Freedom Remembered

Born: July 13, 1988 in Missoula, Montana
Died: May 26, 2011 in New York City

Cpl. Steven Jorgenson moved to Texas with his family when he was a young boy. He attended several schools in Texas and graduated from Gregory Portland High School. He was a member of the National Honor Society, a jazz sax player, enjoyed reading, was an avid guitar player and loved all kinds of music. He always looked forward to traveling and seeing the world around him. After graduation, he joined the Air Force Reserves as a hot spot reporter and decided he wanted to be an active duty member, but his love of the service and desire for more brought him to transfer to the Marine Corps where he found everything he was looking for. After boot camp in San Diego, Steven was assigned to Camp Lejeune, N.C., and was soon deployed to Afghanistan for nine months and returned safely, with the pride of a Marine who served his country in the time of war. He was married Oct. 18, 2010, to longtime girlfriend, Hope Martinez, who he had met when he was in Texas. He made plans to remain in the Marines and began the steps needed to start in the field of bomb disposal. He was to start EOD training at the end of this year. Steve was killed in New York City. He was struck by a car as he stepped out of a cab. He was in New York with the Marines for Fleet Week.

To be updated…

Born: January 26, 1980 in Helena, Montana
Died: May 4, 2011 in Colorado

Sgt 1st Class Richard D. Greene of Townsend, Montana graduated in 1999 from Broadwater High School. Known by most as ‘Shorty’, he briefly worked in construction prior to embarking on a career with the United States Army. His duty stations were Fort Hood, Fort Campbell, Fort Knox, and Fort Carson. At the time of his death Richard was with HHC 1st Squad, 10th Calvary 2nd HBCT Fort Carson, Colorado with a rank of Sgt. First Class. Richard’s service record was exceptional. He served two deployments to Iraq and was set to deploy to Afghanistan June 3rd 2011. His awards and decorations include, the Bronze Star Medal w/combat Distinguishing Device “V”, 2 Bronze Star Medals, Army Commendation w/combat Distinguishing Device “V”, 4 Army Commendation Medals, 3 Army Achievement Medals, 3 Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, 2 Iraq Campaign Medal w/Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, 2 Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, 2 Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Action Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Driver and Mechanic Badge, Bar, Driver-W (for wheeled vehicles), Combat and Special Skill Badge Basic Marksmanship Qual Badge, Bar, Weapon: Rifle (Inscription: Rifle), Right Side Award, Army Meritorious Unit Commendation, Ranger Tab and 4 Overseas Service Bar. He married Audrey Stevens on August 2, 2002 and to their marriage, their daughter was born in Fort Hood, Texas in December of 2003. They later divorced. Richard was a sports fan, loved the Grizzly’s, enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, basketball, snowboarding and wakeboarding. He died at age 31 as a result of a motor vehicle accident in Colorado. He leaves his daughter, Hope, his parents, Donna and Richard Greene, two brothers, Nikia and Jason and two sisters, Tammy Allen and Heidi Brown.
Army
Headquarters and Headquarters Company
1st Squadron
10th Calvary
2nd Brigade Combat Team
Fort Carson, Colorado

Burial is on the family ranch in Townsend, Montana

Spc. Jonathan A. Pilgeram, 22, of Great Falls, Mont., died Feb. 17 in Konar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. He enlisted in the United States Army in November of 2008 arriving at Fort Campbell in January of 2010. His awards and decorations include, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Service Ribbon. He leaves his father, Rodney L. Pilgeram and his mother, Roberta L. Pilgeram, among others.

Mt Olivet Cemetery

To be updated…

Born: October 5, 1990 in Fresno, California
Died: March 7, 2010 in Konar province, Afghanistan

