Born: February 19, 1987 in Waterville, Maine
Died: September 20, 2008 aboard the Submarine USS Nebraska
Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael A. Gentile of Bangor, formerly of New York attended schools in Maine and Watertown, New York. He graduated from Lawrence High school in Fairfield, Maine, as an honor student. He enlisted in the Navy on July 5, 2005. He was also planning to re-enlist next year. He was a machinist mate aboard the USS Nebraska. Michael was killed at age 21 in an accident aboard the submarine USS Nebraska, near Oahu, Hawaii, where he was serving as a machinist’s mate.
Burial is at Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta, Maine – Sec A Row 11 Site 30
Born: April 27, 1976 in Dover, New Hampshire
Died: March 29, 2004 in Balad, Iraq
Sgt. Jeremiah J. Holmes of North Berwick, Maine was born the son of Sheila Allard Holmes and Mark Keating. He graduated in 1994 from Noble High School where he was active on the swim team, the debate team, and the school band. Jeremy served in the Army before serving in the National Guard. He died at age 27 when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device and fell from a bridge near Balad, Iraq. He leaves his wife, Kimberly and his son, Kaleb, his “mom and dad” who raised him, Sarah (Budd) and Richard W. Allard Sr., his father, Mark Keating, brothers, Michael and Kenneth Fazziola, and Richard Allard Jr., sisters, Selina Gately, Miranda Pratt, Cindy Allard, Nancy Allard, Nicole Allard, and Vanessa Turgeon; half sisters, Whitney and Kayce Keating. He was predeceased by his mother, Sheila Allard Holmes, in 1990.
Army
National Guard
744th Transportation Company
Hillsboro, New Hampshire
Burial is at Saint Mary New Cemetery in Dover, New Hampshire
Born June 14, 1983 in Farmington, ME
Died Jan. 5, 2010 in Cherry Point, NC
Sgt. Matthew K. Roy was the son of Brian Roy and Melody (Tenney) Roy Plourde. Matthew graduated from Livermore Falls High School in 2001 and continued his education at the American International College in Springfield, MA and the University of Southern Maine in Gorham. In 2005 he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and worked as an aircraft mechanic. He received training in South Carolina, Florida, Utah and Arizona and was stationed in Cherry Point, North Carolina. He proudly served three tours of duty in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. On September 6, 2008 he married Jandra Morell of Nokomis, Illinois. He loved being a Marine first and foremost and proudly served his country. He had earned his black belt in karate, was also a qualified sharpshooter and enjoyed hunting, fishing, skiing, four wheeling, camping. Matthew died unexpectedly at Cherry Point. His parents, Melody and Joseph Plourde, and Brian and Tricia Roy, his wife Jandra Roy, his brother and best friend André Roy and other relatives survive him.
Burial: Pleasant View Cemetery in Livermore Falls, Maine
Born: July 19, 1979 in Thomaston, Maine
Died: October 3, 2009 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan,
Sgt Joshua J. Kirk of South Portland, Maine moved to Idaho at age five where he was homeschooled. He later moved to the Rockland area where he received his high school diploma from Camden Hills Regional High School. He then went to work with his father in the construction business. In the fall of 2004, he enrolled in the construction technology program at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland. He joined the Army in May of 2005 following a dream he had since he was a young boy. Josh was currently serving his second tour of duty to Afghanistan, the first having been from May of 2007 through July of 2008. He had been in on this deployment since May of 2009. His awards and decorations include The Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal – 2, Combat Action Badge. He was married with a two-year old daughter. He was one of eight soldiers killed in a daylong battle in northern Afghanistan. Josh died at age 30 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and indirect fires. Also killed in the battle were, Sgt. Justin T. Gallegos, Sgt. Joshua M. Hardt, Staff Sgt Vernon W. Martin, Sgt. Michael P. Scusa, Spc. Christopher T. Griffin, Spc. Stephan L. Mace and Pfc. Kevin C. Thomson.
