Freedom Remembered

Cpl. Conner T. Lowry of Chicago, Illinois died at age 24 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. He grew up in Beverly, and attended Saint John Fisher Elementary School and Brother Rice High School. And over at Christ the King Elementary, Conner’s Picture hangs in a classroom where the students have been sending him care packages and letters for months. Prior to joining the Marines, Cpl Lowry was a student at the University of Iowa when he decided to join the military. Lowry began serving in the Marine Corps Sep. 8, 2008. This was his second deployment to Afghanistan. His personal service awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze star device, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two silver star devices, and the NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan with bronze star device.

Burial is at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois

To be updated…

Sgt. Justin A. Everett, 33 of Clovis, Calif, helicopter crew chief aboard UH-1Y Hueys. He joined the Marines in 2002 because of the Sept. 11, 2011 terrorist attacks. He felt it was his duty to go and join the military and be what he could be for this country and fell in love with the Marines. A 1996 graduate of Reedley High School in Central California, Justin served as a youth pastor in Fresno before he joined the Marines. He and his wife had just marked their 11-year wedding anniversary on Feb. 17, 2001. He was one of seven Marines killed in a helicopter crash near Yuma, Ariz. His personal awards include, the Air Medal Strike/Flight, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (second award), Good Conduct Medal (second award), National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Korean Defense Service Medal.

To be updated…

Born: July 16, 2024
Died: February 22, 2024

Lance Cpl. Corey A. Little, 25, of Fayetteville, Ga., joined the Marines in 2009 where he served as a Huey helicopter crew chief. He played baseball as a youngster and graduated from high school in 2004. Corey and his wife are expecting their first child in September. He was one of seven Marines killed in a helicopter crash near Yuma, Ariz. He served as a helicopter crew chief aboard UH-1Y Hueys. His personal awards include the National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Georgia National Cemetery

To be updated…

Capt. Michael M. Quin, 28, of Purcellville, Va, UH-1Y Huey pilot attended two years of high school in Pennsylvania before graduating in Virginia. Michael joined the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2006 and chose it following Sept. 11, 2001, while still attending high school. After graduating from the Naval Academy in 2006, Quin was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He attended flight school in Pensacola, Fla. and in 2008 was “winged” as a naval aviator. He was then subsequently assigned to a Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron, HMLA 469, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Captain Quin was preparing to be deployed to Afghanistan this spring and was looking forward to the mission. He was one of seven Marines killed in a helicopter crash near Yuma, Ariz. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (second award), National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Arlington National Cemetery

To be updated…

Capt. Benjamin N. Cerniglia, Sr, 31, of Montgomery, Ala., and South Carolina served as a AH-1W Cobra pilot. Captain Cerniglia was one of seven Marines killed in a helicopter crash near Yuma, Ariz. A statement distributed to the media from the church elaborated: “The family and congregation simply request the prayers of our community, and respect for privacy during this difficult time.” Ben was one of seven Marines killed in a helicopter crash near Yuma, Ariz. His personal awards include, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (second award), National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

To be updated…

Born: November 22, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida
Died: February 22, 2024 in Yuma, Arizona

Maj. Thomas A Budrejko, 37, of Montville, Conn., AH-1W Cobra pilot and Executive Officer of HMLA-469. Major Budrejko is a Connecticut native and 1992 Montville High School graduate. Budrejko, 37, a 1996 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, was an AH-1W Cobra attack helicopter pilot who has flown in three tours in Iraq and was preparing for his second deployment to Afghanistan. He was serving as the executive officer of the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469 and lived in Temecula, Calif., with his wife and son. Maj Budrejko was one of seven Marines killed in a helicopter crash near Yuma, Ariz. His personal awards include Air Medal Individual Action with Combat „V‟ (gold numeral 2), Air Medal Strike/Flight (numeral 9), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat „V‟ (fourth award), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Sacred Heart Cemetery in New Britain, Connecticut

To be updated…

Capt. Nathan W. Anderson, 32, of Amarillo, Texas, commissioned in the Marine Corps December 20, 2024 and served as a UH-1Y Huey pilot. Nathan graduated in 1998 from Amarillo High School where he was a starting linebacker on the 1997 team that made it to the state quarterfinals. As a Marine, he had deployed to Iraq three times, in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Capt Anderson joined the Marine Corps in 2002. He was one of seven Marines killed in a helicopter crash near Yuma, Ariz. Capt. Anderson served as a UH-1Y Huey pilot. Among his Awards are, the Air Medal Individual Action, Air Medal Strike/Flight (numeral 2), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

To be updated…

Born: June 20, 2024
Died: February 22, 2024

Lance Cpl. Nickoulas H. Elliott, 21, of Spokane, Wash., enlisted in the Marine Corps May 4, 2024 and served as a helicopter crew chief aboard UH-1Y Hueys. He was one of seven Marines killed in a helicopter crash near Yuma, Ariz. Lance Cpl. Elliott served as a helicopter chief aboard UH-1Y Hueys. His personal awards include the National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Elliott enlisted in the Marine Corps on May 4, 2024 and at the time of his death was a member of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, Marine Air Group 39, 3rd Marine Air Wing, based at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton. His personal awards include the National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Burial is at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Washington - Section D Row C Site 47

To be updated…

Born: October 15, 2024
Died: February 10, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Osbrany MontesDeOca of North Arlington, New Jersey died at age 20 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Osbrany graduated from North Arlington High School and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps soon after graduating.

Burial is at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, New Jersey

To be updated…

Born: December 12, 2024
Died: February 1, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Edward J. Dycus of Greenville, Mississippi died at age 22 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. He graduated from Riverside High in 2008. He entered boot camp in 2010 and had been in Afghanistan just a few months.

Burial is at Greenville Cemetery in Greenville, Mississippi

To be updated…