Pfc. Nicholas S. Cook of Hungry Horse, Montana was born the third child of Jeffery and Charlotte Cook. He graduated early from Columbia Falls High School in 2008 after first attending Canyon Elementary, Columbia Falls Junior High in Hungry Horse,where he lived with his grandparents, Chuck and Kathy Taylor. While still in school he played both T-ball and baseball. He also started wrestling at age six with Columbia Falls Little Guy Wrestling, continuing until he reached the maximum age limit. He played one year of flag football with Kalispell Parks and Recreation, before going on to Little Guy Football, playing until junior high where he continued to play with the school team. He also played for Columbia Falls High School until he was injured. As a child he enjoyed playing with and showing his goats at the Flathead County fair. He won several times in the pack goats division and also the harness goats competition. This was something that he enjoyed doing with his grandfather. He first became interested in the military just after high school and decided to join for the opportunity to travel and gain experience in life. Nick was scheduled to come home for a visit in just two weeks and had plans to go to Alaska to snowboard for a few days. Snowboarding was his life. That and the Army. Nick knew he would always want to live where there was snow and couldn’t imagine himself anywhere else. While stationed in Italy with the Army, he took trips to Austria and the Alps to be able to ‘shred”. His Awards and Decorations include the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, and the Combat Infantry Badge. Pending posthumous awards were the Purple Heart Medal and the Bronze Star Medal. Nick died at age 19 in Konar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.
Army
2nd Battalion
503rd Infantry Regiment
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
Camp Ederle, Italy

Burial is at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls, Montana

Born: July 9, 1983 in Billings, Montana
Died: February 13, 2010 in Zhari, Afghanistan

Sgt Jeremiah T. Wittman of Darby, Montana attended Bench and Lockwood Elementaries and Castle Rock Middle School before moving with his mom to Powell, Wyo., for a few years. He earned his high school diploma from Trapper Creek High in Darby and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2004. He grew up riding dirt bikes with his sisters and father in the Pine Hills, where he asked for his ashes to be scattered. He’d ride when it was 10 below. Even when he was stuck on a tricycle, he’d jump it off the precipice into the unfinished basement of his parent’s home. He had been in Afghanistan since the spring of 2009. He only had two months left to serve in Afghanistan and was looking forward to coming home and being with his family. Jeremiah was killed by a suicide bomber while he was on a foot patrol in Afghanistan. Jeremiah is survived by his two daughters and wife, Karen; father Robert Wittman; mother Cynthia Church; and sisters Charity and Jenell. He died at age 26 of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. His wishes were to be cremated and for his ashes to be scattered on his father’s land in Pine Hills.
Army
1st Battalion
12th Infantry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
4th Infantry Division
Fort Carson, Colorado

Burial location is unknown at this time.

Born September 1, 1980
Died: January 20, 2010 at Lorengal Outpost, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Thaddeus S. Montgomery of West Yellowstone, Montana grew up in Decatur, Alabama then left after high school to travel across the country eventually settling in Montana, where he worked at Yellowstone National Park before joining the Army. The military suited him since he had an urge to see the world and because of his love for the outdoors. He joined the Army on March 3, 2003 and was serving his fourth deployment after having served two previous tours in Iraq and one in Korea before deploying to Afghanistan in June of 2009. While serving in the war zone, he would ask family members to send care packages for his guys and he’d send lists of everybody else’s needs. He also solicited care packages from businesses in the states. In one of his letters, he asked the editor of Arizona Highways magazine for copies of the monthly publication for his platoon to read. The exchange led to a bond between Montgomery and the magazine and even a television appearance in Arizona over the Christmas holidays. His Awards and Decorations include two Army Commendation Medals, an Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, two Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal w/ two Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, three Overseas Service Ribbons, NATO Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge and an Expert Infantry Badge. Thaddeus died at age 29 at Lorengal Outpost, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He is survived by his son, Thaddeus, his mother, Debra Hays, father, Thaddeus Montgomery Sr., a sister, Stephanie, and his brother, Dustin Border.
Army
2nd Battalion
12th Infantry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
4th Infantry Division
Fort Carson, Colorado

