Freedom Remembered

Staff Sgt. Jonathan M. Metzger, 32, of Indianapolis, Ind., died Jan. 6 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enermy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 81st Troop Command, Indiana National Guard, Indianapolis, Ind. SSgt Metzger was a career military man who spent eight years in the Marine Corps. He planned on a military career and was studying for the rank of master sergeant. He was currently serving a second deployment, having previously served a tour in Iraq. He was six weeks into a nine month tour in Afghanistan. His awards include, the Bronze Star Medal (2), Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device (2), Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon (2), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, NATO medal, Combat Action Badge and Driver and Mechanic Badge.

The Gardens at Olive Branch Cemetery

To be updated…

Born: March 6, 1990
Died: January 6, 2012 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Sgt. Brian J. Leonhardt of Merrillville, Ind., died at age 21 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enermy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 81st Troop Command, Indiana National Guard, Indianapolis, Ind. Brian was the sixth of eight children in his family. Three of his older brothers also served in Iraq or Afghanistan. He wanted to become a police officer when he got out of the military. His awards include, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Medal, NATO Medal and Combat Action Badge.

Burial is at Memory Lane Memorial Park in Schererville, Indiana – Veteran’s Section.

To be updated…

Spc. Robert J. Tauteris Jr., 44, of Hamlet, Ind., died Jan. 6 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enermy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 81st Troop Command, Indiana National Guard, Indianapolis, Ind. Bobby was a 1986 graduate of North Judson San Pierre High School. He was on his second tour of duty. Spc Tauteris re-enlisted in the National Guard after his 21-year-old son, Robert III, joined up and was sent to Afghanistan. Robert III accompanied his father’s body back to the U.S. His awards include, the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ Campaign Star (2), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/ M device (2), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, and Driver and Mechanic Badge w/ Driver-Wheeled Vehicle (S) Clasp.

Oak Grove Cemetery

To be updated…

Born: July 26, 1990 in Valparaiso, Indiana
Died: September 28, 2011 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Spc. James A. Butz, 21, of Porter, Ind., died Sept. 28 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. Jim is a 2009 graduate of Chesterton High School. He joined the Army in 2009 and had served with Headquarters and Headquarters Company since 2010. His awards include, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal and the Combat Action Badge. Chesterton Cemetery.

To be updated…

Born: April 23, 1992 in Bloomington, Indiana
Died: September 9, 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Pfc. Brett E. Wood, 19, of Spencer, Ind., died Sept. 9 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with 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 graduated from Owen Valley High School. He joined the Army in July 2010 and graduated from Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benning, Ga. He arrived in Alaska in November 2010. His brigade deployed to Afghanistan in mid-April 2011 for a one-year tour in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

To be updated…

Born: September 2, 1989 in Indianapolis, Indiana
Died: July 1, 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Spc. James A. Waters of Cloverdale, Ind., died at age 21 at Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. Jimmy attended Clark-Pleasant Schools, graduating from Whiteland Community High School in the Class of 2008. He joined the Army in September 2009. After training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he came to Fort Drum in January 2010. He deployed with his unit in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in March 2011. 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 Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. James was serving as an infantryman.

To be updated…

Born: March 29, 1975 in Indianapolis, Indiana
Died: June 17, 2011 in Khowst, Afghanistan

Spc. Scott D. Smith, 36, of Indianapolis, Ind., died June 17 at Khowst province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 81st Troop Command, Indiana Army National Guard, Indianapolis, Ind. He leaves his wife, Kristina, three daughters, Brittany Nicole, Cami Marie and Delaney Danielle Smith, his parents, James D. and Marva Kay Smith, and a brother, Christopher Smith.

Burial is at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Hall, Indiana

To be updated…

Born: June 13, 1988 in Angola, Indiana
Died: December 21, 2010 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. William H. Crouse IV of Clinton, South Carolina attended Northrop High School in Indiana before moving to South Carolina where he attended Clinton High School. While at Clinton, he was the Red Devils football team’s starting fullback during his senior year. Billy was currently serving his first deployment in Afghanistan where he had been for six weeks. He leaves his mother and stepfather, Nancy and Vinnie Siders, sister, Jennifer Chaffee, brothers, Nathan and Ryan Rothman, and sister, Jennifer Hartman. He died at age 22 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, along with his partner, his bomb sniffing dog, Cane. Billy was preceded in death by his father, William H. Crouse III.
Marines
1st Battalion
10th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Burial is at Covington Memorial Gardens in Fort Wayne, Indiana

To be updated…

Born: November 24, 1974
Died: November 29, 2010 in Nangarhar, Afghanistan

Sgt. 1st Class Barry E. Jarvis of Tell City, Indiana is a 1993 graduate of Tell City High School. He joined the United States Army in May of 1999 arriving at Fort Campbell in May of 2009. Barry served as a Cavalry Scout. His Awards and Decorations include, the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Valorous Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Drill Sergeant Identification Badge, Combat Action Badge and Air Assault Badge. He leaves his wife, Tina, two daughters, Kitaira and Aleesha, two sons, Donovan and William, and his parents, William Jarvis, and Alma Jarvis, two sisters, Rita and Tressie, three brothers, Dan, Ed and Johnny, and a granddaughter, Kalyn. He died at age 36 in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an insurgent attacked his unit with small arms fire. Also killed were Spc. Matthew Ramsey, Staff Sgt. Curtis A. Oakes, Pfc. Jacob A. Gassen, Pfc. Austin G. Staggs and Pvt. Buddy W. McLain.
Army
1st Squadron
61st Cavalry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Burial is at Deer Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Tell City, Indiana

To be updated…

Born: February 5, 1980 in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Died: November 16, 2010 in Konar, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Kevin M. Pape of Fort Wayne, Indiana graduated in 1998 from Concordia Lutheran High School. Kevin enlisted in the United States Army in early fall of 2005. He completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, as an infantryman. He then graduated from the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program and was then assigned to Co. C, 1st Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment in April 2006, where he served as a machine gunner, team leader and squad leader. His military education includes the Basic Airborne Course, Ranger Assessment and Selection Program, U.S. Army Ranger Course, Emergency Medical Technician Basic Course, Warrior Leader Course and the Advanced Leader Course. His Awards and Decorations include, the Ranger tab, the Expert Infantry Badge, the Combat Infantry Badge and the Parachutist Badge. He has also been awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Arrowhead, Iraq Campaign Medal with Arrowhead, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal. He leaves his wife, Amelia, his daughter Anneka, and his father and stepmother, Marc Dennis and Cheryl Pape, a sister, Kristen Pape, and a stepbrother, Richard Barger. He was preceded in death by his mother, Karen S. Teel Pape. Kevin died at age 30 in Konar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.
Army
1st Battalion
75th Ranger Regiment
Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia

Burial is at Lindenwood Cemetery in Fort Wayne, Indiana

To be updated…