Freedom Remembered

Born: July 8, 2024
Died: July 18, 2024 in Manana, Bahrain

Petty Officer 1st Class Stacy O. Johnson of San Diego, California, formerly of Hollandale, Mississippi. He attended Central Texas College. Known as ‘The Bone’, he was a member of New Breed Black Sabbath Motorcycle Club of San Diego. He died while serving active Navy duty, as a result of a motorcycle accident in Bahrain.

Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Rolling Fork, Mississippi

Born: January 5, 2024 in St. Joseph, Michigan
Died: June 4, 2024 in Laghman, Afghanistan

Sgt. Christopher R. Bell, 21, of Golden, Mississippi graduated from Tremont High School. In 2008 in joined the United States Army and served at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri before arriving in Alaska in January of 2009. His awards include, the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart and Good Conduct Medal, NATO Medal, and Combat Action Badge, posthumously. He was also awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat and Special Skill Badge Basic Markmanship Qualification Badge and Overseas Service Bar. He died at age 21 of wounds suffered in Laghman province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He leaves his wife, Samantha, a daughter Lana, his parents Timothy and Barbara Bell, and two brothers Zachary and Timothy Joseph Bell.
Army
793rd Military Police Battalion
3rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska

Burial is at Living Faith Tabernacle Cemetery Columbus, Mississippi

To be updated…

Born: October 28, 2024
Died: May 16, 2024 in Zabul, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. David D. Self, 29, of Pearl, Miss., died May 16, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit using an improvised explosive device in Zabul province, Afghanistan. He leaves his father, and stepmother, Eddie F. Self and Kathleen Self, his mother, Linda Rhodes, a sister, Kimela Shull, two stepsisters, Lorene Thomas and Sherry Wilmouth.
Army
Fires Squadron
2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment
Vilseck, Germany

To be updated…

Born: April 9, 2024 in Jackson, Mississippi
Died: April 7, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Jason A. Rogers of Brandon, Mississippi graduated in 2000 from Brandon High School. He joined the United States Marine Corps in March of 2003 and served three tours of duty in Iraq before deploying to Afghanistan in February of 2011. He leaves his wife, Angela Rita Marie Rogers, his mother and stepfather, Jennifer Cunningham Smith and William Edward Smith, his father and stepmother, Tracy Aaron Rogers and Liz M. Rogers, his brothers, Brad Wesley Bynum, Michael Brandon Smith, and Jordan Rogers, his sisters, Leigh Ellen Smith Barnes, and Michelle Lynn Smith Bennett. He died at age 28 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He leaves his wife, Angela Rita Marie Rogers, his parents, Jennifer Cunningham Smith and William Edward Smith, and Tracy Aaron Rogers and Liz M. Rogers, his brothers, Brad Wesley Bynum, Michael Brandon Smith, and Jordan Rogers, and his sisters, Leigh Ellen Smith Barnes, and Michelle Lynn Smith Bennett,
Marines
2nd Combat Engineer Battalion
2nd Marine Division
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Burial is at New Brandon Cemetery in Brandon, Mississippi

To be updated…

Born: January 1, 2024
Died: January 18, 2024 in the Gulf of Oman

Petty Officer Dominique M. Cruz, 26, of Panama City, Florida, formerly of Cleveland, Mississippi is a 2003 Cleveland High School. ‘Nique’ loved to dance and a couple of her favorite music artists were Alicia Keys and Lil Wayne. She enlisted in the United States Navy in June of 2006, and was assigned to the Halsey the following December. Her job title on the ship was operations specialist, which means she worked in the destroyer’s combat information center, an operation that provides an electronic picture of the area for the ship. The Halsey departed for a regular deployment in September 2010. On January 18, Dominique did not report for watch duty at her duty station. An unsuccessful search of the ship to locate her. The following day, she was found during search and rescue operations in the Gulf of Oman. Cruz was assigned as an Operations Specialist to the USS Halsey homeported in San Diego, Calif. The Halsey is currently deployed to the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations. She leaves her parents, James and Ruth Stewart, seven brothers and five sisters.

