Freedom Remembered

Born: July 11, 2024
Died: November 10, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. James B. Stack of Arlington Heights, Illinois was home schooled by his parents and was a National Champion Air pistol shooter in the 2008 Junior Olympics. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing at his grandfather’s farm in central Illinois. His interest in the military began at an early age. At eleven he joined the Arlington International Airgun Club. Through this experience, James earned a position on an Olympic development team, though it would be the military that James opted for. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on April 7, 2024 and was currently serving his first deployment. His service awards include, the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal. He leaves his wife, Katie, a daughter, Mikayla, and his parents, Linda and Robert Stack and a sister, Megan. He died at age 20 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marines
3rd Battalion
5th Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, California

Burial is at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Arlington Heights, Illinois

To be updated…

Born: December 19, 2024 in in Centralia, Illinois
Died: November 5, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Jordan B. Emrick of Hoyleton, Illinois is a 2002 graduate of Nashville Community High School. During his formative years he worked on a 3,000 acre family farm of a friend. The long hours and hard work showcased his dedication and commitment to work ethics. Jordan would milk cows, work in the fields and still had energy to get in a night of skiing at a local resort, and be back at work the next day ready to go again. Upon graduation from high school, enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. His decision to enlist was inspired by the events of September 11th. Prior to joining the military, Jordan expressed a desire in Pharmacy. He had previously served deployments to the Persian Gulf and in Iraq and was currently serving in Afghanistan. He was just three weeks into a seven month deployment. In addition to skiing, the avid skydiver also enjoyed sailing. He leaves his parents, Terry and Doris Seeger Emrick, a brother, Brandon, two sisters, Christi and Brittany. He died at age 26 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.
Marines
1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company
7th Engineer Support Battalion
1st Marine Logistics Group
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, California

Burial is at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Hoyleton, Illinois

To be updated…

Born: August 10, 2024 in Springfield, Illinois
Died: November 3, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Cpl. James C. Young of Rochester, Illinois is a 2003 graduate of Glenwood High School. Standing a lanky 6’4”, he had a great sense of humor, a playful personality, and sense of style all his own with his cut offs and piercings. Best known as, Chad, he joined the Army in 2004 and served in Korea. He returned home from his first tour in 2007. He began his second deployment to Afghanistan in June of 2010. He was last home on leave in late October 2010. He was trained as a combat engineer and parts of his deployments were spent in a special route-clearance vehicle called a Husky that would travel in front of a convoy and detonate or defuse land mines, explosives or other obstructions in the road. He leaves his parents, Jerry and Brett Ann Bowen Young, his sister, Katie, a brother, Steven Baptist, and a girlfriend, Maria Millburg. He died at age 25 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.
Army
863rd Engineer Battalion
Darien, Illinois

Burial is at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois - Sec D Site 589-C

Born: September 14, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois
Died: November 1, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Pfc. Andrew N. Meari of Plainfield, Illinois attended Plainfield South High School and earned his diploma early from Port Washington High School in Wisconsin. Drew joined the Army in October in 2008 arriving at Fort Campbell in February of 2009. His Awards and Decorations include, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Combat Infantry Badge. He leaves his mother, Denise Meehan, and father, Mahmoud Meari, two brothers, Ethan and Andrew, and a sister, Jenna. He died at age 21 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device.
Army
1st Battalion
502nd Infantry Regiment
2nd Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Burial is at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois - Sec 7 Site 94

To be updated…

Born: May 6, 2024 in Heilbronn, Germany
Died: October 14, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Alec E. Catherwood of Byron, Illinois graduated in 2009 from Byron High School. Growing up, he was a member of the FFA as a sentry, the Boy Scouts and had a black belt in tae kwon do. By all accounts, Alec wanted to serve in the military ever since he was three years old. On June 1, 2024 he saw that dream come true when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. Even after his first year as a Marine he was already talking about re-enlisting. Deployed to Afghanistan, he was serving his first combat tour of duty. His awards and decorations include, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal and Korean Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. In his leisure, Alec loved mudding in his truck and riding his four-wheeler when he was home. He leaves his parents, Kirk and Gretchen Catherwood, his sister, Mikaela Montgomery and his fiancée, Hailey Patrick. The couple were engaged to be married on July 2, 2011. He died at age 19 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marines
3rd Battalion
5th Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, California

Byron, Illinois

To be updated…

Born: October 12, 2024 in Gastonia, North Carolina
Died: June 17, 2024 in Qaim, Iraq

