Freedom Remembered

Cpl. Joseph D. Logan, 22, of Willis, Texas 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. He was an aerial observer who joined HMH-363 in May 2011. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in November 2008. This was his second deployment to Afghanistan. His awards include, an Air Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Marine Corps 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.

Visitation with the family is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home in Willis. The funeral will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the North Montgomery County Community Center, 600 Gerald St. in Willis.

Memorial donations may be made in Joseph Logan’s honor to the Friends of the Fallen, P.O. Box 2081, Dover Air Force Base, DE 19902.

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Born: September 22, 1987 in Hidalgo County, Texas
Died: December 27, 2011 in Paktia, Afghanistan

Spc. Kurt W. Kern of McAllen, Texas died at age 24 in Paktia, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. He is a 2006 graduate of McAllen Memorial High School where he worked hard in class and played hard on the football field. He joined the military in September 2009 as military police and was assigned to the 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, since September 2011. Spc Kern deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in December 2011. His awards and decorations include, the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Ribbon.

Burial is at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission, Texas – Sec 34 Row H Site 222

To be updated…

Born: October 1991 in Harris County, Texas
Died: November 9, 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Pfc. Cody R. Norris of Houston, Texas died at age 20 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire. He attended La Porte High School. He joined the Army in October 2010 as an infantryman. This was his first deployment. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, the NATO Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Army
2nd Battalion
34th Armor Regiment
1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team
1st Infantry Division
Fort Riley, Kansas Cody

Grand View memorial Park in Pasadena, Texas

To be updated…

Born: April 20, 1986 in Dallas County, Texas
Died: November 3, 2011 in Kirkuk, Iraq

1st Lt. Dustin D. Vincent of Mesquite, Texas died at age 25 in Kirkuk province, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan. He joined the Army in June 2009 as an artillery officer. This was his first deployment. His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, the Global War on Terror-Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon. He was deployed as an advise and assist force in support of Operation New Dawn.

Burial is at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas – Sec 103 Site 30

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Born: November 26, 1969
Died: October 29, 2011 in Kabul, Afghanistan

Lt. Col. David E. Cabrera, 41, of Abilene, Texas died Oct. 29, in Kabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. He was assigned to Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md. He graduated in 1988 from Sam Houston High School and attended Texas A&M University. He joined the Army in 1996.

A Memorial Service was held at Grace Community Church on November 4, 2011, in Fulton, Maryland, and another will be held in early December in Bethesda, Maryland, at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
Funeral information courtesy of Earthman Resthaven Funeral Home.

To be updated…

Born: May 29, 1973 in Miami, Florida
Died: October 29, 2011 in Kabul, Afghanistan

Sgt. James M. Darrough of Austin, Texas died at age 38 in Kabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 101st Finance Company, 101st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. He joined the Army in February 2005, arriving at Fort Campbell in July 2009. His awards and decorations include, the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with service star, Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, United Nations Medal, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Expert Field Medical Badge and Combat Action Badge.

Burial is at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville, Kentucky – Sec 06 Site 0638

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Born: March 19 1985 in Travis county, Texas
Died: October 22, 2011 in Logar, Afghanistan

Sgt. Paul A. Rivera of Round Rock, Texas died Oat age 26 in Logar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered in a vehicle rollover during an attack by enemy forces. He was assigned to the 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Hohenfels, Germany. Paul graduated in 2003 from Stony Point High School, where he was a student assistant for the basketball team. He joined the Army after graduating and was stationed in Germany before being deployed. He was currently serving his second tour of duty in Afghanistan. The 527th deployed to Logar in April of 2011 for a 12 month tour. He leaves behind his parents and a younger brother, who also serves in the Army.

Burial is at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Kileen, Texas – Sec 3 Row J Site 183

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Born: July 29, 1986 in Portsmith, Virginia
Died: October 13, 2011 in Kunar, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Houston M. Taylor, 25, of Hurst, Texas, died Oct. 13, in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He deployed twice prior to joining the 25th Infantry Division on March 1, 2010. His awards and decorations include, the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 3, NATO Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge. He was married and the father of two. He leaves his wife, Kelsey, his son, Rylan, his daughter, Avery, his father, Shawn Taylor, his mother, Renee Cremean-Bryan and her husband, Billy, his brothers, Austin and Dallas Taylor, and a stepbrother, Jacob Bryan and a stepsister, Morgan Bryan.

Ash Creek Cemetery

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Born: July 6, 1987 in Texas
Died: October 6, 2011 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Benjamin W. Schmidt, 24, of San Antonio, Texas, died Oct. 6 while 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. Ben is a graduate of Alamo Heights High School. He left on his second tour of Afghanistan in September and was scheduled to end his deployment in May 2012.

Burial is at Fort Sam Houston National in San Antonio, Texas – Sec C1 Row W2 Site D131

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Born: October 7, 1989 in Houston, Texas
Died: September 28, 2011 in Ghazni, Afghanistan

Pfc. David A. Drake, 21, of Lumberton, Texas died Sep 28, in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 5th Engineer Battalion, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. He enlisted in the Army in January of this year, attending both basic training and AIT at Fort Leonard Wood. After graduating in May, he moved to the 5th Engineers in June to serve as a combat engineer in the 515th Sapper Company, and deployed to Afghanistan in July. He was awarded the Bronze Star medal, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Action Badge.

Forest Lawn Memorial Park

To be updated…