Freedom Remembered

Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin J. Griffin, 45, of Laramie, Wyo., died Aug. 8, in Sarkowi, in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when he encountered an insurgent who detonated a suicide vest. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo. The brigade began a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan in February 2012. Command Sgt. Maj. Griffin was the most senior enlisted soldier for the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. His military career began in 1988 when he enlisted in the Army. During his Army career, Griffin served three tours in Iraq and had been deployed to Kuwait and the Balkans. His awards and decorations include, the Bronze Star Medal (3OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC), Army Commendation Medal w/Valor (1 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (4 OLC), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (7 OLC), Good Conduct Medal 7th Award, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asian Service Medal (3 Service Stars), Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development ribbon (numeral 4), Army Service Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medal Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Liberation Medal Kuwait, NATO Medal, the Gold Army Recruiting Badge, and Combat Action Badge. He was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.

Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado – Sec 25 Site 634

To be updated…

Born: March 9, 1989 at Camp Pendleton, California
Died: June 12, 2011 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Sean M. N. O’Connor of Douglas, Wyoming died at age 22 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. Sean is a 2007 graduate of Douglas High School and joined the United States Marines Corps soon after. He had been deployed to Afghanistan since March 2011. His awards include, the Purple Heart and Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal. He leaves his parents, Daniel and Dee O’Connor, a sister, Sarah, and his favorite dog Sam among several other family members.

Burial is at Douglas Park Cemetery in Douglas, Wyoming

To be updated..

Born: January 24, 1984 in Gillette, Wyoming
Died: March 10, 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Eric S. Trueblood of Alameda, California died at age 27 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 391st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, Spinelli Barracks, Mannheim, Germany. Eric Had been serving in the United States Army for eight years. He graduated at the top of his class at military bomb disposal school. He leaves his mother, Linda Trueblood, his father, Donald Trueblood, and his sister, Nena Trueblood, among others.

Burial is at Greenhill Cemetery in Laramie, Wyoming – Row J-GAR Lot 13 Site 11

To be updated…

Born: October 18, 1967 in Wyoming
Died: October 26, 2010 in Ali Al Salem, Kuwait

Sgt. 1st Class Phillip C. Tanner of Sheridan, Wyoming joined the Army in October of 1993 arriving at Fort Campbell in March of 2007. His awards and decorations include, Bronze Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Non commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, United Nations Medal, NATO Medal, and Driver Mechanic Badge. He leaves his wife, Hyun J. Tanner and his daughter, Ashley among others. He was processing through Kuwait after leaving Afghanistan enroute to Fort Campbell at the time of his death. Phillip is the son of the late Martin Allen Tanner and the late Evelyn Walston LaFever. He leaves his wife, Hyun, his daughter, Ashley, sisters, Taresa Baldwin, Shara Sidebottom, Harlettie Skaggs, and stepsisters, Lorraine LaFever and Gail LaFever. He died at age 43 at Ali Al Salem, Kuwait, of injuries sustained in a non-combat incident.
Army
106th Transportation Battalion
101st Sustainment Brigade
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

To be updated…

Born: September 9, 1978 in Vincenza, Italy
Died: July 30, 2003 in Belaruz, Iraq

Capt Leif E. Nott of Cheyenne, Wyoming grew up in Europe and graduated in 1996 from Hanau High School in Germany. He spoke five languages. When it was time for college, he came back to the United States to continue the family’s military tradition, enrolling at the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 2000. After arriving at Fort Hood, Leif became involved with Young Life, a group that reaches out to high school youth to build a relationship with God and made a profound impact on the lives of the young kids. He leaves his wife, Melanie, whom he married in July of 2001, his parents, Leslie and Raffaella Nott and a brother, Eric. He died at age 24 of wounds received from friendly fire on July 30 in Belaruz, Iraq.
Army
A Troop
1st Battalion
10th Cavalry
Fort Hood, Texas

Burial is at Cheyenne Memorial Gardens in Cheyenne, Wyoming

Born: September 12, 1986
Died: August 17, 2006 in Baghdad, Iraq

Pfc James J Arellano of Cheyenne, Wyoming was a 2005 graduate of Cheyenne Central High School. James followed the path of his father, Jim Arellano, both in becoming a boxer and in serving in the Army. He lived his life and had his goals and he strived to meet every one of them. He wanted to box, and he boxed; he wanted to join the military, and he got into the Army; he wanted to be married, and he married the love of his life, Jaime Smith on March 11. She was finishing her senior year in high school when they married and for their wedding dinner, they went to the International House of Pancakes where he had chocolate chip pancakes and she had biscuits and gravy. He leaves a brother, Andrew Arellano, and a sister, Diana Arellano. He died at age 19 of injuries suffered when his patrol encountered enemy forces using improvised explosive devices and small arms fire in Baghdad.
Army
1st Battalion
67th Armored Regiment
2nd Brigade
4th Infantry Division
Fort Hood, Texas

