Born: October 8, 1988 in Knoxville, Tennessee
Died: November 28, 2010 in Sikeston, Missouri
Senior Airman Tre Porfirio of Saint Marys, Georgia and Knoxville, Tennessee is a 2007 graduate of Camden County High School. He enlisted in the United States Air Force and left in August of 2009 for what was to be a six month deployment in Afghanistan. But just three months later on November 21, 2009 he was wounded when he was shot three times in the back. The attack took place in a very remote area of Afghanistan, where his unit was installing communications lines. His story received national attention when he underwent advanced pancreatic cell transplant surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. After several surgeries, doctors at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington determined his damaged pancreas had to be removed. They worked with doctors at the University of Miami to salvage islet cells from his pancreas. Those cells were injected into his liver, allowing that organ to begin producing the insulin normally produced by the pancreas. The procedure had never before been performed on a trauma patient. On Feb. 18, 2010 the self described, ‘combat nerd’ returned to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He leaves his son, Landon, his father Karl Porfirio, four brothers, Damian, Paul, Adam and TJ. He died at age 22 while visiting friends over the Thanksgiving holiday in Missouri. He received the Purple heart after being wounded in Afghanistan.
Air Force
88th Communications Squadron
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Burial is at Tennessee Veterans Cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee – Sec I Site 3790
Born: May 10, 1985 in Thomasville, Georgia
Died: November 11, 2010 in Kunar, Afghanistan
Spc. Shannon Chihuahua of Thomasville, Georgia graduated in 2004 from Thomas County Central High School before attending Valdosta State University from 2004-2005. ‘Chanen’ or ‘Chi’ as many knew him as, joined the Army in July of 2008 arriving at Fort Campbell in July of 2009. His awards and decorations include, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, and Combat Medic Badge. He was deployed to Afghanistan in May of 2010 just prior to the birth of his second child a few weeks later. He was last home in late June when she was 2 weeks old. He leaves his wife, Kristen, two daughters, Sophia and Annabelle, his mother, Dennice Dinkins and his father, Sebastian Chihuahua, two sisters, Christina and Jessica, and two brothers, Alejandro and Eric. Chanen and his wife celebrated their 4th anniversary in early November 2010. He died at age 25 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades. He was attending to injured fellow soldiers when he was killed. Chanen was a member of the Thomas County Central Chorus and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Army
1st Battalion
327th Infantry Regiment
1st Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Burial is at Bethany Methodist Church Cemetery in Pelham, Georgia
To be updated…
Born: August 29, 1988 in Columbus, Georgia
Died: October 13, 2010 in Helmand, Afghanistan
Lance Cpl. Raymon L. A. Johnson of Midland, Georgia graduated from Shaw High School in Columbus, Georgia in 2006. He had been in the Marines for three years. He leaves his mother, Gwendolyn Johnson and his father, Greg Johnson, his sister, LaQuita Carter, four brothers, Ramon Johnson, Christopher Rogers, Marcus and Gregory Box. He died at age 22 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marines
1st Battalion
8th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
To be updated…
Born: February 12, 1989 in Bartow, Florida
Died: October 6, 2010 in Frankfurt, Germany
Cpl. Stephen Coty Sockalosky of Cordele, Georgia graduated from Crisp County High School in 2007 where he was a member of the Junior Reserves Officer’s Training Corp. After enlisting in the United States Marine Corp, he completed basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina and was named the Marine Of The Quarter. He leaves his wife, Brittany, his mother, Carolyn and Mark Adsit of Cordele, his father, William Stephen and Traci Sockalosky, two brothers, Zachary and Trace, three sisters, Kimberlee, Caitlin and Samantha. He died at age 21 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Coty was of the Baptist faith.
Marines
2nd Battalion
9th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Burial is at Tremont Cemetery in Cordele, Georgia
To be updated…
Born: November 29, 1979 in Thomasville, Georgia
Died: September 21, 2010 in Zabul, Afghanistan
Senior Chief Petty Officer David B. McLendon of Thomasville, Georgia is a 1998 graduate of Thomas County Central High School. Known best by his middle name, Blake, entered the Navy in July of 1998, and was assigned to Naval Special Warfare Group 2 Support Activity in Norfolk, Virginia. He was also a graduate of Excelsior College. He was a Navy cryptologic technician who was trained at Pensacola Florida and Ft. Huachuca, Arizona. His awards include, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy Battle “E” Ribbon, two awards, Navy Good Conduct Medal, three awards, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. During his 12 year Navy career, he served at various Navy commands in Norfolk, Pearl Harbor, and Brunswick, Maine. He died in a helicopter crash at age 30 during combat operations in the Zabul province, Afghanistan, while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Navy SEAL
East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit
Sunset Memorial Gardens
To be updated…
Born: July 28, 1987 in Tifton, Georgia
Died: September 21, 2010 in Kandahar, Afghanistan
Senior Airman Michael J. Buras of Fitzgerald, Georgia is a 2005 graduate of Fitzgerald High School where he was active in the DLS sports programs. During his four years he was an avid Purple Cane soccer team member, and was named to the Who’s Who of Georgia Soccer. He leaves his wife, Emily, a daughter, Maddison, his father, John E. Buras, his mother, Joy Buras, two sisters, Michelle and Samantha and a brother, Stanley. He died at age 23 of wounds suffered as the result of an improvised explosive device detonation in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He is the recipient of the Purple Heart from a prior deployment. He received a Purple Heart medal in 2009 for injuries from an IED that exploded near his armored vehicle during the second of his three deployments. He was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star with “V” for valor, another Purple Heart, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
Air Force
Headquarters Air Combat Command
99th Air Base Wing
99th Civil Engineer Squadron
Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
Burial is at Andersonville National Cemetery in Andersonville, Georgia – Sec J Site 551
To be updated…
Born: April 3, 1986
Died: September 17, 2010 in Helmand, Afghanistan
1st Lt. Scott J. Fleming of Marietta, Georgia is a 2004 graduate of Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell, Georgia, and a 2008 graduate of LaGrange College in LaGrange with a degree in education. He was commissioned in the Marine Corps in August of 2008 and joined 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment in October of 2009. He was serving as a platoon commander with 1st Platoon, Kilo Company. His unit deployed to Afghanistan in May 2010 to conduct counterinsurgency operations partnered with Afghan national security forces. He leaves his wife Brandi, his father Joseph, his mother Joanne, and a sister Andrea. He died at age 24 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marines
3rd Battalion
3rd Marine Regiment
3rd Marine Division
III Marine Expeditionary Force
Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii
Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9182
Born: May 4, 1990
Died: September, 1, 2010 in Helmand province, Afghanistan
Lance Cpl. Christopher B. Rodgers of Griffin, Georgia 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. Among his Awards and Decorations are, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NATO Medal, NATO International Security Assistance Force Afghanistan Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Sea Service Medal and Combat Action Medal. He leaves his father, Chris Rodgers, his mother Jane Rodgers and a sister Emily Rodgers. He died at age 20 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marines
1st Battalion
2nd Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Burial is at Westwood Gardens in Griffin, Georgia
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…
Born: January 16, 1971 in Belize
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
Burial information is unknown at this time.
To be updated…