Freedom Remembered

Born: February 1, 1991
Died: March 17, 2011 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Meis of Bennett, Colorado graduated from Bennett High School. Chris began to consider the Marine Corps while still in middle school. His paternal grandfather served in World War II and his maternal grandfather was retired Air Force. As a proud american he joined the United States Marine Corps in January of 2010 and was deployed to Afghanistan with Operation Enduring Freedom in January of 2011. His awards include, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He died at age 20 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marines
2nd Battalion
8th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Burial is at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado – Sec 13 Site 1853

To be updated

Born: April 8, 1988 in Springfield, Ohio
Died: January 29, 2011 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Spc. Joshua R. Campbell of Bennett, Colorado entered the United States Army in February of 2008 and served as a heavy wheel vehicle driver. He was serving his first deployment when his unit deployed in October of 2010. Campbell’s past duty assignments include the 126th Medium Truck Company, 330th Movement Control Battalion, 82nd Sustainment Brigade. His awards and decorations include, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal-Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. Campbell was posthumously awarded, the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Action Badge. He died at age 22 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He leaves his parents, James R. and Tamara S. Campbell, and brothers, Justin, Gabe, Jon, Gordy, Adam, Josh.
Army
264th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
82nd Sustainment Brigade
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

To be updated…

Born: December 22, 1981 in Aberdeen, Washington
Died: November 19, 2010 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Sgt. Jason T. Smith of Colorado Springs, Colorado is a 2000 graduate of Doherty High School and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in June of the same year. Prior to living in Colorado Springs, Jason and his family lived in Kansas, Utah and Iowa until 1993 when they settled in Colorado. He began his high school years at Coronado High School before finishing his senior year at Doherty High. Jason grew up playing baseball and fishing, and held a desire to play professional Basketball. He had a vivacious personality and drew in friends easily with his ‘never met a stranger’ attitude. After joining the Marines he served as a primary marksmanship instructor at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina, training Marines how to use their pistols and rifles. He eventually joined the Marines’ explosives unit. He was currently serving a deployment in Afghanistan, having previously served two tours in Iraq. His awards include, the Combat Action Ribbon, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. He leaves his wife Janet, his parents, Buddy and Loretta Smith, two sisters, Brandi Jo and Brittany. He died at age 28 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marines
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Branch
Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
Marine Corps Base, Iwakuni, Japan

To be updated…

Born: May 18, 1984
Died: November 17, 2010 in Panjway, Afghanistan

Spc. Justin E. Culbreth of Colorado Springs, Colorado enjoyed paintball and playing video games. He also enjoyed fishing and deer hunting in his leisure. He enlisted in the United States Army in 2004 arriving at Fort Campbell in 2009. His awards and Decorations include, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge. He leaves his wife, Kimberly, his son Brandon, his daughter, Katelyn, two stepdaughters, Mariah and Hannah, and stepson Cole, and his parents, Walter and Cheryl Culbreth, and his sister, Lauren. He died t age 26 at Panjway district, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.
Army
1st Battalion
187th Infantry Regiment
3rd Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

To be updated…

Born: February 2, 1989
Died: November 4, 2010 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Brandon W. Pearson of Arvada, Colorado enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in September of 2007. He was currently serving his first combat deployment. His awards and decorations 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 parents, Michael W. Pearson and Wendy R. Pearson, a sister, Ashley N. Pearson and his fiancee’ Alexa S. Mantas. He died at age 21 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Marines
3rd Battalion
5th Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, California

Burial is at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado – Sec O Site 168-J

To be updated…

Born: April 21, 1981 in Garden City, Michigan
Died: August 25, 2010 in Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington DC

Staff Sgt. Lee C Przytulski of Fort Carson, Colorado, formerly of Michigan, is a 2000 graduate of Onsted High School where he participated in football and wrestling. Following graduation he enlisted in the United States Navy, specializing in Search and Rescue, before receiving an Honorable Discharge after 5 years. His desire to serve his country, and to do what he loved, led him to the Army. Lee earned his Green Beret, serving as a Staff Sergeant and Special Forces Engineer. Lee was served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His awards and decorations include the Air Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Army Good Conduct Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Special Forces Tab, Naval Aircrew Insignia and Parachutist Badge. He died at age 29 from complications following routine surgery. He leaves his wife, Diana, two children, son, Noah and Olivia, his parents, Joseph and Rena Przytulski, five brothers, twin brother, Leif, Joseph, Thomas, Robert and Nicholas.
Army
1st Battalion
10th SFG (A)
Stuttgart, Germany

