Freedom Remembered

Born: August 22, 1990 in Douglasville, Georgia
Died: October 13, 2011 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Scott D. Harper, 21, of Winston, Ga., died Oct. 13 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Scott was a 2008 graduate of Alexander High School, where he was an outgoing student and active in Reserve Officer’s Training Corps. He was also a member of the golf team. Scott served as an infantryman in the United States Marine Corps. He not only loved his country, but he loved his family, his community, loved hunting, fishing and playing his guitar. He leaves his father and his wife, Brian and Angela Harper, his mother, Deborah Busbin Staples, his brother, Mitchell Staples, his sister, Amber Staples, a step-brother, Joseph Hulsey and a step-sister, Holly Harpe.

Burial is at Ephesus Baptist Church Cemetery in Winston, Georgia

To be updated…

Born: August 17, 1988 in Porter, Texas
Died: September 29, 2011 in Kirkuk, Iraq

Spc. Adrian G. Mills, 23, of Newnan, Ga., died Sept. 29 in Kirkuk, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit was attacked by insurgents using indirect fire. AJ was assigned to the 272nd Military Police Company, 519th Military Police Battalion, Fort Polk, La. He leaves his mother, Marie Blehschmidt, his wife, Sandra Abel Mills, and a sister, Maegon Mills.

Burial is at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia – Sec 1 Site 2799

To be updated…

Lance Cpl. John R. Wimpey-Cagle, 19, of Tucker, Ga., died Sept. 28 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. He was a light armored crewman who joined the Marine Corps in June of 2010 and was promoted to lance corporal in March. He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in March with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. His awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Burial is at Empire Memorial Gardens in Empire Alabama

To be updated…

Staff Sgt. Keith F. Rudd, 36, of Winder, Ga., died Sept. 10 in Parvan, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained while supporting combat operations. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. SSgt Rudd joined the Army in May 2003 and was previously stationed at Fort Sill, Okla., and Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He arrived at Fort Bragg in May and previously deployed to Iraq in 2007 and Afghanistan in 2009. His awards and decorations include three Air Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, six Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the NATO Medal, the Combat Medic Badge and the Army Aviation Badge. He deployed to Afghanistan last month for what was his third deployment.

To be updated…

Born: October 13, 1986 in Miami, Florida
Died: August 5, 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Spc. Mark J. Downer of Warner Robins, Georgia died at age 23 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with a rocket propelled grenade. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. He joined the Army in December of 2009 and was trained in Fort Sill, Okla., and Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He came to Fort Drum in June of 2010 and deployed with his unit in March to support Operation Enduring Freedom. His awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal and the Combat Medic Badge.

Burial is at Parkway Memorial Gardens in Warner Robins, Georgia

To be updated…

Born: Sept. 17, 1988, in Eugene, Oregon
Died: July 31, 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Spc4 Brice M. Scott of Eugene, Oregon is a 2007 graduate of North Eugene High School. Serving in the military was a family tradition and Brice was serving his first tour of duty. He died at age 22 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He leaves his wife, Laila, two daughters, Celina and Mia, his father, Steven Scott and mother Carol L. Tripp.
Army
4th Squadron
4th Cavalry Regiment
1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team
1st Infantry Division
Fort Riley, Kansas

Burial is at Fir Grove Cemetery in Ada, Oregon

To be updated…

Born: May 30, 1964
Died: July 18, 2011 in Ghazni, Afghanistan

Sgt. Edward W. Koehler of Ringgold, Georgia and Lebanon, Pennsylvania was a 1982 graduate of Lebanon High School. After serving with the Marine Corps from 1982 to 1988, he took a 10-year break from service. He enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard in 1997 as a motor transport operator, serving his entire Guard career in the 131st Transportation Company. Serving also with them in Kuwait and Iraq from 2003 to 2004. His awards include, the Combat Action Badge, three Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Driver and Mechanic Badge, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the Governor’s Unit Citation. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. He died at age 47 in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his convoy with an improvised explosive device. He leaves his wife, Cheryl, three daughters, Shelbi, Toby and Kayla Koehler, his mother, Ruthie Koehler, and two sisters, Elaine Dietz and Nicole McCabe.
Army
National Guard
131st Transportation Company
213th Area Support Group
Williamstown, Pennsylvania

Burial is at Anderson Memorial Gardens in Ringgold, Georgia

To be updated…

Born: June 19, 1982
Died: June 29, 2011 in Badrah, Iraq

Sgt. Robert G. Tenney Jr Warner Robins, Georgia is a 2000 graduate of Princess Anne High School where he played in the marching band. His military career began when he enlisted in the United States Air Force, switching over to the Army in 2006. Robbie entered active-duty service in December 2006 as a cavalry scout. He was assigned to Troop G, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, since August 2010. His awards and decorations include an Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with combat service star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and an Overseas Service Ribbon. Also killed were, Capt. Matthew G. Nielson, 27, of Jefferson, Iowa and Capt. David E. Van Camp, 29, of Wheeling, W. Va. He leaves his parents, Annette C. Tenney and Robert G. Tenney, Sr and his sister, Virginia “Nena” Tenney. Rob died at age 29 in Badrah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire.
Army
2nd Squadron
3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
Fort Hood, Texas

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9740

To be updated…

Born: December 10, 1984
Died: May, 19, 2011 in Fort Bliss, Texas

Spc. Matthew J. Hodges of Georgia attended Evans High School. He also served in the United States Army for three years, and served a tour of duty in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Matt was the 5th generation of his family to serve in combat. He leaves his wife, Rebecca, his father, William Hodges, his mother, Theressa Padgett, and four brothers, William Michael, Robert Wayne, Christopher Michael and Charles Andrew Hodges. He was 26.

Burial is at Bellevue Memorial Park in Grovetown, Georgia

Died: April 16, 2011 in Nangarhar, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Cynthia R. Taylor of Columbus, Ga.; joined the Army in November 2003, arriving at Fort Campbell in April 2004. Her awards and decorations include, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, Combat Action Badge and Driver and Mechanic Badge. She died at age 39 at Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an Afghan National Army soldier attacked with multiple grenades.
Army
101st Special Troops Battalion
101st Sustainment Brigade
101st Airborne Division
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

To be updated…