Freedom Remembered

Born: September 6, 2024 in Waterbury, Connecticut
Died: October 16 2004 in Baghdad, Iraq

Chief Warrant Officer Three William I. Brennan of Bethlehem, Connecticut was best known as ‘Will’ by his family. Growing up, he would ride around the neighborhood with Ralph, the family cat, perched on his head. The son of the late Nicholas I. and Rosalie C. Dunne Brennan attended St. John the Evangelist School in Watertown and graduated in 1986 from Holy Cross High School where he was on the lacrosse and wrestling teams. William was an Eagle Scout and a member of the Pine Meadow, CT 4-H Club. He received his associate’s degree from Mattatuck Community College before joining the Army and becoming a pilot. While attending Mattatuck Community College he was serving in the National Guard. After receiving his associate’s degree, William joined the United States Army and pursued his dream of flying helicopters. Following that dream was through an already well worn path inspired by his late godfather, William Horvay, an Army helicopter pilot who served in Vietnam. And his late father was a commander in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and an uncle was a bomber pilot in World War II and in Korea. Will ultimately served in the armed forces for 13 years, most recently being deployed in January 2004 from Wheeler Army Air Field, Hawaii to Iraq. He wasn’t nervous about leaving for Iraq. He was a capable soldier whose 15-year military career included a tour in Bosnia and flying surveillance helicopters around New York City after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. What he did not like was leaving behind his wife of six years and his daughters. The separation was so hard for him that in some ways he wondered if his two-week return that summer to his family in Hawaii was a mixed blessing, he would get to see the smiling faces he had not seen since December only to have to leave them again. But he was hoping to finish his tour and then leave Hawaii, where he has been stationed, for a permanent assignment somewhere in the South, where he loved. Will is remembered as a prankster, a fun-loving dad who doted on his daughters. Even as an adult, he was a kid who still collected comic books and had a weakness for Snickers bars. His nieces nicknamed him “Uncle Buck,” after the goofy movie character played in a 1980s comedy by the late John Candy. In addition to his wife and daughters, Will is survived by his grandpa, Paul Horvay Sr., Neil and Marge Brennan, Patrick and Katherine Brennan, Nicholas and T.J. Brennan, Patricia and Harry Traver, Mary-Kate and John Scenti, and Briana and Peter Wall of Woodbury. William died at age 36 in Baghdad, Iraq, when his OH-58D helicopter apparently collided with another OH-58D helicopter and crashed. Also killed was Capt. Christopher B. Johnson.

Army
1st Battalion
25th Aviation
25th Infantry Division (Light)
Wheeler Army Air Field, Hawaii

Burial is at Evergreen Cemetery in Bethlehem, Connecticut

Born: December 12, 2024 in Arecibo, Puerto Rico
Died: December 8, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas

Cpl. Xhacob Latorre of Waterbury, Connecticut is a 2005 graduate of Crosby High School where he participated in the ROTC cadet program for three years. As a student, every time there was an event that required audience participation, Xhacob would raise his hand. He was always a happy and friendly child. At age 7, a restaurant owner promised him a job if he could keep a table of 10 laughing for an hour, she said. He did. He was too young to be hired, but he got a fist full of cash from the patrons who gave him a dollar for every joke that made them laugh. He joined the Marine Corps in June of 2005 and trained at Parris Island, South Carolina. He graduated from boot camp on September 23, 2024 and was sent to Camp Lejeune School of Infantry where he received orders to Weapons Company 2nd Battalion 8th Marines. His 1st deployment to Ramadi, Iraq was July 24, 2024 where he spent seven months arriving back to US soil on Feb. 18, 2007. His second deployment to Iraq was October 31, 2024 to May 18, 2008. His third and final deployment was May 18, 2024 to Camp Leatherneck where he transferred from Weapon to Fox Company. In 2007, Xhacob (pronounced, Jacob) married his longtime girlfriend and the couple have a young son. Xhacob was promoted to corporal in June of 2008. Among his Awards and Decorations are the Purple Heart Medal, two Combat Action Ribbons, Good Conduct Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Iraq Campaign Medal. He was injured on August 10 2009, and was sent to the Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas where he died at age 21 of the wounds he sustained while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Xhacob was a loving and caring father and husband who provided for his family and served his country with his life. He was a happy and fun person throughout his life even in his last few days in the hospital. Xhacob is the son of Nicolasa LaSalle and Daniel LaTorre Sr. In addition to parents and his wife, Frances, he leaves a son, Javier, a brother, Cpl Daniel L. LaTorre. a sister, Nicole M. LaTorre, maternal grandparents, Pablo LaSalle and Ana M. Morales among others.
Marines
2nd Battalion
8th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Burial is at Connecticut Veterans Cemetery in Middletown, Connecticut -

