Freedom Remembered

Born on Feb. 3, 1985 in Mission Hills, CA
Died on Nov. 12, 2004 in Al Anbar province, Iraq

Nicholas moved to Nevada when he was a youngster, first living in Laughlin, then Las Vegas. His parents were divorced, and Nick also spent time with his father in California. Nick was a member of the Naval Sea Cadets during his junior high school years. He attended Chaparral High School for one year where he participated in the Naval R.O.T.C. program and played football. He then attended Bonanza High School and was a member of the U.S. Army J.R.O.T.C program, varsity football team and the lacrosse team. He was also on the wrestling team where he won the silver medal for his school in the Nevada High Schools Olympics Newcomers Competition. He graduated in 2003, and then joined the U.S. Marine Corps. His mother had tried to talk him out of enlisting in the Marines, suggesting the Air Force might get him a chance to be stationed at Ellis AFB, but Nick insisted he wanted to be the best there is. A Marine. Stationed at Camp Pendleton, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force and was known for volunteering for the most dangerous missions while deployed. He died  while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province.  There were 54 Marines in his unit, and they made sure it was stated at Nick’s funeral that they were all with him when he passed and that they loved him very much. Nick was survived by his mother Eleanor Dachtler and stepfather George Dachtler; his father Albert Anderson and stepmother Lisa Anderson; his fiancée Amanda Barnicoat, serving with the United States Air Force, and a brother Jackson. Jackson was 10 years old at the time of his brother’s death. A few weeks earlier he had dressed up in fatigues in honor of his big brother for Halloween trick-or-treating. Jackson wore the same outfit to his brother’s funeral.

Nicholas was buried in Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura, California.

Born: February 17, 1978 in Sun Valley, California
Died: May 30, 2007 in Afghanistan

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua R. Rodgers of Carson City, Nevada attended Carson High School through his freshman year then completed his schooling in Douglas County, graduating in 1997. Prior to graduating, he enlisted in the United States Army through the delayed entry program. He joined the Army in 2000, completed Warrant Officers Candidate School in 2003 and the Rotary Wing Aviator and Aviation Warrant Officer Basic Course in 2004. That same year, he qualified as a Chinook pilot. He had planned a trip to the Smoky Mountains in the near future. He leaves behind a wife and three daughters whom he spoke about often. He strove to provide them everything they ever needed, and even more. His decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart and the Army Achievement Medal. He died at age 29 when the Chinook helicopter of which he was co-pilot was shot down. Joshua is actually buried at Eastside Memorial Park but has a memorial marker in Arlington National Cemetery – Sec 60 Site 8769, representing all who died in the crash. Also killed were, Chief Warrant Officer Christopher M. Allgaier, Staff Sgt. Charlie L. Bagwell, Sgt. Jesse A. Blamires and Sgt. Brandon E. Hadaway.
Army
3rd General Support Aviation Battalion
82nd Brigade Combat Team
82nd Airborne Division
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Burial is at Eastside Memorial Park in Minden, Nevada

Born: June 3, 1985
Died: October 30, 2006 in Baghdad, Iraq

Sgt. Kenneth E. Bostic of Hawthorne, Nevada played varsity football and baseball in high school before graduating in 2003. His goal was to become a police officer, but in the meantime he joined the United States Army. His awards include a posthumous Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge. He is survived by his mother Patricia Thyne, father James Bostic and brother Dwayne Bostic. He died at age 21 from injuries sustained from contact with enemy forces using small arms fire during check point operations in Baghdad.
Army
204th Military Police Company
519th Military Police Battalion
1st Combat Support Brigade
Fort Polk, Louisiana

Burial is at Hawthorne Cemetery in Hawthorne, Nevada

Born June 15, 1984 in Rochester, NY

Died June 16, 2005 in Safwan, Kuwait

Tony spent his early years in Greece, New York and in 1999 he moved to Las Vegas. In 2002 he graduated from Silverado High School then began working at some restaurants. Tony was a self-taught guitar player who was quite good at playing. He had a huge heart; if anyone needed anything, Tony was there to help. Deciding to join the National Guard to earn some money for education and buy a house, he deployed with his unit, the Nevada National Guard’s 1864th Transportation Company, 106th Transportation Battalion, in August of 2004. They trained at Fort Lewis then arrived in Kuwait in November. The unit’s job was to drive trucks around to deliver food, water and ammunition in Iraq to the other troops. During his deployment Tony kept in contact with his family back home with emails. He and some buddies formed a band there, he liked having familiar fast food restaurants nearby, but didn’t like the hot weather. He missed air-conditioning. Tony took a new assignment while there; he started doing duty as a gunner. Gunners are positioned on top of the Humvee’s. Tony died the day before his 22nd birthday when he was thrown from the top of his vehicle in a rollover accident. Among the possessions his family received of Tony’s was a piece of unfinished music he had recorded while in Kuwait, which they cherish. They wish he could have finished it. Tony was buried near his grandparents in Holy Ghost Cemetery in Gates Center, New York State.

Born Dec. 3, 1977

Died Sep. 16, 2007 in Sñalah ad Din, Iraq

Staff Sergeant Townes, of Las Vegas joined the military in October 1999 as a wheeled vehicle mechanic and was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, Aviation Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, based at Fort Hood, Texas. He deployed to Iraq in September 2006. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and Global War on Terrorism (Service) Medal. He died from a non-combat related illness and is buried in Southern Nevada Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery.

