Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (May 31 in 2010) it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service

My mom passed away few years ago. I was going throw some stuff and found pictures and letters when she served in the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC).
Women in the WAAC were not given full military status. The women enrolled rather than enlisted and were punished for breaches of discipline by civil rather than military courts. Women in the WAAC were divided into officials (officers), forewomen (sergeant), assistant forewomen (corporals) and workers (privates). Between January 1917 and the Armistice over 57,000 women served in the WAAC.

Many Women wear the uniform of America Soldier and have also given much to the protection of America.

This Memorial Day like every Memorial Day I will remember my guys that I could not protect in Vietnam and my friends that also served and gave the hero sacrifice for their country.

But also this Memorial Day I will honor even more the Women that served their country.

I love you mom….

Military Women that die In Vietnam and others that also sacrificed for a reason they believed in.
US Army
2nd Lt. Carol Ann Elizabeth Drazba
2nd Lt. Elizabeth Ann Jones
Died in a helicopter crash near Saigon, February 18, 1966.
Capt. Eleanor Grace Alexander
1st Lt. Hedwig Diane Orlowski
Died in a plane crash returning to their duty stations at Qui Nhon from hospital duty in Pleiku, November 30, 1967.
2nd Lt. Pamela Dorothy Donovan
Lt. Donovan, from Allston, MA, became seriously ill and died on July 8, 1968. She was assigned to the 85th Evac. in Qui Nhon. She was 26 years old.
1st. Lt. Sharon Ann Lane
Died from shrapnel wounds suffered during a rocket attack on the 312th Evac. Hospital in Chu Lai, June 8, 1969.
Lt. Col. Annie Ruth Graham
Lt. Col. Graham, Chief Nurse, 91st Evacuation Hospital, 43rd Medical Group, 44th Medical Brigade, Tuy Hoa, from Efland, NC, suffered a stroke and was evacuated to Japan where she died four days later on August 14, 1968. A veteran of both World War II and Korea, she was 52.
US Air Force
Capt. Mary Therese Klinker
Capt. Klinker, a flight nurse with the 10th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, temporarily assigned to Clark Air Base in the Philippines, was on the C-5A Galaxy which crashed on April 4, 1975 outside Saigon while evacuating Vietnamese orphans. This is known as the Operation Babylift crash. From Lafayette, IN, she was 27. She was posthumously awarded the Airman's Medal for Heroism and the Meritorious Service Medal.

C I V I L I A N
American Red Cross
Hannah E. Crews
Died in a jeep accident, Bien Hoa, October 2,1969.
Virginia E. Kirsch
Murdered by US soldier in Cu Chi, August 16, 1970.
Lucinda J. Richter
Died of Guillain-Barre syndrome, Cam Ranh Bay, February 9, 1971.
Army Special Services
Rosalyn Muskat
Died in a jeep accident, Long Binh, October 26, 1968.
Dorothy Phillips
Died in a plane crash, Qui Nhon, 1967.
Catholic Relief Services
Gloria Redlin
Shot to death in Pleiku, l969.
Central Intelligence Agency
Barbara Robbins
Died when a bomb exploded in front of the American Embassy, Saigon, March 30, 1965.
Betty Gebhardt
Died in Saigon, 1971.
United States Agency for International Development
Marilyn L. Allen
Murdered by US soldier in Nha Trang, August 16, 1967.
Dr. Breen Ratterman
Died in a fall from a balcony in Saigon, October 2, 1969.
United States Department of the Navy OICC (Officer in Charge of Construction)
Regina "Reggie" Williams
Died of a heart attack in Saigon, 1964.
Journalists
Georgette "Dickey" Chapelle
Killed by a mine on patrol with Marines outside Chu Lai, November 4, 1965.
Philippa Schuyler
Killed in a helicopter crash into the ocean nearDa Nang, May 9, 1967.
Missionaries
Carolyn Griswald
Ruth Thompson
Ruth Wilting
All 3 killed in raid on leprosarium in Ban Me Thuot during Tet February 1, 1968.
Betty Ann Olsen
Captured during raid on leprosarium in Ban Me Thuot during Tet 68. Died in 1968 and was buried somewhere along Ho Chi Minh Trail by fellow POW, Michael Benge. Remains not recovered.
Eleanor Ardel Vietti
Captured at leprosarium in Ban Me Thuot, May 30, 1962. Still listed as POW.
Janie A. Makil
Shot to death in an ambush, Dalat, March 4, 1963. Janie was 5 months old.
Evelyn Anderson
Beatrice Kosin
Both captured and burned to death in Kengkok, Laos, 1972. Remains recovered and returned to US.
Operation Babylift
The following women were killed in the crash, outside Saigon, of the C5-A Galaxy transporting Vietnamese children out of the country on April 4, 1975. All of the women were working for various US government agencies in Saigon at the time of their deaths with the exception of Theresa Drye (a child) and Laurie Stark (a teacher). Sharon Wesley had previously worked for both the American Red Cross and Army Special Service. She chose to stay on in Vietnam after the pullout of US military forces in 1973.
Barbara Adams
Clara Bayot
Nova Bell
Arleta Bertwell
Helen Blackburn
Ann Bottorff
Celeste Brown
Vivienne Clark
Juanita Creel
Mary Ann Crouch
Dorothy Curtiss
Twila Donelson
Helen Drye
Theresa Drye
Mary Lyn Eichen
Elizabeth Fugino
Ruthanne Gasper
Beverly Herbert
Penelope Hindman Vera Hollibaugh
Dorothy Howard
Barbara Maier
Rebecca Martin
Sara Martini
Martha Middlebrook
Katherine Moore
Marta Moschkin
Marion Polgrean
June Poulton
Joan Pray
Sayonna Randall
Anne Reynolds
Marjorie Snow
Laurie Stark
Barbara Stout
Doris Jean Watkins
Sharon Wesley
________________________________________
59 civilians • 8 military • 67 total

