Freedom Remembered

Born: March 26, 1992, in Rockville, Connecticut
Died: July 17, 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Pfc. Tyler M. Springmann of Hartland, Maine died at age 19 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Tyler graduated in 2010 from Nokomis High School where he maintained a positive attitude and was liked by both his peers and the staff. He joined the Army in June 2010, completed basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., and arrived at Fort Wainwright in October 2010. The military listed Tyler Springmann’s name as Springman, but the spelling should be with two n’s.

Mount Pleasant Cemetery

To be updated…

Born: August 3, 1986
Died: November 29, 2010 in Nangarhar, Afghanistan

Pfc. Buddy W. McLain of Mexico, Maine is a 2006 graduate of Mountain Valley High School. He joined the United States Army in May of 2009 arriving at Fort Campbell in October of 2009. He served as a Cavalry Scout and was serving his first deployment. His Awards and Decorations include, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and NATO Medal. He leaves his wife, Chelsea, a son, Owen McLain, and his parents, Larry and Patti McLain, three brothers, Dustin, Cote, and Greg. He died at age 24 in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an insurgent attacked his unit with small arms fire. Also killed were Sgt. 1st Class Barry E. Jarvis, Staff Sgt. Curtis A. Oakes, Pfc. Jacob A. Gassen, Pfc. Austin G. Staggs and Spc. Matthew W. Ramsey.
Army
1st Squadron
61st Cavalry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Burial is at Demeritt Cemetery in Peru, Maine

To be updated…

Born: April 30, 1990 in Farmington, Maine
Died: November 8, 2010 in Khost, Afghanistan

Cpl. Andrew L. Hutchins of New Portland, Maine is a 2008 graduate of Carrabec High School. While a student there he was a member of the Willpower Weightlifting program and participated in basketball and baseball. Andrew enlisted in the United States Army in September of 2008 arriving at Fort Campbell in February of 2009. His awards and decorations include, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon. He leaves his wife, Heather, his unborn daughter, who is due in March of 2011, his mother and stepfather, Robin Norwood and Dwayne, his father and stepmother, Jeffrey A. Hutchins and Betsy, and two brothers, Adam and Benjamin. He died at age 20 at Khost province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire.
Army
3rd Special Troops Battalion
3rd Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Burial is at Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta, Maine – Sec A Row 25 Site 20

To be updated…

Born: May 18, 1985 in Presque Isle, Maine
Died: November 2, 2010 in Helmand, Afghanistan

1st Lt. James R. Zimmerman of Aroostook, Maine is a 2003 graduate of Greater Houlton Christian Academy. James was a spirited man with a passion for making his family proud and following his dream of serving in the military. James joined the United States Marine Corps on March 21, 2003, the first day of Operation Iraqi Freedom, completing his training at Paris Island. He served in the Marine Corps Reserve, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Topsham, for one year and afterward was awarded a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Scholarship in 2004. He attended the University of Maine, Orono, graduating in 2008 and commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the Marine Corps. While at Orono he met his future wife, Lynel Winters, whom he later married on June 21, 2008. He attended The Basic School and the Infantry Officer Course in Quantico, Va., after which he was assigned as platoon commander for the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment of Camp Lejeune, N.C. In May 2010, he was promoted to 1st lieutenant in the Marine Corps. James was deployed to Afghanistan on June 13, 2010. He leaves his wife, Lynel, his parents, Thomas and Jane Kendrick Zimmerman, a brother, Christian, and a sister, Meghan. He died at age 25 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marines
2nd Battalion
6th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9188

To be updated…

Born: May 24th 1989, in Fall River Massachusetts
Died: September 24, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan

Pfc. Clinton E. Springer II, of Mashpee, Massachusetts grew up on Cape Cod and spent some time in Maine and New Hampshire. He attended Bourne High School and graduated in 2007 from Contoocook Valley School in Peterborough, New Hampshire. He enlisted in the Army in March of 2009. He completed his basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He completed the Combat Lifesavers Course prior to his deployment. It trains combat personnel to treat injured comrades and apply potentially lifesaving first aid on the battlefield before medical help arrives. He deployed to Afghanistan on January 4, 2010 with the 1st Brigade Combat Team. His Awards and Decorations include, The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and NATO Medal, The Army Commendation Medals (3), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal. Clinton leaves his father, Clinton E Springer, his mother, Kathleen M. Lumsden and stepfather John D. Lumsden, his brother, Eric, and his girlfriend, Kalie Massie. He died at age 21 in Kabul, Afghanistan, in a non-combat related incident.
Army
2nd Battalion
22nd Infantry Regiment
1st Brigade Combat Team
10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry)
Fort Drum, New York

Saint Joseph Cemetery in Falmouth, Massachusetts

Born: June 23, 1979 in Massachusetts
Died: June 27, 2010 in Konar, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Eric B. Shaw of Exeter, Maine graduated from Dexter Regional High School in 1998. He entered the Army in October of 2004 and arrived at Fort Campbell in March of 2005. His Awards and Decorations include, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, Overseas Service Ribbon, Expert Infantry Badge, Air Assault Badge and Weapons Qualification, M4 (expert). He is survived by his wife, Audrey R. Shaw; and daughters Madison and Victoria, and his mother, Michelle S. Campbell. He was killed in Afghanistan just eleven days after his arrival. He had plans of becoming a history teacher. He was married and the father of three children. He died at age 31 in Konar, Afghanistan of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked hi unit with small arms fire.
Army
2nd Battalion
327th Infantry Regiment
1st Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Burial is at Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta, Maine – Sec Q Row 15 Site 21

Born: December 23, 1984 at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska
Died: June 21, 2010 in Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Brandon M. Silk of Orono, Maine attended Orono High School where he played varsity football and ran track after he transferred from Calais in 2001. He stood out in football and track, earning him the nickname ‘Silky Smooth’ by his peers. The avid outdoorsman loved to hunt and fish and especially enjoyed the family camp at Green Lake. He was proud of his home state, and didn’t mind being the “Crazy Mainer” by his comrades. Growing up, Brandon already knew he wanted to fly, perhaps influenced by his favorite movie, ‘Top Gun’. He enlisted in the military just after graduation in 2003 and was currently serving as the crew chief of a Black Hawk helicopter in Afghanistan. His Awards and Decorations include, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Good Conduct Medal (2), National Defense Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Combat Action Badge, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and Weapons Qualification, M4, expert. He is survived by his wife, Kayce, and step-son, Brayden, and his parents, Lynn M. and Mark A. Silk. He died at age 25 of injuries sustained when the helicopter in which he was travelling in made a hard landing.
Army
5th Battalion
101st Aviation Regiment
101st Combat Aviation Brigade
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Burial is at Lawndale Cemetery in Old Town, Maine

Born on March 22, 1989

Died on May 6, 2010 in Afghanistan

Wade was raised in Waterville, Maine and gave his life in service to his country in Jaghatu, Afghanistan at the age of 21. One of seven children, he grew up with the same values his father, a veterinarian, held and that was that all life, no matter form it comes in, is precious. His sister Meghan confessed that the family secret was that Wade was “pretty much everyone’s favorite.” His sweet, compassionate and unselfish personality drew people towards him. He was easy to talk to and he listened. He did normal boy stuff growing up from Boy Scouts to baseball but also loved the adventures that life brought his way. Like the time when he was 8 and riding in the family van with his older brother, they were going 50mph and crashed. Wade’s brother was shaken and sobbing, but not Wade. He yelled, “That was fun!” He grew into a tall young man, who worked at a restaurant during high school and decided at the age of 14 that he was going to serve as a soldier, protecting the precious lives of the citizens of his country. Wade graduated from high school in 2007 and had already enlisted the fall before. He reported to Fort Leonard Wood for basic training in July 2007. Wade had decided to specialize in Explosive Ordnance Disposal and went through vigorous background checks to be accepted into the program. He completed Initial Entry Training at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama and Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.  On September 16, 2008, he reported to Fort Lewis, Washington, where he was assigned to the 707th Ordnance Company (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), 3rd Ordnance Battalion (EOD). In the summer of 2009 he deployed to Afghanistan. Wade’s work was nerve-racking, but he never once complained. He wore an 80-pound suit in extreme weather, from cold to hot. His sense of humor was evident when he and a buddy climbed to the top of a mountain during a freezing rainstorm. When they reached the top Wade turned to him and said, “This wasn’t in the brochure.” Wade was the type of soldier who was always in high spirits, and often gave food and other items to others if they needed it. On May 6, Wade defused a bomb and while waiting for transportation away from the area, he was killed when insurgents attacked his unit using indirect fire. His awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Action Badge, NATO medal and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Wade is survived by his father Dr. Alan Slack; stepmother Rose Slack; his beloved mother Mary Slack; six siblings: Jonathan, Meghan, Lauren, Allison, Andrew and Jesse; a stepbrother Ethan Roderick and stepsister Jessica Cook. Wade also is survived by people who though are not blood family, he considered them his “West Coast Parents”, Dan and Mary Morse of Washington state. Wade had posted on his myspace page that he “likes a lot of stuff. But mostly my family, which includes my friends. Because if you’re in the same business that I am then you would understand that your friends are family.” Please read the comments left on this page by Wade’s family and friends and read how his life touched all he met.

