Freedom Remembered

Died: February 28, 2024 in Mobile Bay, Alabama

Chief Petty Officer Fernando Jorge of Cypress Valley, California

To be updated…

Born: April 30, 2024 in California
Died: March 5, 2024 in La Jolla, California

Spc. Edward J. Acosta, 21, of Hesperia, Calif., died March 5, in La Jolla, Calif., of injuries sustained Dec. 3, 2011, when his vehicle was struck by an improvised-explosive device in Wardak province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. Acosta enlisted in August 2008, trained as a combat medic, deployed to Korea in 2009 and was promoted in 2010. He deployed to Afghanistan in October and earned awards including the Purple Heart and Combat Medical Badge. Acosta, a combat medic, was riding in a vehicle struck by a bomb during a route-clearance mission on Dec. 3 in the Wardak province of Afghanistan. The blast that day killed three other Fort Bliss soldiers, Sgt. 1st Class Clark A. Corley Jr., Spc. Ryan M. Lumley and Spc. Thomas J. Mayberry.

Sunset Hills Memorial Park

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 29, 2024
Died: February 11, 2024 in Bahrain

Pfc. Cesar Cortez of Oceanside, Calif., died at age 24 in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Cortez was assigned to 5th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Fort Bliss, Texas. He is a 2005 graduate of Oceanside High School. Cortez joined the Army in March 2011 and arrived to Fort Bliss in October 2011. His awards and decorations include, the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.

Burial is at Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego, California - Sec 12 Site 352

To be updated…

Born: March 1, 2024 in Seattle, Washington
Died: January 31, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Sgt. William C. Stacey, 23, of King, Wash., died Jan. 31 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. Will is a 2006 high school graduate. He began serving in the Marine Corps Jan. 3, 2007 and was currently serving his second deployment to Afghanistan. His personal service awards include, the Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze star devices, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with silver star device, and the NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia - Sec 60 Site 9960

Donations Information
Will’s family requests that in lieu of flowers,
donations be sent to
Roosevelt University Greenlake Little League
Attn: Will Stacey Memorial Fund
9594 First Avenue NE, #122
Seattle WA 98115

To be updated….

Born: October 31, 2024 in Los Angeles County, California
Died: January 21, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Cpl. Christopher G. Singer, 23, of Temecula, Calif., died Jan. 21 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif. Chris is a 2007 graduate of Chaparral High School where he participated in the Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps program. He joined the United States Marines shortly after graduation. His awards include, the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

Burial is at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California - Sec 61 Site 1403

To be updated…

Born: May 30, 2024
Died: January 2, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Petty Officer 1st Class Chad R. Regelin of Cottonwood, California died at age 24 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Regelin was assigned as an explosive ordnance disposal technician to Marine Special Operations Company Bravo. Regelin was stationed at Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 3, San Diego, Calif. Chad was expected to be back stateside in mid February. PO 1st Class Regelin was named Sailor Of The Year last November. His parents traveled to the nation’s capitol last November to accept the award on his behalf. Regelin received the award for personally locating and destroying 24 explosive devices and preventing an insurgency attack against his team. PO Regelin served a tour of duty in Iraq and two in Afghanistan. He was stationed at Explosive Mobile Unit Three out of San Diego, Ca. His military decorations included the Bronze Star medal and Combat Action Ribbon, according to Navy Personnel Command. He joined EODMU 3 in February 2008 after completing EOD training. Chad graduated in 2005 from Anderson Union High School, then enlisted in the Navy in 2006. While in high school, he helped launch the school’s Surf Club and was named Outstanding Senior for the Anderson Cubs varsity football squad.

Burial is at Northern California Veterans Cemetery in Igo, California - Sec 4 Site 150

To be updated…

Born: May 10, 2024 in Orange County, California
Died: December 27, 2023 in Paktia, Afghanistan

Sgt. Noah M. Korte of Lake Elsinore, California died at age 29 in Paktia, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. They were assigned to the 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. He joined the military in May 2003 as military police and was assigned to the 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, since September 2011. Sgt Korte deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in December 2011. He also deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from September 2007 to December 2008, from March 2005 to February 2006 and from January 2004 to April 2004. His awards and decorations include, four Army Commendation Medals, two Good Conduct Medals, the Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medals with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral two, Army Service Ribbon, three Overseas Service Ribbons, Driver and Mechanic Badge with operator and Driver and Mechanic Badge with Driver-Wheeled Vehicles.

Burial is at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California - Sec 5 Site 1975

To be updated…

Born: April 18, 2024 in San Joaquin County, California
Died: December 12, 2024 in Wilmington, North Carolina

Gunnery Sgt. George L. Figone Jr of Hampstead, North Carolina, formerly of Stockton, California graduated in 1997 from Linden High School. Following graduation George entered the United States Marine Corps and became an infantry rifleman after boot camp. In June of 1998, he passed the reconnaissance indoctrination course and the basic reconnaissance course. He was deployed to Iraq twice and to Afghanistan. While on deployment with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2003, he was meritoriously promoted to Sergeant. In 2011, George was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant. His personal awards include a Purple Heart, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat V Device, the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two Combat Action Ribbons, and four Good Conduct Medals. He served as a rifleman with the 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion. He passed away suddenly at the Hanover Medical Center in North Carolina. He leaves behind his four brothers, Christopher Piro, Eric, Josh and Justin Figone; his three sisters, Mariah and Sierra Looney, and Brittany Figone; his loving Grandmother Margaret C. Rore; his loving aunts and uncles Mike and Debbra Figone, Ray Figone, John Titta, Yolanda and Troy Combs, Jim and Laura Rore, and Anne and Philip Martin; his nephew Caleb Figone. He is preceded in death by his grandfathers Raymond Figone Sr. and Dr. Walter J. Rore, and by his grandmother Doris Figone.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia - Sec 60 Site 10011

Born: June 24, 2024 in Taft, California
Died: December 11, 2024 in Kunar, Afghanistan

Sgt. Christopher L. Muniz, 24, of New Cuyama, Calif., died Dec. 11, in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He enlisted in the Army on Nov.13, 2008, as a signal intelligence analyst. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. Posthumous Awards include: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, NATO Medal and the Combat Action Badge.
Army
3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion
3rd Brigade Combat Team
25th Infantry Division
Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

Cremated

To be updated…