Thank You Women of America and Your Tour of Duty to America

Good post!

Nice post Belly, and well-deserved recognition, nice work.

meh

DeyDurkie5 wrote: meh

Could you explain "meh" ?

isn't memorial not for another 6 days?

Wow, I guess there's a first time for everything!! Here goes...

Awesome post/thread Belly!!! While I'm here I might as well also say, Thank you for your service!

Well done, Belly, and thank you!

Well done Belly awesome post.

Bigred1995 wrote: Wow, I guess there's a first time for everything!! Here goes...

Awesome post/thread Belly!!! While I'm here I might as well also say, Thank you for your service!

Hey! Slimans for lunch..friend

If you know of a woman that has served our country living or deceased please mention them and give thanks to those brave women of our United States Military.
Thank you Mom
Thank you Aunt Mary, she to served in the WAAC with my mom….

Women shouldn't be in the military, much less be allowed to vote.

Thank you Belly, for reminding us that many women have served our nation valiantly and like the men, have
given the ultimate sacrifice, so that we can all enjoy the freedoms that those brave women and men provided us. I always go to our memorial day Parade Belly, and I think about a lot of different things as the flags pass and the various military groups march past me, and on this Memorial Day, I will think much more about American women who are often passed over on this very special day. Thank you for making us aware, and a special thanks to you for your service to our country.

sleeper wrote: Women shouldn't be in the military, much less be allowed to vote.

or drive.

This is not about what is right or wrong this is about Brave Women Serving Our Country ..Honor and Respect them for their Tour of Duty.....this Memorial Day

Operation Iraq

Army PFC Lori Piestewa,23, was the first Native American
woman killed by enemy action in our nation's wars.
...more.

Sgt. Melissa Valles, 26, of Eagle Pass, Texas, died on July 9
in Balad, Iraq as a result of non-combat injuries.

Staff Sgt. Kimberly A. Voelz, 27, of Carlisle, Pa. was killed Sunday, 14 Dec, in Iskandariyah, Iraq, as her unit was responding to an explosive ordinance disposal call.



Army Spc. Alyssa R. Peterson, 27, died Sep 14 from what was described as a "non-combat weapons discharge."

Pfc. Analaura Esparza Gutierrez, 21, of Houston, Texas, was killed on Oct. 1 in Tikrit, Iraq.

Pfc.Esparza Gutierrez was in a convoy that was hit by rocket propelled grenades.

Pfc. Rachel Bosveld, 19, was killed Sunday Oct 26th during a mortar attack in Baghdad.