Burial is at Sweet Pilgrim United Methodist Church Cemetery in Shubuta, Mississippi

Born: March 29, 2024 in Maryland
Died: November 25, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

1st Lt. William J. Donnelly IV of Picayune, Mississippi is a graduate of Picayune Memorial High School. Will enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 2003. He transferred to the Navy Reserve as a midshipman to attend the United States Merchant Marine Academy where he served as regimental commander over the regiment of midshipmen his senior year. On June 16, 2024 he accepted his commission into the United States Marine Corps graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in marine engineering. He deployed to Afghanistan in late September of 2010. His awards include, the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal. He leaves his wife, Linsey, his parents, Mr. William Donnelly III and Mrs. Vicki Donnelly, two sisters, Lt. j.g. Melissa Weed and Rebecca Donnelly. He died at age 27 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 Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia - Sec 60 Site 9502

To be updated…

Born: August 9, 2024
Died: October 14, 2024 in Akatzai Kalay, Afghanistan

Sgt. Eric C. Newman of Waynesboro, Mississippi attended Wayne County High School where he participated in the Reserve Officer’s Training Corp. Eric was a respectful who had a positive attitude with a big heart. Prior to joining the military he worked for the police department. He joined the Army in 2006 and arrived at the 525th in February of 2007. He was assigned to Headquarters Company as an assistant operations sergeant. He deployed to Iraq with the unit and, upon his return, was one of the first soldiers assigned to 1st Squadron, 38th Cavalry Regiment in January of 2009. His Awards and Decorations include, the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Parachute Badge. Eric was selected to serve in the Squadron Tactical Command Post because of his professionalism. He leaves his wife, Charidy, who he married on April 1, 2009, his stepdaughter, Larissa Leigh, his mother, Dianne and a sister, Kim. His father died when Eric was a young child. Eric died at age 30 in Akatzai Kalay, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.
Army
1st Squadron
38th Cavalry Regiment
525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade
XVIII Airborne Corps
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Burial is at Hebron Cemetery in Wayneboro, Mississippi

To be updated…

Born: August 18, 2024
Died: September 24, 2024 in Afghanistan

Pfc. William B. Dawson of Tunica, Mississippi is known best by his middle name, Brandon. He graduated in 2009 from Rosa Fort High School where he played on the football team and was an honors student. His inspiration to enlist in the military came from the service of several of his family members who had served. This includes both of his parents, his grandfather and a brother. He joined in September of 2009. Because of his interest in law enforcement, Brandon rode along side the Tunica Sheriff at funerals, parades and other ceremonial events whenever he could. He also had ideas of someday becoming a state legislator. Brandon was respectful of his peers and his superiors alike and was liked by everyone who met him. He leaves his mother, Quita Weeden-Dawson, his father Rev Willie Dawson and three brothers. He died at age 20 of wounds suffered while traveling between Ghanzi and Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, when his military vehicle was attacked with an improvised explosive device.
Army
17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
3rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
Fort Richardson, Alaska

New Zion Cemetery

To be updated…

Born: October 27, 2024
Died: September 20, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Pfc. Joshua S. Ose of Hernando, Mississippi is a 2009 graduate of Hernando High School. His commitment and determination to be a part of the Marine Corp led him to enlist during his senior year. He left for training soon after graduation. He first began seriously thinking about the military in junior high school. Josh was from a family that had service members from both sides and a grandfather that served in the Civil war. He is the son of Ross and Sissy Ose. He died at age 19 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Marines
1st Battalion
8th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Burial is at Hernando Memorial Park in Hernando, Mississippi

To be updated…

Born: April 7, 2024 in Meridian, Mississippi
Died: March 21, 2024 in Taqqadum, Iraq

Cpl. Dustin J. Lee of Quitman, Mississippi was a 2004 graduate of Quitman High School where he was a member of the chorus from seventh through twelfth grades. Dustin led a Christian life and was always fair and looked for the good in people. He had an ability to see people for who they were and not judge them. The son of Jerome and Rachel Lee was good at everything he did from riding his motorcycle to playing baseball. Coming from a family of servicemen Dustin joined the Marine Corps just after high school and chose to be a K-9 handler. His grandfather had served with the 186th Air National Guard and his father is Mississippi Highway Patrol Trooper Jerome Lee who served in the Army Guard, and another uncle is with the Meridian Police Department. He had planned to follow in his father’s footsteps in law enforcement after leaving the Corps. During his military career he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Armed Forces Service Medal. In December 2007 the family of Dustin adopted his canine partner, Lex, who had been severely wounded in the same attack. It would be years of recovery for Lex who although injured with shrapnel, laid himself over Dustin after the attack. Lex was left unable to walk on his own until Stem cells were injected into Lex’s hips, knees and bloodstream. After a round of therapy, Lex has already starting to walk again. The canine earned a Purple Heart for his injuries. Lex still wears Dustin’s dog tags. Dustin died at age 21 from wounds received while conducting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq. In March of 2010, the K-9 kennel facility at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Georgia was dedicated in honor of Cpl. Dustin J. Lee.
Marines
314th “G” Battery
4th Platoon
Headquarters Battalion
Marine Corps Logistics
Albany, Georgia

Burial is at Stonewall Cemetery in Stonewall, Mississippi