Born: October 27, 1986
Died: January 19, 2012 in Helmand, Afghanistan
Cpl. Kevin J. Reinhard, 25, of Colonia, N.J., died January 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. “Kevin attended Saint John Vianney for grade school, followed by Colonia Middle. After attending Ramapo College he transferred to Middlesex County College. However, before graduating Kevin felt he needed to answer a call to serve his country. In the spring of 2008 he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and attained the rank of Corporal.” He enlisted in the Marines in June 2008 and reported to HMH-363 in September 2009. This was his second deployment to Afghanistan. His awards include three Air Medals, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and NATO ISAF Medal. He was part of the Lucky Red Lions helicopter squadron HMH-363. The unit deployed in August 2011 to southern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and is set to return home in March 2012. Their mission is to provide assault support, transport Marines and critical supplies, as well as equipment during expeditionary operations.
Saint Gertrude’s Cemetery
To be updated…
Born: August 22, 1981 in New Jersey
Died: December 11, 2011 in Kunar, Afghanistan
Spc. Ronald H. Wildrick Jr., 30, of Blairstown, N.J., died Dec. 11, in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Ronnie was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He enlisted on June 18, 2008 as an infantryman. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Basic Parachutist Badge. Posthumous awards include Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, NATO Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 10009
To be updated…
Born: in Peterborough, New Hampshire
Died: October 26, 2011 in Ghazni, Afghanistan
Sgt. John A. Lyons, 26, of Seaside Park, N.J., died Oct. 26 in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 8th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. He joined the military in February 2009 as a combat engineer and was assigned to the 8th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade at Fort Hood. Sgt Lyons deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in December 2010. His awards and decorations include the NATO Medal, three Army Achievement Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and Combat Action Badge.
To be updated…
Born: January 22, 1978 in Cantanhede, Portugal
Died: October 19, 2011 in Paktika, Afghanistan
Staff Sgt. Jorge M. Oliveira, 33, of Newark, N.J., died Oct. 19 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 113th Infantry Regiment, 50th Brigade Combat Team, Riverdale, N.J. Jorge graduated in 1996 from Newark’s East Side High School. He joined the National Guard in 2003 and had previously served three years on Army active duty starting in 1997. He also served at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from 2004 to 2005, and in Iraq from 2008 to 2009. As a civilian aside of the military, he worked as an Essex County sherriff’s officer. Among his awards are, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star. He had also earned the Expert Infantryman Badge and the Air Assault Badge. He leaves his parents, Mrs. Armanda Nunes Oliveira and Manuel Moreira DeOliveira, a brother, Marco and a sister, Jessica.
Holy Cross Cemetery
To be updated…
Capt Ryan K. Iannelli, 27, of Clarksboro, N.J., died Sept. 28 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 269, Marine Air Group 29, 2nd Marine Air Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C. He was a 2002 graduate of Kingsway Regional High School. He also attended Oral Roberts University from fall 2002 until his graduation in spring 2006. He played baseball for the Golden Eagles during his entire school career at ORU. He was part of the team that advanced to the NCAA Super Regional. Ryan played in the outfield and was a pinch runner. He was posthumously promoted from 1st Lieutenant to Captain.
Burial is at Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Williamstown, New Jersey
To be updated…
Born: March 3, 1988 in Neptune, New Jersey
Died: August 10, 2011 in Helmand, Afghanistan
Cpl. Nicholas S. Ott of Manchester, New Jersey graduated from Manchester High School in 2006 where he played football and wrestled in the heavyweight division. Nick joined the Marine Corps in 2007. His awards include, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and three Sea Service Deployment Ribbons. He died at age 23 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Army
1st Battalion
3rd Marine Regiment
3rd Marine Division
III Marine Expeditionary Force
Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii
Burial is at Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, New Jersey – Sec R1 Site 1206
To be updated…
Born: August 23, 1982
Died: August 8, 2011 in Paktia, Afghanistan
Sgt. Alessandro L. Plutino of Pitman, New Jersey attended Pitman High School where he was a standout wrestler. He also attended Western New England College. Known as Sandrino enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 2006. For more than four years, he served as a rifleman, grenadier, automatic rifleman, and a Ranger team leader in 1st Bn., 75th Ranger Regt. He was nearing the end of his sixth tour, and would have been back home in just a couple of weeks. Sgt Plutino previously served on three deployments to Iraq and this was his third deployment to Afghanistan. He died at age 28 in Paktia province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.
Amry
1st Battalion
75th Ranger Regiment
Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia
Burial is at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Hurffville, New Jersey
To be updated…
Born: July 21, 1987 in Livingston, New Jersey
Died: June 20, 2011 in Ghazni, Afghanistan
Sgt. James W. Harvey II of Toms River, New Jersey died at age 23 in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Ky. Jimmy graduated in 2005 from Arthur L. Johnson High School and had been serving in the Army since January 2009, arriving at Fort Knox the following July. He was serving his first combat tour. His awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart posthumously. He leaves his parents, James S. and Susan L. Cummings Harvey, and three sisters, Christine Douglas, Robin Raffaele and Tracey Harvey.
Burial is at St Anne’s Cemetery in Wall Township, New Jersey
To be updated…
Born: July 8, 1988
Died: May 31, 2011 in Logar, Afghanistan
Spc. Richard C. Emmons III of North Granby, Connecticut joined the Army in September 2009. After training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and Fort Gordon, Georgia, he arrived at Fort Polk, Louisiana in May 2010. He deployed with his unit in October 2010 to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His awards and decorations include, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal and the Combat Action Badge. He died at age 22 in Logar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with a rocket propelled grenade.
Army
2nd Battalion
30th Infantry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
10th Mountain Division
Fort Polk, Louisiana
Burial is at Lawnside Cemetery in Woodstown, New Jersey
To be updated…
Born: July 22, 1985
Died: April 22, 2011 in Numaniyah, Iraq
1st Lt. Omar J. Vazquez of Hamilton, New Jersey arrived at Fort Hood in February of 2009 and deployed in support of Operation New Dawn in September 2010. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbons and Combat Action Badge. He died of wounds suffered at age 25 in Numaniyah, Iraq when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
Army
2nd Squadron
3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
Fort Hood, Texas
Burial is at Greenwood Cemetery in Trenton, New Jersey
To be updated…