Freedom Remembered

Born: March 30 1981 in Parkersburg, West Virginia
Died: August 6, 2011 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist/Diver) Nicholas H. Null, 30, of Washington, W.Va., died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. He was assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit. Nick enlisted in the United States Navy in September, 2000. After graduating from Recruit Training Command at Great Lakes, Illinois in December, 2000, he reported for his initial service school training at Great Lakes, Illinois. After completing service school training, he reported to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 6 at Panama City, Florida in May, 2001. He then reported to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 2 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In May 2007, he reported to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 12 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He returned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 2, Virginia Beach, Virginia, in July, 2007. In January, 2009, he reported to his East Coast based SEAL Team. His awards include, Bronze Star Medal (2) one with “V” device for valor, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with “V” device for valor (2), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3) one with “V” for valor, Combat Action Ribbon (2), Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal (3), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (2), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (4), Rifle Marksmanship Medal, and Pistol Marksmanship Medal. Burial is at Sunset Memory Gardens in Parkersburg, West Virginia

To be updated…

Born: February 11, 1982 in Wheeling, West Virginia
Died: June 29, 2011 in Badrah, Iraq

Capt. David E. Van Camp, 29, of Wheeling, W.Va.; died June 29 in Badrah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire. He was assigned to 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas. Capt Van Camp received his commission in June 2002 as an armor officer and was assigned to Troop G, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, since February 2011. He was deployed in support of Operation New Dawn, and had previously deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from August 2006 to May 2007. His awards and decorations include a Bronze Service Medal, a Purple Heart, a Meritorius Service Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, Iraqi Campaign Medal with two combat service stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, a Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, a Combat Action Badge and a Parachutist Badge. Also killed were, Capt. Matthew G. Nielson, 27, of Jefferson, Iowa and Spc. Robert G. Tenney Jr., 29, of Warner Robins, Ga. He leaves his wife, Chelsea, his parents, Donald and Linda, three brothers, Donald, Dennis, and Daniel, and his mother-in-law, Suanne Graham.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia- Sec 60 Site 9713

To be updated…

Born: August 17, 1991 in Charleston, South Carolina
Died: March 11, 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Pfc. Andrew M. Harper, 19, of Maidsville, West Va., died at age 19 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained in a non-combat incident. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany. Andrew is a 2009 graduate of University High School where he was a member of the track and wrestling teams and played football. He leaves his father, Steven M Harper and his mother and stepfather, Deanna and Craig Wells a brother, Steven Harper, a sister, Bridgette Ross, and a stepsister, Camille Wells.

Burial is at West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton, West Virginia – Sec 5 Site 903

To be updated…

Born: August 13, 1982
Died: November 15, 2003 in Mosul, Iraq

Pfc. Richard W. Hafer of Cross Lanes, West Virginia attended Laurel Valley High School where the 6′ 5″, 275 pounder was a standout defensive lineman. In 2000, he was voted Lineman of the Year on the All-Gazette football squad. He was also an outstanding wrestler. After graduating in 2000, Rick moved to Nitro, West Virginia so he could be reunited with his half-sisters whom he adored. He enlisted in the United States Army and while serving overseas he was looking forward to a surprise trip to West Virginia for Christmas to see his sisters, and other family. Richard was killed at age 21 when two 101st Airborne Division UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters crashed in Mosul, Iraq. He was posthumously awarded, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
Army
1st Battalion
320th Field Artillery
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Burial is at Blairsville Cemetery in Blairsville, Pennsylvania

Born: June 13, 1984 in Wheeling, West Virginia
Died: November 4, 2009 in Paktika, Afghanistan

Spc Julian L. Berisford of Moundsville, West Virginia was a 2002 John Marshall High School graduate. He also attended West Liberty State College and Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church. He enlisted into the Army in February 2007 where he became a specialist with the 509th Infantry and left for Afghanistan in March 2009. Julian was serving his first tour of duty. He deployed to Afghanistan in March and was scheduled to return home in two weeks for a visit. Julian previously served at Fort Benning, Georgia and Fort Bragg, North Carolina before being assigned to the Airborne Brigade at Fort Richardson in August 2008. Julian enjoyed fishing and hunting, and most of all spending time with his family & friends. He was a huge Mountaineer Fan, an amateur guitarist, and he loved listening to music, especially The Beatles. In addition to his parents, Shelley Guthrie and Jule Berisford, survivors include his wife, Gina, whom he married on December 31, 2007, his daughter, Mya, among others. He died at age 25 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fires. In 2010, Julian was honored as part of the Elks’ annual Flag Day observance, with members presenting his family with a plaque naming him a recipient of the Medal of Valor. His widow, Gina, and daughter, Mya, accepted the recognition, along with his mother, Shelley Guthrie.
Army
3rd Battalion
509th Parachute Infantry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne)
25th Infantry Division
Fort Richardson, Alaska

Burial is at a Private Berisford Family Cemetery in Benwood, West Virginia

Born: April 14, 1979 in Clinton, Maryland
Died: September 12, 2009 in Baghdad, Iraq