Burial is at Maple Shade Cemetery in Onsted, Michigan

Born: August 22, 1976 in Portsmouth, Virginia
Died: December 16, 2006 in Taji, Iraq

Staff Sgt. David R. Staats of Pueblo, Colorado is a 1995 graduate of Cactus High School in Glendale, Arizona where he played football and served in the Reserve Officer Training Corps. Growing up, the only son of Wanda and Roger Staats would spend his playtime pretending to be a firetruck, hoping one day to be a fireman or maybe a paramedic. David was familiar with the military life, having grown up with a father who served in the Air Force for 23 years. When it was time for David to decide his life path, he chose the United States Army and proudly served over nine years. His deployments were served by two tours in Kosovo, a tour in Kuwait and he was currently seven weeks into his second tour of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He leaves his wife, Meagan, daughter, Katie, son, Tyler, his parents, Roger and Wanda Staats and a sister, Bethany. He died at age 30 of injuries sustained when his Humvee struck an improvised explosive device while on mounted patrol Dec. 16 in Taji, Iraq. Also killed were: Spc. Matthew J. Stanley and Pfc. Seth M. Stanton. David’s father was killed five weeks later when he was courageous enough to intervene in a domestic violence altercation along a street when he stopped to help a young girl.
Army
1st Squadron
7th Cavalry Regiment
1st Brigade
1st Cavalry Division
Fort Hood, Texas

Burial is at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Born: August 21, 1987 in Woodland Park, Colorado
Died: December 17, 2006 in Balad, Iraq

Pfc. Seth M. Stanton of Colorado Springs, Colorado grew up in Old Colorado City was mostly home schooled but spent his last year of school at Coronado High School. The oldest of three children loved all terrain vehicles and had a passion for pushing the limits of four wheeling and driving his Jeep off road. He also enjoyed playing paintball and spending time with his friends and family and the outdoors. He enlisted in the United States Army after graduating. Seth was a positive impact to everyone he surrounded and was truly a giving and generous man. He leaves, his parents, Stephen and Anna M. DeMello Stanton, Nathan and Dylan. He died at age 19 in Balad, Iraq, of injuries sustained when his Humvee struck an improvised explosive device while on mounted patrol Dec. 16 in Taji, Iraq. Also killed were, Spc. Matthew J. Stanley and Staff Sgt. David R. Staats.
Army
1st Squadron
7th Cavalry Regiment
1st Brigade
1st Cavalry Division
Fort Hood, Texas

Burial is at Fairview Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Born: August 14, 1979
Died: November 18, 2005 in Ali AL Salem, Kuwait

Army Sgt Luis R Reyes of Aurora, Colorado graduated in 1997 from Montbello High School in Denver, Colorado, where he was an ROTC cadet serving as the Cadet Logistics Officer. After graduation, he enlisted in the Colorado Army National Guard as a technical engineer and was headed to Iraq to build and repair roads. He was mobilized on September 7 for a 15 month deployment and was awarded the Army Achievement Medal for superior proficiency in his performance of duties and the Expert Marksmanship badge for both his skills with a rifle and a grenade. He was a loving family man who had a passion for military service and was proud to be a soldier. He leaves his wife, Christina, and two children, Sienna and Nikko. Luis died at age 26 when the bus in which he was riding rolled over en route to Ali Al Salem, Kuwait.
Army
National Guard
947th Engineer Company
Durango, Colorado

Burial is at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado – Sec S Site 5681-B

Born: July 16, 1987 in Alamosa Colorado
Died: August 7, 2010 in Baghdad, Iraq

Sgt. Faith R. Hinkley of Monte Vista, Colorado is a 2006 graduate of Monte Vista High School where she was a cheerleader, a peer mediator and played clarinet in the marching band. She also sat on the student council and participated in the Future Business Leaders of America and Key Club. Faith attended the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs for a year before she enlisted in the Army in August of 2007. She went to Fort Jackson, South Carolina for basic training, then advanced training at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. She arrived at Fort Lewis in August of 2008 and was deployed to Iraq in September of 2009. She was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. She leaves her parents, David and Annavee Hinkley, a brother, Matthew, and a sister, Shannon. Faith was serving her first tour of duty, and was expected back stateside in a few weeks. She died at age 23 in Baghdad, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked her unit in Iskandariya, Iraq.
Army
502nd Military Intelligence Battalion
201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

Burial is at Colorado State Veterans Cemetery in Homelake, Colorado