Freedom Remembered

Born: July 29, 2024
Died: February 11, 2024 in Bahrain

Pfc. Cesar Cortez of Oceanside, Calif., died at age 24 in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Cortez was assigned to 5th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Fort Bliss, Texas. He is a 2005 graduate of Oceanside High School. Cortez joined the Army in March 2011 and arrived to Fort Bliss in October 2011. His awards and decorations include, the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.

Burial is at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego, California - Sec 12 Site 352

To be updated…

Born: July 22, 2024 in Bedford, Texas
Died: February 9, 2024 in Temple, Texas

Pfc Joe Christopher Robinson, 21, of Mineral Wells, Texas entered active-duty service in July 2008 as an infantryman. He was assigned to 1st Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood since January 2009. Robinson deployed to Iraq from January to December 2009. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with campaign star, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and Driver and Mechanic Badge. Robinson was transported by Fort Hood Emergency Medical Services to Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center and later to Scott and White Hospital in Temple, Texas, where he died on Feb. 9.

Burial is at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas

To be updated…

Born: June 8, 2024 in Florida
Died: February 7, 2024 in Uruzgan, Afghanistan

Sgt. 1st Class Billy A. Sutton of Mooreville, Miss., died at age 42 in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 223rd Engineer Battalion, 168th Engineer Brigade, Mississippi National Guard, West Point, Miss. He joined the Mississippi National Guard on September 5, 2002. He leaves his wife, Traci Sutton, to whom he married Nov. 6, 1998, his son, Tyler Durham, his mother, Jo Ann Owen Sutton Starling (Elvis), his in laws, Dan and Jennifer Loden Durham, his grandfather in law, Homer Loden of Tupelo, a brother: Danny Sutton, two half brothers, Vance Sutton and Aaron Starling, three half sisters, Adrian Starling, Erica Culver and Cindy Starling.

Preferred Charities and Donations:
Memorials may be made to the Tupelo Veterans Park, P. O. Box 3608, Tupelo, MS 38803 or to Pets for Patriots, 218 East Park Ave., Suite 543, Long Beach, NY. 11561.

Burial is at Lee Memorial Park in Verona, Mississippi - Hope Mausoleum

To be updated…

Born: February 20, 2024 in New Haven Connecticut
Died: February 3, 2024 in Kabul, Afghanistan

Brigadier General Terence J. Hildner, 49, of Fairfax, Va., died Feb. 3, in Kabul province, Afghanistan. Hildner was assigned to the 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Fort Hood, Texas. A 1984 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Brigadier General began his career as an Armor officer with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Bliss, Texas. Reassigned in 1988 to the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in the Federal Republic of Germany, he served as the Regimental Training Officer and subsequently commanded a ground cavalry troop. During his company command, Brigadier General Hildner’s troop deployed with the Regiment as part of the U.S. VII Corps’ attack into Kuwait and Iraq during Operation Desert Storm, as well as conducting the last U.S. patrol along the East-West German border before its reunification. Returning from Germany, Brigadier General Hildner served in several assignments at Fort Hood, TX, to include 2nd Armored Division Comptroller and Aide-de-Camp to the 4th ID Commanding General. Following his transition to the Quartermaster Corps and attendance at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in 1997, Brigadier General Hildner served in a variety of staff positions to include Battalion Executive Officer of the 296th Forward Support Battalion, Supply & Services Chief for I Corps G4 at Fort Lewis, WA, and J4 for the Department of Defense’s counterdrug task force (JTF-6). In 2003, Brigadier General Hildner assumed command of the 13th Corps Support Command’s Special Troops Battalion at Fort Hood, TX. During nearly three years in command, the battalion conducted two operational deployments. The first came in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, providing general logistical support to units located around Joint Base Balad as well as the Abu Gharib prison complex. The battalion’s second deployment came in the wake of Hurricane Katrina as Logistical Task Force Lone Star, providing both military and humanitarian support operations. From July 2007 to July 2009, Brigadier General Hildner commanded the 23rd Quartermaster Brigade at Fort Lee, VA, training more than 20,000 Soldiers annually for deployment with the Operational Army in support of contingency operations across the globe. Most recently, he was the Combined Arms Support Command’s (CASCOM) G3/Director of Training & Doctrine. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star (2OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal (3OLC), Joint Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (4OLC), Humanitarian Service Medal, Valorous Unit Award, Combat Action Badge and Parachutist Badge.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia - Sec 60 Site 9999