Army
3rd Squadron
61st Cavalry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
4th Infantry Division
Fort Carson, Colorado
Burial is at Exeter Cemetery in Exeter, New Hampshire
Born: August 5, 1989 in Pennsylvania
Died: August 31, 2009 in Shuyene Sufia, Afghanistan
Pfc Jordan M. Brochu of Oakland, Maine became the son of Daniel and Suzanne Brochu in July of 1993. He attended Lake Region High School during his senior year, graduating in 2008. Though he was at the school only a shirt time, he certainly made a lasting impression. Born a natural athlete, Jordan played football, basketball and participated in field and track as well as surprising everyone with a real talent at throwing discus. In culinary arts class, he displayed readiness to get to work on any project. Jordan was at the high school in an effort to get himself back on track. In the past he had made some unwise decisions, but on the cusp of graduating, he took a real interest in his future. After graduation, he enlisted in the Army just two months later excited to follow in his older siblings’ footsteps by joining the military. Jordan had many interests; from drawing to poetry writing, from fishing with his dad to cooking, from playing video games with his brother to discussing books with his mom. He played the violin, but then dreamed of being a rap star. He participated in a myriad of physical activities from football to snowboarding, basketball to track, from biking to karate. He made friends easily and was a born leader. Anything he set his mind to, he excelled in. He loved to learn, to laugh, and lived for adventures. Whether it was on the beach or on the slopes, if there was something happening, you could be sure that Jordan was in the thick of it. He is survived by his parents, his youngest sister, Sadie; his older brother, Aaron Brochu, and niece, Kaylie; his oldest sister, April, and niece, Ashley.; his maternal grandmother, Una May Lord; his paternal foster grandparents, Don and Martha Farnham. Jordan was killed at age 20 while serving in Afghanistan when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Also killed were Spc. Jonathan D. Welch and Spc. Tyler R. Walshe.
Army
1st Battalion
17th Infantry Regiment
5th Stryker Brigade
2nd Infantry Division
Fort Lewis, Washington
Burial is at Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta, Maine – Sec A Row 16 Site 4
Birth: December 9, 1969 – Lewiston, Maine
Death: April 4, 2003 – Baghdad, Iraq
Spc. Cunningham was assigned to the 41st Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Stewart, Georgia. He was killed when transporting ammunition to the front near Baghdad. His vehicle swerved to avoid mortar rounds and artillery fire, went out of control and ran into a ravine, where he drowned. Daniel was the type of guy you just got along with. Daniel leaves his wife, Heather, and their son.
Burial: Mount Hope Cemetery, Lewiston, Maine
Born: August 22, 1989 in Farmington, Maine
Died: November 29, 2008 in Fort Lewis, Washington
Pfc Blaine N. B. Adams of Farmington, Maine enjoyed hanging out with his friends and family, wrestling, hunting, fishing and weight lifting. Blaine also enjoyed the time he spent at the Foster Vocational Technical School in the carpentry program. He enlisted in the United States Army on August 28, 2006 and reported to Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina on July 5, 2007. He attended Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Eustis, Virginia from September 17, 2007 until February 21, 2008 to train as helicopter repairer. He successfully completed Green Platoon on May 5, 2008 at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, becoming a valuable member of the Special Operations Aviation community. He joined D Co, 4/160th SOAR (A) at Ft. Lewis, WA on May 23, 2008 and began his career directly supporting Special Operations Forces in the Global War on Terrorism. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Basic Aviation Badge, and the Expert Marksmanship Badge. He is survived by his mother, Kenda Adams and sister, Millissa Pierce, Maine and father, Randy Adams. Blaine died at age 19 at Madigan Army Medical Center in Fort Lewis, Washington.
