Freedom Remembered

Born: February 19, 1983 in Heidelberg, Germany
Died: September 12, 2006 in AL Kifl, Iraq

2nd Lt. Emily J.T. Perez, grew up in a military family and lived in many places. Her family is from Belton, Texas and she lived in Germany but went to high school in Maryland. With that background, she had the military bearing and discipline befitting a West Point graduate and Army officer. She was also smart as a whip, athletically gifted, deeply religious and sang in the military academy’s gospel choir. She was a constant learner, always eager for something to learn and share with someone. Born in Germany, where her father was stationed in the Army, Emily attended elementary schools in Germany. Her family moved to Prince George’s County where she attended and graduated from Oxon High School in 2001. While there she was on the track team. Emily arrived at West Point as an accomplished high school sprinter and later became a top triple jumper after volunteering to fill a roster need. She really enjoyed being the person that was in charge. If there was a parade and track meet on the same day, the highlight of her day was probably leading the parade. Although she was from a military family, she was the first to attend a military academy. At West Point, she was the first black woman to serve as corps commander sergeant major, and finished academically in the top 10 percent of her class. After graduating from West Point in 2005, Emily began her assignment at Fort Hood and was sent to Iraq shortly thereafter. She regularly kept in touch with her family, but was particularly communicative with her father because they could both talk military. Besides her parents, survivors include a brother, Kevyn, and her maternal and paternal grandmothers. She died at age 23 of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near her Humvee during combat operations in Kifl, Iraq.
Army
204th Support Battalion
2nd Brigade
4th Infantry Division
Fort Hood, Texas

Burial is at United States Military Academy Post Cemetery in West Point, New York – Sec XXXVI, Row B grave 064F

Born: July 17, 1979
Died: March 4, 2010 in Gereshk, Afghanistan

Sgt. Anthony A. Paci of Rockville, Maryland grew up in Bethesda and was living in Rockville when he enlisted in the Army in October 2004. He attended Walt Whitman High School where he enjoyed art, played junior varsity football and helped with set design and lighting at school plays. He left a month before graduation in 1997, but earned a general equivalency diploma in 1999 and later joined the Army. As an adult he enjoyed spending time with his family and being outdoors, riding motorcycles and bicycles and canoeing. Tony met his wife during his 2005-06 deployment to Iraq and told friends leaving his family behind for his second combat tour was difficult. He married Erica O’Beirne Paci and the couple had three children. His children were a source of constant joy for him. He deployed to Iraq from December 2005 to November 2006. Afghanistan was his second deployment. His Awards and Decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army National Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge and Expert Infantry Badge. He died at age 30 at Gereshk, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered during a vehicle rollover.
Army
1st Battalion
17th Infantry
5th Brigade
2nd Infantry Division
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9069

Born Jul 28, 1983

Died Jan. 26, 2005 in Ar Rutbah, Iraq

Michael L. Starr, Jr. was from Baltimore, Maryland, and spent quite a lot of time in the water, swimming, surfing and water-skiing. He wished to become part of American history, and was so motivated by the prospect of joining the Marines that he became an honor student his senior year in high school. His enthusiasm also motivated him to recruit several friends into the Marine Corps. He enlisted in early 2001 and took his training at Camp Lejeune, transferring to Hawaii in 2002. Michael deployed to Iraq in the fall of 2004, assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, 1st Marine Division. He suffered from homesickness while there, but never lost sight on what he was a part of, American history. He was very proud of what he did, and he was very comforted in the fact that he believed he was protecting his family. Fighting and searching from house to house in some of the most dangerous areas of Iraq, Michael planned on using his military experiences in the future as a police officer when his enlistment was over. He was one of 30 Marines killed in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2005, just shy of his return home. He had recently e-mailed his family that he was very content.

Burial: Parkwood Cemetery in Parkwood, Maryland

Born: February 16, 1984 in Washington D.C.
Died: January 26, 2010 in Landstaul, Germany

Sgt. Dave J. Smith of Frederick, Maryland is a 2002 Frederick High School graduate where he played four sports and participated in the school plays before attending East Carolina University, pursuing studies in distribution and logistics. He joined the United States Marines on December 29, 2003, and was promoted to the rank of sergeant on April 1, 2009. He earned eight awards, including the Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon. He served one deployment in Iraq in 2006 and deployed to Afghanistan with the Fredericks’ 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion Company B in November 2009. His unit, the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion Company B, was stationed in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border. Some of the Marines were attacked during a patrol, killing three and wounding several others. The son of Mary Jane McWilliams and Leonard Alan Smith had a smile that was infectious and a love of life and family that knew no bounds. He was a presence that made one take notice, no matter where he was. His friends meant so much to him, and keeping in touch with as many as he could was always a priority. He was so proud of his family, his ‘clan’, and always wanted to hear the latest about everyone, no matter how young. In calls home he always had  time to hear the latest news. He loved the Redskins, country music, living down South, ECU Pirates and life in general. He especially loved being a part of the Marine Corps. He was proud and honored to serve, and planned to make this a career after college. Dave died at age 25 from wounds received Jan. 23 while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Marines
Company B
4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion
4th Marine Division
Marine Forces Reserve
Camp Pendleton, California

