Freedom Remembered

Born: May 30, 2024
Died: July 18, 2024 in Ghazni, Afghanistan

Sgt. Edward W. Koehler of Ringgold, Georgia and Lebanon, Pennsylvania was a 1982 graduate of Lebanon High School. After serving with the Marine Corps from 1982 to 1988, he took a 10-year break from service. He enlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard in 1997 as a motor transport operator, serving his entire Guard career in the 131st Transportation Company. Serving also with them in Kuwait and Iraq from 2003 to 2004. His awards include, the Combat Action Badge, three Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Driver and Mechanic Badge, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the Governor’s Unit Citation. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. He died at age 47 in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his convoy with an improvised explosive device. He leaves his wife, Cheryl, three daughters, Shelbi, Toby and Kayla Koehler, his mother, Ruthie Koehler, and two sisters, Elaine Dietz and Nicole McCabe.
Army
National Guard
131st Transportation Company
213th Area Support Group
Williamstown, Pennsylvania

Burial is at Anderson Memorial Gardens in Ringgold, Georgia

To be updated…

Born: June 19, 2024
Died: June 29, 2024 in Badrah, Iraq

Sgt. Robert G. Tenney Jr Warner Robins, Georgia is a 2000 graduate of Princess Anne High School where he played in the marching band. His military career began when he enlisted in the United States Air Force, switching over to the Army in 2006. Robbie entered active-duty service in December 2006 as a cavalry scout. He was assigned to Troop G, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, since August 2010. His awards and decorations include an Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal with combat service star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and an Overseas Service Ribbon. Also killed were, Capt. Matthew G. Nielson, 27, of Jefferson, Iowa and Capt. David E. Van Camp, 29, of Wheeling, W. Va. He leaves his parents, Annette C. Tenney and Robert G. Tenney, Sr and his sister, Virginia “Nena” Tenney. Rob died at age 29 in Badrah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire.
Army
2nd Squadron
3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
Fort Hood, Texas

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia - Sec 60 Site 9740

To be updated…

Born: December 10, 2024
Died: May, 19, 2011 in Fort Bliss, Texas

Spc. Matthew J. Hodges of Georgia attended Evans High School. He also served in the United States Army for three years, and served a tour of duty in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Matt was the 5th generation of his family to serve in combat. He leaves his wife, Rebecca, his father, William Hodges, his mother, Theressa Padgett, and four brothers, William Michael, Robert Wayne, Christopher Michael and Charles Andrew Hodges. He was 26.

Burial is at Bellevue Memorial Park in Grovetown, Georgia

Died: April 16, 2024 in Nangarhar, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Cynthia R. Taylor of Columbus, Ga.; joined the Army in November 2003, arriving at Fort Campbell in April 2004. Her awards and decorations include, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, Combat Action Badge and Driver and Mechanic Badge. She died at age 39 at Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an Afghan National Army soldier attacked with multiple grenades.
Army
101st Special Troops Battalion
101st Sustainment Brigade
101st Airborne Division
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

To be updated…

Born: January 23, 2024
Died: April 5, 2024 in Mosul, Iraq

Spc. Gary L. Nelson III of Woodstock, Ga., died at age 20 in Mosul, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Third Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga. He attended Woodstock High School and entered the service in June of 2008. He leaves his parents, Gary Lee Jr and Dawn Renee Nelson, a sister, Kristina Renee Nelson and his mentor, best friend and Brother in Arms, Sgt. Oliver Dixon among others.

Burial is at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia - Sec 1 Site 2440

To be updated…

Born: May 5, 2024 in East Point, Georgia
Died: March 29, 2024 in Konar, Afghanistan

Pfc. Jeremy P. Faulkner of Griffin, Georgia graduated from Griffin High School. Known by many as, ‘Remy’, he enlisted in the United States Army in January of 2009 arriving at Fort Campbell in June of 2009 with plans to make a career of his military service. His awards and decorations include, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, Parachutist Badge and Combat Infantryman Badge. Pfc Faulkner died at at age 23 of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire in Konar province, Afghanistan. Remy leaves his mother and stepfather, Judy and Tony Berry, his father, Joel Faulkner, and his siblings, Kimberly Faulkner, Rheena Zuchowski, Joe Berry, Eric Berry and Lindsey Payton. He attended Liberty Baptist Tabernacle Church.
Army
2nd Battalion
327th Infantry Regiment
1st Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Burial is at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Stockbridge, Georgia