Pfc. Bosveld, a member of the 527th Military Police, is from Waupun, Wisconsin.

Pfc. Karina S. Lau, 20, Livingston, California ,was killed in the helicopter crash in Iraq.

Spc. Frances M. Vega,20, of Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico. Vega assigned to the 151st Adjutant General

Postal Detachment 3, Fort Hood, Texas, was killed in the helicopter crash.
Chief Warrant Officer (CW5) Sharon T. Swartworth , 43, of Virginia was killed when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was shot down Nov. 7, 2003, in Tikrit, Iraq. CWO Swartworth was the regimental warrant officer for the Judge Advocate General Office, based at Headquarters Department of the Army, Pentagon.

Capt. Kimberly N. Hampton, 27, of Easley, S.C., was killed on Jan. 2, 2004, in Fallujah, Iraq.
Capt. Hampton, was the pilot on a Kiowa, OH-58, Observation Helicopter when it was shot down by enemy ground fire and crashed. She was assigned to 1st Battalion, 82nd Aviation Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Sgt. Keicia M. Hines, 27, of Citrus Heights, Calif., died on Jan. 14 when she was struck by a vehicle on Mosul Airfield in Mosul, Iraq. Hines was assigned to the 108th Military Police, Combat Support Co., Fort Bragg, N.C.

SPC Rachel Lacy, 22, died in 2003 after receiving a series of shots in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. She became ill right after the inoculations, Two independent panels of medical experts found that the vaccinations may have triggered the illness that killed Spc. Rachel Lacy the Defense Department said. Helicopter crew chief instructor

Staff Sgt. Lori Anne Privette, 27 died when a UH-1N Huey helicopter crashed during a training flight. SSgt. Privette joined the Marine Corps in August 1994 and just returned from serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Army Spc. Tamarra J. Ramos, 24, of Quakertown, Pa., died Oct. 1, 2003, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington D.C. Ramos died of non-combat related injuries. She was assigned to the 3rd Armor Medical Company, Medical Troop Regimental Support Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.


Army Pfc. Holly J. McGeogh, 19, of Taylor, Michigan was among three soldiers killed when a homemade bomb exploded Jan. 31 along a road near Kirkuk, Iraq, as their convoy passed by. She and the two other soldiers were assigned to Company A, 4th Forward Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, from Fort Hood, Texas.

Pfc. Nichole M. Frye, 19, of Lena, Wis., died Feb. 16 in Baqubah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device struck her convoy. Frye was assigned to Company A, 415th Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Department of Defense announced the death of, 41 year-old Capt. Gussie M. Jones, 41. in Iraq. Captain Jones was a surgical nurse assigned to the 31st Combat Support Hospital from Fort Bliss. Her death was as a result of a non-combat cause, possibly a heart attack. Captain Jones served in the military for 15 years rising from the ranks to become an Army nurse in 1998.

Spc. Tyanna S. Felder, 22, of Bridgeport, Conn., died April 7, in Balad, Iraq, of injuries sustained on April 4 in Mosul when her convoy vehicle was hit with an improvised explosive device. Spc. Felder was assigned to the Army’s 296th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Pvt. Michelle Witmer, 20, died Friday when her Humvee came under attack. She had been stationed in Baghdad since March 2003 with the 32nd Military Police Company of the Wisconsin National Guard. Her sister, Rachel, 24, is with the same unit, which had been expected to prepare within days to leave Iraq. Charity Witmer, Michelle's twin sister, was sent to Iraq late last year as a medic with Company B of the Wisconsin Guard's 118th Medical Battalion.
Please Note: There is no such thing as the "Sullivan Act" however there are policies in place. Department of Defense Policy allows military family members of a service member killed in a combat zone to request an exemption from returning to that hostile action zone. The service member, not the family, must request it, and they would be allowed to fulfill their military tour in the U.S. or other non-hostile areas.

Witmer family Web site


Army Spc. Tamarra J. Ramos, 24, of Quakertown, Pa., died Oct. 1, 2003, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), Washington D.C. Ramos died of non-combat related injuries. She was assigned to the 3rd Armor Medical Company, Medical Troop Regimental Support Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.

