Freedom Remembered

Born: May 10, 1982 in Orange County, California
Died: December 27, 2011 in Paktia, Afghanistan

Sgt. Noah M. Korte of Lake Elsinore, California died at age 29 in Paktia, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. He joined the military in May 2003 as military police and was assigned to the 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, since September 2011. Sgt Korte deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in December 2011. He also deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from September 2007 to December 2008, from March 2005 to February 2006 and from January 2004 to April 2004. His awards and decorations include, four Army Commendation Medals, two Good Conduct Medals, the Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medals with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral two, Army Service Ribbon, three Overseas Service Ribbons, Driver and Mechanic Badge with operator and Driver and Mechanic Badge with Driver-Wheeled Vehicles.

Burial is at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California – Sec 5 Site 1975

To be updated…

Born: April 18, 1979 in San Joaquin County, California
Died: December 12, 2011 in Wilmington, North Carolina

Gunnery Sgt. George L. Figone Jr of Hampstead, North Carolina, formerly of Stockton, California graduated in 1997 from Linden High School. Following graduation George entered the United States Marine Corps and became an infantry rifleman after boot camp. In June of 1998, he passed the reconnaissance indoctrination course and the basic reconnaissance course. He was deployed to Iraq twice and to Afghanistan. While on deployment with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2003, he was meritoriously promoted to Sergeant. In 2011, George was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant. His personal awards include a Purple Heart, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat V Device, the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two Combat Action Ribbons, and four Good Conduct Medals. He served as a rifleman with the 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion. He passed away suddenly at the Hanover Medical Center in North Carolina. He leaves behind his four brothers, Christopher Piro, Eric, Josh and Justin Figone; his three sisters, Mariah and Sierra Looney, and Brittany Figone; his loving Grandmother Margaret C. Rore; his loving aunts and uncles Mike and Debbra Figone, Ray Figone, John Titta, Yolanda and Troy Combs, Jim and Laura Rore, and Anne and Philip Martin; his nephew Caleb Figone. He is preceded in death by his grandfathers Raymond Figone Sr. and Dr. Walter J. Rore, and by his grandmother Doris Figone.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 10011

Born: June 24, 1987 in Taft, California
Died: December 11, 2011 in Kunar, Afghanistan

Sgt. Christopher L. Muniz, 24, of New Cuyama, Calif., died Dec. 11, in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He enlisted in the Army on Nov.13, 2008, as a signal intelligence analyst. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. Posthumous Awards include: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, NATO Medal and the Combat Action Badge.
Army
3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion
3rd Brigade Combat Team
25th Infantry Division
Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

Cremated

To be updated…

Born: May 8, 1990 in North Carolina
Died: December 3, 2011 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Spc. Ryan M. Lumley of Lakeland, Florida died at age 21 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, Fort Bliss, Texas. An infantryman, he entered the Army from Tampa, Fla., in March 2009. He was previously stationed at Fort Benning. Lumley’s awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. Also killed were, Sgt. 1st Class Clark A. Corley Jr., 35, of Oxnard, California and Spc. Thomas J. Mayberry, 21, of Springville, Calif.

Burial is at Florida National Cemetery Bushnell, Florida – Sect 402 Site 4

To be updated…

Born: June 29, 1976 in San Luis Obispo County, California
Died: December 3, 2011 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Sgt. 1st Class Clark A. Corley Jr., 35, of Oxnard, Calif., died Dec. 3, in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, Fort Bliss, Texas. An infantryman, he entered the Army December 1995. He was previously stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., Fort Irwin, Calif., Fort Lee, Va., Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Camp Hovey, South Korea, and Fort Hood, Texas. Corley’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal-Fourth Award, National Defense Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge and the Expert Infantryman Badge. Also killed were, Spc. Thomas J. Mayberry, 21, of Springville, Calif., and Spc. Ryan M. Lumley, 21, of Lakeland, Florida.

To be updated…

Born: November 15, 1990 in Placer County, California
Died: December 3, 2011 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Spc. Thomas J. Mayberry, 21, of Springville, Calif., died Dec. 3, in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, Fort Bliss, Texas. An infantryman, he entered the Army from Oakland, Calif., in January 2009. His previous assignments include Fort Benning, and Camp Casey, South Korea. Mayberry’s awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. Mayberry was posthumously promoted to the rank of specialist. Also killed were, Sgt. 1st Class Clark A. Corley Jr., 35, of Oxnard, California and Spc. Ryan M. Lumley, 21, of Lakeland, Florida

To be updated…

Born: December 30, 1991
Died: November 18, 2011 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Joshua D. Corral of Danville, California known by most as Chachi attended San Ramon High School, graduating in 2010. He played freshman football at the high school. He began serving in the Marine Corps, July 19, 2010. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan. He served as a machine gunner. His personal service awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. He died at age 19 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marine
3rd Battalion
7th Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Twentynine Palms, California

Burial is at Oakmont Cemetery in Lafayette, California

To be updated…

Born: August 8, 1990 in San Bernardino, California
Died: November 16, 2011 in Khowst, Afghanistan

Spc. Sean M. Walsh of San Jose, California died at age 21 in Khowst province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained after encountering indirect fire. He was assigned to the 185th Military Police Battalion, 49th Military Police Brigade, Pittsburg, Calif. Seanleaves his mother, Cheryl Walsh and father Kenneth Walsh.

Services were held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Saratoga, CA. Graveside services immediately followed at Oak Hill Memorial Park.

To be updated…

Born: September 20, 1982
Died: October 29, 2011 in Kabul, Afghanistan

Sgt. Carlo F. Eugenio, 29, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., died Oct. 29, in Kabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 756th Transportation Company, 224th Sustainment Brigade, California Army National Guard, Van Nuys, Calif. Formerly from Fontana, he is a graduate of Etiwanda High School. During his five years of service, he received several commendations and medals. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart posthumously.

Burial is at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California – Sec 8 Site 220D

To be updated….

Born: April 23, 1980
Died: October 27, 2011 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Stephen J. Dunning, 31, of Milpitas, Calif., died Oct. 27 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. He graduated in 1998 from Milpitas High School. Later that same year he joined the Marines, following his father and an uncle into the service. In 2010, Stephen was featured in a photo in Vanity Fair magazine showing him holding an Xbox controller that guides a remote-control bomb-disposal robot. His job seemed to be the next logical step for the video-game enthusiast with “nimble fingers” and an ability to solve problems.

Burial is at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Eddyville, Kentucky

To be updated…