Born: May 10, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon
Died: March 13, 2024 in Iraq
Pfc Erin L. Mclyman of Federal Way, Washington graduated in 2001 from Sheldon High School in Eugene, Oregon where she was a member of the dance team. She had previously dropped out of school after a rocky freshman year, but had returned with a determination to turn her life around. Her main focus was to join the Air Force. She was named the school’s “Turnaround Achievement Award” student, an honor that recognizes select middle and high school students who work to overcome barriers to their personal success. Erin, with her bright red hair and blue eyes was easily noticed when she entered a room. Her personality and constant energy were a strong pull to others, loud and fun to be around. Her military career began when she first joined the United States Air Force before enlisting in the Oregon Army National Guard in late December of 2008. She deployed to Iraq in August of 2009 where she was serving as a mechanic. Her Awards and Decorations include the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and Air Force Training Ribbon. Erin married Brian Williams on December 15, 2007, in Douglas, Wyoming. Survivors include her husband, her mother, Flora Neustel; her father, Robert McLyman; two sisters, Nancy McLyman and Mischa McLyman; and a grandmother, Betty McDonald. She died March 13 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked her base with mortar fire.
Army
296th Brigade Support Battalion
3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team
2nd Infantry Division
Joint Base Lews-McChord, Washington
Burial is at West Lawn Memorial Park in Eugene, Oregon
Birth: February 3, 2024 – Portland, Oregon
Died: November 8, 2024 – Tikrit, Iraq
CWO2 Heffelfinger was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He died of injuries sustained when his OH-58D “Kiowa” helicopter crashed.
Burial: Sunset Memorial Park, Twin Falls, Idaho
Birth: March 10, 2024 - Vernonia, Oregon
Died: November 15, 2024 - Mosul, Iraq
WO1 Kesterson was assigned to 9th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He died when a pair of Black Hawk helicopters collided in mid-air over a residential suburb. It appears that one of the aircraft was hit on the tail wing by a rocket-propelled grenade.
Burial: Restlawn Memory Gardens, Salem, Oregon
Born: 2004
Died: July 6, 2024 in Iraq
Yellow Labrador Retriever, Cooper was a specialized search dog trained to find firearms, ammunition and explosives. Kory and Cooper shared a special bond, spending most of their time together. Kory often referred to Cooper as his “son”. The two were featured in many news articles. They deployed to Iraq together in January. Their abilities to detect TNT, C-4, detonation cords, smokeless powder and mortars saved countless lives by taking explosives and other IED manufacturing materials off the streets of Iraq. Kory and Cooper died alongside each other while performing a search patrol in Muhammad Sath, Iraq, of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device. Cooper and Kory Wiens will always be together. Cpl. Wiens and Cooper were the military’s first dog team killed in action in either Iraq or Afghanistan. Their cremains were buried together. The last military canine team killed together was during the Vietnam War. As a member of an Army unit, Cooper was rendered proper military funeral honors.
Army
94th Mine Dog Detachment
5th Engineer Battalion
1st Engineer Brigade
Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
Burial is at Salt Creek Cemetery in Dallas, Oregon
Born: September 6, 2024 in Albany, Oregon
Died: July 6, 2024 in Iraq
Cpl. Kory D. Wiens of Independence, Oregon was a 2005 graduate of West Albany High School where he was a wrestler and quarterback of the football team. He was also a member of the Boy Scouts of America, Pack 38 in Independence, Ore. He was the middle son of three boys and an older sister. He was named after his grandfather who was a canine handler during the Korean War. As a hobby, Kory liked to customize his vehicles, spending lots of time with all the details. Kory was a good story teller and had a wonderful imagination. He enlisted into the Army to gain experience for pursuing a career in law enforcement. He attended canine school at the 341st Training Squadron, Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, where he met his partner and friend, a yellow Labrador Retriever named Cooper. Cooper was a specialized search dog trained to find firearms, ammunition and explosives. Kory and Cooper shared a special bond, spending most of their time together. Kory often referred to Cooper as his “son”. The two were featured in many news articles. They deployed to Iraq together in January. Their abilities to detect TNT, C-4, detonation cords, smokeless powder and mortars saved countless lives by taking explosives and other IED manufacturing materials off the streets of Iraq. Kory and Cooper died alongside each other while performing a search patrol in Muhammad Sath, Iraq, of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device at age 20. He and Cooper will always be together. Cpl. Wiens and Cooper were the military’s first dog team killed in action in either Iraq or Afghanistan. Their cremains were buried together. The last military canine team killed together was during the Vietnam War.
