Freedom Remembered

Pfc. Chad D. Clements, 26, of Huntington, Ind. He was assigned to the 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. He died Aug. 30 in the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Chad is a 2002 graduate of Huntington North High School. He joined the Army in February of 2009 and had been in Afghanistan since July 2010. He joined the unit in July of 2009. This was his first deployment and he had only been in Afghanistan for three weeks.

To be updated…

Born: August 2, 1982
Died: August 24, 2010 in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan

Spc. Justin B. Shoecraft of Elkhart, Indiana is a 2001 graduate of Elkhart Memorial High School and worked for the Postal Service for seven years before enlisting in the Army. Justin’s passions were working on cars and motorcycles, stock car racing and playing video games. He leaves his wife, Jessica, and his parents Blue and Donna Shoecraft, two siblings, among others. He died at age 28 at Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device at Kakarak, Afghanistan.
Army
1st Squadron
2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment
Vilseck, Germany

Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana

To be updated…

Born: August 17, 1984 in Fulda Hesse, Germany
Died: November 15, 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq

Lance Cpl. James E. Swain of Kokomo, Indiana graduated in 2002 from Kokomo High School where he was a member of the National Honor Society and active in the Dram Club. He also served as a statistician for the girls’ basketball team. James learned a 30 page computer manual in days and taught others how to computerize statistics. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the military. As a Marine, James believed in doing what needed to be done, so he volunteered to leave his post in Japan for the Middle East. The 6 ‘ tall redhead, was the son of an Army medic and the grandson of a Marine. He understood the importance of giving back to his country and to his community. He hoped to someday be a criminal profiler for the CIA or FBI. The life scout was also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and involved in many church and community projects. A scholarship was named in James’ honor. It accepted an initial donation of $3,705 from his family and Kokomo High School teachers. The scholarship is awarded to a Kokomo High School graduate who shows exemplary traits of providing community service. He leaves his parents, Daniel and Mona Swain, a brother, Benjamin, and two sisters, Mariann and Melissa. He was killed at age 20 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.
Marines
Headquarters Battalion
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, California

Burial is at Galveston Cemetery in Galveston, Indiana

Born: August 11, 1984 in Portage, Indiana
Died: August 17, 2005 in Normandy, Iraq

Pfc. Steven F. Sirko of Portage, Indiana moved with his mother to Tennessee and then to North Carolina before going back to Indiana to live with his dad. He attended Portage High School where he played football and wrestled as an exceptional athlete. He also enjoyed his Sony PlayStation. But as much as Steve might have enjoyed his time in Portage, he loved his entire family too much to stay away from one half of it, prompting him to move back to North Carolina. He felt like he had two families. Following the events of 9-11, Steve was like so many other young men of the time. He was inspired to serve his country, so he joined the United States Army and trained to become a combat medic while based at Fort Benning. It was there that he met the woman who would become his wife, and the couple married on October 16, 2004. In spite of his families concerns about him going off to war, He had a eagerness and a sense of duty about him. Steve’s wife was serving in Iraq as well and was stationed 50 miles away from him. It was a difficult time for the newlyweds, but Steve was happy being in the Army nonetheless. By this time, he had decided that he would make the military a career. He was never without a smile and you could always count on him to lighten the mood. He used to talk about returning to the United States to become a history teacher and a football coach. He leaves, his wife, Virginia, his mother and stepfather, Steve and Summer Lipford, father and stepmother, Rick and Rose Sirko, two sisters, Bridget Gentle and Laura Sirko, and a brother, Michael Godbey. He died at age 20 of non-combat-related injuries in Muqdadiyah, Iraq.
Army
1st Battalion
30th Infantry Regiment
3rd Brigade
3rd Infantry Division
Fort Benning, Georgia

Burial is at Oakwood Cemetery in Statesville, North Carolina

Born: August 16, 1976 in Indianapolis, Indiana
Died: December 05, 2004 in Habbaniyah, Iraq

Staff Sgt. Marvin L. Trost III of Goshen, Indiana is a 1994 graduate of Concord High School. Growing up, he was a member of the Boy Scouts of America and became an Eagle Scout in 1994. The son of Joyce A. Kipp and Marvin L. Trost Jr married Sherry L. Brantley February 14, 1997, in Mishawaka. In July of 1994 joined the Army, completing his basic training in Fort Benning, Georgia, where he became an infantryman. He served at Fort Hood, Texas, for seven years, and saw two tours of duty in Korea, one tour of duty in Kuwait and two tours of duty in Iraq. He attained the rank of staff sergeant, and received the bronze star and a purple heart. He leaves his wife, a daughter, Aubrey, two sons, Levin and Gabriel, his mother and stepfather, Joyce A. and Jack Adcock, his father, Marvin Lee Trost Jr., two brothers, Kenneth and Robert, a half sister, Christian Trost, four stepbrothers, Larry, Tony, Adrian and Adam. Marvin was killed at age 28 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee in Habbaniyah, Iraq. Also killed was Army Spc. Edwin W. Roodhouse.
Army
1st Battalion
506th Infantry Regiment
2nd Infantry Division
Camp Greaves, Korea