Born: March 20, 2024 in Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Died: May 8, 2024 in Qa’im, Iraq

Lance Cpl. Lawrence R. Philippon of Hartford, Connecticut was a Conard High School graduate, where he played Ice Hockey and Lacrosse. He also attended Central Connecticut State University. Larry had an endless humor and infectious smile. His recital of lines from “Forest Gump” always brought tears of laughter. Larry had been in the United States Marine Corps for two years having enlisted in May of 2002. He had asked to be assigned to the front lines. As a member of the Marine Corps Color Guard, Larry carried the flag at the funeral for President Reagan. Even though he enjoyed the color guard, he really wanted to be in Iraq. For him, that is where it was all happening. With his classic Marine stature, he was chosen to become part of the Washington, D.C. 8th + I barracks Color Guard. He performed in many parades and for funerals at Arlington Cemetery, took part in welcoming ceremonies for diplomats and carried the flag at former President Ronald Reagan’s funeral procession. He is the son of Leesa and Raymond Philippon and the brother of Bryan and Emilee. He was also engaged to be married in December to Olivia Lawrence. Larry was the 24th military member from Connecticut to be killed in Iraq or Afghanistan since March 2002. He was killed at age 22 by enemy small-arms fire while conducting combat operations in the vicinity of Qa’im, Iraq. His official duties at the time of his death were protecting the Syrian border and conducting security operations to prevent insurgents from crossing the border and setting up strongholds in Iraqi cities. Among his Awards and Decorations are, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

Marines
3rd Battalion
2nd Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia - Sec 60 Site 8181

Born Sept. 4, 1983 in Carmel, NY

Died May 11, 2024 in Fort Sam Houston, TX

Lance Cpl. John T. Schmidt III of grew up in Danbury, Connecticut and moved to Florida where he graduated from Oviedo High School. He took on some jobs before moving back to Connecticut. John decided he needed some structure in his life and he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as he felt they were the strictest. In January 2004 he graduated from Parris Island, South Carolina and went off to serve in Haiti for several months during an uprising there. Arriving back home, everyone remarked how grown and mature John had become; he made the right choice for himself. Even other soldiers who knew John remarked at how mature and responsible he had become, they could count on him. In January of 2005 he deployed to Iraq, assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Less than two weeks later, on January 30th, John and a couple of members of his unit were in an agricultural building located in Al Anbar Province. The building contained tanks of toxic chemicals. A mortar attack on the building ruptured one of the tanks, and the men inhaled the fumes. John’s lungs were burned from the inside from ammonia. He was flown to Germany then to the Brooke Army Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston for treatment. For months John bravely fought on, and his whole hometown fought with him with prayers and hope. A bridge back home held a banner with the words “Semper-Fi, Get Well John” and John was able to see a photograph of it. John died on May 11 of his injuries, his mother at his side. His mother, Barbara Jimenez, stepfather, Dr. Eric Jimenez, father, John T. Schmidt II, grandparents, Richard and Jean Backlund and several other relatives survive him. John was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Born: November 27, 2024 in Waterbury, Connecticut
Died: May 30, 2024 in AL Asad, Iraq

