Freedom Remembered

Born: August 5, 1987 in Danville, Indiana
Died: February 23, 2009 in Balad, Iraq

Cpl. Zachary R. Nordmeyer of Indianapolis, Indiana was a graduate of Ben Davis High School where he participated in the Reserves Officer’s Training Corps. Zach could hardly wait to join the military and in the summer of 2007 he joined the United States Army. He deployed to Iraq in September of 2008 for a year long assignment. He died at age 21 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. Also killed were Cpl. Michael L. Mayne and Cpl. Micheal B. Alleman. Zach leaves his father, Michael, two brothers, Josh and David, three stepsisters, Rachel Klop, Kendra Gregg, and Karen Piehl, a stepbrother, Kristopher Bereman, and a fiancée, Chrissy. He was preceded by his mother, Kimberly Kaye Fair Bereman in 2002. Zachary’s name was added to a wall of honor at Ben Davis High School for its graduates that have died in the line of duty. He became the 18th former student who made the ultimate sacrifice. His awards and decorations include, the Army Service Ribbon, the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, the Global War on Terrorism and the Iraq Campaign Medal.
Army
5th Squadron
1st Cavalry Regiment
1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team
25th Infantry Division
Fort Wainwright, Alaska

Burial is at Floral Park Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana

Born: July 31, 1982 in Monticello, Indiana
Died: October 21, 2010 in Yahya Khel district, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Kenneth K. McAninch of Logansport, Indiana attended Lewis Cass High School. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing video games, especially ‘Call of Duty’ and was an avid artist. Kenneth chose to follow in his father’s foot steps by enlisting in the military. So he joined the United States Army in December of 2003 arriving at Fort Campbell in September of 2009. His awards and decorations include, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Mobilization Device, Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart and the Bronze star. He leaves his wife, Shawnna, his children, Jeremiah, Braxton, Brayden, Colby and Shyanne Adam, his parents, Marvin McAninch and Cheryl Nance. He died at age 28 at Yahya Khel district, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was serving his third deployment.
Army
1st Battalion
506th Infantry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Ever-Rest Memorial Park in Logansport, Indiana

To be updated…

Born: January 21, 1987
Died: September 21, 2010 in Zabul, Afghanistan

Sgt. Marvin R. Calhoun Jr of Elkhart, Indiana is a 2006 graduate of Elkhart Central High School where he participated in football. Though he was naturally a jokester, he also knew how to be serious on the field. He entered the Army in June 2006 and arrived at Fort Campbell in December 2007. Calhoun was a construction equipment repairer serving as a door gunner and was assigned to Bravo Company. His awards and decorations include, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal and Army Aviator Badge. He leaves his wife, Yamili, and daughter, Yohani, his father and step mother, Marvin R. and Susan Calhoun, his mother and stepfather, Shirin M. and Michael Reum, his sister, Shanon, his brothers, Travis, Marcus, Sydney, Jermael and Zachary, step-brothers, Joshua, Andree, and Brandon, and a step-sister, Crystal. He died in a helicopter crash at age 23 during combat operations in Zabul province, Afghanistan, while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Also killed in the crash were, Army Maj. Robert F. Baldwin, Lt. (SEAL) Brendan J. Looney, Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collection) David B. McLendon, Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jonah D. McClellan, Navy Special Warfare Operator 3rd Class (SEAL) Denis C. Miranda, Army Staff Sgt. Joshua D. Powell, Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class (SEAL) Adam O. Smith, and Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Matthew G. Wagstaff.
Army
5th Battalion
101st Combat Aviation Brigade
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Burial is at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Osceola, Indiana

Born: October 17, 1984 in Batesville, Indiana
Died: September 8, 2010 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Cpl. John C. Bishop of Columbus, Indiana attended South Ripley High School his junior year, and graduated from Southwestern High School in Shelby County before joining the Marines. He was currently serving his third tour of duty, two in Irag and the latest in Afghanistan where he had been since July 2010. John was expected back stateside in February 2011. He and his wife, Cristle are expecting a daughter in October 2010, and John has a son, K-sean, from a previous marriage. He also leaves his mother, Sarah Thomas, six brothers, William, Mike, Anthony, Eric, Jamey and Tyson, two sisters, Nancy and Amy. Because of his love of the outdoors, John planned to become a conservation officer after his stint with Marines was over. He died at age 25 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marines
2nd Battalion
9th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Cliff Hill Cemetery in Versailles, Indiana

To be updated…

Born: September 27, 1983 in Decatur, Indiana
Died: September 7, 2010 in Balad, Iraq

Sgt. Phillip C. Jenkins of Decatur, Indiana is a 2002 graduate of Bellmont High School, where he played saxophone in his school band. He was also a member of the Eagles Lodge #2653 in Decatur, the Warsaw Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. Phil joined the United States Army after graduating high school and was currently serving his second tour of duty, having previously serving a deployment in Afghanistan. He also had worked as a recruiter in Indianapolis from August of 2006 to October of 2008. The son of David A. Jenkins and Rose M. Hauter Jenkins, leaves in addition to his parents, his wife Melissa, two daughters Lindly and Piper, and a sister Cassie. He died at age 26 at Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered in a shooting incident in Salah ad-Din province. Also killed was Pvt. James F. McClamrock.
Army
1st Battalion
27th Infantry Regiment
2nd Stryker Advise and Assist Brigade
25th Infantry Division
Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

Burial is at Decatur Cemetery in Decatur, Indiana

Born: March 16, 1984
Died: August 30, 2010 in Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan

Spc. Chad D. Clements of Huntington, Indiana 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. This was his first deployment and he had only been in Afghanistan for three weeks. He died at age 26 in the Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Also killed were Army Capt. Dale A Goetz, Army Staff Sgt. Jesse Infante, Army Staff Sgt. Kevin J. Kessler and Army Staff Sgt. Matthew J. West.
Army
4th Brigade Support Battalion
1st Brigade Combat Team
4th Infantry Division
Fort Carson, Colorado

Burial is at Mt Calvary Cemetery in Huntington, Indiana

To be updated…

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

Spc. Justin B. Shoecraft of Elkhart, Indiana 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