Army Sgt. Linda C. Jimenez, 39, of Brooklyn, N.Y., died Nov. 8, 2003, at WRAMC. On Oct. 31, 2003, Jimenez fell and was injured. She was taken to the 28th Combat Support Hospital and later evacuated to Landstuhl Army Regional Medical Center. Subsequently, she was moved to WRAMC where she later died. Jimenez was assigned to the 2nd Squadron Combat Support Aviation (Maintenance), 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Polk, La.

Spc. Isela Rubalcava, 25, of El Paso, Texas, died May 8 in Mosul, Iraq, when a mortar round hit near her. Spc. Rubalcava was assigned to the 296th Combat Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Wash.


Pfc. Leslie D. Jackson, 18, of Richmond, Va., died May 20, in Baghdad, Iraq, when her military vehicle hit an improvised explosive device, as she was returning to Camp Eagle. Pfc. Jackson was assigned to A Company, 115th Forward Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, Ft. Hood, Texas. Pfc. Melissa J. Hobart, 22, of Ladson, S.C., died June 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, after collapsing while on guard duty. Hobart was assigned to Company E, 215th Forward Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.


Sgt. 1st Class Linda Ann Tarango-Griess, 33, of Sutton, Nebraska, died July 11 in Samarra, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near her convoy vehicle. Sgt. Tarango-Griess was assigned to the 267th Ordnance Company, Nebraska National Guard, Lincoln, Neb.

Sgt. Tatjana Reed, 34, of Fort Campbell, K.Y., died July 22 in Samarra, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near her convoy vehicle. Sgt. Reed was assigned to the 66th Transportation Company from Kaiserslautern, Germany.


Sgt. Shawna M. Morrison, 26, of Champaign, Ill. died Sept. 5 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds sustained during a mortar attack. Sgt Morrison, who handled computer and satellite communications for her unit was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1544th Transportation Company, Paris, Ill.

Sgt. Pamela G. Osbourne, 38, was killed Sunday October 11 in Baghdad, Iraq, when two rockets impacted the camp where she served as a Supply Sergeant.
Sgt Osbourne was assigned to the Army's Division Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Spc. Jessica L. Cawvey, 21, of Normal, Ill., died Oct. 6 in Fallujah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near her convoy vehicle.
Spc. Cawvey was assigned to the Army’s National Guard’s 1544th Transportation Company, Paris, Ill.

Sgt. Cari A. Gasiewicz, 28, of Depew, N.Y., died Dec. 4 in Baqubah, Iraq. She was killed when two improvised explosive devices detonated near her convoy. Depew is a suburb of Buffalo, NY. Sgt. Gasiewicz was assigned to the 202nd Military Intelligence Battalion, 513th Military Intelligence Brigade, Fort Gordon, Ga.

Sgt. Tina S. Time, 22, from Tucson, Ariz., died Dec. 13 near Cedar, Iraq, when she was involved in a vehicle accident. Sgt. Time was assigned to the Army Reserve's 208th Transportation Company, Tucson, Ariz. Sgt. Tina S. Time, is the first American Samoan woman and the first female soldier from Tucson to die in the war.

Former Air Force Captain Barbara Heald who worked for the Army's Project and Contracting Office, was killed Jan. 29, on the eve of the Iraqi national elections, when a mortar round crashed through the roof of the Republican National Palace in Baghdad's Green Zone.

Sgt. Jessica M. Housby, 23, of Rock Island, Ill., died Feb. 9 in Route Golden, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near her convoy. Sgt. Housby was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1644th Transportation Company, Rock Falls, Ill.

Spc. Katrina L. Bell-Johnson, 32, of Orangeburg, S.C., died Feb. 16 in Ba'qubah, Iraq, when she was involved in a vehicle accident. Spc. Bell-Johnson was assigned to the Army's 418th Transportation Company, 180th Transportation Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas.



Spc. Lizbeth Robles, 31, of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, died at the 228th Command Support Hospital in Tikirt, Iraq, on March 1. Spc. Robles died from injuries sustained in a military vehicle accident that occurred Feb. 28 in Bayji, Iraq. She was assigned to the Army's 360th Transportation Company, 68th Corps Support Battalion, 43rd Area Support Group, Fort Carson, Colorado.

