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
Born: March 9, 1987
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 in Indianapolis, Indiana
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
Born: June 9, 1979 in Mexico
Died: October 3, 2006 in Baghdad, Iraq
Staff Sgt. Jonathan Rojas of Hammond, Indiana was a man with big plans for the future but hadn’t quite figured out just how to achieve his goals. When he graduated from Hammond High School in 1997, he didn’t know what to do with his life. One day, he would say he had decided that he would study to become a police officer. The next day, he’d tell his father that he wanted to join the family’s landscaping business. Rojas worked for a few years at a glass company as he struggled to figure out what to do next, but in the meantime, he entertained himself by hanging out, playing jokes on everyone and concentrating on his video games. After joining the Army he was stationed in Alaska with his wife before his deployment to Iraq. He had been home for two weeks in January. He died at age 27 of injuries sustained from enemy small-arms fire while performing security operations in Baghdad.
Army
1st Battalion
17th Infantry Regiment
172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team
Fort Wainwright, Alaska
Burial is at Memory Lane Memorial Cemetery in Schererville, Indiana
Born: July 28, 1986 in Anderson, Indiana
Died: June 7, 2010 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan
United States Marine Sergeant John Rankel was from Speedway, Indiana. While growing up John played a variety of sports and as he grew he mentored and coached several kids. He was a 2005 graduate of Speedway High School where he was a star football player and many expected he would go onto play college ball, but John had a different plan for his life and that was to serve his country. He enlisted in the Marines after graduation. Stationed at Camp Pendleton, California, John served two tours of duty in Iraq before being deployed to Afghanistan in April of 2010, assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, from Camp Pendleton. Even after becoming a Marine, John touched many kids lives by visiting and speaking to children in their history classes about service to others. He constantly pushed himself and others to excellence and had said, “What man is a man who does not make the world better?” Passsionate about being a Marine, John served with distintction and was awarded several medals and awards during his five years of service. John was survived by mother ans stepfather; his father and stepmother; and two brothers. John’s father was 30 years older than his son. He thought that maybe people would think he was John’s hero. But it was not the case. Son was hero to father.
Burial was in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Born: Jan. 21, 1983 in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Died: May 5, 2010 in Afghanistan
Brandon spent his first nine years living in New Mexico, his family then moved to Marion, Indiana, and he forever more called Marion his hometown. The friends he made there, and his family, always assured Brandon that wherever he was in the world, he had a place he called home. He was the son of Brett and Cindy Barrett and Cindy’s father was an Army captain. So it was no surprise when her son decided on a military career himself. Brandon graduated from Marion High School in 2001 where he was a star baseball and football player. He was accepted into the United States Naval Academy afterwards. He was so excited and helped calm his mother’s fears; she knew what a military career could hold for her oldest son. Never once did he express fear about his future, he knew he made the right choice for himself. A popular student at Annapolis, Brandon played Sprint football there and graduated in 2006. He was accepted into the United States Marine Corps in May 2006. Brandon kept in frequent contact with his friends back home and the only complaint he ever had was about the food. From March to October 2008, Brandon deployed to Afghanistan and was promoted to first lieutenant during that time. He was a selfless leader who quickly bonded with his men. He earned the nickname “Bull” from his Marine buddies; he was tough, careful and enthused about his role. He was their big brother and he took his role very seriously. In December 2009 he deployed again to Afghanistan, assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Before he left Brandon wrote a personal and compassionate letter his parents expressing his desires if he didn’t make it home. He wanted to make sure that if he didn’t, his wish to be buried in his beloved Marion was honored. He died while supporting combat operations in Helmand province. Brandon was promoted posthumously from 1st Lt. to Captain. Besides his parents his two sisters, Taylor and Ashley, and a brother Brock survived him. Brock plans on enlisting the Marine Corps to honor his older brother.
Captain Barrett was buried in Gardens of Memory, north of Marion, Indiana.
Born: November 4, 1979 in Kokomo, Indiana
Died: July 8, 2003 in Homberg, Germany
Pvt. 2 Robert L. McKinley of Kokomo, Indiana is 1998 graduate of Peru High School. He died at age 23 of non-combat-related causes July 8 in Homberg, Germany. He suffered apparent heat stroke in Mosul, Iraq in mid-June and was transported to Germany where he died. He leaves his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Feller, among others.
Army
Headquarters and Headquarters Company
1st Battalion
101st Aviation Regiment
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Burial is at Rankin Cemetery in Bunker Hill, Indiana
Born on Jun. 15, 1982
Died on Jun. 14, 2007 in San Antonio, TX
Staff Sgt. Michael A. Bechert attended schools in Indiana. He met Daniela while stationed in Germany and they married there. Michael was the kind of soldier that had a reputation for being a hard worker and for working his soldiers. He needed to take care of them. It was this same attitude he had in marrying Daniela, he needed someone that he could take care of. When she gave birth to their son while they were stationed in Germany, afterwards he showed up to work in civilian clothes. Another sergeant walked over to Michael to find out why he was there instead of with the new baby and his wife. Michael said he just wanted to check on a few things and see what was going on that day. He hung out for a little while before being kicked out of the office. That’s just the way he was. As soon as he knew his wife was fine at home, he would come into work for a little bit and make sure everything was still running the way it should be. Michael was also modest about his service to his country. One his first tour of duty in Iraq, he was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart. When a Captain who was also a chaplain asked Michael about the circumstances that led to his getting it, Michael shrugged him off. That’s the way he was. It was in the past and over with. On his second tour of duty, Michael was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2d Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, based at Schweinfurt, Germany. He suffered serious wounds when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device on May 30 in Baghdad, Iraq. Three other soldiers were killed. He was transferred to a hospital in San Antonio where he died of his wounds two weeks later, the day before his 25th birthday. His wife; son; father, Michael; sister, Teri; and his grandparents, George and Doris Bechert, survive him. Michael’s mother Angela preceded him in death.
He was buried next to his mother in Moravian Cemetery in Hope, Indiana.