Born: May 26, 1989
Died: January 15, 2012 in Helmand, Afghanistan
Cpl. Jon-Luke Bateman, 22, of Pahrump, NV., died Jan 15 conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. Jon-Luke began serving in the Marine Corps on Feb. 25, 2008. This was his first combat deployment. He also deployed once with a Marine expeditionary unit. His personal awards include, the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and NATO Medal for International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan.
Burial is at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada – Sec AB Site 899
To be updated…
Born: November 28, 1979 in Henderson, Kentucky
Died: September 18, 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan
Sgt. Timothy D. Sayne of Effingham, Illinois graduated from Effingham High School. He joined the United States Army in 2008. He died at age 31 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska. The son of Mary Kathy Even Sayne and Robert Sayne also leaves his wife, Thania, a son, Timothy Kalvin, two brothers, Cory and Joey Sayne, and a sister, Paige Huntington.
Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9634
To be updated..
Spc. Brian Tabada, 21, of Las Vegas, Nev., died Feb. 27, in Konar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire and a rocket propelled grenade. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. Brian joined the United States Army in August of 2008 arriving at Fort Campbell in January of 2009. He served as a fire support specialist. His awards and decorations include, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Combat Action Badge. He leaves his mother, Leinette Mahan and her husband, Larry Brady, his father, Muncko and his wife, Carol Ann Kruize, two sisters, Johanna Kruize and Donita Brady, and two brothers, Muncko Kruize III and Justin Brady.
Burial is at Palm Memorial Park Cemetery Northwest in Las Vegas, Nevada
To be updated…
Born: January 29, 1988 in Placer County, California
Died: May 19, 2007 in Baghdad, Iraq
Pfc Alejandro R. Varela of Fernley, Nevada was born in Roseville and grew up in the Orangevale area of Sacramento County. Known best as, Alex, he attended San Juan High School and Casa Robles High School before moving to Fernley, Nevada to live with his father. He was known to friends and family as Alex. He was sent to Iraq in October of 2006 and had come home for two weeks in January of 2007 to celebrate his 19th birthday. He leaves his parents Rinda and Roger, a sister Jennifer, and a brother Roger, stepbrother Shane Pope, and stepsister Kirsten Bendure. He died at age 19 in Baghdad of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Also killed were Staff Sgt. Christopher Moore, Sgt. Jean P. Medlin, Spc. David W. Behrle, Spc. Joseph A. Gilmore and Pfc. Travis F. Haslip.
Army
1st Battalion
5th Cavalry Regiment
2nd Brigade Combat Team
1st Cavalry Division
Fort Hood, Texas
Burial is at Mount Vernon Memorial Park in Fair Oaks, California. There is also a memorial bench in his honor was placed on the grounds at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
Born: July 10, 1987 in Washoe, Nevada
Died: October 11, 2010 in Helmand, Afghanistan
Sgt. Frank R. Zaehringer III of Reno, Nevada enlisted in the United States Marine Corp two years after graduating from Wooster High School in 2005. He was currently serving his second tour of duty which began in August of 2010. Frank had wanted to join since about the age of sixteen. He leaves his wife, Cassie, his parents, Frank and Sharon Zaehringer, and a sister, Nicole. He died at age 23 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marines
2nd Battalion
9th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
To be updated…
Born: August 23, 1983 in Los Angeles, California
Died: August 9, 2006 in Southern Ramadi, Iraq
Spc. Ignacio Ramirez of Henderson, Nevada was known to most as Nacho and attended Basic High School where he played defense and returned punts for the football team. Growing up he played on the Henderson Little League team, playing third base, the outfield and was on the All-Star team. Nacho was a happy person who lived life to the fullest. He was very active and loved sports from baseball to bungee jumping. He joined the Army to better his life and help his country. Everywhere he went he made friends, and if you knew him, you would know that if you were down he could always find a way to cheer you up. If you needed an ear to listen he would be there. He was not quick to judge others and he was honest man who put others before himself. He leaves his parents, Marina and Robert Vance, and siblings, Ofelia Espinoza, Sidney Jimenez, Ivan and Jasmine Ramirez, and James and Tia Vance. He was killed at age 22 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Ramadi, Iraq. Also killed were 1st. Sgt. Aaron D. Jagger and Spc. Shane W. Woods. Ignacio was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Badge, and the Honor of the Dragon, a unique award given to chemical specialists. He leaves his parents, Marina and Robert Vance, and his siblings, Ofelia Espinoza, Sidney Jimenez, Ivan and Jasmine Ramirez, and James and Tia Vance.
