Lance Cpl. Christopher B. Rodgers, 20, of Griffin, Ga., died Sept. 1 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Chris is a 2008 graduate of Spalding High School and was a member of the school’s Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps for four years. The following October he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He leaves his father, Chris Rodgers, his mother Jane Rodgers and a sister Emily Rodgers.
To be updated…
Born: March 15, 1990 in Wisconsin
August 27, 2010 in Paktiya, Afghanistan
Spc. Chad D. Coleman of Moreland, Georgia grew up in Franklin, Wisconsin. As a young boy he loved playing anything that was military related. Using his Lincoln logs he would build large forts to accompany his plastic Army soldiers. As he grew older he spent time at the local VFW club just to visit with the vets. He also enjoyed fishing with his grandfather on Lake Michigan, hunting and spending quality time with his family, especially his cousins. He moved to Moreland, Georgia with his family at age sixteen. He attended Newnan High School and took construction classes at Central Educational Center. Chad entered the Army in October of 2008 and arrived at Fort Campbell in March 2009. His Awards and Decorations include, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal and Weapons Qualification: M4 rifle (expert). He leaves his father, Brian P. Coleman and his mother, Shanon C. Coleman, he was their only child. He died at age 20 of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device in Paktiya, Afghanistan.
Army
1st Squadron
33rd Cavalry Regiment
3rd Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Private Burial
To be updated…
Died: August 17, 2010 in Bethesda, Maryland
Sgt. 1st Class Edgar N. Roberts of Hinesville, Georgia moved to Illinois from Belize with his father just prior to entering high school. He graduated from Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois where he was a member of the National Honor Society. After leaving Illinois, he joined the Georgia National Guard and served in the first Gulf War. He was currently deployed to Afghanistan when he was attacked by insurgents. He died at age 39 at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland of wounds sustained June 26 at Sayed Abad, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. He is the recipient of the Purple Heart.
Army
810th Engineer Company (SAPPER)
Swainsboro, Georgia
To be updated…
Born: August 16, 1987
Died: March 11, 2007 in Baghdad, Iraq
Spc. Jonathan K. Smith of Atlanta, Georgia attended South Atlanta High School where he was a member of the marching band and a cadet in the JROTC. He was also very active in his local church. He was 19.
Army
115th Brigade Support Battalion
1st Brigade
1st Cavalry Division
Fort Hood, Texas
Burial is at Sherwood Memorial Park in Jonesboro, Georgia
Born: August 13, 1976
Died: October 30, 2004 in Al Anbar, Iraq
Sgt. Kelley L. Courtney of Macon, Georgia is the son of Robert and Eugenia B. Courtney and attended Central Georgia Technical College and Barstow College in Barstow, California. He joined the United States Marines in 1998. His awards and decorations include, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievent Medal, the National Defense Medal and the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Ribbon. In addition to his parents, he leaves his wife, Cindy, his children, Kellie, and Robert, two brothers, Sgt. Donovan E. Courtney, and Robert J. Fernandez. Kelley was killed at age 28 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.
Marines
3rd Intelligence Battalion
III Marine Expeditionary Force
Okinawa, Japan
Burial is at Glen Haven Memorial Gardens in Macon, Georgia
Born: December 9, 1972
Died: February 17, 2007 in Balad, Iraq
Spc. Christopher K. Boone of Augusta, Georgia was best known by his comrades as ‘Doc’ because he served as a medic. He died at age 34 in Balad, Iraq, of a non-combat related injury.
Army
National Guard
121st Infantry (Long Range Surveillance)
Fort Gillem, Georgia
Burial is at Houston National Cemetery in Houston, Texas – Sec S2 Site 305
Born: December 10, 1959
Died: May 12, 2008 in Columbus, Georgia
Staff Sgt. James P. Snyder of Nappanee, and formerly of Syracuse, Indiana joined the military in 1989. He tried civilian life again for just under two years in 1995. But because he loved the military so much he joined back up. Since World War I, a member of his family had served in the military, but this was the first time they’ve lost a loved one in the line of duty. James was a veteran of the first Gulf War, and was on his third tour in Iraq when a roadside bomb exploded while he patrolled the streets of Baghdad. James had six surgeries in three weeks after his injuries and had metal rods inserted in his legs. While recovering from his injuries, he served with his unit’s rear detachment team. James was on active duty and stationed at Fort Benning and had previously. He attended Brethren in Christ Church in Nappanee. James died at Martin Army Community Hospital and had just 21 months left until retirement. He was 48. He is the son of Maurice and Donna Rockwell Snyder. He was preceded in death by his father, Maurice Snyder. He leaves his three children, Dourlas, Karlene, and Joseph Snyder, his Mother, Donna Snyder, three brothers, David, Daniel, and Paul, three sisters, Lorree, Laura, and Neva.
