Born: April 10, 2024
Died: May 10, 2024 in Khost, Afghanistan
1st Lt. Demetrius M. Frison of Lancaster, Pennsylvania began his military service in April of 2009 arriving at Fort Knox in October 2010. His awards and decorations include, the Parachutist Badge, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. He was posthumously awarded the NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. He died at age 26 in Khost province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.
Army
1st Battalion
26th Infantry Regiment
3rd Brigade Combat Team
1st Infantry Division
Fort Knox, Kentucky
Burial is at Washington Crossing National Cemetery in Newtown, Pennsylvania - Sec 6 Site 2825
To be updated…
Master Sgt Benjamin F. Bitner, 37, of Greencastle, Pa., died April 23 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C. Ben graduated from Greencastle-Antrim High School in 1991. He was serving his sixth tour of duty. He had also been a member of the Rescue Hose Company in Greencastle. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1991 and attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection in 1999. Later that year he graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course as an engineer sergeant. He joined Company C, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), headquartered at Fort Bragg, N.C., in 2003. He deployed in support of various operations across the globe, including but not limited to: Operation Flintlock, Africa, 2001; Operation Nectar Bend, Africa, 2004; Task Force Falcon in support of operations in Kosovo, 2001–2002; Operation Desert Spring, Kuwait, 2002; Operation Iraqi Freedom and four deployments to Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom) with Company C. His military education includes: Track Vehicle Repairers Course, Single Channel Ground Airborne Radio Systems Operator Course, Basic Infantry Course, Basic Airborne Course, Long Range Surveillance Leader’s Course, Warriors Leader Course, Special Forces Engineer Sergeant’s Course, Basic Non-commissioned Officer’s Course, Advanced Non-commissioned Officer’s Course, Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape Course, Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course, Special Forces Sniper Course, Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance Target Analysis and Exploitation Technique’s Course, Special Forces Master Breacher’s Course, Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant’s Course, Military Free-Fall Course, both Summer and Winter Basic Mountain Warfare Courses and the United States Army Special Operations Command Mountaineering Master Trainer’s Course. Bitner’s military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (6); Purple Heart; Meritorious Service Medal (2); Army Commendation Medal (3) with “V” device; Army Achievement Medal (3); Army Good Conduct Medal (4); Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (3); National Defense Service Medal (2); Kosovo Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three campaign stars; Iraq Campaign Medal with one campaign star; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terror Service Medal; Non-commissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon (3); Army Service Ribbon; NATO Medal (4); Special Forces Tab; Combat Infantryman’s Badge; Parachutists Badge; Military Free-Fall Badge; Bandenkampfabzeichen Badge and Ram’s Head Device.
To be updated…
Pfc. John F. Kihm, 19, of Philadelphia, Pa., died April 19 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. He joined the Army in March of 2010. After completing training at Fort Benning, Georgia he arrived at Fort Drum in August 2010. Pfc Kihm deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in March of 2011. His awards and decorations include the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
To be updated…
Born: February 19, 2024
Died: April 4, 2024 in Baghdad, Iraq
Maj. Wesley J. Hinkley of Carlisle, Pennsylvania graduated in 1993 from Boiling Springs High School before joining the United States Army. Upon his discharge he attended Shippensburg University where he actively participated in the Reserve Officers Training Corps. Upon graduation in 2001 he reenlisted as an Officer. He died at age 36 in Baghdad, Iraq, as a result of a non-combat related incident. He leaves his wife, Melissa, a son, and his mother, among others.
Army
3rd Special Troops Battalion
3rd Sustainment Brigade
Fort Stewart, Georgia
Burial is at Houston National Cemetery in Houston, Texas - Sec C-12 Row D Site 114
To be updated…
Born: October 29, 2024
Died: February 21, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan
Sgt. Robert C. Sisson Jr of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania joined the United States Army in September of 2004 and deployed to Afghanistan in July of 2010. He had also served in Iraq from March 2008 through March 2009. His awards and decorations include, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Valorous Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal - w/ Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantry Badge. He died at age 29 in Kandahar district, Afghanistan, in a non-combat related incident.
Army
1st Battalion
22nd Infantry Regiment
1st Brigade Combat Team
4th Infantry Division
Fort Carson, Colorado
Burial is at National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania - Sec 1 Site 122
To be updated…
Born: November 6, 2024 in Millington, Tennessee
Died: January 12, 2024 in Ghazni, Afghanistan
Cpl. Jarrid L. King of Erie, Pa., died at age 20 in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. Jarrid joined the United States Army in March of 2009 and after completing training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, came to Fort Drum, N.Y., in August of 2009. His awards and decorations include, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Badge, the Good Conduct Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the NATO Medal. He leaves his parents, Donald L. and Laura Elizabeth Weaver King, and two brothers, Jason and Johnathon King, among others.
Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery in Erie, Pennsylvania
To be updated…
Born: March 18, 2024 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Died: December 18, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan
Cpl. Eric M. Torbert Jr of Lancaster, Pennsylvania graduated in 2003 from Penn Manor High School. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on September 5, 2024 and was serving his first combat deployment. His awards include, the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. He died at age 25 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He leaves his parents, Eric M. Sr. and Denise M. Groff Torbert, his wife, Marcelle, and two siblings, Lynn and Dennis Torbert.
Marines
1st Combat Engineer Battalion
1st Marine Division
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, California
Burial is at Conestoga Methodist Cemetery in Conestoga, Pennsylvania
To be updated…
Born: May 16, 2024
Died: December 15, 2024 in Helmand, Afghanistan
Staff Sgt. Justin E. Schmalstieg, 28, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a graduate of Peabody High School where he was a standout runner on the cross country team. Justin enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on February 12, 2024 and was currently serving his third combat deployment, having previously deployed to Iraq in 2006 and 2009. He loved his job in the Marine Corps. His awards and decorations include, the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, NATO Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. He died at age 28 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He leaves his wife, Ann, his parents, John M. and Deborah L. Gilkey, and a brother, John M. Gilkey Jr.
Marines
1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company
7th Engineer Support Battalion
1st Marine Logistics Group
I Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Pendleton, California
Burial is at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
To be updated..
Born: August 6, 2024 in York, Pennsylvania
Died: July 18, 2024 in Adhamiyah, Iraq
Spc. Zachary R Clouser of Dover, Pennsylvania graduated from Dover Area High School in 2005 and enlisted in the Army the following September. The hesitant ninth grader wasn’t very excited about high school. But with the steady encouragement of his mother he gradually found himself and began setting and meeting goals. He wanted to graduate from high school and did. He returned to the school during the 2007 Easter holiday and visited some of his former teachers and the students. He grew up playing football, basketball and baseball as well as bowling and precision archery. The avid outdoorsman enjoyed hunting and fishing too. He was also a member of several local car clubs. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, National, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 2. He was Posthumously awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. Zach deployed August 6, 2024 to Iraq and participated in numerous combat patrols in Northeast Baghdad and Adhamiyah in support of Operation Together Forward II and the Baghdad Security Plan where he served as both his platoon Sergeant’s M1151 Up-Armor HMMWV Machine Gunner and M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle Gunner. He was a integral part of 1st Platoon “Death Dealers”. Zachary was always dedicated to mission accomplishment and displayed unwavering courage and commitment to his fellow Soldiers, Leaders, and the United States Army. He leaves his father and stepmother, Kevin Clouser and Ginger Asper-Clouser, his mother and stepfather, Debra Etheridge and Ronald Etheridge, his siblings, Megan Williams, Ronald Etheridge Jr, Matthew Asper, Shaleana Etheridge, Sean Etheridge and Zachary Asper. He died at age 19 in Adhamiyah, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle was attacked by enemy forces using an improvised explosive device and small-arms fire. Also killed were Sgt. 1st Class Luis E. Gutierrez-Rosales, Spc. Richard Gilmore III and Spc. Daniel E. Gomez. Zach had been serving in Iraq nearly 13 months.
Army
1st Battalion
26th Infantry
2nd Brigade Combat Team
1st Infantry Division
Schweinfurt, Germany
Burial information is unknown at this time.
Born: February 12, 2024
Died: November 22, 2024 in Kandahar, Afghanistan
Staff Sgt. Sean M. Flannery of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania is a 1999 graduate of Wyomissing High School and Shippensburg University, majoring in business. While at Shippensurg, he played lacrosse. He enlisted in the United States Army in 2004. Sean was serving his fourth tour of duty, having previously served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. His Awards and Decorations include, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge. He is the son of Charlene V. Flannery and the late Michael F Flannery. In addition to his mother, he also leaves his fiancée, Christina E. Martin, two brothers, Sgt. Brian P. Flannery, and Devin J. Flannery. He died at age 29 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
Army
2nd Battalion
502nd Infantry Regiment
2nd Brigade Combat Team
101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
To be updated…