Cpl. Christian S. Cotner of Waterbury, Connecticut was a graduate of Wilby High School where he was a member of the ROTC. He was an easygoing student who was well liked and enthusiastic about learning. He also attended Kingsbury Grammar School, North End Middle School. Upon graduation, he joined the United States Marines Corp and has recently been serving as a Corporal. He was a member of the Boys Scouts of America and was a member of the First Congregational Church of Waterbury. He had a passion for computers and electronic gaming and enjoyed building and flying remote control airplanes and was a member of the Nutmeg Flyers. In addition to his parents, Graham and Karen Christensen Cotner, he is survived by a brother, Eric Cotner, his maternal grandparents June Christensen; and Carl L. Christensen, his paternal grandparents Billy and Gloria Cotner, his aunt Wendy Christensen, his uncle Eric Christensen and his wife Susan, his aunt Cathy Crouse and her husband Ralph, cousins Stewart and David Crouse, Victoria Jelenik and Julie Christensen as well many close friends “The Crew”. Christian died at age 20 Iraq, while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Marines
Marine Wing Support Squadron 172
Marine Wing Support Group 17
1st Marine Aircraft Wing
III Marine Expeditionary Force
Okinawa, Japan

Burial is at Riverside Cemetery in Waterbury, Connecticut

Born Oct. 22, 1976 in New Haven, CT

Died Oct. 2, 2009 in Afghanistan

Captain Benjamin Sklaver, humanitarian, patriot, soldier, and leader. Ben grew up and was educated in Hamden, Connecticut, graduating in the top 5% of his class. He received his Master’s degree in International Relations from Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tuft’s University. He joined the ROTC while enrolled there and upon graduation in 2003 was commissioned a lieutenant in the Army reserves. He began working at the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, working in the Office of Emergency Health and Refugee Relief, and this took him to Africa, where he worked on hunger and refugee relief issues. Deployed in 2006 to the Horn of Africa, specifically Uganda, he worked not only for the local people fighting their enemy, but to re-establish water to villages torn apart after 20 years of civil war. He helped dig wells and protect the clean water supplies for the villages. The people of Uganda were so amazed at Ben’s desire to help them, they gave him the nickname “Moses Ben.” Seeing the problems a lack of pure drinking water causes, Ben upon coming home to the states in 2007 formed his own nonprofit group, The ClearWater Initiative, to help provide access to clean water across the globe. He worked 30 hours a week for his project while also working full time for the CDC. In early 2009, Ben took a job with FEMA in New York to work on disaster planning. In the spring he was deployed to Afghanistan, assigned to the 422nd Civil Affairs Battalion, based at Greensboro, N.C. While there he worked with the military to establish better relationships with the people of Pashtun, in hopes that providing the village with clean water, schools and hospitals, fewer of them would join the Taliban. He was killed in action in Murcheh, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when a suicide bomber ambushed him and another soldier. Ben’s reserve duty was to end next year and he was set to marry his fiancée in June of 2010. His legacy is the thousands of people who he helped to gain control of clean water and humanitarian help. For this is what Ben was, a combatant for peace, dedicated to helping his fellow man find peace in this world, even though he wore an Army uniform at times. He led people with a passionate soul, and that drew others to want to do the same. His parents, Gary and Laura, his sister Anna, brother Samuel and fiancée Beth Segaloff survive him. Ben is buried at Farband Cemetery in Morris, Connecticut.

Birth: November 6, 2024 – Fort Gordon, Georgia
Death: November 2, 2024 – Al Fallujah, Iraq

Pfc. D’Agostino was assigned to the 16th Signal Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas, as a communications specialist. He was on board a CH-47 Chinook helicopter that went down in Al Fallujah after being struck by a ground-to-air missile fired by insurgents. Anthony was born in Georgia when his father was in the military and graduated from Kaynor Vocational Technical School in Waterbury with a specialty in electricity. He joined the military after the September 11, 2024 terrorist attacks, looking for an education, career and a place to belong. He had dreams of attending the U.S. Military Academy and making the military his career.

Burial: Calvary Cemetery, Waterbury, Connecticut

Born: March 10 1977 in Waterbury, Connecticut
Died: November 18 2004 in Baghdad, Iraq

