964 in Tucson, Arizona
Died: March 4, 2007 in Tikrit, Iraq

Staff Sgt. Darrel D. Kasson of Florence, Arizona attended Amphitheater High School and had worked as a corrections officer for the Arizona Department of Corrections for 18 years where he worked prior to his deployment to Iraq. He enjoyed using his carpentry skills helping others in the community and at Florence Baptist Church with repair and remodeling work.
He also led all of the church’s youth programs for four years and was an active leader in a softball league for state prison employees. Darrel had known his wife since they were both young teenagers. They continued their courtship all through high school. As a guard member, he was scheduled to retire in February, but his unit was called up for a yearlong deployment. He worked part-time carpentry jobs to make extra money and planned to move to the White Mountains after retiring from the Department of Corrections and the Guard. He died at age 43 in Tikrit, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle at Bayji, Iraq. He is survived by his wife, Lori, three children, Lisa, Jeremy, and Dale and two grandchildren at the time. Also his mother Sharon Jones, a brother, Darren and a sister Kimberly. On March 4, 2008, The Arizona Department of Corrections renamed Cell Block Six (CB-6) to Cell Block Kasson.
Army
National Guard
259th Security Forces Company
Phoenix, Arizonia

Burial is at Evergreen Cemetery in Tucson, Arizona

Born on November 4, 1983 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Died on June 11, 2010 in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan

Spc. Christian M. Adams was raised in Sierra Vista, Arizona, where he was an alter boy in church. The son of a career Army father, Christian maintained strong feelings about God, country and family. He joined the military in June 2003, shortly after graduating from high school. He worked as a vehicle mechanic and deployed to Iraq from March 2004 until March 2005. After serving three years, left the military. Not happy with civilian life, he re-enlisted in the infantry and was based at Fort Hood, Texas. He came home to Arizona for Christmas 2009 before leaving for Afghanistan in March 2010. His military awards include, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NATO Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon and Army Service Ribbon. He died June 11 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from a non-combat related incident.
Army
20th Engineer Battalion
36th Engineer Brigade
Fort Hood, Texas

Burial is at Fort Huachuca Cemetery in Sierra Vista, Arizona – Sec 10 Site 0658