Burial is at Cheyenne Memorial Gardens in Cheyenne, Wyoming

Born: August 21, 1984 in Afton, Wyoming
Died: December 12, 2005 in Tikrit, Iraq

Spc. Lex S. Nelson of Salt Lake City, Utah is a graduate of Granite High School and the Granite Latter Day Saints Seminary program in 2002. He entered the United States Army soon after graduation and deployed to Iraq in January 2005. The Eagle Scout is the son of Ellis H. and the late, Roene Shumway Nelson and was affectionately nicknamed, ‘Stones’ by his siblings. Lex was fond of camping and hiking. He leaves his father Ellis H. Nelson, eight brothers and ten sisters, Duke Nelson, Enden Nelson, Greta Nelson, Hank Nelson, Ingrid Nelson, Jacob Nelson, Katrina Nelson, Max Nelson, Nada Nelson, Obed Nelson, Bernadette West, Caleana Keys, Clarke Ray, Francine Miller, Amber Watts, Laura Arias and Bethany Ray. Lex died at age 21 when he fell from a guard tower in Tikrit, Iraq.
Army
1st Battalion
41st Field Artillery
1st Brigade
3rd Infantry Division
Fort Stewart, Georgia

Burial is at Auburn Cemetery in Auburn, Wyoming

Born: February 27, 1983
Died: April 14, 2003 in Baghdad, Iraq

Pfc. Joseph P. Mayek of Rock Springs, Wyoming joined the Army after graduating from Rock Springs High School. He had been torn between attending college and joining the military. Looking ahead to a possible career in law enforcement, he chose the Army. He was killed at age 20 after being struck by an armor-piercing round that was accidentally discharged from an M2 Bradley vehicle.
Army
C Company
2nd Battalion
6th Infantry Regiment
Smith Barracks, Germany

Burial is at Mountain View Cemetery in Rock Springs, Wyoming

Born on Sep. 19, 1974 in Missouri

Died on June 10, 2007 in Baghdad, Iraq

Staff Sgt. Brian M. Long was born at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, to a family, which took pride in their military service. He attended elementary school in Burns, Wyoming, and graduated from Cheyenne’s Triumph High School in 1993, where he was a wrestler and a football player. Brian was very competitive, but also compassionate. At age 10, he allowed another wrestler, who was blind, to pin him on the mat. After high school, he joined the United States Navy and was stationed for 4 years in San Diego, California. He was a member of an intramural Navy bull riding team until he severely injured his arm during competition. He then enlisted in the US Army and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Washington. He was on his second tour in Iraq. He regularly took advantage of a live satellite television link to read his children stories before bed. He is survived by his wife, Brenda Long; their daughters, Sydney, Shelby, and son, Sage; his mother, Lynn Curtiss; grandfather, Sgt. 1st Class Charles Long (U.S. Army-Ret.), and sister Kristina Sheets; in-laws and many other extended family members.

 Brian was buried in Cheyenne Memorial Gardens in Cheyenne, Wyoming

Born on Jun. 15, 1976

Died on Mar. 10, 2008 in Baghdad, Iraq

Staff Sergeant Julian was the son of Wally and Bonnie Bills Julian. He was a 1994 graduate of Evanston Wyoming High School and went to work as a welder after graduation. In May 1998, he joined the United States Army. David was currently assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Stewart, Georgia. In the ten years as a soldier, he served in Germany, North Korea and Macedonia and was on his fourth tour of duty in Iraq. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved any kind of fishing and was enjoying being near the coast so that he could enjoy shark fishing. He loved Wyoming and had plans to return here in the next couple of years with his family. He came home to Wyoming many times over the years, and these visits usually coincided with local tributes to veterans and he attended the Fallen Comrade dedication in the fall of 2003. David was a determined person who paid attention to detail and believed in meticulous preparation, had an incredible sense of humor and believed 100% in what he was doing in the military. He met and married his true love, Erin McDaniel, in Ludowici, Georgia. Their daughter was born in December 2007, and David was home on leave for 18 days to be with them before returning to Iraq. Staff Sgt, Julian was killed along with four other soldiers when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device. Survivors include his wife, Erin Julian and his daughter, Elizabeth Julian; his parents and his stepmother, Lynn Julian; his siblings, Eric Julian and his wife, Staff Sgt. Mark Julian, Chris Julian and his wife, Mistee Rochford and her husband, Becki Frame and her husband, and Kellee Julian; and many nieces and nephews, friends and family. Julian was awarded a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Services Medal, an Iraq Campaign Medal, a posthumous Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

He was buried in Evanston Cemetery in Evanston, Wyoming.