Freedom Remembered

Lt. Col. John D. Loftis, 44, of Murray, Ky., died Feb. 25 from wounds received during an attack at the Interior Ministry, Kabul, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 866th Air Expeditionary Squadron, Kabul, Afghanistan. He served as a space and missile officer who became a regional affairs strategist in 2008. Known to some as JD or Darin, he entered the Air Force in 1996, receiving his commission through Officer Training School. Prior to deploying in March 2011, he had been assigned to the U.S. Air Force Special Operations School, Air Force Special Operations Training Center, Hurlburt Field, Fla. Loftis was deployed in support of OPERATION Enduring Freedom and working in the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ministry of the Interior with the AfPak Hands program as the chief plans advisor. The AfPak Hands program stood up in September 2009 to develop a cadre of specially trained U.S. servicemembers skilled in Afghan and Pakistani culture and language. Lt Col Loftis was previously awarded the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal.

To be updated…

Born: November 25, 2024 in Frankfurt, Germany
Died: January 8, 2024 in Zabul, Afghanistan

Pfc. Dustin P. Napier of London, Ky., died at age 20 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from enemy small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska. He attended South Laurel High School graduating in 2010. During his four years in high school he participated in the ROTC program and ranked as top cadet in his senior year. Dustin had been married about three months. He joined the Army in July 2010, arriving at Fort Wainwright in November. He deployed to Afghanistan last April for a one year tour of duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

A.R. Dyche Memorial Park

To be updated…

Born: January 24, 2024 in Ashland, Kentucky
Died: August 25, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Pfc. Brandon S. Mullins, 21, of Owensboro, Ky., died Aug. 25 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska. He joined the Army in February 2010 and served as an infantryman. He graduated from basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia and arrived in Alaska in June 2010. His 4,000-Soldier brigade deployed to Afghanistan in April 2011 for a one-year tour in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He leaves his parents, Thomas and Catherine Mullins, a brother, PFC Shaun E. Mullins, and a sister, Bethany R. Mullins. Owensboro Memorial Gardens

To be updated…

Born: January 30, 2024 in Cynthiana, Kentucky
Died: July 14, 2024 in Paktika, Afghanistan

Sgt. Jeremy R. Summers of Mount Olivet, Kentucky joined the Army in March of 2005 arriving at Fort Campbell in August 2009 serving as a fire support specialist. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Korea Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal; and Combat Action Badge. He died at age 27 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, after enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire on Jul. 13. He leaves his parents, Kenneth M. “Mike” and Laura Fowler Summers, a brother, Austin Hunter Summers and a sister, Jessica Elizabeth Summers.
Army
2nd Battalion
506th Infantry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Battle Grove Cemetery in Cynthiana, Kentucky

To be updated…

Born: May 24, 2024 in Charleston, South Carolina
Died: April 10, 2024 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany

Pfc. Brandon T. Pickering of Fort Thomas, Ky., died at age 21 in Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire and a rocket propelled grenade in Wardak province, Afghanistan, April 8. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, La. He graduated from Highlands High School in 2008. Brandon joined the United States Army in September of 2009. After completing training at Fort Benning, Georgia he was stationed at Fort Polk in April of 2010. He deployed with his unit in October of 2010. His awards and decorations include, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Nato Medal and the Combat Infantryman
Badge.

Burial is at Alexandria Cemetery in Alexandria, Kentucky

To be updated…

Born: March 14, 2024
Died: July 2, 2024 in Bethesda, Maryland

Spc. Estell L. Turner of Jackson, Kentucky graduated from Buckhorn High School in 1983. He entered the Army in May 2004 arriving at Fort Campbell in June 2007 serving as a motor transport operator. He initially spent six years with the Army after high school and sought to re-enter at age 42 once the age limit was raised. Lee comes from a military family in which his wife is an Army reservist and his younger brother, John, is in the Army stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. After he finished his military service in 1989, he was a mechanic in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He and brother John raced and fixed cars together, and Lee also played guitar. Lee had looked forward to being deployed to Afghanistan, his first tour in the war on terror, in March. But he knew the potential dangers of his convoy missions. His awards and decorations include: Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Army Overseas Ribbon; Weapons Qualification, M4, expert; Marksmanship Qualification Badge; Marksman with Recoilless Rifle. He died at age 43 at the National Naval Medical Center of wounds suffered on June 28 in Malikheyl, Afghanistan, when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He is the son of the late Clarence Estell Turner and Gloria White Turner. He leaves his wife, Staff Sgt. Leah Ann Shumaker Turner, daughter, Lyda Marie and a brother, Master Sgt. Johnny Ray Turner.
Army
1st Battalion
506th Infantry Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Burial is at Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Nicholasville, Kentucky - Sec S Site 518