To be updated…

Born: September 17, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio
Died: January 7, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Joseph R. Giese of Winder, Georgia was known best as ‘Ryan’ and joined the United States Marine Corps in July of 2007. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from September 2008 to April 2009. In July of 2010 he deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His awards include, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, according to the Marine Corps. He died at age 24 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He leaves his wife, Brittany, his mother, Connie Wascovich, his father, Larry Giese, and three sisters, Brandi, Alison and Jennifer.
Marines
2nd Battalion
9th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Burial is at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia - Sec 1 Site 2221

To be updated…

Born: January 11, 2024 in Tarrant County, Texas
Died: November 29, 2024 in Nangarhar, Afghanistan

Pfc. Austin G. Staggs of Senoia, Georgia grew up splitting his time between his father in Georgia and his mother in Texas. He attended Weatherford High School before graduating in 2008 from North Hills Private School in Millsap, Texas. Austin was set on joining the United States Army and left for his basic training in early fall of 2009 arriving at Fort Campbell in February of 2010. He was deployed to Afghanistan the following autumn where he served as a Fire Support Specialist. His Awards and Decorations include, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and NATO Medal. He leaves his wife, Sheena, his son, Kallen, his father and stepmother, Byram Staggs and Kelly, his mother and stepfather, Kaye and Judd Jordan, two sisters, Emily and Sarah, and two brothers. He died at age 19 in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an insurgent ambushed his unit with small arms fire. Also killed in the attack were, Sgt. 1st Class Barry E. Jarvis of Tell City, Ind., Staff Sgt. Curtis A. Oakes of Athens, Ohio, Spc. Matthew W. Ramsey of Quartz Hill, Calif., Pfc. Jacob A. Gassen of Beaver Dam, Wis., and Pvt. Buddy W. McLain of Mexico, Maine.
Army
1st Squadron
61st Cavalry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Burial is at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Fort Worth, Texas

To be updated…

Born: October 8, 2024 in Knoxville, Tennessee
Died: November 28, 2024 in Sikeston, Missouri

Senior Airman Tre Porfirio of Saint Marys, Georgia and Knoxville, Tennessee is a 2007 graduate of Camden County High School. He enlisted in the United States Air Force and left in August of 2009 for what was to be a six month deployment in Afghanistan. But just three months later on November 21, 2024 he was wounded when he was shot three times in the back. The attack took place in a very remote area of Afghanistan, where his unit was installing communications lines. His story received national attention when he underwent advanced pancreatic cell transplant surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. After several surgeries, doctors at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington determined his damaged pancreas had to be removed. They worked with doctors at the University of Miami to salvage islet cells from his pancreas. Those cells were injected into his liver, allowing that organ to begin producing the insulin normally produced by the pancreas. The procedure had never before been performed on a trauma patient. On Feb. 18, 2010 the self described, ‘combat nerd’ returned to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He leaves his son, Landon, his father Karl Porfirio, four brothers, Damian, Paul, Adam and TJ. He died at age 22 while visiting friends over the Thanksgiving holiday in Missouri. He received the Purple heart after being wounded in Afghanistan.
Air Force
88th Communications Squadron
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

Burial is at Tennessee Veterans Cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee - Sec I Site 3790

Born: May 10, 2024 in Thomasville, Georgia
Died: November 11, 2024 in Kunar, Afghanistan

Spc. Shannon Chihuahua of Thomasville, Georgia graduated in 2004 from Thomas County Central High School before attending Valdosta State University from 2004-2005. ‘Chanen’ or ‘Chi’ as many knew him as, joined the Army in July of 2008 arriving at Fort Campbell in July of 2009. His awards and decorations include, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, and Combat Medic Badge. He was deployed to Afghanistan in May of 2010 just prior to the birth of his second child a few weeks later. He was last home in late June when she was 2 weeks old. He leaves his wife, Kristen, two daughters, Sophia and Annabelle, his mother, Dennice Dinkins and his father, Sebastian Chihuahua, two sisters, Christina and Jessica, and two brothers, Alejandro and Eric. Chanen and his wife celebrated their 4th anniversary in early November 2010. He died at age 25 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades. He was attending to injured fellow soldiers when he was killed. Chanen was a member of the Thomas County Central Chorus and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Army
1st Battalion
327th Infantry Regiment
1st Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Burial is at Bethany Methodist Church Cemetery in Pelham, Georgia

To be updated…