Freedom Remembered

Born: September 3, 2024
Died: October 22, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

1st. Lt. Ashley I. White, 24, of Alliance, Ohio, assigned to 230th Brigade Support Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, North Carolina National Guard, Goldsboro, N.C., died Oct. 22, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked the unit with an improvised explosive device. Also killed were Sgt. 1st Class Kristoffer B. Domeij, 29, of San Diego and Pfc. Christopher A. Horns, 20, of Colorado Springs. Ashley graduated in 2005 from Marlington High School. She was commissioned as an officer after graduating Kent State University in 2009 and trained at Fort Sam Houston, Texas and Fort Benning, Ga. before being assigned to the 230th Brigade Support Battalion, where she served as an evacuation platoon leader. She deployed in August to serve her first tour in Afghanistan. Her military education includes the Medical Service Corps Officer Basic Course and the U.S. Army Airborne Course. Her awards and decorations include, the Parachutist Badge, the Ohio Faithful Service Ribbon, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Army Reserve Achievement Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. She was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Combat Action Badge.

St. Joseph Catholic Church

To be updated…

Born: July 22, 2024 in Coshocton, Ohio
Died: October 19, 2024 in Paktika, Afghanistan

Chief Petty Officer Raymond J. Border, 31, of West Lafayette, Ohio, died Oct. 19 while assessing a route in Paktika province, Afghanistan. Border, a Navy Seabee, was assigned to a provincial reconstruction team in Paktika province, Afghanistan. His home unit was Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 74 in Gulfport, Miss. Ray attended Ridgewood High School and has served as a Seabee since 1999. Among his awards are, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, which he received three times, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, medals for expertise with a rifle and pistol, and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

Burial is at Plainfield Cemetery in Plainfield, Ohio

To be updated…

Born: May 26, 2024
Died: October 13, 2024 in Kunar, Afghanistan

Staff Sgt. Robert B. Cowdrey, 39, of Atwater, Ohio, died Oct. 13 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, from injuries suffered during combat operations. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. Brian graduated in 1990 from La Junta High School and joined the Army in June 2003. He was currently serving his fourth deployment. He first served in Iraq from July 2004 to July 2005, before deploying three times to Afghanistan; from January 2007 to February 2008, from April 2009 to March 2010, and the last tour began in August 2011. His awards include, the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medals for valor, Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. Sgt. Cowdrey was also awarded various humanitarian and service medals and ribbons during his time in the military.

Burial is at Fairview Cemetery in La Junta, Colorado

To be updated…

Born: April 11, 2024 in Coshocton, Ohio
Died: September 21, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Terry C. Wright, 21, of Scio, Ohio, died Sept. 21 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Rock Hill Cemetery

To be updated…

Born: April 30, 2024 in Canton, Ohio
Died: August 6, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Sgt. Daniel J. Patron of Canton, Ohio died at age 26 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Dan was serving his third tour of duty, having served deployments in Iraq in 2005 and 2009.

Burial is at Calvary Cemetery in Massillon, Ohio

To be updated…

Born: April 10, 2024
Died: July 31, 2024 in Herat, Afghanistan

Sgt. Dennis E. Kancler of Brecksville, Ohio is a 2003 graduate of Broadview Heights High School. He enlisted in the Marine Corps the following September. Dennis was currently deployed to Afghanistan. He previously served two combat tours in Iraq in 2005 and 2006 and is the recipient of the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat “V” and the Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat “V,” both earned for his service in Iraq. He died at age 26 while supporting combat operations in Herat province, Afghanistan.
In August 2011 the newly replaced Old Brooklyn Bridge in Brecksville was dedicated in honor of Sgt Dennis Kancler. The Sgt’s son, Jack Ryan Kancler, cut the ribbon at the Old Royalton Road bridge alongside his grandfather, Dennis A. Kancler, County Executive Ed FitzGerald, Mayor Jerry N. Hruby and others.
Marines
2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion
Marine Special Operations Regiment
Special Operations Command
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Burial is at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman, Ohio - Sec 12 Site 1761

To be updated…

Born: December 6, 2024 in Lima, Ohio
Died: June 25, 2024 at Fort Bragg, Fayetteville, North Carolina

SSgt. Jamal T. Clay of Elida, Ohio graduated in 2004 from Elida High School, where he participated in track, basketball and football. Jamal joined the United States Army in early 2004 and served as a wheeled-vehicle mechanic from 2005 to 2009. He then served as a recovery vehicle supervisor from 2010 to 2011. He was deployed to Iraq from August 10, 2024 to October 21, 2007, and again from December 5, 2008, to November 20, 2009, where he served as a wheeled-vehicle mechanic. During the second deployment, he was the noncommissioned officer responsible for vehicle maintenance at Forward Operating Base Hammer. His military training include, basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Prior to being assigned to the Loyalty Battalion, he attended Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia. His awards and decorations include, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (twice), Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with a campaign star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon and the Overseas Ribbon. He had also received the Parachutist Badge and the Drivers Mechanic Badge. He died at age 25 at Womack Army Medical Center in Fayetteville, North Carolina following a parachute malfunction during a routine training exercise. He leaves his wife, Jasmine Taylor, his mother, Georgetta Jennings, his father and stepmother, Henry M. Clay, Jr and Vivian Kaye, a daughter, Janye Clay, a stepson, Jamier Davis, five brothers, Demetrius Clay, Antonieo Clay, David Smith, Anthony Hutchins and Aaron Hutchins, and a sister, Rochelle Clay and maternal grandmother, Josephine Jennings. Jamal was a member of Philippian Missionary Baptist Church.
Army
Company G
1st Battalion
319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Brigade Combat Team
Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Burial is at Woodlawn Cemetery in Lima, Ohio

Born: May 25, 2024 in Periera, Colombia
Died: June20, 2011 in Kandahar, Afghanistan

Pfc. Gustavo A. Rios-Ordonez, 25, of Englewood, Ohio, died June 20 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan. He joined the Army in August 2010 as an infantry mortarman. This was his first deployment. He deployed to Afghanistan with 4-4 Cavalry in February 2011, and had been awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge.

Burial is at Mound Hill Cemetery in Eaton, Ohio - Sec 30 Lot 120 Site 4

To be updated…

Born: April 14, 2024
Died: June 12, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Joshua B. McDaniels of Dublin, Ohio died at age 21 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Joshua grew up in London, Ohio, Josh attended London High School where he wrestled and served as Captain on the 2007 football team. He joined the Marine Corps in in the fall of 2009 and deployed to Afghanistan in March 2011. His awards include, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Medal.

Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia - Sec 60 Site 9624

To be updated…

Born: June 6, 2024 in Lowell, Massachusetts
Died: June 6, 2024 in Baghdad, Iraq

Spc. Michael B. Cook Jr of Middletown, Ohio is a 2003 graduate of Salem High School in New Hampshire. He joined the United States Army in October of 2009 serving as a field artillery tactical data systems operator. His awards include, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Combat Action Badge, Army Service Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of specialist. Mike died on his 27th birthday in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire. Also killed were Army Pfc. Michael C. Olivieri of Chicago, Ill.; Spc Christopher B. Fishbeck of Victorville, Calif., and Emilio J. Campo Jr. of Madelia, MN. He leaves his wife, Samantha, two children, Hailee and Michael, his parents, Michael Sr. and Patti Cook, a brother Lucas, and a sister Kimberly.
Army
1st Battalion
7th Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team
1st Infantry Division
Fort Riley, Kansas

Burial is at Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam, Massachusetts - Sec 10 Row E Site 240

To be updated…