Born: July 5, 2024
Died: February 17, 2024 in Southwest Asia
Airman 1st Class Christoffer P. Johnson of Clarksville, Tennessee graduated from Clarksville High School in 2008. He died at age 20 due to a non-combat related incident in Southwest Asia. He leaves his parents, Marcus and Julee Johnson, and two siblings, Katelyn and Seth Johnson.
Air Force
423rd Security Forces Squadron
Royal Air Force Alconbury, England
Burial is at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida - Sec 605 Site 57
To be updated…
Born: September 26, 2024 in Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Died: February 17, 2024 in Iraq
Airman 1st Class Corey C. Owens of San Antonio, Texas joined the military in 2008 and was currently serving his second deployment. He leaves his wife, Misty Owens, two daughters, Xiya and Xoe Owens from his first marriage, his father, Steve Owens and his mother, Chris Owens, two sisters, Ann Kusterbeck and Sandra Owens. He died at age 26 due to a non-combat related incident at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq.
Air Force
47th Security Forces Squadron
Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
Burial is at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas - Sec 41 Site 701
To be updated…
Born: January 25, 2024
Died: January 25, 2024 in Afghanistan
Tech. Sgt. Leslie D. Williams of Juneau, Alaska, died at age 36 due to a non-combat related incident at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Les leaves his wife, Tonya DeMent Williams, his children, Christian, Phoenix and Allyson Williams, his brother, Joshua Williams, his sisters, Janet, Mary and Jessica Williams.
Air Force
4th Maintenance Group
Seymour Johnson
Air Force Base, North Carolina
Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Goldsboro, North Carolina
To be updated…
Born: October 14, 2024 in California
Died: December 12, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan
Spc. Derek T. Simonetta of Redwood City, California attended school at Central Valley High and Carlmont High School in Beaumont. Derek joined the United States Amy in September of 2008 arriving at Fort Campbell in June of 2009. His awards and decorations include, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Army Service Ribbon. He leaves his wife, Kimberly A. Simonetta, his mother, Tanya Simonetta, his father, James E. Lemp, and a brother Jordan, among others. Also killed were Cpl. Sean M. Collins, Cpl. Willie A. McLawhorn Jr., Spc. Kenneth E. Necochea Jr., Spc. Patrick D Deans and Spc. Jorge E. Villacis. He died at age 21 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was among six soldiers killed in a suicide attack.
Army
2nd Battalion
502nd Infantry Regiment
2nd Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Burial is at Skylawn Memorial Park, San Mateo, California
To be updated…
Born: September 15, 2024
Died: November 12, 2024 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: February 11, 2024
Died: February 20, 2024 in Oruzgan, Afghanistan
Staff Sgt. Timothy P. Davis of Aberdeen, Washington grew up in Montesano, graduating from Monte High School in 1999. He was an accomplished wrestler who once took seventh in a state tournament and played on the football team. Tim was continuing a long family history of military service when he enlisted in the United States Air Force. His uncle, John, a Vietnam veteran, had served in the Air Force, too. Tim’s unit was based out of Hurlburt Field, Florida where he was part of the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron and worked as a combat controller. His whole unit had won a Bronze Star for their actions during one combat outing. When he was wounded with shrapnel another time, Tim was awarded a Purple Heart, but because he didn’t lose a limb, he felt he didn’t deserve the award. He also had a lot of nicknames. During basic training, his unit called him “The Rock,” because he could always be counted on. His mom called him “Tim-Bo”, akin to “Rambo” from the war movies. As a young boy, she also called him her little mountain goat because he always climbed on everything. His uncle Jim called him “Slider” because when Tim was younger, he let a jar of peanuts slide from his hand and land on the floor of a buddy’s truck who was a stickler for having a spotless rig. Tim met his future wife while training at Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane. The couple had been married for almost five years. He leaves his wife, Meagan, his son, TJ, mother, Sally Sheldon, father, Mike, a brother, Ben and a sister, Noel. Tim was killed at age 28 in the Oruzgan province of Afghanistan from the result of injuries received from an improvised explosive device.
