Freedom Remembered

Born May 12, 1977 in Great Falls, Montana

Died June 30, 2008 in Bethesda, Maryland

Sergeant Jimmy McHale, of Fairfield, Montana. The son of retired Airman Joel McHale and his wife Bonnie, Jimmy moved around a lot growing up, moving to Fairfield when his father retired. Montana gave him the opportunity to enjoy camping in the Bob Marshall area. He also enjoyed golf, chess, other challenging games, video gaming, hockey and was a computer whiz. He spent 7 years in the Fairfield schools, and after graduating in 1995 from Fairfield High School, he joined the United States Army. First serving as a mechanic at Fort Carson, Colorado. When his enlistment ended, he still served his country by joining the Montana Army National Guard. He rejoined the Army in 2005 and was working as a bomb detector, a job he dearly loved. “Mac”, as his fellow soldiers called him, possessed great optimism about life, he was funny and although a man of few words, he always had words of wisdom. He knew how to keep his soldiers calm and in check. Several times he passed up promotions because he loved his job and soldiers so much. Fearless and proud of his work, he was assigned to the 40th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, based at Baumholder, Germany. He was on his second tour of duty in Iraq when he was severely injured by a roadside bomb on July 22, 2008, in Taji. He was being treated at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. His family removed him from life-support on July 30 and he passed away with his family near him. He lives on through organ donation. He received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Army Accommodation Medal, three Army Achievement Medals, Global War on Terrorism Medal, two National Defense Medals and the Combat Action Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He is buried at Sunset Hills Cemetery in Fairfield, Montana.

Born Feb. 8, 1985 in Montana  

Died Jan. 27, 2009 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Born Nov. 26, 1978 in Rankin County, Mississippi

Died Aug. 30, 2004 in Iraq

Staff Sergeant Aaron Nathaniel Holleyman, 26, a medic with the U.S. Army 5th Special Forces. He was born in Rankin County (Mississippi). He attended Clinton Mississippi Public Schools and graduated from Glasgow High School in Glasgow, Montana. Aaron’s family lived in Glasgow from 1993-1997 while his father was a pastor there. Aaron was adored by his fellow classmates for his southern accent, polite and positive attitude. He graduated from Glasgow High School in May of 1996, and entered the Army in June. After completing infantry and airborne training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C., in November 1996 as a platoon armorer in the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. After being selected for Special Forces training in 2000, Holleyman was assigned to Fort Bragg’s 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) in January 2001. Upon completion of his training as an SF medical sergeant, he was assigned to the 5th SFG in September 2003. Shortly after arriving at the unit, Holleyman deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this mission, he was in a Humvee which was hit by a rocket. He broke both ear drums and was declared legally deaf in both ears. He returned home in February 2004 and was fitted with hearing aids. He spent three months home with his family and left for another tour of duty in July 2004. He was killed in Khutayiah, Iraq, when his military vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. His military education includes the Special Forces Qualification Course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, the Basic Airborne Course, the Combat Life Saver Course and the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Medical Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Driver and Mechanic Badge, the Parachutist Badge and the Special Forces Tab. He was posthumously awarded a second Purple Heart and a second Bronze Star. He was buried in Monticello, Mississippi.

