Maj. Robert J. Marchanti II
Maj. Robert J. Marchanti II, 48, of Baltimore, Md., died Feb. 25, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Marchanti was assigned to 1st Battalion, 29th Infantry Division Security Partnering Team of the Maryland Army National Guard, Baltimore, Md. As a civilian, Maj Marchanti had worked as a special education physical education teacher in the Baltimore County Public Schools, most recently at Carney Elementary School. He joined the U.S. Army in 1984 and the Maryland National Guard in 1986 and had worked since May 2008 at the Fifth Regiment Armory in Baltimore as a construction and facilities management technician. Marchanti had been in Afghanistan for less than a year. As a devoted family man he adored his wife, his four children and had a 3 month old grandson.
To be updated…
On Feb. 25, the armed forces positively identified the remains of Staff Sgt. Ahmed K. Altaie, of Ann Arbor, Mich. He was assigned to the Provincial Reconstruction Team, Divisional Training Center, Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Altaie was kidnapped at gunpoint in October 2006 when he sneaked off base on a motorcycle to visit his Iraqi wife in central Baghdad. On Dec. 11, 2006, a casualty review board declared Altaie “missing – captured” after his disappearance in Baghdad, Iraq on Oct. 23, 2006. Altaie was the final missing soldier and casualty to be recovered from the Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn mission.
Lt. Col. John D. Loftis, 44, of Paducah, Ky., died Feb. 25 from wounds received during an attack at the Interior Ministry, Kabul, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 866th Air Expeditionary Squadron, Kabul, Afghanistan. He served as a space and missile officer who became a regional affairs strategist in 2008. Known to some as JD or Darin, he entered the Air Force in 1996, receiving his commission through Officer Training School. Prior to deploying in March 2011, he had been assigned to the U.S. Air Force Special Operations School, Air Force Special Operations Training Center, Hurlburt Field, Fla. Loftis was deployed in support of OPERATION Enduring Freedom and working in the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ministry of the Interior with the AfPak Hands program as the chief plans advisor. The AfPak Hands program stood up in September 2009 to develop a cadre of specially trained U.S. servicemembers skilled in Afghan and Pakistani culture and language. Lt Col Loftis was previously awarded the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal.
Sgt. Timothy J. Conrad Jr., 22, of Roanoke, Va., died Feb. 23, in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his unit came under small arms fire. TJ was assigned to the 385th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne), XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Stewart, Ga. Sgt Conrad was posthumously promoted and awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge and NATO Medal.
Sgt. Joshua A. Born, 25, of Niceville, Fla., died Feb. 23, in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his unit came under small arms fire. He was assigned to the 385th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne), XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Stewart, Ga. He attended Niceville High School and joined the Army March 15, 2007. The unit was deployed to Afghanistan in mid-January. It was his first deployment. Sgt Born was posthumously promoted and awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge and NATO Medal.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.