Cpl. Jesse W. Stites, 23, of Palatka, Fla., died January 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Stites was a CH-53 crew chief who had been with the “Red Lions” since March 2009. The 2006 Interlachen High School graduate enlisted in the Marine Corps in January 2008. This was his second deployment to Afghanistan. His awards include, three Air Medals, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and NATO ISAF Medal. He was part of the Lucky Red Lions helicopter squadron HMH-363. The unit deployed in August 2011 to southern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and is set to return home in March 2012. Their mission is to provide assault support, transport Marines and critical supplies, as well as equipment during expeditionary operations.
To be updated…
Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, 24, of Westminster, Md. He was assigned to the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. He died Jan. 5 in Shir ghazi, Helmand province, Afghanistan, when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. He is a 2006 graduate of Westminster High School. Airman 1st Class Seidler entered active duty in November 2009 and was deployed from Peterson Air Force Base in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 10009
To be updated…
Born: December 31, 1984
Died: August 11, 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan
Sgt. Jameel T. Freeman of Baltimore, Maryland arrived at Fort Drum in April 2010. He previously deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from August 2007 to April 2008 and deployed with his unit in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in March 2011. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, two Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the NATO Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He was posthumously promoted to Sergeant. He died at age 26 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.
Army
1st Battalion
32nd Infantry Regiment
3rd Brigade Combat Team
10th Mountain Division
Fort Drum, New York
Burial is at Maryland State Veterans Cemetery in Owings Mills, Maryland – Sec N-7 Row 1 Site 1
To be updated…
Born: June 5, 1987
Died: August 3, 2011 in Logar, Afghanistan
Spc. Barun Rai of Silver Spring, Maryland came to the U.S. from Nepal and dreamed of joining the United States Army. He died at age 24 in Logar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained during a vehicle rollover.
Army
54th Engineer Battalion
18th Engineer Brigade
21st Theater Sustainment Command
Warner Barracks
Bamberg, Germany
Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9301
To be updated…
Born: March 19, 1971
Died: April 16, 2011 in Nangarhar, Afghanistan
Capt. Charles E. Ridgley Jr of Baltimore, Maryland graduated in 1990 from Walbrook Senior High School where he participated in Reserve Officer’s Training Corps. He died at age 40 at Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an Afghan National Army soldier attacked with multiple grenades.
Army
17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
3rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
Anchorage, Alaska
To be updated…
Born: August 21, 1985 in Westminster, Maryland
Died: March 20, 2011 in Helmand, Afghanistan
Staff Sgt. James M. Malachowski of Westminster, Maryland died at age 25 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. He joined the United States Marine Corps in June of 2003 and was promoted to Staff Sergeant in April of 2010. His deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom extended from March of 2004 to October of 2004, from July of 2005 to February of 2006 and from January of 2007 to July of 2007. In early 2011 he deployed to Afghanistan serving in Operation Enduring Freedom. Among his awards are, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals, two Marine Corps Good Conduct medals, a National Defense Service Medal, two Iraq Campaign medals, a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9610
To be updated…
Born: July 12, 1990 in Yangon, Myanmar
Died: January 1, 1011 in Helmand, Afghanistan
Lance Cpl. Maung P. Htaik of Hagerstown, Maryland was best known as. ‘Samuel’. He graduated from Smithsburg High School in 2008. He leaves his parents, Hla and Flory Myint Shwe, his brother, Dan Yar, and his wife Than Yaw Zin Nwe. He was a member of Gateway Ministries Church of God in Williamsport. He died at age 20 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
Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 948
To be updated…
Born: February 15, 1982 in Bethesda, Maryland
Died: November 12, 2010 in Landstuhl, Germany
Spc. David C. Lutes of Westernport, Maryland is a 2001 graduate of Westmar High School. He also graduated from Allegheny Community College. He joined the Army in January of 2008 and arriving at Fort Campbell in May of 2008. He leaves his wife, Bobbi J. Lutes, whom he married in March of 2009, two daughters, Kya and Kaitlyn, and his mother and stepfather, Delia and Rich Ahern, two brothers, Kenny and Jarod, and a sister, Kylie. He died at age 28 in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, on Nov. 8 2010.
Army
1st Squadron
61st Cavalry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Bolivar, New York
To be updated…
Born: June 3, 1991
Died: October 27, 2010 in Helmand, Afghanistan
Lance Cpl. Terry E. Honeycutt Jr., of Waldorf, Maryland graduated in 2009 from North Point High School where he participated in the color guard, Reserve Officers Training Corp. He was also a member of the stage crew for the theater club and was in the band for the school chorus. He was part of North Point’s first graduating class. Terry was musically gifted and taught himself to play the guitar and drums, both of which he started playing at a young age. From an early age, Terry had his mind set on serving in the military. If his Marine Corps key chain wasn’t a subtle reminder of his intentions, his speaking about it at every opportunity certainly was. He grew up playing ‘soldier’ with his sister, and would watch movies with a war theme. Though his family supported his decision, they did try to talk him out of serving in the infantry. He died at age 19 from wounds received Oct. 21 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service medals.
Marines
2nd Battalion
9th 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 9288
To be updated…
Born: January 28, 1987
Died: June 25, 2006 in Afghanistan
Pfc. Justin R. Davis of Gaithersburg, Maryland was a graduate of Col. Zadok Magruder High School. He had a distinguished baritone voice, was a brash, outgoing young man who was so enthusiastic about Kung Fu movies and crunk rap music that he made his own videos and recorded his own songs Serving in the military was a dream of his and the job suited him. Justin who was his mother’s only child, had a magnetic personality, a million dollar smile, and a jovial manner. When he told his mom that he wanted to serve in the infantry, she did all she could to talk him out it. She wanted him to further his education in college. To help ease her mind about his decision, he promised that he would get a degree after his enlistment was up. He had been deployed to Afghanistan since March of 2006 and had plans to come home for several weeks in August for some rest. In his Web site on MySpace.com, he wrote that his heroes were God, Martin Luther King Jr. and Bruce Lee. His Awards and Decorations include, the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Afghan Campaign Medal. He leaves his mother, Paula R. Davis and father, Dennis R. Johnson. He died at age 19 when he came in contact with indirect fire while on patrol during combat operations in Korengal, Afghanistan.
Army
1st Battalion
32nd Infantry Regiment
3rd Brigade Combat Team
10th Mountain Division
Fort Drum, New York
Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 8406