Born: October 2, 2024
Died: September 30, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Timothy M. Jackson of Corbin, Kentucky is best known as Matthew or Matt. He is a 2007 graduate of Corbin High School. Matt held on to his desire to serve in the military all through high school and could hardly wait to graduate so he could fulfill that dream. He served a deployment in Iraq, and was three months into his tour in Afghanistan. He leaves his wife Nichole, his father and stepmother, Tim Jackson and Lorrie Johnson, his mother Jody Tonkin and her special friend Billy Bowers, four brothers, Barry, Wayne, Dustin and Jerricho. He died at age 22 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marines
2nd Battalion
9th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Wells Cemetery in Keavy

To be updated…

Born: July 1, 2024 in Hardin County, Kentucky
Died: September 18, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

1st Lt. Eric D Yates of Rineyville, Kentucky is a 2003 graduate of John Hardin High School. He also graduated in 2008 from Western Kentucky University, where he participated in the Reserve Officers Training Corps program. After receiving his B.A. degree, with a double major in social studies and history, he received his officer commission. He joined the United States Army in December of 2008, arriving at Fort Campbell in October 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 Action Badge. He leaves his father, Mr. David L. Yates and mother Kathy Yates, and a brother, Nathan Yates. He died at age 26 in the Zhari district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his 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 Saint John Cemetery in Rineyville, Kentucky

To be updated…

Born: August 24, 2024 in Flora, Illinois
Died: August 31, 2024 in Mosul, Iraq

Spc. Jason E. Ames of Cerulean, Kentucky is a 2003 graduate of Trigg County High School in Cadiz, Kentucky. He joined the United States Army in June 2003 where he served as an infantryman. He deployed to Iraq in October of 2004. Jason was a good person with a great heart. He served his country with honor and distinction and was buried with full military honors. His Awards and Decorations include, the Army Accommodation Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. Jason is the son of Irl Wayne and Susan Arlene Yingst Ames. He also leaves his wife, Trisha Ames, his son, Cody, a brother Carlton and a sister, Krystal. Jason died at age 21 of non-combat-related injuries in Mosul, Iraq a week before his birthday and a few weeks shy of his return home.
Army
3rd Battalion
21st Infantry Regiment
1st Brigade
25th Infantry Division
Fort Lewis, Washington

Burial is at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville, Kentucky - Sec 16 Site 323

Born: January 31, 2024
Died: August 19, 2024 in Pech, Afghanistan

Spc. Christopher S. Wright of Tollesboro, Kentucky is a 2005 graduate of Lewis County High School. He enlisted in the United States Army in June of 2005 and completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning as an infantryman. Upon graduating from the Basic Airborne Course, he served as a rifleman assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, Fort Lewis, Wash., and later was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 2nd Armor Calvary Regiment, Vilseck, Germany. In 2009, Chris was assigned to the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program at Fort Benning, Ga. Following graduation from the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program, he was assigned to Company C in June 2009 where he served as a rifleman and a squad automatic weapons gunner. His military education included the Basic Airborne Course, the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program, and the Sniper Course. His Awards and Decorations include, the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with combat start, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Purple Heart. He leaves his father and stepmother, James Cochran and Michele Cochran, and his mother, Linda Dennis, three brothers, Zachary Pope, Zane Pope and Andrew Dennis, and his sister, Mary Ann Dennis. He died at age 23 in Pech, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.
Army
1st Battalion
75th Ranger Regiment
Hunter Army Air Field, Georgia

Burial is at East Fork Cemetery in Vanceburg, Kentucky

To be updated…