Freedom Remembered

Born: November 20, 1986 in Jamaica, New York
Died: February 15, 2011 in Baghdad, Iraq

Sgt. LaShawn D. Evans, 24, of Columbia, South Carolina arrived at Fort Riley in July of 2008 and deployed in March of 2010 for his second Iraq deployment. He was serving as a petroleum supply specialist. Shawn died Feb. 15 in Baghdad province, Iraq, in a non-combat related incident. He leaves his wife, Pfc Florinda Cierra Evans, a daughter, Shanirea Amiracle Evans, his father, Kevin Green, his mother, Kim Evans, a brother, Spc Jamel Green, currently serving in Afghanistan, and a sister, Talisa Green.
Army
1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion
1st Aviation Regiment
Combat Aviation Brigade
1st Infantry Division
Fort Riley, Kansas

Burial is at Fort Jackson National Cemetery in Columbia, South Carolina – Sec 2 Site 4

To be updated…

Born: June 13, 1988 in Angola, Indiana
Died: December 21, 2010 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. William H. Crouse IV of Clinton, South Carolina attended Northrop High School in Indiana before moving to South Carolina where he attended Clinton High School. While at Clinton, he was the Red Devils football team’s starting fullback during his senior year. Billy was currently serving his first deployment in Afghanistan where he had been for six weeks. He leaves his mother and stepfather, Nancy and Vinnie Siders, sister, Jennifer Chaffee, brothers, Nathan and Ryan Rothman, and sister, Jennifer Hartman. He died at age 22 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, along with his partner, his bomb sniffing dog, Cane. Billy was preceded in death by his father, William H. Crouse III.
Marines
1st Battalion
10th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Burial is at Covington Memorial Gardens in Fort Wayne, Indiana

To be updated…

Born: August 17, 1979 in Spartanburg County, South Carolina
Died: December 9, 2004 in Iraq

1st Lt. Andrew C. Shields of Campobello, South Carolina and his twin brother, Philip, both graduated from Wofford College in 2001. The brothers were standout members of the Southern Guards Battalion and the ROTC program. In July 2001, Andrew, a senior majoring in chemistry at the time, was presented with the Distinguished Military Student Citation. The citation is awarded to cadets in the top third of their senior military science class. Both brothers earned bachelor’s degrees in chemistry. The boys were very close, attending labs together and always working hard. Both were excellent students, though they could be difficult to tell apart, and were really highly respected young men. Andrew and Philip were both commissioned as second lieutenants in May of 2001. Both became pilots. Andrew went on to serve in the South Carolina National Guard for five years. He was a member of New Prospect Baptist Church and was a member of the Civil Air Patrol and the AWT. He was also a consultant with Water Conditioning, Inc. Andrew never thought of himself as any kind of hero, and he shunned praise when it came his way. Before leaving for Iraq, he visited a group of second-graders and became the class’s pen pal, but he struggled to understand why the children thought so highly of him. Andrew was killed at age 25 in an Apache helicopter accident in Mosul, Iraq. Also killed was Army Chief Warrant Officer Patrick D. Leach. He is the son of Donald and Emily Burnett Shields. In addition to his parents, he leaves, two brothers, his twin, Philip and Donald, and a sister, Julie. Andrew was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star. A portion of Spartanburg County’s Scenic Highway 11, between Interstate 26 and State 9, is dedicated as the 1st Lt. Andrew Carl Shields Memorial Highway.
Army
Platoon leader
1st Battalion
151st Aviation Regiment
National Guard
Columbia, South Carolina

Burial is at New Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery in New Prospect, South Carolina

Born: September 15, 1987
Died: November 12, 2010 in Nuristan, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt Andrew S. Bubacz of Dalzell, South Carolina enlisted in the Air Force Sept. 27, 2005. He attended basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and then he transitioned to the 336th Training Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi for technical school as a communications specialist. He also attended Airman Leadership School. He earned two Community College of the Air Force degrees in biology and information management, and an associate’s degree in biology from Western Oklahoma State College. Among his awards are, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Andrew deployed to Afghanistan as a member of a provincial reconstruction team. He died at age 23 in Nuristan, Afghanistan while maintaining a communications tower at a forward operating base.
Air Force
97th Communications Squadron
Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma