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 8972

Born: December 30, 1988 in Sidney, New York
Died: January 11, 2010 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Cpl. Nick Uzenski of Franklin, New York is a 2006 Franklin High School graduate where he participated in the FCS Drama Club, Spanish Club, SADD, Student Council (Student Council officer), Varsity Club (Vice President of the Varsity Club), Varsity Baseball, Varsity Basketball (Captain of the Varsity Basketball Team). He was also the Senior Prom king in 2006. He then attended Tompkins County Community College prior to his enlistment in the Marine Corps in January 2008. Nick had been serving in the United States Marine Corps for two years, following in the footsteps of his father and an uncle, who were also Marines. He was athletic and in his free time, he enjoyed rock climbing, running, canoeing and just being outdoors. Nick had arrived in Afghanistan in the fall of of 2009, and was expected back stateside for a leave in June 2010. His Awards and Decorations include, the National Defense Service Medal, NATO Medal ISAF and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Nick is the son of Bill Uzenski and Lisa Uzenski. Nick is survived by his mother, Lisa Uzenski, his father, William and stepmother, Rebakah Uzenski; his sisters, Kaitlin and Cassidy; stepsister, Faith; and his three younger brothers, Zebadiah, Zechariah, and Jathniel; his great-grandma Brundege, with whom he shared a special bond and especially enjoyed their joint fondness of the New York Yankees; his grandparents, James and Audrey Archibald, his grandfather, Alan (and Heidi) Jordan among others. Nick died at age 21 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Also killed were, Staff Sgt. Matthew N. Ingham of Altoona, Pennsylvania and Cpl. Jamie R. Lowe of Johnsonville, Illinois.
Marines
3rd Reconnaissance Battalion
3rd Marine Division
III Marine Expeditionary Force
Okinawa, Japan

Burial is at Sunset Hills Cemetery in Bozeman, Montana

Died Nov. 27, 2009 in Iraq

Pfc. Michael A. Rogers, 23, of White Sulphur Springs, Montana enlisted in the Army in May 2008 and arrived to Fort Drum in May 2009. He served as an automated logistical specialist with the 210th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry). He deployed in October 2009 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and died November 27 from a non-combat related incident at Forward Operating Base Hammer, Iraq. Michael’s awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal.

Born: December 7, 1983
Died: December 23, 2004 in Al Anbar, Iraq

Cpl. Raleigh C. Smith of Lincoln, Montana joined the Marine Corps in part to help pay for college later. He wanted to return to Troy one day to teach history. He was remembered as a zany child who made a small town laugh, and as a soldier troubled by what he had seen in the fighting that eventually took his life. Raleigh spoke of worrying about his brother to sixth-graders when his former teacher Terry Herman asked him to visit her class and tell the children about his experiences in the Iraq invasion. Smith had hoped to attend college with money from the military and return to Troy and teach history. He was an outdoorsman who even enjoyed panning for gold and was also a cross-country runner whose medals hang in the family’s living room. Most people in Troy knew Smith as the kid who would strap on roller blades, tie a cape across his back and take to the streets with a garbage-can lid for a shield and a wooden sword. He died as result of enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq at age 21.

Marines
3rd Battalion
5th Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, California

Burial is at Milnor Lake Cemetery in Troy, Montana

Born: October 5, 1975
Died: April 30, 2008 in Baghdad, Iraq

Cpt. Andrew. R. Pearson of Billings, Montana attended Valley View Elementary, a local middle school and was a freshman at C.M. Russell High School before the family moved to Billings in 1991, graduating from Billings Senior High. After graduation, he worked for Lockwood IGA. He played football growing up and loved to hunt and fish. Andrew entered the military in June of 1998 and was a graduate of the United States Military Academy. For the 2001 academy yearbook, Andy chose a quote from President John F. Kennedy to accompany his photo: “In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility, I welcome it.” His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Air Assault, Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Ranger Tab. Drew loved Montana. Hunting, fishing and bike-riding were some of his favorite pastimes. He lived life to the fullest and was even know to take part in a “Great Jackalope Hunt.” He also was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan, no matter how hard his dad tried to convert him. He died at age 32 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Spc. Ronald J. Tucker. Drew is survived by his wife, Jon Marie; children Danny, Gaby, Cheyenne and Kristopher, father Ronald (Sandy) Pearson, mother Sue (Shawn) Scott, stepmother Rene (Jay) Johnson,; sisters Heather and Jennifer; brothers Wayne and Hugh; grandparents Carlton and Irene Pearson, and Julian and Yvonne Kobasziar, uncles Jack Kobasziar, Alex Pearson and Bob Wigdorski, and an aunt, Kathleen Reed.
Army
1st Battalion
22nd Infantry Regiment
1st Brigade Combat Team
4th Infantry Division
Fort Hood, Texas

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 8-GG Row 13 Site 3