Burial is at Violett Cemetery in Goshen, Indiana

Born: August 13, 1966
Died: October 15, 2006 in Al Anbar, Iraq

Sgt. Brock A. Babb of Evansville, Indiana was only 5-feet-6, but the core of his muscular body was built like a tree stump. His fiery red hair stood out in a crowd, and he spoke with a straight face in short, direct sentences. There are two ways to live life, the Babb way or the wrong way. The Babb way meant honoring your country, backing your Marine brothers and loving your family. Brock himself never stopped living the Babb way, and that later brought him back to Iraq at the age of 40. He left the Marines after the first Iraq war and settled comfortably into his life as a sheet metal worker and volunteer coach for his children. But after the September 11, 2001, terrorists attacks, the itch to return to Iraq began to burn. He felt he couldn’t sit on the sidelines and see Marines fighting without him getting back in the fight. He was ready for action, having dropped about 30 pounds. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, and three children among others. He was killed at age 40 while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Fallujah, Iraq.
Marine
Forces Reserve
3rd Battalion
24th Marines
4th Marine Division
Terre Haute, Indiana

Burial is at Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Evansville, Indiana

Died: August 11, 2010 in Arghandab Valley, Afghanistan

Sgt. Christopher N. Karch of Indianapolis, Indiana is a 2005 graduate of Lawrence Central High School. He was also pursuing a degree from the University of Maryland with plans to graduate in 2012. Chris enlisted in the United States Army as an infantryman in August of 2005, and attended One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, completing Basic Airborne School, then reporting to Fort Bragg in January of 2006. He first deployed with his unit to Afghanistan in March 2007, returning back stateside in April 2008. Chris had been deployed to Afghanistan since late summer of 2009 and was expected back stateside in just three weeks. His Awards and Decorations include, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Parachutists Badge. The proud paratrooper had paratrooper wings tattooed across his back. He leaves his mother Lynn Kersey, his father, Patrick, his grandparents, Nick and Dian Nicholson, Bill and Joyce Seal, Norman and Denise Karch. He died at age 23 in Arghandab Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.
Army
2nd Battalion
508th Parachute Infantry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
82nd Airborne Division
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Burial is at Memorial Park Cemetery

To be updated…

Born: March 7, 1972 in Bluffton, Indiana
Died: March 26, 2005 in Kabul, Afghanistan

Master Sgt. Michael T. Hiester of Bluffton, Indiana is a Bluffton High School graduate who was very respectful and was just the kind of guy that every parent wants their child to be like. He was outgoing and hardworking and always thinking about something that he could do for his community. The son of Thomas and Kay Hiester was married to Dawn Espy on April 30, 1994, in Bluffton. He was a full time member of the Indiana National Guard and was also a member of the First Church of Christ, Bluffton. Mike very much believed in the cause for which he gave his life. He had previously served a tour in Bosnia and during his 13 years with the Bluffton Fire Department, he had become a certified diver and an instructor. He was looking forward to retirement in about four or five years. He leaves his wife, Dawn, his parents, his children, Adam and Emily, his sisters, Megan and Michele. He was killed at age 33 when a mine detonated near his military vehicle in Kabul, Afghanistan. Also killed were Capt. Michael T. Fiscus, Spc. Brett M. Hershey and Pfc. Norman K. Snyder.
Army
National Guard
76th Infantry Brigade
Indianapolis, Indiana

Burial is at Elm Grove Cemetery in Bluffton, Indiana

Born: March 8, 1984
Died: April 4, 2004 in Kirkuk, Iraq

Pfc. John D. Amos II of Valparaiso, Indiana grew up in Griffith before moving to Valparaiso and graduated in 2002 from Valparaiso High School. He was killed at age 22 when an improvised explosive device hit his military vehicle in Kirkuk, Iraq.
Army
1st Battalion
21st Infantry Regiment
25th Infantry Division (Light)
Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

Burial is at Graceland Memorial Park in Valparaiso, Indiana

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