Burial is at Fairview Cemetery in Farmington, Maine
Born: November 21, 1984 in Lincoln, Maine
Died: June 23, 2007 in Iraq
Sgt. Joel A. House of Lee, Maine grew up in eastern Penobscot County and graduated from Lee Academy in 2003 before enlisting right out of school to serve with the First Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, Texas. He came from a family with a long tradition of military service, and his great-great-grandfather, Maj. Charles James House, served in the Civil War. He always knew he wanted to go into the military. Joel was a quiet and humble man who was devoted to his family and his faith. He enjoyed playing the guitar, fishing, hunting and other outdoor activities. When he left the military he hoped to return to Maine, go to college and work with the family business. During high school, he spent summers with his mother in Guadalajara, Mexico, participating in exchange programs and receiving students from around the world. He loved the Maine outdoors, spending time at his maternal grandparents’ camp on Silver Lake where he learned to swim, snorkel, fish, and canoe. Joel, who had accepted Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior as a boy, was also searching for his life mission to his God. A young man of few words, he found a voice to express himself through the guitar and classic rock. He loved playing video games. He was on his second tour in Iraq and was present Jan. 30, 2005, at the Iraqi Election Day. His military awards include, Bronze Star Medal, posthumously; Purple Heart, posthumously; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal, two awards; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; Combat Action Badge; and Weapons Qualification Badge-Expert Rifle. Joel received his promotion to sergeant, June 25, 2007. He suffered head wounds from a suicide bomb attack in March. After that attack, he spent time with his parents and older brother and sister in Florida before returning to Iraq in April. He died in Taji, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle at age 22.
Army
2nd Battalion
8th Cavalry Regiment
1st Brigade Combat Team
1st Cavalry Division
Fort Hood, Texas
Burial is at Woodlawn Cemetery in Lee, Maine
Born: May 31, 1979 in Sanford, Maine
Died: November 26, 2006 in Afghanistan
Capt. Benjamin D. Keating of Shapleigh, Maine attended the University of New Hampshire, graduating Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. degree in 2004. While at UNH he served as the chair of the Young Republicans. He joined the Army ROTC, was a distinguished military graduate, recipient of the Marshall Award, and upon graduation was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Army beginning his tour in Afghanistan in February 2006. He planned to go to law school when he finished his four years in the Army. Keating served as chairman of the College Republicans while at UNH, and also was a member of the Shapleigh Planning Board while in college. He was a member of the Springvale First Baptist Church where he was a youth leader and taught Sunday School. He was 27.
Army
3rd Squadron
71st Cavalry Regiment
(Reconnaissance, Surveillance
Target Acquisition)
3rd Brigade Combat Team
10th Mountain Division
Fort Drum, New York
Burial is at Riverside Cemetery in Springvale, Maine
Birth: June 20, 1987 in Bath, Maine
Death: August 11, 2006 in Afghanistan
Pfc. Andrew R. Small of Wiscasset, Maine is remembered for his good humor, his sense of honor and his beautiful smile. Small is the youngest of four sons of Terrence and Cynthia Small. He had wanted to join the Army since he was a small boy, following in the footsteps of several other family members who served in various branches of the military. He joined the mountain infantry division because he wanted to make a difference. He graduated from Wiscasset High School in 2005, receiving an Army GI Bill award. Friends and classmates remembered Small as a good student and a supportive person. He is survived by his parents, Terry and Cindy Small; three brothers, Matthew, Jonathan and Joshua, his maternal grandparents, Richard and Bernadine James; his paternal grandmother, Barbara Small. He was decorated seven times during his short career in the U.S. Army, which was less than one year. Besides the Silver Star, he received the Bronze Star; Purple Heart; Good Conduct Medal; War on Terrorism Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; and the Combat Infantry Badge. Andrew was posthumously awarded one of the nation’s highest decorations for heroism, the Silver Star. He was 19.
Army
10th Mountain Division
Fort Drum, New York
Burial is at Pine Grove Cemetery in Dresden Mills, Maine