Air Force
23rd Special Tactics Squadron
Hurlburt Field, Florida
Burial is at Wynooche Cemetery in Montesano, Washington
Born: January 3, 2024
Died: October 21, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan
Air Force Airman 1st Class Jesse M. Samek of Rogers, Arkansas graduated from Rogers High School in 2001 and attended the University of Arkansas for a year before deciding to join the Air Force. He was a great outdoorsman. He loved camping, hiking, hunting, fishing and snow and waterskiing. He played recreational hockey as a goalie. He worked for months in a training program, and became a member of an elite group that qualified for the rescue duty as a flight engineer on a HH-60 Para Rescue helicopter. He leaves his parents, Gavin and Julia Samek, and his brother, Benjamin Samek. Jesse died at age 21 from injuries he received when an Air Force HH-60 helicopter aircraft crashed during a medical evacuation mission in Afghanistan. Jesse was an avid Cardinals and Blues fan. Nellis AFB named the Nellis Airmen’s Center in honor of Jesse who was the base’s first post 9-11 combat death. The center is now called the Jesse M. Samek Airmen’s Center. It is a recreational facility for airmen to congregate for entertainment and relaxation.
Air Force
66th Rescue Squadron
Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
Burial is at Bella Vista Memorial Garden Cemetery in Bella Vista, Arkansas - Sec 4 Row 4
Born: June 20, 2024 in Ely, Minnesota
Died: October 5, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan
Senior Airman Daniel J. Johnson of Schiller Park, Illinois grew up in Wisconsin where he was a 2005 graduate of Monona Grove High School, participating on the football, swimming and track teams. He also acted in a one-act play, was editor of the school yearbook and worked on the student newspaper. He went on to take some classes at Triton College, hoping to be an emergency medical technician. Instead, his desire to serve a greater cause led him to consider the military. So Dan joined the United States Air Force in November of 2006 where he was trained with the bomb squad disarming bombs. He was currently serving his second tour of duty, having previously served a 7 month tour in Iraq during 2009 and was deployed to Afghanistan in August of 2010. Dan was an active participant in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program in the local community. He was married in June of 2010 and leaves his wife, Kristen, his father, Jim Johnson, mother, Holly Higgins, and three brothers Peter, Will and Erik Johnson. He died at age 23 of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Air Force
30th Civil Engineer Squadron
Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Burial is at Santa Maria Cemetery in Santa Maria, California
To be Updated…
Born: May 15, 2024 in Haleyville, Alabama
Died: September 29, 2024 in Uruzgan, Afghanistan
Senior Airman Mark Forester of Tuscaloosa, Alabama graduated in 2006 from Haleyville High School. Mark is also a University of Alabama graduate with a degree in finance. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, he served a two year mission in Oakland, California. He joined the Air Force in 2007 and was stationed at Pope Air Force Base in September of 2009. He had been deployed to Afghanistan since April of 2010. He leaves his parents, Ray and Pat Forester, three brothers, Thad, Joseph and David, and a sister, Terri. He died at age 29 in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations in the area. Mark was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for his heroic actions during a previous battle, and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. By all accounts, Mark was an extraordinary man, both as a serviceman and as a civilian.
Air Force
21st Special Tactics Squadron
Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina
Burial is at Winston Memorial Cemetery in Haleyville, Alabama
Born: September 1, 2024 in La Crosse, Wisconsin
Died: August 19, 2024 in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan
Senior Airman Adam P. Servais of Onalaska, Wisconsin was a 2001 graduate of Onalaska High School where he was a standout athlete who excelled at hockey and football, and also as a well-liked classmate. He had a strong work ethic and was an exemplary defensive hockey player. He joined the Air Force in 2002 and was a combat controller in its elite special operations command. Adam was proud of what he accomplished in the Air Force and proud of what he was doing. He enjoyed the team that he trained with, and he didn’t need recognition, he didn’t want to be a big deal. He was well liked by everybody and had a good sense of humor and he always achieved everything he wanted to achieve and put his heart into everything he did. He leaves his parents, Pete and Susan Servais and his sister, Laura Ley. He was killed at age 23 when his vehicle came under hostile fire in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan.
Air Force
23rd Special Tactics Squadron
Hurlburt Field, Florida
Burial is at Onalaska City Cemetery in Onalaska, Wisconsin