Day 139 Memorial Day - Remembering the Fallen: Part I

May 25
Day 139

Today, Memorial Day, I was scrambling for a way to honor the fallen. I wanted to know those in PA who have lost their lives in the Operation Iraqi Freedom. Google led me to icauslities.org . Here you will find the fatalities listed by state. Pennsylvania has many.

As I looked at the impersonal chart I decided to list the names and in the meantime do what I could to make it more personal. As I retyped names it helped me to rest on the person, see when they died, where they died, how old they were, what their branch of military was and what particular division they were part of. It made me stop and wonder if they had a wife or husband, did they have children, what were there family members doing when news reached them of their death.  I wondered about their thoughts when they realized death was at their door. Who of their comrades witnessed their death and still have nightmares? These thoughts and questions came too fast to collect.

This simple act of rewriting their names (hoping it was correct!) brought me to their door, allowed me to feel their living and dying breaths. Each individual has their story and this simple act of rewriting their names has made me want to know them all of their stories.

~Captain Wesley J. Hinkley, with the U.S. Army, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, age 36, died April 4, 2011, non-hostile in Baghdad-he was from Carlisle, PA.

~Specialist Ross E. III Vogel, with the U.S. Army, 67th Signal Battalion, 35th Signal Brigade, age 27, died on September 29, 2009, non-hostile in Kut-he was from Red Lion, PA

~Lance Corporal Robert D. Ulmer, with the U.S. Marines, 1st BN, 8th Marine Reg, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, age 22, died on June 5, 2009, non-hostile in Al Anbar Province-he was from Landisville, PA

~Specialist Chad A. Edmundson, with the U.S. Army, 2nd BN, 112th Infantry, 56th Stryker Brigade, age 20, died on May 27 2009, hostile fire IED attack in the eastern part of Baghdadwit- he was from Williamsburg, PA.

~Staff Sergeant Mark C. Baum, with the U.S. Army National Guard, 1st BN, 111th Infantry Reg, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, age 32, died on February, 21, 2009, Hostile small arms fire in Mushada and died in Baghdad-he was from Telford, PA.

~Private 1st Class Christopher W. Lotter, with U.S. Army, 3rd BN, 7th Field Artillery Reg, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, age 20, died on December 31, 2008, hostile small arms fire in Tikrit and died in Balad- he was from Chester Heights, PA

~Staff Sergeant Brian P. Hause, with U.S. Army, 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, age 29, died on October 23, 2008, non-hostile medical in Balad Air Base- he was from Stoystown, PA

~Lieutenant Colonel Ralph J. Marino, with U.S. Army, U.S. Army Central Command, age 46, died on September 14, 2008, non-hostile illness in Camp Beuhring- he was from Houston, PA 

~Lance Corporal Travis M. Stottlemver, with U.S. Marine, 3rd Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Company, Marine Corps Security Forces, age 20, died on August 17, 2008, non-hostile in Manama-he was from Hatfield, PA

~Aviation Boatswain Mate 3rd Class Daniel R. Verbeke, with U.S. Navy, age 25, died on July 14, 2008, non-hostile accident on flight deck in Paoli, Pa- he was from Exton,

~Private 1st Class James M. Yohn, with U.S. Army, 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, age 25, died on June 25, 2008, hostile fire IED attack in Mosul-he was from Highspire, PA

~Private 1st Class Joshua E. Waltenbaugh, with U.S.Army, 4th Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, age 19, died June 3, 2008, non-hostile in Taji- he was from Ford City, PA

~Specialist Jason C. Kazarick, with U.S. Army, 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, age 30, died on April 7, 2008, hostile fire RPG attack- he was from Oakmont, PA 

~Sergeant 1st Class Shawn M. Suzch, with U.S. Army, 1st BN, 64th Armor Reg, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, age 32, died on March 10, 2008, hostile fire suicide bomber- he was from Hilltown, PA 

~Captain Nathan R. Raudenbush, with U.S. Army, 3rd BN, 7th Infantry Reg, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, age 25, died on February 2, 2008, hostile fire IED attack in Busayefi- he was from Royersford, PA 

~Specialist Luke S. Runyan, with U.S. Army, 2nd BN 23rd Infantry Reg, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, age 21, died on February 17, 2008, hostile small arms fire in Diyala Province-he was from Spring Grove, PA

~Sergeant Timothy R. Van Orman, with U.S. Army, 2nd BN, 22nd Infantry Reg, 1st Brigade Combat Team, (Light Infantry) 10th Mountain Division, age 24, died on February 5, 2008, hostile fire IED attack in Mugdadivah died in Balad-he was from Port Matilda, PA

~Chief Petty Officer Michael E. Koch, with U.S. Navy, Navy Seal, age 29, died on February 4, 2008, hostile fire small arms-it is not reported yet where- he was from State College, PA

~Staff Sergeant Ryan D. Maseth, with U.S. Army, Ist Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), age 24, died on January 2, 2008, non-hostile negligent homicide electrocution in Baghdad- he was from Pittsburgh, PA

~Staff Sergeant David A. Wieger, with U.S. Air Force, Air Force Office of Special Investigations - Detachment 303, age 28, died on October 1, 2007, hostile fire IED attack in Balad near Balad Air Base- he was from North Huntingdon, PA

