Freedom Remembered

Born: October 11, 2024
Died: September 7, 2024 in Manama, Bahrain

Cmdr. James K. Crawford, 50, of East Concord, N.Y., died Sept. 7, as a result of a non-combat related incident in Manama, Bahrain. Crawford was assigned to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, supporting operations at the Combined Maritime Forces Coalition Coordination Center at Naval Support Activity, Bahrain. Cmdr. Crawford was commissioned in 1988 and promoted to O-5 in 2004. After serving nearly two decades with various reserve commands, Crawford began work with Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain in March of 2010.

Burial is at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Hamburg, New York

To be updated…

Born: March 16, 2024 in Springfield, Illinois
Died: July 17, 2024 in Baghdad, Iraq

Sgt. Mark A. Cofield, 25, of Colorado Springs, Colo., attended Rampart High School’s International Baccalaureate program. He also participated in art and drama, and played on the school’s hockey team. Mark joined the United States Army in February of 2009. He died July 17 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C. He leaves his parents, Tari and John Cofield, his brothers, Sgt John H. Cofield and Matthew Cofield, and a sister, Sara Grace Cofield.

Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, Colorado

To be updated…

Born: July 18, 2024
Died: July 15, 2024 in Basra, Iraq

Spc. Daniel L. Elliott of Youngsville, North Carolina died at age 21 in Basra, Iraq, when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 290th Military Police Brigade, 200th Military Police Command, Cary, N.C. He leaves his wife, Trisha, his parents, Patti Elliott and Ed Elliott, and a brother, Brad Elliott.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia - Sec 60 Site 9723

To be updated…

Born: April 5, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas
Died: July 10, 2024 in Al Amarah, Iraq

Sgt. Steven L. Talamantez of Laredo, Texas entered active duty service in January 2008 as an M1 armor crewman. He was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from December 2008 to November 2009. Hia awards and decorations include, an Army Commendation Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with combat service star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and a Combat Action Badge. He died at age 34 in Al Amarah, Iraq, of injuries suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire. He leaves his wife, Sandra, his mother, Esperanza Talamantez, a son, Joseph Briones and a daughter, Alexandra Menchaca.
Army
3rd Battalion
8th Cavalry Regiment
3rd Brigade Combat Team
1st Cavalry Division
Fort Hood, Texas

Burial is at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas - Section 41 Site 702

To be updated…

Born: April 17, 2024
Died: July 7, 2024 in Baghdad, Iraq

Sgt. Nathan R. Beyers, 24, of Littleton, Colo., died July 7 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked their convoy using an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to 145th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Cavalry Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Post Falls, Idaho. He leaves his wife Vanessa, and a daughter Ella Jo, his father and stepmother, Timothy and Sonja Beyers, his mother, Natalie Bittner, two siblings, Tyler Beyers and Caelyne Bittner. Beyers was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Burial is at Washington State Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, Washington - Sec 1 Row O Site 9

To be updated…

Born: August 25, 2024 in Anchorage, Alaska
Died: July 7, 2024 in Baghdad, Iraq

Spc. Nicholas W. Newby of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho is a 2008 graduate of The Bridge Academy. That same year he joined the military. His awards include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with Combat Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, Idaho National Guard State Service Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge. Nick died at age 20 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his convoy using an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 145th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Cavalry Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Post Falls, Idaho. He leaves his mother and stepfather, Theresa and James Hart, his father and stepmother, Wayne and Brigette Newby, his brother, Nathan Newby and Ryder Newby and his doggie dog, Jax.

To be updated…

Born: February 1, 2024 in Omaha, Nebraska
Died: June 29, 2024 in Badrah, Iraq

Capt. Matthew G. Nielson of Jefferson, Iowa is a 2008 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa where he was in the Army Reserve Officer’s Training Corps. He received his commission in May 2008 as an armor officer and was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, since November 2010. He was deployed in support of Operation New Dawn. His awards and decorations include an Army Achievement Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and Air Assault Badge. Also killed were, Capt. David E. Van Camp, 29, of Wheeling, W.Va., and Spc. Robert G. Tenney Jr., 29, of Warner Robins, Ga. He died at age 27 in Badrah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire.
Army
2nd Squadron
3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
Fort Hood, Texas

Burial is at Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa - Sec 5 Site 136

To be updated…

Born: February 11, 2024 in Wheeling, West Virginia
Died: June 29, 2024 in Badrah, Iraq

Capt. David E. Van Camp, 29, of Wheeling, W.Va.; died June 29 in Badrah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire. He was assigned to 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas. Capt Van Camp received his commission in June 2002 as an armor officer and was assigned to Troop G, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, since February 2011. He was deployed in support of Operation New Dawn, and had previously deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from August 2006 to May 2007. His awards and decorations include a Bronze Service Medal, a Purple Heart, a Meritorius Service Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, Iraqi Campaign Medal with two combat service stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, a Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, a Combat Action Badge and a Parachutist Badge. Also killed were, Capt. Matthew G. Nielson, 27, of Jefferson, Iowa and Spc. Robert G. Tenney Jr., 29, of Warner Robins, Ga. He leaves his wife, Chelsea, his parents, Donald and Linda, three brothers, Donald, Dennis, and Daniel, and his mother-in-law, Suanne Graham.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia- Sec 60 Site 9713

To be updated…

Born: June 19, 2024
Died: June 29, 2024 in Badrah, Iraq

Sgt. Robert G. Tenney Jr Warner Robins, Georgia is a 2000 graduate of Princess Anne High School where he played in the marching band. His military career began when he enlisted in the United States Air Force, switching over to the Army in 2006. Robbie entered active-duty service in December 2006 as a cavalry scout. He was assigned to Troop G, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, since August 2010. His awards and decorations include an Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with combat service star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and an Overseas Service Ribbon. Also killed were, Capt. Matthew G. Nielson, 27, of Jefferson, Iowa and Capt. David E. Van Camp, 29, of Wheeling, W. Va. He leaves his parents, Annette C. Tenney and Robert G. Tenney, Sr and his sister, Virginia “Nena” Tenney. Rob died at age 29 in Badrah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire.
Army
2nd Squadron
3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
Fort Hood, Texas

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia - Sec 60 Site 9740

To be updated…

Born: November 7, 2024
Died: June 26, 2024 in Diyala, Iraq

Spc. Dylan J. Johnson of Tulsa, Oklahoma died at age 20 in Diyala province, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Also killed was Staff Sgt. Russell J. Proctor. Dylan is a graduate of Jenks High School. He joined the Army in August 2009. His awards and decorations include an Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with combat service star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and an Overseas Service Ribbon. He had been in Iraq for three weeks. Dylan was posthumously promoted to Specialist and received the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart and the Army Commendation Medal.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia - Sec 60 Site 9736

To be updated…