Freedom Remembered

Spc. Douglas J. Jeffries Jr., 20, of Springville, Calif., died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device Sept. 8 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. DJ is a 2009 graduate of Porterville High School where he participated in the FFA. He joined the Army in November 2009. After training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was arrived at Fort Drum in March 2010. Doug deployed with his unit to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in March 2011. His awards and decorations include the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon and the NATO Medal.

To be updated…

Born: December 15, 2024 in Redondo Beach, California
Died: September 8, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Spc. Koran P. Contreras, 21, of Lawndale, Calif., died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device Sept. 8 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. He joined the Army in April 2008. After training at Fort Benning, Georgia he was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas and arrived at Fort Drum in April 2010. Contreras previously deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from January 2009 to December 2009. He deployed with his unit to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in March 2011. His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon the NATO Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Burial is at Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, California - Sec 45A Row E Site 1

To be updated..

Spc. Kevin R. Shumaker, 24, of Livermore, Calif., died Aug. 31 in a stateside hospital of a non-combat related illness. He was assigned to the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. He joined the Army in February 2009. After completing training he was stationed at Grafenwoehr, Germany in August 2009. He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the 615th Military Police Company as a cook from May 2010 to May 2011. He came to Fort Drum in August 2011. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the NATO Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Ribbon.

To be updated…

Born: May 9, 2024 in Yuba City, California
Died: August 11, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Pfc. Rueben J. “Boy” Lopez, 27, of Williams, Calif., died Aug. 11 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. Pfc Lopez joined the Army in August 2010 as an infantryman. After completing training at Fort Benning, Georgia he arrived at Fort Drum in April 2011 and subsequently deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His awards and decorations include the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the NATO Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He leaves his mother, Gloria Estrada, his father, Rueben Lopez, his sisters, Letti Caldwell, Monica Palmer and Renee Silva, and Sgt. Raquel Lopez.

Burial is at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Colusa, California

To be updated…

Born: April 20, 2024 in Arcata, California
Died: August 6, 2024 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman, 27, of Ukiah, Calif., died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. He was assigned to a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit. Jesse made it known he wanted to become a SEAL during his second summer working as a seasonal firefighter for California’s forestry department. He even trained in his off-time with an ex-SEAL to prepare. He was a hard worker who shared a love of hotrods with his father and older brother, and he did odd jobs at an automotive repair shop in his hometown to learn how to build and repair cars. Despite being a leader on his fire crew and having a good career ahead of him as a firefighter, he made it clear becoming a SEAL was his passion. He graduated from Recruit Training Command at Great Lakes, Ill., in October 2005, then reported to the Defense Information School at Fort Meade, Md. After completing that training, Pittman went on to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training in March 2006. He graduated from SEAL training and reported to the Naval Special Warfare Advanced Training Center at Coronado, Ca. From there, he went to the Naval Special Warfare Training Center Detachment at Kodiak, Alaska, then returned to the NSW Advanced Training Center at Coronado, Ca. in January 2007. In April of the same year he reported to a West Coast-based SEAL team. His awards include, the joint service commendation medal with a “V” device for valor; two Navy commendation medals; the combat action ribbon; the Afghanistan campaign medal; the Iraq campaign medal, the Global War on Terrorism expeditionary medal; the Global War of Terrorism service medal; the good conduct medal; the national defense service medal; the sea service deployment ribbon; the rifle marksmanship medal; and the pistol marksmanship medal.

Burial is at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California - Sec R Site 716-D

To be updated…

Born: October 5, 2024 in Quebec, Canada
Died: August 6, 2024 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais, 44, of Santa Barbara, Calif., died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. He was assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit. Lou enlisted in the United States Navy in June, 1986. After graduating Recruit Training Command at San Diego, California in September, 1986, he reported to the USS Wadsworth (FFG 9) where he served until January, 1989. In February of 1989, he reported to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training at Coronado, California. After graduating BUD/S in October, 1989, he reported to a West Coast based SEAL Team until January, 1997. He then joined the Navy Parachute Team where he served until February of 2000. He then served in several East Coast based SEAL teams over the next 10 years until his death in 2011. His awards include, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” device for valor (4), Joint Service Commendation Medal(2) one with Combat “V” device for valor, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3), Combat Action Ribbon (3), Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal (7), National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal (2), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (3), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (7) Rifle Marksmanship Medal, and Pistol Marksmanship Medal.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia - Sec 60 Site 9936

To be updated…

Born: October 3, 2024 in California
Died: August 6, 2024 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson, 28, of Angwin, Calif., died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. He was assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit. He enlisted in the United States Navy in September, 2001. After graduating from Recruit Training Command at Great Lakes, Illinois in November, 2001, he reported to his initial service school training at Pensacola, Florida. After completing his service school in February, 2002, he reported to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training at Coronado, California. In January 2003, he checked into Naval Special Warfare Advanced Training Command at Coronado, California. He then transferred to a West Coast based SEAL Team in June, 2003. In September of 2009, he checked into his East Coast based SEAL Team. His awards include, Bronze Star Medal with “V” device for valor, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2) one with “V” device for valor, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Rifleman Marksmanship Medal, and Pistol Marksmanship Medal. Petty Officer Benson had recently earned his commercial pilot’s license to possibly fly airplanes after his military service ended. His tour would have been up in a month and Darrik was planning to marry his girlfriend and spend time with his son.

Burial is at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California - Sec Y Site 916

To be updated…

Born: September 26, 2024 in Long Beach, California
Died: August 6, 2024 in Wardak, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell of Southern Pines, North Carolina, formerly of Long Beach, California is a 2002 graduate of Miliken High School where he was active on the football team all four years. He served as a combat controller, coordinating air support with troops on the ground in hostile situations. His awards include, the Bronze Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Air Force Combat Action Medal. He died at age 26 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. He leaves his wife Krista, two sons, Hunter and Ethan, his father, John Harvell, his mother, Jane Maher, a brother, Tech. Sgt. Sean Harvell and a sister, Analese Eder.
Air Force
24th Special Tactics Squadron
Pope Field, North Carolina

Burial is at Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, California -

To be updated…

Born: September 20 1982 in Kern County, California
Died: August 7 2011 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Sgt. Adan Gonzales Jr of Bakersfield, California joined the Marine Corps in May 2006 and had served one tour in Iraq and was on his first tour in Afghanistan. He attended Our Lady of Guadalupe Church where he and his family helped with Mass. He was married with two children. He died at age 28 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Also killed was Sgt. Joshua J. Robinson. He leaves his wife, Catalina Oseguera, three children, Athena, Catherine, and Noah, his parents, Adan Sr. and Yolanda Gonzales and a sister, Nichole Gonzales-Chavez.
Marines
1st Battalion
5th Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, California

Burial is at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Bakersfield, California - Hill of Valor

To be udpdated…

Born: March 1, 2024
Died: August 5, 2024 in Kunar, Afghanistan

Spc. Jinsu Lee of Chatsworth, California enlisted in the Army on Aug. 5, 2009 as a Unit Supply Specialist and was serving his first overseas deployment. His awards and decorations include, the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Combat Action Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Afghanistan Campaign Service Medal with Star, Army Good Conduct Medal and Army Overseas Service Ribbon. He died at age 34 in Kunar province, Afghanistan.
Army
2nd Battalion
27th Infantry Regiment
3rd Brigade Combat Team
25th Infantry Division
Schofield Barracks, Hawaii

Burial is at Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, California - Sec 89A Row A Site 20

To be updated…