~Private 1st Class Adam J. Chitjian,  with U.S. Army, 3rd BN, 8th Cavalry Reg, 34d Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavlary Division, age 39, died on October 24, 2007, hostile small arms fire in Balad-he was from Philadelphia, PA

~Sergeant 1st Class David A. Cooper Jr., with U.S. Army, 2nd BN, 23rd Infantry Reg, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, age 36, died on September 5, 2007, non-hostile weapon discharge in Baghdad-he was from State College, PA

~Captain Erick M. Foster, with U.S. Army, 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Reg, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, age 29, died on July 29, 2007, hostile fire IED attack in Mugdadivah and died in Balad-he was from Wexford, PA

~Sergeant 1st Class Michael J. Tully, with U.S. Army, 2nd BN, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), age 33, died on August 23, 2007, hostile fire IED attack in Baghdad-he was from Falls Creek, PA

~Specialist Michael A. Hook, with U.S. Army,  2nd BN, 35th Infantry Reg, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, age 25, died on August 22, 2007, non-hostile helicopter crash in Multaka-he was from Altoona, PA

~Specialist Camy Florexil, with U.S. Army, 1st BN, 28th Infantry Reg, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, age 20, died on July 24, 2007, hostile fire IED attack in Baghdad-from Philadelphia, PA

~Specialist Zachary Clouser, with U.S. Army, 1st BN, 26th Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, age 19, died on July 18, 2007, hostile fire IED and small arms fire in Adhamiyah-he was from Dover, PA

~Sergeant 1st Class Raymond R. Buchan, U.S. Army, 1st BN, 18th Infantry Reg, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, age 33, died on July 1, 2007, hostile fire small arms in Ta'meem- he was from Johnston, PA

~Private 1st Class Larry, Parks Jr., with U.S. Army, 1st BN, 30th Infantry Reg, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, age 24, died on June 18, 2007, hostile fire IED attack in Al Jabor-he was from Altoona, PA

~Private 1st Class Robert H. Dembowski, with U.S. Army, 1st Bn, 504th Parachute Infantry Reg, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, age 20, died on May 24th, 2007, hostile fire small arms in the western part of Baghdad- he was from Ivyland, PA

~Sergeant Allen J. Dunckley, with U.S. Army, 1st BN, 15th Infantry Reg, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, age 25, died on May 14, 2007, hostile fire IED and small arms fire in Salman Pak-he was from Yardley, PA

~1st Lieutenant Colby J. Umbrell, with U.S. Army, 1st BN, 501st Parachute Infantry Reg, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, age 26, died on May 3, 2007, hostile fire IED attack in Musayyib- he was from Doylestown, PA

~1st Lieutenant Travis L. Manion, with U.S. Marine, 1st Reconnaissance BN, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, age 26, died on April 29, 2007, hostile fire in Fallujah- he was from Doylestown, PA

~Specialist Jeremy E. Maresh, with U.S. National Guard, C Battery, 1st Battalion, 213th Air Defense Artillery, age 24, died on April 24, 2007, non hostile suicide in Baghdad- he was from Penn Forest Township

~Staff Sergean Steven R. Tudor, with U.S. Army, 210th Brigade Support BN, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, age 36, died on April 21, 2007, hostile fire indirect fire in the eastern part of Baghdad- he was from Dunmore, PA

~Private 1st Class Aaron M. Genevie, with U.S. Army,  1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Reg, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, age 22, died on April 16, 2007, hostile fire IED attack in the southern part of Baghdad-he was from Chambersburg, PA

~Specialist Jason A. Shaffer, with U.S. Army, 1st BN, 12th Calvary Reg, 3rd Brigade, 1st Calvary Division, age 28, died on April 5, 2007, hostile fire IED attack in Ba'qubah- he was from Derry, PA

~Sergeant Curtis J. Forshey, with U.S. Army, 129th Combat Sustainment Support BN, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne, age 22, died on March 27, 2007, non hostile illness in Homburg- he was from Hollisdaysburg, PA

~Master Sergeant Sean Michael Thomas, with U.S. Army National Guard, 28th Division Support Command, age 33, died on March 27, 2007, hostile fire rocket attack in the Green Zone in Baghdad-he was from Harrisburg, Pa

~Private 1st Class Orlando E. Ganzalez, with U.S. Army,  5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Reg, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, age 21, died on March 25, 2007, hostile small fire and IED in Ba'qubah- he was from New Freedom, PA

~Lance Corporal Dennis J. Veater, with U.S. Marine Reserve, Marine Wing Support Squadron 472, Marine Wing Support Group 47, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, age 20, died on March 9, 2007, hostile fire in Al Anbar Province and died in Balad- he was from Jessup, PA

~Sergeant Ashly L. Moyer, with U.S. Army, 630th Military Police Company, age 21, died on March 3, 2007, hostile fire IED attack in Baghdad- she was from Emmaus, PA

~Private Wesley J. Williams, U.S. Army, 163rd Military Intelligence BN, 504th Military Intelligence Brigade, age 23, died on March 2, 2007, non hostile injury in Baghdad- he was from Philadelphia, PA

This concludes part I. Part II will come. When? When it comes.