Freedom Remembered

Born: May 12, 2024 in Mesa, Arizona
Died: February 14, 2024 in Djibouti

Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyler L. Estrada, 21, of Queen Creek, Ariz., died Feb. 14 as a result of a non-combat related training incident in Djibouti. Estrada, a Navy hospital corpsman, was assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit based at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Kyler enlisted in October 2009. After recruit training and corpsman school at Great Lakes, Ill., he reported to Field Medical Service School at Camp Pendleton and was assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park

To be updated…

Cpl. Phillip D. McGeath, 25, Arlington, Texas died Jan. 18 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Philip is a 2005 graduate of Cooper High School. He was supposed to come home from Afghanistan in just two weeks.

To be updated…

Sgt. 1st Class Johnathan B. McCain, 38, of Apache Junction, Ariz., died Nov.13, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered after encountering an improvised explosive device while on mounted patrol. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska. He joined the Army in April 1992 and served at Kaiserslautern, Germany; Fort Hood, Texas; and Fort Bragg, N.C. before arriving in Alaska in October 2000. McClain also served two previous combat tours of duty in Iraq - from Aug. 2005 to Nov. 2006 and from Sept. 2008 to Sept. 2009 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His 4,000-Soldier brigade deployed to Afghanistan in mid April 2011 for a one-year tour in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was serving as an infantry platoon sergeant.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia - Section 60 Site 9862

To be updated…

Born: November 27, 2024 in Mesa, Arizona
Died: October 14, 2024 Khowst, Afghanistan

Spc. Michael D. Elm of Phoenix, Arizona died at age 25 in Khowst, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Ky. Michael is a 2004 graduate of Greenway High School. He began his military service in February 2009 arriving at Fort Knox in June 2009. This was his first deployment. His awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terror Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. He was posthumously awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia - Sec 60 Site 9751

To be updated…

Born: July 10, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona
Died: June 28, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Donald V. Stacy of Avondale, Arizona died at age 23 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. This was his third tour of duty since joining the Army. He previously deployed to Iraq in 2006 and again in 2008. SSgt Stacy joined the Army in 2005 and arrived in the 1st Battalion in 2006. He served two tours in Iraq before being deployed to Afghanistan. His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, three Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, the Iraqi Campaign medal, the Global War on Terror Medal, two Overseas Service Ribbons, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Parachutist Badge. He leaves his mother, and stepfather, Felicia Denise and Bernie Escobedo. He was preceded in death by his father, Donald Lee Stacy II.

Resthaven Park Cemetery in Glendale, Arizona

To be updated…

Born: December 31, 2023 in Arizona
Died: May 29, 2024 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Sgt First Class Martin R. Apolinar of Glendale, Arizona died at age 28 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. His military education includes, Warrior Leader’s Course, U.S. Army Combatives Course Level 1 and 2, Combat Life Savers Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance Target Analysis and Exploitation Techniques Course, Joint Fires Observer Course, Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape Course, and Advance Leader’s Course. Apolinar’s military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal with one campaign star; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Overseas Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; NATO Medal; Combat Infantryman Badge and Parachutists Badge. He earned the Special Forces Tab and Ranger Tab.
Army
3rd Special Forces Group
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Burial is at National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona - Sec 56 Site 565

To be updated…

Born: June 30, 2024 in Price, Utah
Died: May 27, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Pfc. John C. Johnson of Phoenix, Arizona joined the United States Army in February of 2011. After completing training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and Fort Benning, Georgia he was assigned to Fort Drum in July of 2010. He deployed with his unit in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in March of 2011. His awards and decorations include, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Combat and Special Skills Badge Basic Marksmanship Qual Badge Expert, and Overseas Service Bar. He died at age 28 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. He leaves his wife, Jennifer, daughters, McKena, Marina Humble, and unborn child, Rae Johnson, his mother, Vicki LeAnn Dryer and husband Guy, his father, John Merrill Johnson Jr. and wife Anita, sisters, Candis Cook and Jami Leach, halfsisters, Misty, Sidney, Hailey, Nikkole, and Taylor.
Army
1st Battalion
32nd Infantry Regiment
3rd Brigade Combat Team
10th Mountain Division
Fort Drum, New York

Burial is at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix, Arizona - Sec 62 Site 551

To be updated…

Born: September 7, 2024
Died: April 2, 2024 in Babil, Iraq

Staff Sgt. Christian A. S. Garcia of Goodyear, Arizona joined the military in June 1999 as a quartermaster and chemical equipment repairer and was assigned to the Maintenance Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, since August 2010. Garcia deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from December 2004 to December 2005 and from November 2007 to January 2009. His awards and decorations include, two Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with campaign stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbons, NATO medal, and Driver and Mechanic Badge for Mechanics. He died at age 30 of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their position with indirect fire in Babil, Iraq.
Army
Maintenance Troop
Regimental Support Squadron
3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
Fort Hood, Texas

Burial is at Fort Sam Houston National in San Antonio, Texas - Sec 41 Site 732

To be updated…

Born: October 2, 2024
Died: March 29, 2024 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan

Pfc. Dustin J. Feldhaus of Glendale, Arizona is a 2009 graduate of Deer Valley High School where he participated in wrestling. Later that fall he enlisted in the United States Army arriving at Fort Campbell in January of 2010. His awards and decorations include, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge. He died at age 20 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire in Konar province. He leaves his father, Bernard Feldhaus-Mahaljevic and his mother, Nichol Etchells, in addition to his stepbrothers and stepsisters.
Army
2nd Battalion
327th Infantry Regiment
1st Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Burial is at National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona - Sec 56 Site 725

To be updated…

Born: March 4, 2024 in Fort Lewis, Washington
Died: November 6, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Randy R. Braggs of Sierra Vista, Arizona graduated from Buena High School. Rashad enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in March 23, 2024 and was serving his first combat deployment. He previously served in Korea. His personal service awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and Afghanistan Campaign Medal. He was the son of Randy and Diana Braggs. His mother preceded him in death. He died at age 21 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marines
3rd Battalion
5th Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, California

Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Sierra Vista, Arizona - Sec 3 Site 483