Freedom Remembered

Birth: May 11, 1984 Millinocket, Maine
Death: April 6, 2006, Iraq

Spc. Dustin J. Harris of Bangor, Maine was a 2002 graduate of Katahdin High School in Stacyville, where he was an outstanding soccer player who traveled to England to play soccer one spring. He then attended Eastern Maine Technical College in Bangor for two years, while majoring in diesel and heavy mechanics. Dustin enlisted in the U.S. Army June 2004. After graduating from basic training in September, Spc. Harris went to advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. His most exhilarating accomplishment was when he earned his wings as a qualified paratrooper. Dustin was then stationed at Fort Wainwright, Fairbanks, Alaska. After a short stay in Fairbanks, a month long tour then began at Fort Polk, La. with the Joint Readiness Training Center Program, where he trained in desert warfare and advanced convoy mission training. Dustin received an Army Achievement Medal and was promoted to Specialist after only 12 months of service time. In August 2005, Dustin was deployed to Iraq, where he took tremendous pride in serving his country. While serving in Iraq, Dustin received numerous awards including, a Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, Combat Action Badge and Weapons Qualification Badge. His fellow comrades and friends have communicated to his family that he was an excellent soldier and that they felt privileged to have known and served with him. He was active in the Stetson United Methodist Church.
Harris was the third Mainer killed in Iraq this year. He was the son of Lorna and Scott Harris of Patten. Dustin is survived by his proud and loving family, parents, Lorna and Scott Harris; one younger brother, Dylan; paternal grandparents, Rodney and Esther Harris, maternal grandparents, James and Sandra Troutt; great-grandmother, Bernice Bradgon; special aunts and uncles, Todd and Michelle Troutt, Debbie and Kemp Coolong and Lynn and Duane Merry; cousins, Eric Davenport and his wife, Billie, Emily Davenport, Tellis Coolong, Melissa Coolong and his little “buddy” Jett Troutt. Dustin took pride in everything he did from school projects, to soccer, spending time with family and friends and jobs held during high school and college years. He touched so many people’s lives that he will certainly be sadly missed and never forgotten by family, friends, community and this country. He died when an improvised device detonated at age 21.
Army
172nd Brigade Support Battalion
172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Wainwright, Alaska

Burial is at Patten Cemetery in Patten, Maine

Born: August 4, 1983 in Norway, Maine
Died: March 13, 2006 in AR Ramadi, Iraq

Sgt. Corey A. Dan of Norway, Maine graduated in 2001 from Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School. Later that same summer he enlisted in the United States Army and arrived at Fort Campbell in March of 2002. His first deployment was to Iraq in 2003. He re-enlisted in 2005 and intended to go to college after leaving the military with the goal of becoming a police officer. Corey will be remembered for his quick smile, his great sense of humor and his enthusiasm for life. He had a caring demeanor and an outgoing personality. His awards and decorations include, the Weapons Qualification, M4, expert, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge; Expert Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge. He died without ever seeing his son, Austin, who was born in December of 2005 on the same day he departed for his second tour of duty in Iraq. He leaves his son, Austin, his mother and stepfather, Wanda and Douglas Kilgore, his father Ritchie Dan and companion Georgina Jacobson, a brothers, Ritchie Dan and Tristan Kilgore. Corey was buried with full military honors. He was killed at age 22 when he came under small arms fire and an improvised explosive device detonated during combat operations near Ramadi, Iraq. Also killed was Staff Sgt. Marco A. Silva.
Army
1st Battalion
506th Infantry
4th Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Burial is at the Dan Family Cemetery in North Norway, Maine

Born: September 26, 1982
Died: December 15, 2005 in Balad, Iraq

Spc. Joseph A. Lucas of Augusta, Georgia lived in Bath, Maine until the age of 15 before moving to Augusta. He graduated from George P. Butler High School. It was during the tenth grade that he met his future wife, Heather and the couple were married in November 2002. It was also in 2002 that Joseph joined the United States Army. It was his plan to eventually become a Georgia State Trooper. He was a member of the Lake Side Baptist Church in Clearwater, South Carolina. Joseph is survived by his wife, Heather, his son, “L. J.”, his brothers, Jeffery, Jason, Drew, Jeremiah, John and Dwight, his mother, Barbara Davis, father, Jeffery Lucas, Sr. and his wife, April, maternal grandmother, Anita Rouleau; maternal grandfather, Richard Davis; paternal grandfather, Burleigh Lucas, Sr.; paternal grandmother, Beatrice Moody; and his mother and father-in-law; Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Johnson. Joseph was killed at age 23 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Balad, Iraq.
Army
5th Squadron
7th Cavalry Regiment
1st Brigade Combat Team
3rd Infantry Division
Fort Stewart, Georgia

Burial is at Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery in Augusta, Georgia

To be updated…

Born: September 16, 1957 in Waterbury, Connecticut
Died: December 21, 2004 in Mosul, Iraq