To be updated…

Born: November 28, 1987, in Beloit, Wisconsin
Died: January 25, 2024 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: August 14, 2024
Died: January 18, 2024 in Paktika, Afghanistan

Spc. Keith D. Benson, 27, of Norwood, Mass., died Jan. 18, in Paktika province, Afghanistan. The circumstances surrounding his death are currently under investigation. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Grafenwoehr, Germany. He is a 2002 graduate of Norwood High School. Serving as a medic, Keith was interested in becoming an EMT after the military.

Burial is at Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, Massachusetts - Sec 59 Site 21

To be updated…

Born: August 30, 2024
Died: January 15, 2024 in Landstuhl, Gemany

Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin B. Wise, 34, of Little Rock, Ark., died Jan. 15 in Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of injuries sustained on Jan. 9 in Balkh province, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Ben graduated from West Side Christian High School in 1995 and entered the United States Army in November 2000 as an infantryman. Upon completion of Basic Combat Training, Advanced Individual Training and the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Ga., in 2001, he was assigned to the 520th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division at Joint Base LewisMcChord where he deployed to Iraq as a member of the Battalion Scout Platoon from 2003-2004. In 2005, Wise volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course and was selected to continue training as medical sergeant in the Special Forces Qualification Course. After graduating from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2008, Wise was assigned to 3rd Bn, 1st SFG (A). During his time with the unit, he deployed once to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan. Wise’s military education includes the Warrior Leader’s Course, the Advanced Leader’s Course, the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) Course, the Recon and Surveillance Leadership Course and the Basic Airborne Course. Wise’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the NATO Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (3rdAward), the Army Good Conduct Medal (3rd award), the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with three campaign stars, the Afghan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd award), the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 2, the Army Service Ribbon, the Special Forces Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge and the Parachutist Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal. He was currently serving his fourth deployment in support of Overseas
Contingency Operations.

Burial is at Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk, Virginia - Sec 4 Row 26 Site 16

To be updated…

Born: May 28, 2024
Died: January 11, 2024 in Logar, Afghanistan

Pfc. Neil I. Turner of Tacoma, Washington died at age 21 in Logar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. He graduated from High School in 2008.

Burial is at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington - Sec 28A Site 66

To be updated…

Born: October 16, 2024 in Hampton, Virginia
Died: January 10, 2024 in Parwan, Afghanistan

Pfc. Michael W. Pyron of Hopewell, Virginia died at age 30 in Parwan province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 25th Signal Battalion, 160th Signal Brigade, 335th Signal Command Theater, East Point, Ga. He joined in the Army in May of 2010 and had been with the 335th since February 2011 serving as a radio and communications security specialist. He leaves his wife, Monika Stienen Pyron, sons, Mason Pyron and Matthew Stienen, his mother and her husband, Cheryl G. Coluccio and Frank, father and his wife, Herbert Pyron Jr. and Janet, his brothers, Jeremy Griggs, Thomas Coluccio, Christopher Griggs and Matthew Pyron, and his sisters, Samantha Coluccio and Emily Miller.

Burial is at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in Chester, Virginia

To be updated…

Born: November 25, 2024 in Frankfurt, Germany
Died: January 8, 2024 in Zabul, Afghanistan

Pfc. Dustin P. Napier of London, Ky., died at age 20 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from enemy small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska. He attended South Laurel High School graduating in 2010. During his four years in high school he participated in the ROTC program and ranked as top cadet in his senior year. Dustin had been married about three months. He joined the Army in July 2010, arriving at Fort Wainwright in November. He deployed to Afghanistan last April for a one year tour of duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

A.R. Dyche Memorial Park

To be updated…