Freedom Remembered

Spc. Benjamin H. Neal, 21, of Orfordville, Wis., died April 25 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, from injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. Spc Neal was a 2009 graduate of Parkview Senior High School in Orfordville where he was a high school wrestler. He entered the military after graduating. His awards include the NATO Medal, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Parachutist Badge.

Burial is at Holy Cross Cemetery in Evansville, Wisconsin
To be updated…

Born: March 3, 1982 in Cuba City, Wisconsin
Died: March 12, 2012 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Jesse J. Grindey, 30, of Hazel Green, Wis., died March 12, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. Grindey was assigned to 287th Military Police Company, 97th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Riley, Kan. Gindley entered the Army March 2002. He was assigned to Fort Riley in July 2011. His awards include the Army Commendation Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Iraqi Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon with three stars, the Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon and the Army Service Ribbon.

St Francis De Sales Catholic Cemetery

To be updated…

Born: November 28, 1987, in Beloit, Wisconsin
Died: January 25, 2012 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

1st Lt. David A. Johnson of Horicon, Wis., died at age 24 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered after encountering an improvised explosive device while conducting a dismounted patrol. He was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. David graduated from Mayville High School. He was a 2010 graduate of The Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri where he was a well-respected student leader who served as a commander in the school’s ROTC program. Capt. Johnson was commissioned in 2010 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), and he is a graduate of Evangel University, Springfield, Mo. In 2011 he attended the Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Benning, Ga. He arrived at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in August 2011, and was assigned to 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. The unit deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in December. This was his first deployment. His civilian and military education includes a Bachelor of Science degree from Evangel University (2010), Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course (2011), Combatives level 1 and 2 (2011), and the Stryker Brigade Combat Team Leaders Course (2011). His awards and decorations include, the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge and the Overseas Service Bar.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9947

To be updated…

Born: December 15, 1984 in Marshfield, Wisconsin
Died: December 25, 2011 in Kunar, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Joseph J. Altmann, 27, of Marshfield, Wis., died Dec. 25, 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 Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He previously served two tours in Iraq and had just re-enlisted for another four years. He was married in February. Joe is a 2003 graduate of Columbus Catholic High School. He attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, graduating in July 2005. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, 3, Army Achievement Medal, 3, Army Good Conduct Medal, 2, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, 2, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, 4, Combat Action Badge, Combat Medical Badge, Expert Field Medical Badge Combat and Special Skill Badge Basic Marksmanship Qual Badge. He also received NATO Medal, Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously.

Burial is at Gate of Heaven Cemetery

To be updated…

Born: July 30, 1987 in Darlington, Wisconsin
Died: September 21, 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Sgt. Jakob J. Roelli, 24, of Darlington, Wis., died Sep. 21, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan. Jake graduated from Darlington High School in 2006 and attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh before joining the military as an infantryman in August 2007. Jake leaves his father, Richard Roelli, his mother, Dawn Lacy, his brother, Matthew Roelli, and a fiancée, Caitlin Pixler.

Union Grove Cemetery

To be updated…

Born: August 9, 1986 in Portsmouth, Virginia
Died: September 17, 2011 in Parwan, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Garrick L. Eppinger Jr., 25, of Appleton, Wis., died Sept. 17 in Parwan province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 395th Ordnance Company, 687th Combat Sustainment Support Brigade, 646th Regional Support Group, 310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Wausau, Wis. He graduated in 1995 from Appleton North High School and was taking classes at UW-Fox Valley before deploying with more than 100 members of the 395th in July 2011. He was posthumously promoted to Staff Sergeant.

To be updated…

Born: December 11, 1978
Died: September 2 2011 in Hawaii

Sgt. Chester G. Stoda, 32, of Black River Falls, Wis., died Sep. 2, from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 8th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. Sgt. Stoda joined the Army in February 2008 and deployed to Afghanistan in December 2010. Chet was assigned to the 8th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade. His awards and decorations include, the NATO Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, and a Combat Action Badge. He died while scuba diving in Hawaii while on leave from Afghanistan.

Oak Grove Cemetery

To be updated…

Born: February 23, 1989
Died: June 27, 2011 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Cpl. Michael C. Nolen of Spring Valley, Wisconsin attended Spring Valley High School during his senior year, graduating in 2007.  He  joined the Marine Corps in November 2007 serving as an infantryman. In December of 2009, he was promoted to Corporal. He was deployed to Afghanistan in March 2011. His awards from the military include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He died at age 22 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marines
3rd Battalion
2nd Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Burial is at Fort Snelling National in Minneapolis, Minnesota – Sec B-1 Site 533-6

To be updated…

Born: December 29, 1989 in Beloit, Wisconsin
Died: June 18, 2011 in Uruzgan, Afghanistan

Spc. Tyler R. Kreinz Beloit, Wisconsin joined the military shortly after graduating from Beloit Memorial High School in 2008. He leaves his parents, David and Mary Kreinz and two brothers, Tanner and Grant, among others. He died at age 21 in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan of injuries suffered during a vehicle roll-over. Also killed were Sgt. 1st Class Alvin A. Boatwright of Lodge, S.C., Sgt. Edward F. Dixon III of Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., and Sgt. Alan L. Snyder of Worcester, Mass. Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens in South Beloit, Illinois
Army
4th Battalion
70th Armor Regiment
170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Baumholder, Germany

To be updated…

Born: October 29, 1991 in Rockford, Illinois
Died: June 15, 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Pfc. Ryan J. Larson of Friendship, Wisconsin is a 2010 graduate of Adams-Friendship High School where he participated on the wrestling team. Ryan had been serving in the United States Army for a year, joining in June of 2010 and arriving at Fort Wainwright the following October. He served as an infantryman. He died at age 19 at Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He leaves his mother, RaeAnn Larson and his father, Rick Himmel,
Army
1st Battalion
5th Infantry Regiment
1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team
25th Infantry Division
Fort Wainwright, Alaska

To be updated…