Army
1st Battalion
37th Armor Regiment
1st Armored Division
Friedberg, Germany
Burial is at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada – Sec R Site 1204
Born: August 21, 1985 in Orange County, California
Died: December 6, 2005 in Bayji, Iraq
Pfc. Thomas C. Siekert of Lovelock, Nevada was a 2004 graduate of Pershing County High School where he participated on the school’s track team. Everyone who knew him said he was a pleasure to be around and could be seen as a child riding his bicycle with a pizza box in his hand and a big smile on his face. Thomas entered the Army in February of 2005 and arrived at Fort Campbell in June of 2005. He is survived by his mother, Margaret William, and his father, Curtis Siekert. He died at age 20 from non-combat related injuries in Bayji, Iraq.
Army
Company A
1st Battalion
187th Infantry Regiment
101st Airborne Division
3rd Brigade Combat Team
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Burial is at Big Meadow Cemetery in Lovelock, Nevada
Born: August 20, 1971
Died: March 23, 2003 in An Nasiriyah, Iraq
1st Lt. Frederick E. Pokorney Jr of Tonopah, Nevada graduated from Tonopah High School in 1989. Fred played on the varsity basketball and football teams at school, and the basketball team made the state finals both years that the shy 6 and a half foot center played. Growing up, he learned to work hard and fend for himself. He had moved with his father and stepmother his junior year of school. When his father moved away to another job, Fred stayed to complete school. He lived with several families during this time, and proved to be a hard worker and independent. He worked most any job he could to earn money, holding positions in construction, and working as a waiter, a dishwasher and a cook. He enlisted in the Marines and enrolled in the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Oregon State University in 1997 to become an officer. He played on a basketball team for U.S. Navy reservists. He majored in anthropology and graduated in 2001. Fred leaves his wife, Rochelle, a daughter, Taylor, a brother and a sister. He was killed at age 31 in action near Nasiriyah, Iraq. Fred was Nevada’s first known casualty in the war with Iraq.
Marines
Headquarters Battery
1st Battalion
10th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 7861
Born: September 21, 1989 in Evanston, Illinois
Died: June 30, 2010 in Tangi Valley, Afghanistan
Spc. Matthew R. Hennigan of Las Vegas, Nevada is a graduate of Silverado High School where he specialized in wrestling and lettered four years, making the varsity team as a freshman. In his senior year in the Sunrise Region tournament, he won third place in the 189-pound weight class with four wins and one loss. A a young boy, he played catcher in Little League baseball. Matt was eager to enlist in the military and had been asking his parents permission since he was about 16. After graduation, he was able to persuade them to consent. Matthew loved the Army life and was extremely proud to be wearing the uniform. His Awards and Decorations include, the Purple Heart medal, Army Achievement medal, Army Good Conduct medal, National Defense Service medal, Afghanistan Campaign medal, Global War on Terrorism Service medal, Army Service ribbon, Overseas Service ribbon, NATO medal, the Combat Action Badge, and the Parachutist Badge. He leaves his father, Joseph Hennigan, mother, Suzanne Hennigan and three brothers, James, Joseph, and Edward Hennigan. He died at age 20 at Forward Operating Base Shank, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered earlier in Tangi Valley, Afghanistan when enemy forces attacked his unit with machine gun fire.
Army
173rd Special Troops Battalion
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
Bamberg, Germany
Burial is at Palm Memorial Park in Las Vegas, Nevada
Born: August 17, 1988 in Victorville, California
Died: August 30, 2007 in Taji, Iraq
Spc. Travis M. Virgadamo of Las Vegas, Nevada resided in Nevada for 11 years after moving there with his family at age 5. While there, he was home schooled and worked as a box boy at an Albertsons in southwest Las Vegas and served several years in the Civil Air Patrol. He also assisted the Military Cadets of Fort Stewart for 18 months, formally joining the ACA’s Army Cadet Corps in December 2006. Travis was always available to help out in any way he could and always enthusiastic. He was a great asset to the unit and a good friend to all who knew him. He deployed in May, 2007 and died in Taji, Iraq, while serving his country in a non-combat related incident at age 19.
Army
3rd Squadron
7th Cavalry Regiment
2nd Brigade Combat Team
3rd Infantry Division
Fort Stewart, Georgia
Burial is at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada – Sec AB Site 166