Army
94th Mine Dog Detachment
5th Engineer Battalion
1st Engineer Brigade
Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
Burial is at Salt Creek Cemetery in Dallas, Oregon
Born Feb. 3, 1980 in Roseburg, OR
Died Jan. 26, 2005 in Ar Rutbah, Iraq
James had profound feeling towards others. Growing up he was quite a handful, curious about the world around him. After he graduated from high school in 1999, he spent the next couple years working and exploring the outdoors, a passion he had from an early age. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in late 2001; inspired by his shock of witnessing the 9-11 terrorist attacks on America and wishing to make a difference. James family had a long history of military service. The military toughened him up on the outside, but on the inside, he remained a deeply caring man. When his grandfather died in 2003, James, dressed in his full Marine uniform, was the one who presented the flag that had draped the casket to his grandmother. His lips quivered over his family’s loss as he handed the flag to her. Stationed at Japan, Thailand, Kuwait and Hawaii over the next few years, he was called to serve in Iraq and left for there in September 2004, assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Hawaii. While deployed his family frequently send him care packages. He discovered a Marine in his unit was not receiving any letters or care packages from his family, so James asked his own family to take this other Marine under their caring wings and send him letters and care packages also. James remained tough, but sensitive to the needs of others. On January 26, 2005, James died in a helicopter crash, which also took the lives of 29 other Marines. His future plans included leaving the Marine Corps when his enlistment ended and beginning a career in law enforcement or a guide for fishing and hunting.
James was cremated. Some of his ashes were buried next to his grandfather’s grave in Roseburg National Cemetery and another part were scattered over one of his favorite mountains in Oregon.
Born: December 1985 in Cottage Grove, Oregon
Died: Jan. 3, 2010 in Afghanistan
Sgt. Joshua A. Lengstorf of Yoncalla, Oregon, was born in Oregon, but moved around the world with his family growing up. They lived in New Mexico, Montana, and the Philippines. In 1997 they returned to Oregon and Josh graduated from Elkton High School in 2004. Josh was active in many sports, was a huge football fan and was an enthusiastic outdoorsman. Through out his entire life Joshua was curious and eager to know “why.” How stuff worked, why things were a certain way. He was fascinated with the whys. In August of 2006 he enlisted in the Army to find some direction in his life and continued his searching for the whys. Eager for his first deployment overseas, he had all sorts of questions for anyone he came in contact with, about what it was going to be like. He deployed to Iraq the following year for 11 months. While there Josh witnessed what life was like for the Iraqi people. He told of how proud he was to making a difference in their lives, he knew why. A life change happened for Josh while he was stationed in Iraq. He reconnected with an old friend, Jesse, and when he returned to the states, they married. In August of 2008 he joined the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Collins and was deployed to Afghanistan in May of 2009. He came home in September to witness the birth of his daughter. She was named Kadence, after his love for football and a soldier chant. Josh was killed along with two other soldiers in his unit on January 3, 2010, in Ashoque, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked their unit with multiple improvised explosives devices and small arms fire. He was going to be home in four months. His awards received include: Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal w/ Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge.
Burial is at Drain-Yoncalla Masonic Cemetery in Yoncalla, Oregon.
Born: August 13, 2024 in Portland, Oregon
Died: July 25, 2024 in Baghdad, Iraq
Spc. Daniel A. Leckel of Medford, Oregon was a 2005 Glendale High School graduate where he served as manager of the school football and baseball teams and was a valuable asset for both teams. The sports fanatic introduced a whole new meaning to school spirit. Before graduating from Glendale and moving to Medford to pursue sports writing, he was that football fan who could coax a crowd to its feet with a funky version of the chicken dance. The fall after Daniel graduated from high school, he wanted to go back to Glendale High for the senior night game against the Riddle Irish. He had moved to Medford, where he was working and attending Rogue Community College and he didn’t have a way to get back to Glendale. But he had vowed to his friends, who hadn’t yet graduated, that he wouldn’t miss their game. He didn’t have a car so he began the long trek to Glendale. Instead of calling someone to drive down and pick him up, he decided to walk the 56 miles from Medford to Glendale. He set out the night before the game, spent three hours under a freeway overpass in Grants Pass to get out of a heavy rainstorm and get some sleep. By 8 o’clock the next morning, he arrived in Glendale, soaked from the continuing rain. He was offered rides all the way, but once he started walking he decided this was a promise he would fulfill for the school and his friends. He went on to study journalism at Rogue Community College in Grants Pass until 2006. But he left school to serve his country and make money to pay for his education. Daniel was fatally injured at age 19 from small arms fire in southern Baghdad.