Master Sgt. Michael L. McNulty of Knoxville, Tennessee graduated from Larkin High School in Elgin, Illinois in 1986. Michael enlisted in the United States Army upon graduation from Larkin High School in Elgin, Ill., in 1986. After completion of initial entry training, he was assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry, Fort Lewis, Washinton. After a brief separation of service, he reenlisted April 1994. McNulty then served with the 327th Infantry Regiment, Fort Campbell, Ky. and later served with the 27th Infantry Regiment and 25th Infantry Division (Light), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii as a rifle squad leader, an instructor, and a reconnaissance squad leader. His awards and decorations included the three Bronze Star Medals, one with Valor Device, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, five Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Military Freefall Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge and the Ranger Tab. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device, and the Purple Heart. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of master sergeant. He leaves his wife, Paula, four children, Cyle, Eric, Katie and Rebecca, his parents Davis and Ann Marie McNulty. He was killed at age 36 while conducting combat operations in Qaim, Iraq.
Army
Headquarters
Army Special Operations Command
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia - Sec 60 Site 8194

Born: May 11, 2024 in Honolulu, Hawaii
Died: February 20, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Jeremy E. Bessa of Woodridge, Illinois graduated from Downers Grove South High School before enrolling for a semester at Southern Illinois University. He quickly realized that serving in the Army was where he really wanted to be and volunteered for military service in April of 2002. He earned the coveted Green Beret in March of 2007. His Awards and Decorations include, the Joint Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, Combat Medics Badge and Special Forces Tab. He was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medals. He leaves his wife Lindsey and their son Carson, his parents Ted and Julie Bessa, two brothers Christopher and Joel and his sister, Bryana. He died at age 26 n Kandahar, Afghanistan, when his military vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device followed by small arms fire attack by enemy forces. Also killed was Master Sgt. David L. Hurt.
Army
1st Battalion
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Burial is at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas - Sec 105 Site 655

Born: May 10. 1972
Died: February 20, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Master Sgt. David L. Hurt of Tucson, Arizona and Oak Park, Illinois is a Santa Rita High School graduate. He joined the United States Army soon after. David deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in January 2009 as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force, Afghanistan. His Awards and Decorations include, the Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Joint Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Achievement Medal, and Army Achievement Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Combat Infantryman Badge, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Sapper Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Air Assault Badge, Drivers Badge, the Valorous Unit Award, and Joint Meritorious Unit Award. He leaves his wife Kelly, daughter Avery and son Wyatt, his mother Bonnie Hurt and father Joe Hurt and his sister, Debbie. He died at age 36 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, from wounds received in Khordi, Afghanistan, when his military vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device followed by small arms fire attack by enemy forces. Also killed was Staff Sgt. Jeremy E. Bessa.
Army
1st Battalion
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Burial is at Green Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Parkton, North Carolina

Born: October 3, 2024
Died: October 8, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. John T. Sparks of Chicago, Illinois is a graduate of Paul Robeson High School where he played football and wrestled. He then attended Westwood College earning an associate’s degree in criminal justice. John enlisted in the United States Marine Corp February of 2008 and was serving his first war zone deployment. Among his Awards and Decorations are, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Ribbon. He died at age 23 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He leaves his mother, Lenora, among others.
Marines
3rd Battalion
5th Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, California

Burial is at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois - Sec 3 Site 598

Born: June 20, 2024 in Ely, Minnesota
Died: October 5, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Senior Airman Daniel J. Johnson of Schiller Park, Illinois grew up in Wisconsin where he was a 2005 graduate of Monona Grove High School, participating on the football, swimming and track teams. He also acted in a one-act play, was editor of the school yearbook and worked on the student newspaper. He went on to take some classes at Triton College, hoping to be an emergency medical technician. Instead, his desire to serve a greater cause led him to consider the military. So Dan joined the United States Air Force in November of 2006 where he was trained with the bomb squad disarming bombs. He was currently serving his second tour of duty, having previously served a 7 month tour in Iraq during 2009 and was deployed to Afghanistan in August of 2010. Dan was an active participant in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program in the local community. He was married in June of 2010 and leaves his wife, Kristen, his father, Jim Johnson, mother, Holly Higgins, and three brothers Peter, Will and Erik Johnson. He died at age 23 of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Air Force
30th Civil Engineer Squadron
Vandenberg Air Force Base, California

Burial is at Santa Maria Cemetery in Santa Maria, California

To be Updated…