Sgt. Joseph M Nolan of Waterbury, Connecticut was born one of three children to Inga and Joseph Nolan. He graduated from Wolcott High School, where he was an offensive lineman for the Wolcott Eagles. Joey was always a voracious reader who was intensely interested in foreign cultures. He majored in Japanese in college, studied French at Wolcott High School and traveled to Russia when he was in the seventh grade. And he was always reading books about the military. Joey moved to Philadelphia to attend St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. A linguist, he began reading military books at age 10 and was fascinated with international affairs. He had an unquenchable curiosity about the world that sometimes made him seem older than he was. Joey opted for a career in the military, though there was really no surprise there. His family is a large, devoutly Irish Catholic family in which military service has played a prominent role. His grandfather, John W. Nolan, was a Navy lieutenant in World War II, serving during campaigns in Iwo Jima, Saipan and Okinawa. His father served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam. After enlisting in the Army, he was sent to the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California for a highly selective, 63-week course in Arabic. He finished fourth in a class of 18. The Arabic training began in June 2001, three months before the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
Joey was just as well liked for his sense of humor, which could occasionally drift to the politically incorrect. He was always fun to be around and was sought out for his company wherever he went. He was last home in August 2004 on a brief visit. The weight of the war had begun to show on him. As a military intelligence expert, his work as a Cryptologist provided support in moving critical information either as a translator or in support of those in harms way. There’s little doubt that Joe had an unbelievable impact on others in both his civilian life and his capacity as a soldier. He was the 19th person with Connecticut ties to be killed in Iraq or Afghanistan since March 2002. Joe was killed at age 27 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his up-armored Humvee while his unit was on patrol in Fallujah, Iraq.

Army
312th Military Intelligence Battalion
1st Cavalry Division
Fort Hood, Texas

Burial is at Old St. Joseph Cemetery in Waterbury, Connecticut

Born: November 21, 2024
Died: April 7, 2024 in Mosul, Iraq

Spc. Tyanna S. Felder of Bridgeport, Connecticut attended Kolbe Cathedral High School in Bridgeport, where she played basketball and sang in the choir. She later took classes at Southern Connecticut State University toward a career in early childhood education, but after completing her freshman year, she changed her plans. Tyanna also attended McKinley and Dunbar Elementary schools. She went to Basic Training at Ft Jackson in 2001 and married 1st Special Forces SPC Adrian Felder on Dec 20 2002. She is survived by her parents, sister and younger brother. Tyanna was the first woman from Connecticut killed during the war in Iraq, was remembered as a fighter, a friend and a hero. She was killed a week before she was scheduled to go on leave to visit her family in Bridgeport. Her family had been preparing codfish balls, macaroni and cheese and other foods she loved for her arrival. She leaves her husband, Adrian Felder, her parents, Ray and Ilene “Patty” Avery, a sister Danene and a brother, Ray Jr. Tyanna died of injuries sustained in Mosul when her convoy vehicle was hit with an improvised explosive device at age 22.
Army
296th Brigade Support Battalion
3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division
Fort Lewis, Washington

Burial is at Lakeview Cemetery in Bridgeport, Connecticut

Born: July 4, 2024
Died: December 11. 2004 in Baghdad, Iraq

Spc. Robert W. Hoyt of Ashford, Connecticut was born to Kathleen and Thomas D. Hoyt, Sr., the second oldest of four children. He grew up in Mansfield and was a 2001 graduate of Edwin O. Smith High School in Storrs, where he played football and ran track. Robert was also a drummer in a band. Robert had a love for sports and music and he coached football for the Mansfield youth league. He was an employee of Wing Foot Commercial Tire. He and his best friend and neighbor, Steve, did typical kid things such as riding bicycles, playing video games and football and they even formed their own rock `n’ roll band. Robert dream of becoming professional musician. Until one day he just decided that he wanted to do something for his country, so he enlisted in the Connecticut National Guard to the surprise of most everyone who knew him. Robert was a eager Soldier, who voluntarily answered the call to duty. He earned the respect he got from his superiors and from his family and friends. He was killed at age 21 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee while he was conducting convoy operations in Baghdad. Robert was predeceased by his grandmother, Etta Zwick and his grandfather, Ross Russell. Survivors include mother, Kathleen Hoyt, father, Thomas Hoyt; his brother, Thomas Hoyt, Jr.; two sisters, Ginger and Amber Hoyt; grandmothers, Clara Russell and Nancy Cunningham; grandfathers, Samuel Zwick and Paul Cunningham.
Army
National Guard
1st Battalion
102nd Infantry Regiment
Bristol, Connecticut

Burial is at Mansfield Center Cemetery, in Mansfield Center, Connecticut