Burial is at Syracuse Cemetery in Syracuse, Indiana
Born: November 27, 1969
Died: December 25, 2006 in Baghdad, Iraq
Sgt. 1st Class Dexter E. Wheelous of Winder, Georgia was the youngest of nine children. He graduated in 1987 from S.H. Archer High School in Atlanta. Growing up, he was an avid basketball player, picking up the nickname “Bird” after basketball legend Larry Bird. Following graduation, he enlisted in the Army in August of 1987 and worked as a recruiter before being assigned to a transition team mission, a group of advisers assigned to Iraqi Army units working to make that army self-sufficient. In July, Dexter was assigned to the transition team at Fort Riley. He deployed to the Middle East as part of Operation Desert Storm. During his military career, Wheelous lived at Fort Stewart for a while, then he moved to Winder where he was stationed as an Army recruiter. He is survived by four brothers, four sisters and his wife of nine years. He died at age 37 of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations in Baghdad.
Army
842nd Military Training and Transition team
1st Brigade Combat Team
1st Infantry Division
Fort Riley, Kansas
Burial is at Westview Cemetery, Atlanta, Georgia
Born: September 18, 1982
Died: July 13, 2010 in Kandahar City, Afghanistan
Staff Sgt. Sheldon L. Tate of Hinesville, Georgia joined the United States Army Oct. 18, 2001 where he served as a food services specialist. His first assignment was in Darmstadt, Germany. He deployed to Iraq for the first time from October of 2003 to February of 2004. In April 2004. He was reassigned to Fort Stewart, Georgia and deployed to Iraq again from January of 2005. In July 2006, he went to Fort Bragg and was assigned to 782nd Brigade Support Battalion. He deployed with the unit to Afghanistan from March 2007 to April 2008 and stayed to deploy again in August of 2009. His Awards and Decorations include, the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal with three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, two Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, three Overseas Service Ribbons, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge. He leaves his wife Marion, his daughter Kiante and his parents, Walter and Valerie Moore. Sheldon died at age 27 in Kandahar City, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with rifle, rocket propelled grenade, and small arms fire.
Army
782nd Brigade Support Battalion
4th Brigade Combat Team
82nd Airborne Division
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Burial is at Hillside Memorial Park in Sumter, South Carolina
Born: July 28, 1987
Died: July 3, 2010 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany
Pfc. Jacob A. Dennis of Powder Springs, Georgia is a 2005 graduate of North Cobb Christian Academy, where he played soccer, ran track, played saxophone in the band and was involved in theater. He later attended Chattahoochee Tech in the culinary program. The son of Tony and Renee Dennis was a Boy Scout at Roswell Street Baptist Church, where he was also involved with the youth ministry. ’Jake’ enlisted in the United States Army in 2006 with hopes of being out in the front lines of the fighting in Iraq. Jacob had been in Afghanistan since January. He died at age 22 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries sustained June 30 in a weapons system accident at Forward Operating Base Lane, Zabul, Afghanistan. Jacob was only two weeks away from the end of his tour. His organs were donated, thereby saving the lives of five people. His military education includes, Military Occupational Specialty 11C- Indirect Fire Infantryman (2006), and Combat Lifesavers Course (2007). His awards and decorations include the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal. In addition to his parents, he also leaves, his wife, Allysha, his brother, Sam, and his sister, Molly.
Army
4th Battalion
23rd Infantry Regiment
5th Stryker Brigade
2nd Infantry Division
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
Burial is at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia – Sec 1 Site 1645