Staff Sgt. Lynn R. Poulin, Sr., of Freedom, Maine was an unusually hardworking, dedicated, and loyal friend. He first joined the Army in 1981 and served in Germany for a year, then returned to Maine and signed on with the Army National Guard. In his civilian capacity, he worked at Bath Iron Works, got married and raised a family. He also worked for Omega Trucking Co. for several years. The son of Bertrand and Therese Poulin was a man with great faith. He had served on active duty for three years in Germany from 1981 to 1984; and 1984 to 1993 with Battalion 262 A Company and joined the 133rd in September 1993. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Belfast. He was killed at age 47 when his base dining facility was attacked in Mosul, Iraq. After his death, Poulin received promotion from sergeant to staff sergeant. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. His military assignments included a job as a metal worker, and among his citations was one for his work upgrading Humvees. He leaves his wife, Jeanne, three sons, Michael James Poulin, Lynn R. Poulin Jr., and Ryan J. Fortin, a daughter, Cindi Wentworth, his father, Bertrand F. Poulin, his mother, Therese Poulin, three sisters, Nancy Poulin, Gale Hewett and Dale Albert, and his brother-in-law and best friend, Douglas Wentworth.
Army
National Guard
133rd Engineer Battalion
Belfast, Maine

Burial information is unknown at this time.

Born: February 25, 1984
Died: December 21, 2004 in Mosul, Iraq

Sgt. Thomas J. Dostie of Sommerville, Maine attended Palermo Elementary School, and Erskine Academy where he participated on the swimming and wrestling teams. Tom didn’t bring attention to himself, rather he did what was asked of him on both the football field and in the classroom. He seem to migrate to the underdog, the student who was left out, or who had trouble fitting in could find Tommy taking them under his wing. Tom was a quiet man who harbored a deep sense of pride in his family, country and school. He could also be a mischievous young man. A good hearted person he was always helping others, often it was other students who struggled in the senior business math class. He followed in his father’s footsteps, serving as a volunteer firefighter and working at the family’s lawnmower repair shop. After joining the military he became a proud soldier. He died in Mosul, Iraq at age 20 when a suicide bomber entered his dining facility and detonated an improvised explosive device. He leaves his parents, Michael R. Dostie and Margaret M. Betit Dostie, his brother, Timothy M. Dostie, foster brothers and sisters, John J. Houllahan Jr. Stanley Terry, Patrick Woodside, and Lisa Haggarty.
Army
National Guard
133rd Engineer Battalion
Portland, Maine

Burial is at Sand Hill Cemetery in Somerville, Maine

Born: April 15, 1965
Died: August 7, 2004 in Ghazikel, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Craig W. Cherry of Winchester, Virginia spent much of his childhood in Maine, but considered Winchester, Virginia his home. He joined the Army after graduating from high school in Virginia. He killed at age 39 when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in Ghazikel, Afghanistan. He leaves his wife, Donna, a son, Daniel C. Cherry, a daughter, Kaitlyn J. Cherry, an infant son, Charles D. Cherry, his father, Roy Cherry, his mother, Jill Turner and a brother, Dennis Cherry.
Army
National Guard
3rd Battalion
116th Infantry Regiment
1st Brigade
29th Infantry Division (Light Infantry)
Winchester, Virginia

Burial is at Winchester National Cemetery in Winchester, Virginia – Sec 49 Site 2221A

To be updated…

Born: April 4, 1971 in Portland, Maine
Died: April 16, 2004 in Baghdad, Iraq

Sgt. Lawrence A. Roukey, 33, of Westbrook, Maine was assigned to Detachment 1, 3rd Battalion, 304th Regiment, 98th Division, Army Reserve, Lewiston, Maine; killed April 26 by a large explosion while performing site security in Baghdad.

Burial is at New Calvary Cemetery in South Portland, Maine

To be updated…

Born: January 30, 1980 Blue Hill, Maine
Died: February 13, 2004 in Ghazni, Afghanistan

Sgt. Nicholes D Golding of Addison, Maine graduated from Narraguagus High School in Harrington, Maine in 1998. Following proudly in his grandfathers path, Nick enlisted in the United States Army. He was killed at age 24 in Ghanzni, Afghanistan, as a result of an AT-46 (anti-tank) mine explosion. He leaves his wife, Heidi, two children, Christopher N. Golding and Bailey N. Golding, his father, Darwin M. Golding, his mother, Cynthia M. Coffin and his sister, Holly Andrews.
Army
C Company
2nd Battalion
87th Infantry Regiment
10th Mountain Division
Fort Drum, New York

Burial is at ChurchHill Cemetery in Addison, Maine

To be updated…

Birth: August 8, 1966 – Waterville, Maine
Death: March 21, 2003 – Kuwait

Major Aubin was assigned to the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. He was killed in a CH-46E helicopter crash.Jay was the eldest of three boys. He graduated from high school in Skowhegan, he wanted to go to college so he enlisted in the Marines and served four years, based in California, where he worked as a helicopter mechanic.

Burial: Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California – Section A-E, Site 1282

Born: January 5, 1965
Died: October 10, 2001 in Qatar

Master Sgt. Evander E. Andrews of Solon, Maine entered the Air Force out of high school and served 18 years. He was killed at age 36 in a heavy equipment accident in Qatar. Evander is the son of Odber and Mary Andrews. He also leaves his wife, Judy and four children and three sisters. MSgt Andrews is the first American serviceman killed after events of 9-11.
Air Force
366th Civil Engineering Squad
Mountain Home AFB, Idaho

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 64 Site 6226

To be updated…