Freedom Remembered

Birth: June 18, 2024 - Little Rock, Arkansas
Died: November 2, 2024 - Al Fallujah, Iraq

Burial is at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery, North Little Rock, Arkansas - Section I, Site S475

Birth: September 14, 2024 - Little Rock, Arkansas
Died: September 12, 2024 - Ar Ramadi, Iraq

Burial: Fredonia Cemetery, Judsonia, Arkansas

Born: December 24, 2023 in Harrison, Arkansas
Died: June 11, 2024 in Jalula, Iraq

Spc. William C. Yauch of Batesville, Arkansas attended Batesville High School, graduating in 2005. He enlisted in the United States Army in August of 2007 and reported to Fort Lewis in December of 2007. He was serving his first deployment. He married to Mallory Rhodes on February 16, 2008, at North Heights Church of Christ in Batesville where he was a member. Chris’s civilian and military education include a test-based equivalency high school diploma and Military Occupational Specialty 11B (Infantryman) Qualification Course. His Awards and Decorations include, the National Defense Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon. Chris died at age 23 in Jalula, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. In his leisure he enjoyed paint ball, riding his motorcycle, and tinkering with his car. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his mother and stepfather, Lucretia and Dennis Robertson, and his father and stepmother, Kurt and Debbie Yauch, and four step-sisters, Jenny, Rachel, Barbara, and Brenda among others.
Army
5th Battalion
20th Infantry Regiment
3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team
2nd Infantry Division
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

Burial is at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Batesville, Arkansas

Birth: September 11, 2024 – Little Rock, Arkansas
Died: January 3, 2024 – near Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan

Burial: Sunset Hill Memorial Estates, Glen Carbon, Illinois

Born: August 23, 2024 in Fayetteville, Arkansas
Died: May 6, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Richard R. Penny of Fayetteville, Arkansas attended Greenland High School where he was a respected athlete with a great personality. He was considered a beast on the football field, and off the field he was a quiet kid with a big heart. Growing up, Richard was an adventurous kid and a bit of a daredevil, and sometimes without much success. He took up riding motorcycles and he wrecked, Four Wheelers, which he also wrecked, and the same story with dirt bikes. But he had fun doing it all. It seemed that the more dangerous it was, the more he liked it. From football plays on the field, to the valleys of Afghanistan, he thrived under the pressure. He was also someone that you could count on. He liked everybody and everybody liked him. Rick had a Jeep that he had recently fixed up, but he gave gave it away to another boy who needed something to drive. That was typical of Richard, he would help anyone he could. He was a hard worker who stood for what he believed in. With a great sense of humor along with those qualities, it’s no wonder he had so many friends. Richard joined the Marine Corps in February of 2009 and deployed to Afghanistan in March of 2010. He was promoted to lance corporal in April. He died at age 21 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Richard is survived by his parents, Merv and Sharon Easterly, his grandmother, Ann Easterly, his brother, Jon McCard and a sister, Jennifer Hall.
Marines
1st Battalion
2nd Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Burial will be at Fayetteville National Cemetery in Fayetteville, Arkansas - Sec 28 Site 424

Birth: December 3, 2024 - Springdale, Arkansas
Died: September 30, 2024 - Balad, Iraq

Spc McGaugh was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 17th Field Artillery Brigade, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He died from a non-hostile gunshot wound.

Burial: Fayetteville National Cemetery, Fayetteville, Arkansas - Section 28, Site 1

Born: September 24, 2024
Died: January 20, 2024 in Baghdad, Iraq

Sgt. Maj. William T. Warren of North Little Rock, Arkansas graduated in 1976 from North Little Rock High School’s Ole Main campus. After six years active duty in the United States Army, he returned home to find a job as an aircraft technical inspector at the Arkansas National Guard’s flight facility at Camp Robinson, logging a total of 27 years military service for the country he loved so much. Tommy spent weekends swimming and fishing at Lake Nimrod on camping trips and attended the youth group at Amboy Baptist Church and often made trips to Ashley County to go hunting for deer or squirrels. His father was a clown with the Shriners’ Scimitar unit in Little Rock, and as a child he enjoyed traveling with him all decked out in the Shriner clown uniform, just tagging along for fun. The clown outfits, special clown vehicles and motorcycles left their mark upon Tom and you seldom saw him without a smile on his face, and he also developed a love for motorcycles. Tommy was also a Mason and served in 1999 as Past Master of Big Rock Lodge #33 in Levy, the same leadership position his late father held twice. He was a deacon and former Sunday school director at Lighthouse Christian Fellowship and was very faithful and committed to his church and treated every kid like his own. He was always happy and an exceptional father who was devoted to his wife and a very religious man and he wasn’t afraid to go or to be sent in harm’s way, and that it was just part of wearing the uniform and his duty to the community and nation. He died in Baghdad at age 49 when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter he was in crashed. Also killed were Col. Brian D. Allgood, Staff Sgt. Darryl D. Booker, Sgt. 1st Class John G. Brown, Lt. Col. David C. Canegata, Command Sgt. Maj. Marilyn L. Gabbard, Command Sgt. Maj. Roger W. Haller, Col. Paul M. Kelly, Staff Sgt. Floyd E. Lake, Cpl. Victor M. Langarica, Capt. Sean E. Lyerly and Maj. Michael V. Taylor.
Army
1st Battalion
185th Aviation Regiment (Air Assault)
77th Aviation Brigade
Camp Robinson , Arkansas