Army
1st Battalion
28th Infantry Regiment
4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team
1st Infantry Division
Fort Riley, Kansas
Burial is at Glendale Memorial Cemetery in Glendale, Oregon
Born: January, 10, 1983
Died: December 5, 2024 in Nuristan, Afghanistan
Sgt Elijah J. Rao of Lake Oswego, Oregon grew up in Eagle Creek and is a 2001 graduate of West Linn High School and had a knack for computers. Before entering the military, Elijah was working at Lake Oswego Apartment complex. He left his job in 2003 to join the United States Army. His grandfather and uncles had served in the Air Force. Elijah would ultimately served two tours in Iraq, then deployed to Afghanistan in June of 2009. He was scheduled to come home on leave in January 2010 and then come home for good the following May. His plans after the Army was to move his family to the Pacific Northwest, and working a civilian job at Fort Lewis. Or possibly to Fort Carson in Colorado. His Awards and Decorations include the Army Commendation Medal (2), Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Driver Mechanic Badge and Marksmanship Qualification Badge Marksman - Rifle. Elijah died at age 26 in Nuristan, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He is survived by his wife, two sons and daughter. He is also survived by his father, Frank Rao, his mother, Sharon, and stepfather, Don Hauerken, a brother Gabriel, and a sister, Cicily.
Army
2nd Battalion
77th Field Artillery Regiment
4th Brigade Combat Team
4th Infantry Division
Fort Carson, Colorado
Burial is at Willamette National Cemetery in Happy Valley, Oregon - Sec EE4 Site 638
Born: November 11, 2024 in Hood River, Oregon
Died: May 16, 2024 in Tal Afar, Iraq
Sgt. Jacob M. Simpson of Ashland, Oregon was born on Veteran’s Day and raised in Hood River and Ashland. He began high school in Hood River, continued in Ashland, then earned his G.E.D. certificate before he joined the Army. He played football in Hood River and Ashland for the High School Football Teams. Jake spent his early years in Hood River, and the Nampa/Caldwell area of Idaho. He played baseball and swam on the local swim teams, and formed life long friends in doing so. Jake was extremely intelligent, an avid reader and chess player, he was so smart that the day to day lessons in high school were quickly absorbed and he would often skip class to spend time with friends at the quad at Southern Oregon University. He had a wonderful dry sense of humor, and a strong sense of right and wrong. He was also very loving and very protective of his family. In the Autumn of 2003, Jacob walked his sister Kimberly down the aisle for her wedding. Months later, he was the first family member to hold his other sister’s newborn daughter, Madison. Jake taught himself to play the guitar and bought a Les Paul model that he coveted after his first tour in Iraq. He looked forward to coming back to Oregon after his tour and attending college. At age 19, he joined the Army hoping to make a difference. After Boot Camp he spent 2 years stationed in Germany with the 1st Armored Cavalry, taking advantage to travel when he could. He loved Germany and the German people. While he was there, the attacks on the World Trade Center occurred and he re-enlisted. He deployed for his first tour in Iraq shortly after in March of 2003. He returned home in March of 2004, touching base with friends and family. He is survived by his mother, Roberta Simpson, father, Gregory Simpson, sister Kimberly, sister Rebecca, and niece Madison, brother Carey and his little sister Aimee Simpson, his grandmothers Donna Layman and Madelyn Simpson. Jacob was his second tour of duty in Iraq when he died at age 24 in Tal Afar when a rocket-propelled grenade struck the building he was securing.
Army
2nd Squadron
3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
Carson, Colorado
Burial is at Willamette National Cemetery in Happy Valley, Oregon - Sec X Site 2297
Born: May 10, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon