Freedom Remembered

Spc. James E. Dutton, 25, of Checotah, Okla., died March 31, in Logar province, Afghanistan. Dutton was assigned to the 125th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. James grew up in Weleetka graduating from Weleetka High School in 2006. After joining the military he graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. During the nine weeks of training, Dutton studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values and physical fitness. He received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training. Also, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches and field training exercises. Fort Gibson National Cemetery

A memorial service will be held;
Wednesday, April 18, 2012, at Fort Bliss, Texas

A funeral service will be
10:00 a.m. Monday, April 23, 2012, at;
First Baptist Church of Checotah, Oklahoma

Interment will be at Fort Gibson National Cemetery with full military honors provided by the Fort Sill Honor Guard.

Funeral information courtesy of Bradley Funeral Service of Muskogee.

To be updated…

Died: February 28, 2012 in Mobile Bay, Alabama

Lt. J.G. Thomas J. Cameron of Portland, Oregon graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 2009. He was a 2005 Cleveland High School graduate. While in high school, he was captain of the soccer team and an “A” student. He was a captain of his college soccer team where he played as a Forward. When he scored a goal, he celebrated with leaps and somersaults. LTJGCameron died Feb. 28 when a MH-65C Dolphin helicopter crashed into Mobile Bay during a training mission. He is survived by his parents, Elizabeth and John Cameron and his older brother Alex.

River View Cemetery Portland, Oregon

To be updated…

Born: July 17, 1983 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Died: February 21, 2012 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Sgt. Allen R. McKenna Jr., 28, of Noble, Okla., died Feb. 21 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo. Growing up he was known by many as, Robby Bingenheimer. (a combination of his middle name and his stepfathers last name.) Robby graduated from Noble High School and joined the United States Army in September of 2004. He was serving a second deployment to Afghanistan, which began Sept. 6, 2011. His previous deployment was from March 2009 to March 2010. His decorations include, the Army Commendation Medal twice and the Army Achievement Medal. Sgt McKenna was married with three sons, the last one just two months old.

Burial is at Hillside Cemetery in Purcell, Oklahoma

To be updated…

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 13, 1991 in Crossett, Arkansas
Died: November 1, 2011 in Paktia, Afghanistan

Spc. Sarina N. Butcher, 19, of Checotah, Okla., died Nov. 1, in Paktia province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked her vehicle with an improvised explosive device. She was assigned to the 700th Brigade Support Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard, Tulsa, Okla. Sarina attended Checotah High School. She joined the Guard in April 2010 and was an automated logistical specialist. She attended Checotah High School and will be promoted posthumously to the rank of specialist. During her 18 months in the Guard, Butcher was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Oklahoma Good Conduct Medal. She was posthumously promoted to the rank of specialist.

Funeral service, with full military honors, will be:
Brazzel/Cornish Funeral Home
Prescott, Arkansas
Friday November 11 at 2:00 pm

Burial will follow in Friendship Cemetery, McCaskill, Arkansas.
Funeral information courtesy of Brazzel/Cornish The Funeral Home of Prescott.

To be updated…

Born: September 15 1985 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma
Died: November 1, 2011 in Lajah Ahmadkhel, Afghanistan

Sgt. Christopher D. Gailey, 26, of Ochelata, Okla.; died Nov. 1, in Paktia province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 700th Brigade Support Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard, Tulsa, Okla. He enlisted in the National Guard in June 2004 and subsequently graduated from Caney Valley High School in Ramona in May 2005. He had previously deployed to Iraq in 2007-08 and was a motor vehicle operator. During his seven-year military career, he received several military awards and decorations, including the National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal and the Oklahoma Long Service Ribbon.

Funeral services will be Saturday, November 12 at 2:00 p.m. at;
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Interment will be in the Ochelata Cemetery
Funeral information courtesy of Stumpff Funeral Home & Crematory.

To be updated…

Born: February 4, 1984 in Guadalajara, Mexico
Died: September 25, 2011 in Laghman, Afghanistan

Spc. Francisco J. Briseno-Alvarez Jr., 27, of Oklahoma City, Okla., died Sept. 25 in Laghman province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Brigade Combat Team, Stillwater, Okla. He graduated in 2003 from U.S. Grant High School. He joined the National guard in 2010 and attended advanced individual training to become a truck driver. He leaves his parents, Francisco and Maria Briseno and two siblings, Luis and Diana Briseno.

Burial is at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

To be updated…

Born: July 16, 1983 in Chickasha, Oklahoma
Died: September 15, 2011 in Laghman, Afghanistan

Sgt. Mycal L. Prince, 28, of Minco, Okla., died Sept. 15 in Laghman province, Afghanistan of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard, Stillwater, Okla. He graduated from Ninnekah High School in 1997. In 2003, Sgt Prince deployed to Saudi Arabia. He was a team leader in a 2005 deployment to assist with Hurricane Katrina. He went to Iraq in 2008 and was sent to Afghanistan in 2011. As a civilian, Mycal served as a police officer in Minco. He had recently become a K-9 handler with the Minco Police Department before his deployment in March. He leaves behind a wife, Surana, and their two young children. It was a little more than a month shy of the couple’s sixth wedding anniversary.

Burial is at Bradley Cemetery in Bradley, Oklahoma

To be updated..

Born: October 1, 1984 in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Died: September 9, 2011 in Paktia, Afghanistan

Spc. Christopher D. Horton of Collinsville, Oklahoma graduated from the Missouri Military Academy. He enlisted in the Oklahoma Guard in 2008 and was trained to be an infantrymen and was sniper qualified. This was his first deployment. Chris died at age 26 in Paktia, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.
Army
National Guard
1st Battalion
279 Infantry Regiment
45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9728

To be updated…

Born: January 30, 1985 in Shawnee, Oklahoma
Died: September 9, 2011 in Paktia, Afghanistan

Sgt. Bret D. Isenhower, 26, of Lamar, Okla., died Sept. 9 in Paktia, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 279 Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard, Tulsa, Okla.He graduated from Seminole High School and joined the Oklahoma National Guard three years later. He was promoted to sergeant in March and was a fire team leader in an infantry platoon. Sgt Isenhower was deployed in Iraq in 2007. His most recent deployment was his second.

Resthaven Gardens Cemetery

To be updated…