Freedom Remembered

Born: April 28, 1982 in Danvers, Massachusetts
Died: September 18, 2011 Takhar, Afghanistan

Spc. Ryan J. Cook, 29, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Sept. 18 in Takhar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Beal Memorial Cemetery in Fort Walton Beach, Florida

To be updated…

Born: January 25, 1971 in Strasbourg, France
Died: September 4, 2011 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany

Spc. Christophe J. Marquis of Tampa, Florida died at age 40 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany,of injuries sustained Aug. 27 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska. He joined the Army in April 2010 and graduated from Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Ga. He arrived in Alaska in February 2011. His unit deployed to Afghanistan in April 2011 for a one-year tour in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Burial is at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida – Sec 321 Site 114

To be updated…

Born: March 15, 1990
Died: August 31, 2011 in Wardak, Afganistan

Spc. Dennis James Jr of Deltona, Florida died at age 21 from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device in Wardak province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, La. He joined the Army in June 2008. After training he arrived at Fort Polk, Louisiana in November 2009. James deployed with his unit in October 2010 to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Combat Action Badge. He attended Pine Ridge High School.

Burial is at Southern Nevada Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada – Sec AB Site 836

To be updated…

Born: August 17, 1985
Died: August 28, 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Pfc. Alberto L. Obod Jr of Orlando, Florida died at age 26 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered during a vehicle roll-over. He was assigned to the 391st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Bamberg, Germany. In April 2011, Alberto officially became an American citizen.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9750

To be updated…

Born: August 5, 1992
Died: August 18, 2011 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Travis M. Nelson, 19, of Pace, Fla., died Aug. 18 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. He graduated from Pace High School in 2010. He joined the Marine Corps in September and was promoted to Lance Corporal on June 1, 2022, deploying in March. His awards include, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He leaves his parents, Scott and Beckie Sanspree Nelson, brother, Daniel, halfbrother, Chandler Case, and two sisters, Jenna Nelson and Anna Nelson.

Burial is at Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore, Alabama

To be updated…

Born: June 24, 1981 in Tennessee
Died: August 6, 2011 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Aaron C. Vaughn, 30, of Stuart, Fla., died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. He was assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit. Among his awards and decorations are, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal Joint Service Commendation Medal with ‘V’ for valor, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, one with “V” for valor, the Presidential Unit Citation, two Navy Good Conduct MedalNational Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, two Navy Expert Rifleman Medal, Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9927

To be updated…

Born: November 9, 1977
Died: August 6, 2011 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Tech. Sgt. John W. Brown, 33, of Siloam Springs, AR, was assigned to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, N.C. He died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. He is a 1196 graduate of Siloam Springs High School where he is remembered as a soft-spoken leader and an outstanding athlete, excelling in basketball and football. He also attended John Brown University on a swimming scholarship, as well as Florida State University. Inspired by a video of a special tactical unit at work, he was inspired to join the military. He is the son of Dan M. Brown and Elizabeth H. Newlun. He also leaves his wife, Tabitha Lynn Brown, and two brothers, Danny and Lucas Brown.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9941

To be updated…

Born: November 27, 1989 in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
Died: August 3, 2011 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Pfc. Gil I. Morales Del Valle of Jacksonville, Florida joined the United States Army in February of 2010. After training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he arrived at Fort Polk in June of 2010. He deployed with his unit the following October in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His awards and decorations include, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the NATO Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon and the Combat Infantryman Badge. Isai died at age 21 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He leaves his mother and stepfather, Gladys Del Valle and Renes Perez, his father, Gil E. Morales, his sister, Kiara Crystal Perez, longtime girlfriend, Narim Alim among others.
Army
2nd Battalion
30th Infantry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
10th Mountain Division
Fort Polk, Louisiana

Burial is at Puerto Rico National Cemetery in Bayamon, Puerto Rico – Section N Site 2

To be updated…

Born: December 12, 1986 in Floida
Died: July 5, 2011 in Paktia, Afghanistan

Spc. Jordan C. Schumann Port Saint Lucie, Florida died at age 24 in Paktia province, Afghanistan of injuries suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Hohenfels, Germany. He is a 2006 graduate of St. Lucie West Centennial High School. In 2008, he received his EMT certification from Brevard Community College. Jordan was married and the couple were expecting their first child in September 2011. Also killed were Army Spc. Preston J. Suter and Army Staff Sgt. Joshua A. Throckmorton. He leaves his wife Sarah Schumann, his parents, Clay and Linda Schumann, a brother, Clay Schumann, Jr, and a sister, Heather Goldsmith.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9807

To be updated…

Born: July 11, 1986 in Landstuhl, Germany
Died: June 25, 2011 in Ormond Beach, Florida

Staff Sgt Robert S. O’Neill of Barksdale Air Force Base Shreveport, Louisiana, formerly of Florida graduated in 2005 from Flagler Palm Coast High School and immediately joined the United States Air Force for a six year enlistment. After basic training he entered a technical school for security forces. Robert became a dedicated Non-Commissioned Officer rising through the ranks to become a Staff Sergeant. Robert worked various jobs within his security field, ultimately ending in law enforcement. He is credited with saving three lives in three years and making 23 arrests of poachers and other environmental criminals. He also did a six month deployment to Iraq. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. He volunteered for blood drives, food banks, homeless shelters and handicap hunter access. Robert never stopped caring and did an outstanding job displaying character, faith and loyalty. A family statement reads: “Robert was a wonderful and considerate son, brother, nephew, cousin, uncle and friend. Robert was a hero to some, a friend to many and will be greatly missed by all”. Robert is survived by his father, Steven M. O’Neill and Catherine M. Horecky, two brothers, Christian and Daniel Reusch, niece, Christina L. Giehl; grandmother, Hilde Elbeck and uncle Marvin Elbeck all of Landstuhl, Germany; Uncle Bobby O’Neill and wife Lynne of New York, NY; aunts, Christine Pageau of Port Orange, FL and JoEllen Pearson and her husband Mike of Norfolk, VA; several cousins, nieces and a nephew. Robert was predeceased by his mother, Elisabeth D. O’Neill and brother Jens Reusch.

Burial is at Craig Flagler Palms Memorial Gardens in Flagler Beach, Florida

The above is from his obituary.