Born Jan. 26, 1965 in Germany

Died Feb. 9, 2009 in Iraq

Lt. Col. Garnet R. Derby, 44, of Missoula, Montana. His father was a chief master sergeant in the Air Force. Gary grew up in Whitehall, Montana, and graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in physical education. He joined the ROTC in college and met his wife, Brenda Remington, an ROTC cadet in the ROTC and they married after graduation. In 1985 he enlisted as a cavalry scout in the Montana National Guard and was commissioned as an armor officer in 1989. He served as a tank platoon leader, company executive officer and battalion maintenance officer with 3rd Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, in Schweinfurt, Germany; operations officer of the Sacramento Recruiting Battalion in California; company commander with 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, at Fort Stewart, Ga.; and as a staff trainer at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. After attending the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., Derby was assigned to 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, at Fort Hood, where he served as a battalion S-3 and later the brigade executive officer when the unit deployed to Baqubah, Iraq, from 2004 to 2005. From 2005 to 2006, he served as the 4th ID and Multi-National Division-Baghdad chief of operations in Baghdad. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with one oak leaf cluster, the Purple Heart, the Army Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leak clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service medals, and the Combat Action Badge. He also had the Order of Saint George and Order of Saint Maurice bronze medallions and the covenant Tarantula Belt Buckle #358. Gary had a stern face and a strong dislike for weak words like “I think” or “I might” or “maybe.” He had a coffee can on his desk that was wrapped in weak words, and when he would catch his soldiers using weak words, they had to place 50 cents in the can. He himself would sometimes break the code and get called on it. He’d grumble and put his own 50 cents in the can. He died along with 3 other soldiers in Mosul, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. He was buried in Montana State Veteran’s Cemetery in Helena, Montana.

Born Aug. 4, 1981 in Miles City, Montana  

Died Sept. 10, 2007 in Baghdad, Iraq

Born: December 28, 1982 in Mexico
Died: August 7, 2008 in Iraq

Cpl. Stewart S. Trejo of Whitefish, Montana was born in Mexico and throughout his childhood he traveled with his family between Southern Arizona, California and Mexico. He began high school in Nogales, Arizona before moving to Montana, where he graduated. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on Nov. 2, 2005. He had moved from Arizona about eight years before and had met his future wife, Taffie, while they worked at Great Northern Bark Co., in Columbia Falls. The couple were making plans for his upcoming return in September 2008 after his tour in Iraq was over and had talked of renewing their vows. His grandfather was also a Marine and Stewart’s plans were to make a career in the Marines. Growing up, Trejo enjoyed working on cars, assembling model robots and playing the guitar and drums. His personal awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. He died at age 25 while supporting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq.
Marines
1st Maintenance Battalion
1st Marine Logistics Group
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, California

Burial is at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California – Sec U Site 1392D

Born: February 20, 1988 in Fairfield, California
Died: August 8, 2007 in Baghdad, Iraq

Donald was the son of Richard Cleary and Donna Young. He lived in several states growing up including California, Missouri, Montana and Washington. He enjoyed a variety of interests including fishing, hiking and climbing trees, reading, writing poetry, and playing computer games. Donald was the kind of man who would give you the shirt off his back and his last cookie if you needed it. He died of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, based at Fort Hood, Texas. He was buried in Forestvale Cemetery in Helena, Montana.

Born: February 17, 1971 in Nueces County, Texas
Died: May 10, 2007 in Baghdad, Iraq

Spc. Michael K. Frank, 36, of Great Falls, Mont.; assigned to the 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died May 10 of injuries sustained in Baghdad, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations. He leaves his parents, Timothy Frank and Diane Frank, and a brother, Brian, among others.

Burial is at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Montgomery, Ohio

To be updated…

Born: July 13, 1986
Died: October 8, 2006 in AL Asad, Iraq

Lance Cpl Jeremy S. Sandvick Monroe of Darby, Montana graduated in 2004 from Chinook High School. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps right out of high school, and boarded a bus towards his future just hours after his graduation commencement. So eager to begin his journey, he even missed the graduation celebration his family held for him. Jeremy enjoyed playing his guitar, boasted a great sense of humor and a keen wit. He made friends easily and all who knew him respected and valued his friendship. Jeremy died at age 20 from wounds sustained while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Anbar province, Iraq. He leaves his mother, Mellissa Pike and Ken, his father, Monte Monroe and Dana, five siblings Zacharie and Danielle Gard, Logan Monroe and Jordanne and Darryl Southwick.
Marines
Echo Company
2nd Battalion
3rd Marine Regiment
3rd Marine Division
III Marine Expeditionary Force
Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

Burial is at Hillside Cemetery in Dodson, Montana

To be updated…