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 897

Born July 3, 1973 in Baltimore, MD

Died March 14, 2008 in Birmingham, Alabama

Major Yaggy, United States Marine Corps. He grew up in Sparks, Maryland, and was a 1992 graduate of Gilman School and 1996 graduate of The University of Richmond. Growing up he had dreamed of becoming a pilot, and after graduating from college, he joined the Marines. During the years between 2001-2005, he served one tour of duty in Afghanistan and two tours of duty in Iraq. His military decorations include ten Air Medal with Strike Numeral 10, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat “V”, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with Two Stars. Currently based at Whiting Field Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, and serving as a flight instructor, David had earned his master’s degree in business administration from Tulane University in 2007 and was planning on leaving the military at the end of his enlistment time in May, 2008, and going into private business in aviation. Major Yaggy was on a training mission with a student pilot, 2nd Lt. Alexander Prezioso, on his final training flight in a T-34C when it crashed into Chandler Mountain about 60 miles north of Birmingham, Alabama. Both pilots were killed. Major Yaggy is buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Born: January 7, 1966 in Maryland
Died: November 13, 2009 in Afghanistan

Spc Christopher J. Coffland of Baltimore, Maryland is the son of Dave and Toni Coffland. He was a 1984 Gilman School graduate and earned an undergraduate degree from Washington and Lee University in 1988. He spent his life counseling, coaching, traveling, and studying people and cultures, at one point pursuing anthropology graduate work that took him to Gabon, Africa. A month before he turned 42, the enlistment age limit, he signed up to become an Army intelligence specialist. He had considered military service many times and had won an appointment to West Point but declined because of the six-year commitment. Christopher played professional football in Finland, coached football in Australia and lacrosse at Boys’ Latin School of Maryland, worked as a university counselor at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, tended bar in Baltimore, studied anthropology at Washington State University, lived with Pygmies in Africa. He had trained for more than a year for his mission in Afghanistan. He and two Marines were killed when the vehicle they were in exploded in the Sayed Abud region, where they were investigating another blast. In addition to his parents and sister, Lynn, he is survived by sisters Karen and Laurie and a brother, David. He was 43.
Army
323rd Military Intelligence Battalion
Fort Meade, Maryland

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 895

Birth: June 21, 1980 – Baltimore, Maryland
Died: September 16, 2009 – Ghur Ghuri, Helmand province, Afghanistan

Sgt 1st Class Bohle was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Caroline. He died after his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device September 15 while conducting a mounted patrol. Brad graduated in 1998 from North County High School in Glen Burnie, Maryland and joined the Army in 1998 as an Information Systems Operator. In 2006, he decided he wanted to become a Special Forces soldier and attended the Special Forces Selection and Assessment. He completed the course in March 2008 and earned the coveted “Green Beret” as a Special Forces medical sergeant. In July 2009, he deployed for the second time to Afghanistan leaving behind his wife, Elizabeth, and three daughters. He was also deployed twice to the Philippines. Brad’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, non-commissioned officer professional development ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Driver and Mechanics Badge and the Special Forces Tab.

Burial: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia – Section 60, Site 8939

Born March 23, 1983 in Westminster, MD 

Died Nov. 7, 2009 in Farah province, Afghanistan

Sgt. Charles I. Cartwright was from Union Bridge, Maryland. Charlie was not only mischievous growing up, but he was good. A good kid who lived life to its fullest and wore a brilliant smile. A 2001 graduate of Walkersville High School he had one main dream in his life, and that was to be a United States Marine. He enlisted just before the events of 9-11-2001. He graduated from Parris Island in December of 2001 and Infantry School the following month. In September of 2006 he was promoted to Sergeant and the next month joined the newly formed Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, trained in reconnaissance. Charles served three tours of duty in Iraq and was on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, based at Camp Pendleton, California and died November 7 while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan. His military awards include: three Purple Hearts, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal, two Combat Action Ribbons, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, two Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, two Iraqi Campaign Medals, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, four Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, NATO Medal and two Certificates of Commendation. Charles had his dream, and he lived it. As a Marine, Charlie was known to be cunning and a bit crazy, but also a comfort, charming, and a friend to his fellow soldiers. Those who knew him had one main thing to say about him, “If you knew him, you were lucky.” His wife of eleven months, Marissa; his parents H. Michael and Carol Ann Cartwright; a sister Rebecca and several other relatives survive Charles. Charles was promoted from Sergeant to Staff Sergeant posthumously and awarded his third Purple Heart. He was cremated.

Birth: December 8, 1957 – Baltimore, Maryland
Died: November 7, 2003 – Tikrit, Iraq

Command Sgt Maj Gilmore was assigned to the Judge Advocate General Office, Headquarters Department of the Army, Pentagon. He was killed when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter he was in suffered a direct hit by an SA-16 missile fired from about 2km away. The missile struck the left fuel cell and the explosion was catastrophic. Cornell grew up in Cherry Hill, the youngest of 11 brothers and one sister. He was a graduate of Baltimore’s Southern High School. In 1980, he graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a degree in sociology and a minor in criminal justice. The following year he enlisted in the Army, completing basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and advanced infantry training at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. After that, he led the itinerant life of a career soldier, stationed in Louisiana, Germany, Kansas, again in Germany, Hawaii and Washington state before being assigned to Army headquarters at the Pentagon.

Burial: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia – Section 60, Site 8131

Birth: January 16, 1983 – Maryland
Died: March 13, 2004 – Tikrit, Iraq

Spc. Ford was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, based in Schweinfurt, Germany. He was killed when his patrol hit an improvised explosive device. Ford’s unit was sent to Iraq to take over security duties. He attended the Duke Ellington School for the Arts in Washington where he played drums and keyboards. But he decided to join the Army in 2002 because he wanted to do something to help people.

Burial: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia – Section 60, Site 7971