Burial is at Fort Jackson National Cemetery in Columbia, South Carolina – Sec 2 Site 100

To be updated…

Born: August 21, 1978 in Lexington, South Carolina
Died: October 1, 2010 in Paktika, Afghanistan

Spc. Luther W. Rabon Jr of Lexington, South Carolina is known by most as Will. He enlisted in the South Carolina National Guard in February of 2007. Upon his Advanced Individual Training, he then trained with the 1221st Engineer Clearance Company out of Batesburg-Leesville. His unit was deployed to Afghanistan in July of 2010. Will loved to hunt, go boating on the lake, dirt track racing, riding motorcycles, shooting pool and playing golf. He leaves his wife, Catherine, his daughters, Summer, Grace and Trinity, a son, Noah, his parents, Luther W. Rabon, Sr. and Martha Elizabeth Martin Rabon, his sister, Amy, half brother, Kyle Martin. Will died at age 32 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his military vehicle with an improvised explosive device.
Army
National Guard
1221st Engineer Clearance Company
Graniteville, South Carolina

Burial is at Southland Memorial Gardens in West Columbia, South Carolina

Born: May 15, 1962
Died: October 1, 2010 in Paktika, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Willie J. Harley Jr., of Aiken, South Carolina grew up in Aiken and is a 1981 graduate of Aiken High School. After graduation he immediately joined the National Guard and served three tours, including Afghanistan and Iraq. His oldest son, Christopher, served in the same unit. He leaves a daughter, Allison, four sons, Christopher, Calvin, Desmond and Willie III, a sister, Barbara, six granchildren, Ta’Mya, Ja’Mya, Aiyanna, Ta’Shun, Jayia, and Braylon. Willie died at age 48 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his military vehicle with an improvised explosive device.
Army
National Guard
1221st Engineer Clearance Company
Graniteville, South Carolina

Burial is at Pinelawn Cemetery in Aiken, South Carolina

To be updated…

Born: August 30, 1985 in Seoul, Korea
Died: March 25, 2007 in Baqubah, Iraq

Pfc. Anthony J. White of Columbia, South Carolina attended Richland Northeast High School where he played Forward on the Cavaliers Varsity Basketball Team graduating in 2003. After high-school, he joined the military, following in his father’s footsteps. His father is a 30 year-veteran who spent much of his career at Fort Bragg with the 82nd. He also planned on going to master jump school, just like his dad. But he died two months short of his expected return. Anthony entered the Army on March 17 2005 and after attending Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, PV2 White graduated from 63B Advanced Individual Training on 9 August, 2005. Upon completion of Airborne School, PV2 White was assigned to Delta Company, 82nd Brigade Support Battalion in direct support of 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry. PV2 White served as a wheeled vehicle mechanic. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom on August 9 2006. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Combat Action Badge, and the Parachutist Badge. Affectionately known as “Amp,” Anthony was a talented, outgoing, yet shy young man, whose warm personality and gentle smile instantly captivated your heart. To know him was to love him. Anthony loved life. He loved his family and his friends. Also, he was a devoted fan of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. He was passionate about the “blue and white.” He was a courteous and respectable individual to all that he met. He leaves his parents Harry and Kum White and his brother Randy White. He was was killed at age 21 while serving in Iraq.
Army
5th Squadron
73rd Cavalry Regiment
3rd Brigade Combat Team
82nd Airborne Division
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Burial is at Greenlawn Serenity Gardens in Columbia, South Carolina

Born: August 27, 1979 in Charleston, South Carolina
Died: September 29, 2008 in Afghanistan

