Freedom Remembered

Born: Apr. 10, 1971 in Athens, Georgia
Died: December 17, 2012 in Savannah, Georgia

SSG Andrew S Fitzpatrick, U.S. Army, of Savannah, Georgia died at age 41 at Memorial University Medical Center. Andrew was a son of Berry Mitchell Fitzpatrick and Carolyn Westmoreland Fitzpatrick. Scott was of the Christian faith. He served 20 years in the United States Army and during that time was a tank mechanic and later a supervisor in tank recovery. Scott served two tours in Korea, three tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan. He was preceded in death by a sister, Erin Fitzpatrick Jones. Surviving are his wife, Sheryl Ann Walton Fitzpatrick; two stepdaughters, Jessica Elizabeth Gaul and Chantel Elizabeth Gaul; one stepson, Charles J. Beaty; his mother, Carolyn Westmoreland Fitzpatrick; his father and stepmother, Berry Mitchell Fitzpatrick and Brenda Campbell Fitzpatrick; one sister, Robin Westmoreland Daniels; two brothers, David Fitzpatrick and Ricky Fitzpatrick, and three grandchildren, Canyon Beaty, Colton Beaty and Makenzie Hill. Mt. Hermon Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Ila, Georgia

Maj. Walter D. Gray, 38, of Conyers, Ga., died Aug. 8 from injuries suffered during a suicide bomb attack in Kunar province, Afghanistan. Gray was assigned to the 13th Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Carson, Colo. David attended Loganville High School. He was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps after previously serving as an enlisted Airman. He became one of the Air Force’s first career Air Liaison Officers, and was the career field’s second highest ranking officer, after serving for several years as an Airfield Operations officer. He was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and his unit was responsible for integrating combat airpower into ground operations. Arlington National Cemetery

To be updated…

Spc. Erica P. Alecksen of Eatonton, Ga., died at age 21 of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit in Maidan Shahr, Wardak province, Afghanistan, with an improvised explosive device. She was assigned to the 978th Military Police Company, 93rd Military Police Battalion, Fort Bliss, Texas. Erica is a 2009 graduate of Putnam County High School.

According to The Eatonton Messenger, A fund has been established to create a permanent memorial to honor county residents who have lost their lives in service to their country.

The Erica Alecksen Memorial Fund has been set up at;
The Peoples Bank
209 S. Jefferson Ave
Eatonton, GA 31024

Donations can be delivered directory to the bank or by mail to;
The Erica Alecksen Memorial Fund
The Peoples Bank
P.O. Box 4250
Eatonton, GA 31024

To be updated…

Born: May 16, 1992
Died: June 7 2012 in Maiwand, Afghanistan

Pfc. Brandon D. Goodine, 20, of Luthersville, Ga., died June 7 in Maiwand, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. He attended Henry County High School and graduated from Greenville High School. This was Goodine’s first deployment to Afghanistan after joining the Army just over a year ago. His awards include, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Parachutist Badge. Haisten at Eastlawn Memorial Park

The family of Pfc Goodine was kind enough to send us the following information about his arrival and funeral services.

“Brandon will be arriving in Georgia Saturday, June 16th. At this time we are not sure of the time. The public visitation will be Sunday, June 17th from 2 to 5 at Haisten Funeral Home in McDonough, GA. The funeral will take place Monday, June 18th at 11:00 at Bethany Baptist Church in McDonough. Brandon will be buried with full military honors.”

To be updated…

Born: April 26, 1965 in Atlanta, Georgia
Died: May 31, 2012 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Alexander G. Povilaitis of Dawsonville, Georgia died at age 47 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when the enemy attacked with an improvised explosive device. Povilaitis was assigned to 14th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Povilaitis entered the Army in February 1984, and he served three years as a single channel radio operator. He had a break in service until March 2008, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve. On Sept. 23, 2008, he re-entered the active duty and reported to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., for more training. He was twice deployed to Iraq from the White Sands Missile Range, in New Mexico, and then was transferred to the base in Washington state in June 2011. Povilaitis deployed with his new unit to Afghanistan in July 2011 on his first deployment to Afghanistan. His awards and decorations include, the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal (three awards), Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal (two awards), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge and Parachutist Badge.

Burial is at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia – Sec 2 Site 12

To be updated…

Born: November 15, 1987 in Tifton, Georgia
Died: May 26, 2012 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Steven G. Sutton, 24, of Leesburg, Ga., died May 26 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.  LCpl Sutton graduated in 2007 from Lee County High School where he played football as an offensive lineman. He had been stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina since December of 2009 and was deployed in January 2012. LCplSutton was also known as “Big Steve.” He was 6’8″ and friends say he always had a big grin on his face.

Crown Hill Cemetery with full Military Honors

To be updated…

Born: August 29, 1983 in Melbourne, Florida
Died: April 22, 2012 in Paktia, Afghanistan

1st Lt. Jonathan P. Walsh, 28, Cobb, Ga., died April 22 in Paktia, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 504th Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. Walsh graduated from Kennesaw State University and worked in the financial services industry before joining the Army in March 2010. Prior to joining the Army in March 2010, he worked five months as director of sales for Reliable Security LLC, a Marietta event security company. Before that, he was a consultant for two years for Zurvita, a Houston-based marketing company. He was previously employed as a credit manager for Wells Fargo Financial. In the spring of 2008, Walsh graduated with a bachelor of business administration degree in management from Kennesaw State University. In 2005, he also earned an associate of science degree from Georgia Highland College.

Ashes scattered at sea

To be updated…

Born: January 7, 1992 in Riverdale, Georgia
Died: March 29, 2012 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Spc. Johnathon F. Davis, 20, of Griffin, Ga., died Mar. 29, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from enemy small arms fire. Davis was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. Pfc Davis is a graduate of Griffin High School. He and his wife are expecting their first child in May. Spc. Davis joined the Army August 11, 2010 as a Cavalry Scout and attended One-Station Unit Training at Fort Knox, Ky. He joined the 4-73rd Cavalry Squadron in February 2011 and was serving his first deployment.

Burial is at Griffin Memorial Gardens in Griffin, Georgia

To be updated…

Born: July 16, 1986
Died: February 22, 2012

Lance Cpl. Corey A. Little, 25, of Fayetteville, Georgia joined the Marines in 2009 where he served as a Huey helicopter crew chief. He played baseball as a youngster and graduated from high school in 2004. Corey and his wife are expecting their first child in September. He was one of seven Marines killed in a helicopter crash near Yuma, Ariz. He served as a helicopter crew chief aboard UH-1Y Hueys. His personal awards include the National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia – Sec 2 Site 83

To be updated…

Capt. Nicholas S. Whitlock, 29, of Newnan, Ga. He was assigned to the 34th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. He died February 18 when his U-28 aircraft was involved in an accident near Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Africa. He entered the Air Force in 2006, receiving his commission through the Officer Training School. Capt Whitlock was serving his fifth deployment. He had been assigned to the 319th SOS and then to the 34th SOS at Hurlburt Field since 2008 and had more than 800 combat flight hours. Also killed were: Capt. Ryan P. Hall, 30, of Colorado Springs, Colo.,  1st Lt. Justin J. Wilkens, 26, of Bend, Ore.,  and Senior Airman Julian S. Scholten, 26, of Upper Marlboro, Md.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Capt. Whitlock’s memory to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which gives financial help to severely wounded special-ops personnel and provides scholarships and counseling to children of fallen special-ops members. The foundation’s address is P.O. Box 13483, Tampa, FL 33681-3483.

Forest Lawn Memorial Park

To be updated…