Born: May 5, 1986 in Los Angeles, California
Died: October 26, 2009 in Afghanistan

Sgt. Josue E. Hernandez Chavez of Reno, Nevada volunteered for Army service in February 2005. Following basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and advanced individual training at Fort Eustis, Virginia, he successfully assessed with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) as a medium helicopter repairer and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 160th SOAR (A), at Savannah, Ga. In August 2006 Hernandez-Chavez was re-designated as a flight engineer. He was a combat veteran with six deployments, all in support of the Global War on Terrorism. His military training includes the Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course, Warrior Leader Course, Special Operations Training Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, the Aviation Life Support Supervisors Course, the Field Sanitation Team Certification Course, and Airborne School. Hernandez-Chavez’s awards include two Army Commendation Medals, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal-Campaign Star, the Iraqi Campaign Medal-Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, the Basic Aviation Badge, and the Parachutist Badge. Josue is survived by his father, Pedro Hernandez; his mother, Eustolia Hernandez, and his two sisters, Cristina and Mayra Hernandez. he died at age 23 of wounds suffered when the MH-47 helicopter they were aboard crashed in Darreh-ye Bum, Afghanistan. Also killed were Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael P. Montgomery, Sgt. 1st Class David E. Metzger, Staff Sgt. Keith R. Bishop, Chief Warrant Officer Niall Lyons, Staff Sgt. Shawn H. McNabb and Sgt. Nickolas A. Mueller.
Army
3rd Battalion
160th Special Operations Regiment (Airborne)
Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia

Burial is at Palm Memorial Park in Paradise, Nevada

Born Feb. 11, 1987 in San Mateo County, CA

Died Oct. 3, 2009 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan

PFC Kevin C. Thomson, of Reno, Nevada, was born in California but raised in Nevada by his mother, Debbie. A young man full of spirit, he was very close to his mother, it was just the 2 of them. Kevin worked at a grocery store while attending school and was a well-known prankster. He very much enjoyed scaring people half to death using masks, air horns, or a whip on a hornet nest, if Kevin thought he could scare you, he tried. When he decided to enlist in the Army, he had to convince his mother this was best for him. He also had to loose about 100 pounds, which he did. He enlisted in the Army on May 1, 2008, embracing his love for his country. His first tour of duty began in May of 2009, assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Carson, Colorado. He was one of 8 soldiers in his unit that were killed in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked their contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and indirect fires. Kevin changed as a soldier; he turned into a man, full of respect. He held himself that way too. When his remains came home to Nevada, there was no talking at the ceremony when his flight came in. Nobody said a word. Then the song “Momma I’m Coming Home” by Ozzy Osbourne was played. Debbie held a photograph of Kevin. She said she knew her son well. What she didn’t realize was just how many people’s lives Kevin had touched, how many people loved him, how he was always there for anyone who needed anything. He was there for them. Kevin was buried in Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley, Nevada. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.

Born: November 18, 1988 in Carmichael, California
Died: September 8, 2009 in Baji, Iraq

Spc Thomas F. Lyons, of Fernley, Nevada grew up in a large family spending his time in sports and as a Boy Scout. Never one to quit, or to avoid having a good time, in 2007, Tom chose to make a difference, enlisting in the United States Army to make the world a better place, not for blood or glory, but to fight evil. He was someone who honored his word and always wanted to help others. Working as a military police officer he arrived in Iraq in July of 2009. He had planned on being a police officer when he returned home from Iraq. Thomas was a newlywed and the father of an infant son. His wife was also an active duty soldier. He leaves his wife, Delvin, and a son, Erik, his parents, William Raymond Lyons Sr. and Jeanna Mae Warinner Flint, sisters, Tina Walgren, Emily Hoyt, Jolena Daguison, twin sister Kimberly Kingsley, J.D. Flint, Susie Flint, brothers, William Lyons Jr., Jeffrey Lyons, Donald Lyons, Christopher Lyons, and A.J. Flint. Tom died at age 20 of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an explosive device Sept. 8 in Tikrit, Iraq. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal and the Combat Action Badge and was promoted from Private 1st Class to Specialist. Also killed were Pfc. Zachary T. Myers and Staff Sgt. Shannon M. Smith.
Army
545th Military Police Company
Arctic Military Police Battalion
Fort Richardson, Alaska

Burial is at Northern Nevada Veteran’s Cemetery in Fernley, Nevada – Sec 4F Site 454

Born Aug. 28, 1975 in Fontana, California  

Died Nov. 20, 2007 in Baghdad, Iraq

Born Dec. 9, 1977 in the USA

Died Jan. 17, 2009 in Afghanistan

Sergeant Ezra Dawson, 31, of Las Vegas, Nevada. The son of a preacher, Ezra grew up and attended school in Oklahoma before moving to Las Vegas as a young man. He was working as a waiter, a sometime rapper and stand-up comedian, was an upbeat and happy man. He decided to improve his life by enlisting. He joined the U.S. Army Reserve in late 1999 as a supply specialist. In September 2004, he kept the job but switched to active duty. He was assigned to Fort Hood in January 2008 and deployed to Afghanistan in July, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. He maintained his tremendous sense of humor while deployed to Afghanistan, cracking jokes just when everyone needed one. If it was miserable and cold, everyone knew Ezra was going to make them laugh. Ezra died when the Chinook helicopter he was in made a hard landing under combat conditions. His awards include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, NATO Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and Combat Infantry Badge. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.