Captain Richie Cliff of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina is a 1997 Wando High School graduate where he was known as a disciplined athlete, a leader admired by his fellow students. While there, he was captain of the varsity wrestling team. After graduating from Appalachian State University he enlisted in the military in 2002. Richie was an avid surfer with his favorite local spot being Folly Beach. He traveled to Costa Rica, Hawaii and surf spots up and down the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. He enjoyed days spent on his boat, wakeboarding with friends, and hitting the slopes with his brother, Eddie. Richie also climbed to the summit of Mt. Rainier in Washington state while stationed at Ft. Lewis. Richie had an amazing sense of humor, always playing practical jokes on his friends. His laugh was so infectious and luckily for those around him, he laughed a lot. Richie made friends with ease, becoming friends with everyone he met. His friends describe him as loyal and kind, a born leader. He had great family support, a loving wife, a new home and had just earned a Green Beret in a promising military career, and a son born just three weeks earlier on September 4th. One week later he shipped out to Afghanistan on the 11th. He had previously served two tours of duty in Iraq. His Awards include, four Army Commendation Medals, the Army Achievement Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, among others. He leaves his wife, Stacy, whom he married in August of 2003, a son, Richard, his parents Julie and Rich Cliff, Sr., and a brother, Eddie. He died at age 29 in Yakhchal, Afghanistan, from wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device during mounted operations. Also killed were Sgt. 1st Class Jamie S. Nicholas and Sgt. 1st Class Gary J. Vasquez.
Army
1st Battalion
7th Special Forces Group
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Burial is at Live Oak Memorial Gardens in Charleston, South Carolina

Born: August 21, 1981 in Galax, Virginia
Died: April 6, 2005 in Ghazni, Afghanistan

Spc. Chrystal G. Stout of Travelers Rest, South Carolina is a 1999 graduate of Trinity Christian Academy where she played basketball as a forward on the girls’ basketball team. She also attended Greenville Technical College and was about to enter a curriculum at Liberty University when she was called to active duty. She had joined the National Guard a month prior to the events of 9-11. Chrystal had worked at banks and in the food service industry. In emails from Afghanistan, she told friends and family she looked forward to returning to hike through Europe and the Appalachian Trail. Chrystal was raised in Hillsville, and was the first woman from Western Virginia to die in the war on terrorism. She was a member of New Hope Bible Church in Greenville where she regularly volunteered. She leaves her parents, Tony Lee Stout and Julia Ann Shores a brother, Jeremiah and a sister, Sonya. Chrystal was killed at age 23 when the CH-47 helicopter in which she was riding crashed in Ghazni, Afghanistan.
Army
National Guard
228th Signal Brigade
Spartanburg, South Carolina

Burial is at Robinson Memorial Gardens in Easley, South Carolina – Veterans Garden of Honor

Born: March 12, 1974 in Jacksonville, Florida
Died: November 12, 2006 in Samarra, Iraq

Spc. Harry A. Winkler III of Hampton, South Carolina was known as ‘Buck’ by his family and friends. He lived in several places across the United States, Wisconsin, Florida and Missouri but he called South Carolina home. Buck enlisted in the military in early 2002, ten years after he left high school. Following the events of 9-11, Buck saw the opportunity to steer his life in a new direction. But first, he had to loose fifty pounds to qualify for basic training. He completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning. After fulfilling his first enlistment obligation, he thought that would be the end of that. However, Buck missed the Army, and soon found himself back where he thought he belonged. In late summer of 2006 he deployed for the second time to Iraq and would communicate with his family via phone or computer. He was always in a good mood after he talked with his wife and son. His comrades called him Wink, or Winky, and they respected him as a competent, mature family man who had a great sense of humor. His optimism and professionalism was felt by all who knew him. He leaves his wife, Charity, his son, Owen, stepson, Tommy, his mother, Debbi and a brother David among others. Buck died at age 32 of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations in Samarra, Iraq. Also killed was 1st Lt. Michael A. Cerrone. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Iraqi Campaign Medal, and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Bronze Star Medal.
Army
2nd Battalion
505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
3rd Brigade Combat Team
82nd Airborne Division
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Burial is at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville, Kentucky – Sec 06 Site 0091