Spc. Wade A. Slack’s final resting place is Lewis Cemetery in Oakland, Maine.

Born: January 4, 1984 in Presque Isle, Maine
Death: December 6, 2006 in Al Anbar, Iraq

Cpl. Dustin J. Libby of Presque Isle, Maine graduated from Presque Isle High School’s Adult Education Program, Class of 2003. He was impressed by how a friend had been transformed by his experience in the Marines and seeing that, he knew he wanted that for himself. The day Dustin shipped off for boot camp he was a kid with scruffy long hair. When his family saw him again at boot camp graduation, they saw a man, a Marine. He joined the United States Marine Corps, graduating February 2004 and was almost immediately deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom in the summer. Dustin returned from his first deployment to Iraq in fall 2004, after which he remained stateside until his second overseas deployment to Okinawa, Japan. During this deployment, he traveled to Hawaii, Okinawa, Japan and participated in joint training with Philippine military. He was survived by his mother, Geni Libby, his father, Judson Libby, and his brother, Chris. Dustin was engaged to Jeannine Gonzales. They planned to marry when Dustin returned from this tour in Iraq. He was killed at age 22 while conducting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq.
Marines
2nd Battalion
4th Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, California

Burial is at Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery, Caribou, Maine – Sec CN Row 10 Site 4

Born on May 24, 1980 in Bangor, MA

Died on Apr. 3, 2008 in Germany

Sergeant Robertson, of Old Town, Maine, grew up in Holden, attended school and graduated from Brewer High School in 1998, where he was active and enjoyed performing with the jazz band. He later attended the University of Maine, graduating from the Honors College and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa Society. He was also presented the Virtue Award, naming him the outstanding philosophy student in his graduating class. Nicholas was accepted to graduate school at Northwestern University, Illinois, and completed two years before enlisting in the United States Army on May 26, 2005. He attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and advanced individual training as a cryptologist linguist at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas. Sgt. Robertson graduated from U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, January 19, 2006. He reported to 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Airborne, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on his second tour of duty beginning March 4, 2006, and was assigned to Support Operations Team Alpha, SOTA, as a senior voice interceptor. As a cryptologic linguist, he was responsible for performing and supervising the detection, acquisition of foreign communications. Nicholas played an indispensable role in conducting counter-terrorism operations against Taliban and Al Qaeda forces in Afghanistan. He died at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds suffered April 2 while conducting dismounted combat operations in the Zahn Khan District, Afghanistan. His military training included Basic Training, Advanced Individual Training as a Cryptologic Linguist, Airborne School, and Warrior Leaders Course. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, the Combat Action Badge, and Parachutist Badge. Nicholas is survived by his parents David and Nancy (Davis) Robertson of Dedham and Venice, Florida; two brothers, Douglas Robertson of Bimini, Bahamas, and Todd Robertson of Dedham; several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Woodlawn Cemetery in Brewer, Maine, is his final resting place.