Freedom Remembered

Born: July 16, 2024
Died: February 22, 2024

Lance Cpl. Corey A. Little, 25, of Fayetteville, Ga., joined the Marines in 2009 where he served as a Huey helicopter crew chief. He played baseball as a youngster and graduated from high school in 2004. Corey and his wife are expecting their first child in September. He was one of seven Marines killed in a helicopter crash near Yuma, Ariz. He served as a helicopter crew chief aboard UH-1Y Hueys. His personal awards include the National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Georgia National Cemetery

To be updated…

Capt. Nicholas S. Whitlock, 29, of Newnan, Ga. He was assigned to the 34th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. He died February 18 when his U-28 aircraft was involved in an accident near Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Africa. He entered the Air Force in 2006, receiving his commission through the Officer Training School. Capt Whitlock was serving his fifth deployment. He had been assigned to the 319th SOS and then to the 34th SOS at Hurlburt Field since 2008 and had more than 800 combat flight hours. Also killed were: Capt. Ryan P. Hall, 30, of Colorado Springs, Colo., 1st Lt. Justin J. Wilkens, 26, of Bend, Ore., and Senior Airman Julian S. Scholten, 26, of Upper Marlboro, Md.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Capt. Whitlock’s memory to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which gives financial help to severely wounded special-ops personnel and provides scholarships and counseling to children of fallen special-ops members. The foundation’s address is P.O. Box 13483, Tampa, FL 33681-3483.

Forest Lawn Memorial Park

To be updated…

Born: March 11, 2024
Died: February 17, 2024 in Dubai

Petty Officer First Class Paris S. Pough, 40, of Columbus, Ga. died Feb. 17, during a port visit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Pough, a hull technician was assigned to the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), home-ported in San Diego, Calif. Pough enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Jan. 5, 1993, and reported to the USS Carl Vinson on Aug. 19, 2010. The Vinson is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. Fifth Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts, and air missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Burial is at Jacksonville National Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida - Sec 1 Site 129

To be updated…

Born: October 31, 2024 in Junction City, Kansas
Died: January 26 2012 in Beaufort, South Carolina

HN Velencia Samone Compton of Beaufort, South Carolina graduated from Carver High School in 2008 and enlisted in the United States Navy. HN Compton loved the Navy, and was passionate about pursuing her career there. She was a member of Faith, Hope, and Love Church and will be remembered as a loving mother, daughter, sister, cousin, and friend. Survivors include her son; Jayden, her parents, Bobby Hunter, and Michelle Compton, three brothers, Jordan Compton, Javaughn Compton, and Antonio Hunter. She died at age 21.

Burial is at Parkhill Cemetery in Columbus, Georgia

The above is from her obituary

Born: August 22, 2024 in Douglasville, Georgia
Died: October 13, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Scott D. Harper, 21, of Winston, Ga., died Oct. 13 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Scott was a 2008 graduate of Alexander High School, where he was an outgoing student and active in Reserve Officer’s Training Corps. He was also a member of the golf team. Scott served as an infantryman in the United States Marine Corps. He not only loved his country, but he loved his family, his community, loved hunting, fishing and playing his guitar. He leaves his father and his wife, Brian and Angela Harper, his mother, Deborah Busbin Staples, his brother, Mitchell Staples, his sister, Amber Staples, a step-brother, Joseph Hulsey and a step-sister, Holly Harpe.

Burial is at Ephesus Baptist Church Cemetery in Winston, Georgia

To be updated…

Born: August 17, 2024 in Porter, Texas
Died: September 29, 2024 in Kirkuk, Iraq

Spc. Adrian G. Mills, 23, of Newnan, Ga., died Sept. 29 in Kirkuk, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit was attacked by insurgents using indirect fire. AJ was assigned to the 272nd Military Police Company, 519th Military Police Battalion, Fort Polk, La. He leaves his mother, Marie Blehschmidt, his wife, Sandra Abel Mills, and a sister, Maegon Mills.

Burial is at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia - Sec 1 Site 2799

To be updated…

Lance Cpl. John R. Wimpey-Cagle, 19, of Tucker, Ga., died Sept. 28 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. He was a light armored crewman who joined the Marine Corps in June of 2010 and was promoted to lance corporal in March. He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in March with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. His awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Burial is at Empire Memorial Gardens in Empire Alabama

To be updated…

Staff Sgt. Keith F. Rudd, 36, of Winder, Ga., died Sept. 10 in Parvan, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained while supporting combat operations. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. SSgt Rudd joined the Army in May 2003 and was previously stationed at Fort Sill, Okla., and Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He arrived at Fort Bragg in May and previously deployed to Iraq in 2007 and Afghanistan in 2009. His awards and decorations include three Air Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, six Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghan Campaign Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the NATO Medal, the Combat Medic Badge and the Army Aviation Badge. He deployed to Afghanistan last month for what was his third deployment.

To be updated…

Born: October 13, 2024 in Miami, Florida
Died: August 5, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Spc. Mark J. Downer of Warner Robins, Georgia died at age 23 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with a rocket propelled grenade. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. He joined the Army in December of 2009 and was trained in Fort Sill, Okla., and Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He came to Fort Drum in June of 2010 and deployed with his unit in March to support Operation Enduring Freedom. 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 NATO Medal and the Combat Medic Badge.

Burial is at Parkway Memorial Gardens in Warner Robins, Georgia

To be updated…

Born: Sept. 17, 1988, in Eugene, Oregon
Died: July 31, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Spc4 Brice M. Scott of Eugene, Oregon is a 2007 graduate of North Eugene High School. Serving in the military was a family tradition and Brice was serving his first tour of duty. He died at age 22 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. He leaves his wife, Laila, two daughters, Celina and Mia, his father, Steven Scott and mother Carol L. Tripp.
Army
4th Squadron
4th Cavalry Regiment
1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team
1st Infantry Division
Fort Riley, Kansas

Burial is at Fir Grove Cemetery in Ada, Oregon

To be updated…