Sgt. 1st Class Duane A. Thornsbury of Bridgeport, West Virginia attended Grafton High School where he was involved in wrestling and was considered a bright student. He enlisted in the United States Army Reserves back in April 1996 and came onto active duty service in September 2002. He later attended the Special Forces Qualification Course, earning his Green Beret in 2006, as a Weapons Sergeant. He was on his third deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and was as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force, Arabian Peninsula. His military education includes the Combat Life Savers Course, Warrior Leader Course, Air Assault Course, Basic Airborne Course, Basic Non-Commissioned Officers Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance, & Escape (High Risk), Special Forces Qualification Course, Ranger Course, and Jumpmaster School. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, NATO Medal, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Senior Parachutists Badge, Parachutists Badge, and the Air Assault Badge. He is survived by his brother Dana. Duane died at age 30 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over.
Army
2nd Battalion
10th Special Forces Group
Fort Carson, Colorado

Burial is at West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton, West Virginia

Birth: April 8, 1981
Death: October 5, 2007 in Baghdad, Iraq

Cpl. Jason Marchand of West Virginia graduated from Doddridge County High School in 2000 where he was a member of the football and track teams. Jason enjoyed life and loved being with friends, playing video games and having a good time. He was a collector of wolf pictures and figurines. Before going to Iraq, he was stationed in Germany for two years. His paternal grandparents, William and Clara Marchand, and his maternal grandparents, Eugene and Zelma Underwood, and one aunt, Billie Jean Glaspell, preceded him in death. He had only been serving in Iraq for three months when he was killed by an improvised explosive device while doing routine housing checks just north of Baghdad at age 26.
Army
3rd Squadron
2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment
Vilseck, Germany

Burial is at Center Point Christian Church Cemetery in Center Point, West Virginia

Born: September 3, 1983
Died: September 11, 2007 in Jackson County, Alabama

Sgt J. Scott Angel of Gauley Bridge, West Virginia attended Gauley Bridge High School where he played baseball before transferring to and graduating from Valley High School. While at Valley, he played quarterback for the football team and captain of its baseball team. The catcher was a special honorable mention all-state pick in his senior year. Scott also enjoyed hunting deer and fishing. He joined the United States Army in the fall of 2002, got married on December 28, and arrivived at Fort Campbell May of 2003. Scott served three tours of duty in Iraq. His awards and decorations include the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Army Aviator badge. He leaves his wife, Megan and daughter, Sophia, his father, Jeffrey Angel and wife, Laura, mother, Kathy Jarvis and husband, Mark, brother, Bryan Angel, stepbrother, Jimmy Bobbitt, half-sister, Alisha Angel. He was one of three men who died when an Army helicopter went down in Alabama during training. He was 24.
Army
Company C
4th Battalion
101st Aviation Regiment
159th Combat Aviation Brigade
101st Airborne Division
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Burial is at Restlawn Memory Gardens in Victor, West Virginia

Born: July 18, 1970 in Baltimore, Maryland
Died: August 14, 2007 in Taqqadum, Iraq

Staff Sgt. Stanley B. Reynolds of Rock, West Virginia attended Matoaka schools and was a graduate of West Iredell High School in Statesville, North Carolina. Stanley grew up in a loving home environment and liked to hang around with his father and his father’s buddies when they worked on farm machinery at the family’s home. Stan was a truck driver and worked in the coal mines briefly before enlisting in the military more than five years prior. His late father was a Marine who served in Vietnam. In his leisure he enjoyed restoring old trucks. Stanley was married with three children and left for Iraq in early July for a 15-month deployment. He was of the Baptist faith. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal, National Defense Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Ribbon, Non-Commissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon and the Aviation Crewman Badge. He was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service. In addition to his father he was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Ernest and Lorraine Bell Reynolds; and his maternal grandparents, Hosea and Grace Hall Shrewsbury. He died at age 37 in Al Taqqadum, Iraq, of injuries suffered when his helicopter crashed. Also killed were Chief Warrant Officer Christopher C. Johnson, Jackie L. McFarlane, Staff Sgt. Sean P. Fisher and Spc. Steven R. Jewell.
Army
1st Battalion
52nd Aviation Regiment
Task Force 49
Fort Wainwright, Alaska

Burial is at Shutt-Shrewsbury Cemetery in Rock, West Virginia

Birth: June 23, 1986 in Elkins, West Virginia
Death: April 27, 2007 in Bagram, Afghanistan

Spc. Daniel Mehringer of Morgantown, West Virginia joined the Army in September 2004 and had been with the 82nd Airborne Division since March 2005. He loved the adrenaline rush of jumping out of an aircraft, and he was proud to be an 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper. He was the consummate professional and was looking forward to serving his country for many years to come. Mehringer is survived by his wife, Marialies and his parents. They were together at Ft. Bragg for six months, and he was then deployed to Afghanistan. He loved his family, his dogs, Thor and Pandora, his horse, D’Artagnan, his firebird-trans am, computer games and baseball. He died in Bagram, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident at age 20.

Army
82nd Airborne Division
Special Troops Battalion
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Cremated