Burial is at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock, Arkansas - Sec L Site 668

Born: December 27, 2023
Died: January 20, 2024 in Baghdad, Iraq

Maj. Michael V. Taylor of North Little Rock, Arkansas had been in Iraq for several months and was to return to Arkansas for a family visit in February. Michael was in the National Guard and also served in Desert Storm. He and his wife have two children and he worked in the computer business, and previously worked for the Veterans Administration. He loved duck hunting and appreciated life. He died in Baghdad at age 40 when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter he was piloting crashed. Also killed were Col. Brian D. Allgood, Staff Sgt. Darryl D. Booker, Sgt. 1st Class John G. Brown, Lt. Col. David C. Canegata, Command Sgt. Maj. Marilyn L. Gabbard, Command Sgt. Maj. Roger W. Haller, Col. Paul M. Kelly, Staff Sgt. Floyd E. Lake, Cpl. Victor M. Langarica, Capt. Sean E. Lyerly and 1st Sgt. William T. Warren.
Army
1st Battalion
185th Aviation Regiment (Air Assault)
77th Aviation Brigade
Camp Robinson Arkansas

Burial is at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock, Arkansas - Sec L Site 669

Born: October 24, 2024
Died: January 20, 2024 in Baghdad, Iraq

Sgt 1st Class J. Gary Brown of Little Rock, Arkansas grew up in Nashville, Arkansas and was currently living with his wife and two stepdaughters in Little Rock. When he and his two brothers were boys, the three would take turns having one ride a bike while the others were towed behind in a wagon, a stunt that once resulted in a broken collarbone for Gary. While serving in the United States Army, he was aboard a helicopter that crashed in Iraq. It was Gary’s first day back on duty after returning Jan. 13 from a family visit in Arkansas. He began his latest tour in April of 2006 with training in the United States before going to Iraq in the late summer. Back home he worked for a tire supply company. His first tour of duty was in Kuwait during operation Desert Storm. Gary died in Baghdad at age 43 when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter he was in crashed. Also killed were Col. Brian D. Allgood, Staff Sgt. Darryl D. Booker, Lt. Col. David C. Canegata, Command Sgt. Maj. Marilyn L. Gabbard, Command Sgt. Maj. Roger W. Haller, Col. Paul M. Kelly, Staff Sgt. Floyd E. Lake, Cpl. Victor M. Langarica, Capt. Sean E. Lyerly, Maj. Michael V. Taylor and 1st Sgt. William T. Warren.
Amy
1st Battalion
185th Aviation Regiment (Air Assault)
77th Aviation Brigade
Camp Robinson, Arkansas

Burial is at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock, Arkansas - Sec L Site 667

Born: February 5, 1974, in Arkansas
Died: March 17, 2024 in Afghanistan

CPO Adam L. Brown of Virginia Beach, Virginia and a native of Hot Springs, Arkansas was a graduate of Lake Hamilton High School in Pearcy, Arkansas before attending Arkansas Tech University where he played football. He joined the Navy in 1998. He had been assigned to various East Coast-based SEAL teams since April of 2001 and was deployed in several combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Adam died at age 36 after being involved in a fight with heavily armed militants somewhere in Afghanistan. He is survived by his wife, Kelley and two children, and his parents, Larry and Janice Brown, a brother, Shawn, and a sister Manda. While living in Virginia, he and his family attended Atlantic Shores Baptist Church, in Virginia Beach. He was a twelve year combat veteran, a winner of a bronze star, and purple heart among other awards and decorations. Adam was serving his eighth deployment.
Navy
East Coast based SEAL Team

Burial will be at Cunningham Cemetery in Arkansas