Spc. Adriana N. Salem, 21, of Elk Grove Village, Ill., died Mar. 4 in Remagen, Iraq when her military vehicle rolled over. Spc. Salem was assigned to the 3rd Forward Support Battalion, Division Support Command, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.




Spc. Chrystal G. Stout, 23, of Travelers Rest, S.C., assigned to the Army National Guard's 228th Signal Brigade in Spartanburg, was among the soldiers killed when a CH-47 helicopter crashed April 6 in a sandstorm in Ghanzi, Afghanistan.

Sgt. Maj. Barbaralien Banks, 41, of Harvey, La., assigned to Division Artillery, 25th Infantry Division (Light), Schofield Barracks, Hawaii was also killed in the CH-47 helicopter crash.

Pfc. Sam W. Huff, 18, died April 18 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near her vehicle. Pfc.Huff was assigned to the 170th Military Police Company, 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, Fort Lewis, Wash. She is from Tucson, Arizona.

Spc. Aleina Ramirez-Gonzalez, 33, of Hormigueros, Puerto Rico, died April 15 in Tikrit, Iraq, when a mortar struck her forward operating base. Ramirezgonzalez was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Troop Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.


Spc. Carrie L.French, 19, of Caldwell , Idaho, died June 5th in Kirkuk, Iraq when an improvised exposive device hit the front of her convoy vehicle. Spc. Fench was assigned to the Army National Guard 145th Support Battalion, Boise, Idaho.

Lance Cpl. Holly A. Charette, 21, from Cranston, R.I., died June 23 from wounds sustained when a suicide, vehicle-borne, improvised explosive device struck her vehicle in Fallujah, Iraq. She was assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.


Cpl. Ramona M. Valdez, 20, of Bronx, N.Y., died June 23 while traveling in a convoy that was attacked by a suicide, vehicle-borne, improvised explosive device in Fallujah, Iraq. She was assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Petty Officer 1st Class Regina R. Clark, 43, of Centralia, Wash., died June 23 in a convoy that was attacked by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in Fallujah. She was a culinary specialist deployed with Naval Construction Region Detachment 30, Port Hueneme, Calif., and was temporarily assigned to II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).


Staff Sgt. Tricia L. Jameson, 34, of Omaha, Neb., died on July 14 in Trebil, Iraq. SSgt. Jameson, a health care specialist was responding to a casualty incident when a secondary improvised explosive device detonated near her location. She was assigned to 313th Medical Company, Army National Guard, Lincoln, Neb.

Pvt. Lavena L. Johnson, of Florissant, Mo., died Tuesday near Balad, Iraq. She was assigned to the 129th Corps Support Battalion.

1st Lt. Laura M. Walker, 24, of Texas was killed August 18, 2005, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated beneath her HMMWV during ground assault convoy operations. Lt Walker was assigned to the Army's 864th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy), 555th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (Provisional), Fort Lewis, Wash.

Airman 1st Class Elizabeth N. Jacobson, 21, of Riviera Beach, Fla., died Sept. 28 near Camp Bucca, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near her convoy vehicle. Airman Jacobson was assigned to the 17th Security Forces Squadron, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas.

Spc. Toccara R. Green, 23, of Rosedale, Md., died on Aug. 14, 2005, in Al Asad, Iraq, where multiple improvised explosive devices detonated near her unit during convoy operations. Spc. Green was assigned the Army's 57th Transportation Company, 548th Corps Support Battalion, Fort Drum, N.Y.

Sgt. Julia V. Atkins, 22, of Bossier City, La., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 10, when an improvised explosive device detonated near her HMMWV during patrol operations. Sgt. Atkins was assigned to the 64th Military Police Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.

Sgt. Regina C. Reali 25, of Freso, Calif. died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 23, when an improvised explosive device detonated near her HMMWV. Sgt. Reali assigned to the Army Reserve's 351st Civil Affairs Command, Mountain View, Calif.

Sgt. Myla L. Maravillosa , 24, of Wahiawa, Hawaii, died in Kirkuk, Iraq, on Dec. 24, of injuries sustained earlier that day in Al Hawijah, Iraq, when her HMMWV was attacked by enemy forces using rocket-propelled grenades. Sgt. Maravillosa was assigned to the Army Reserve's 203rd Military Intelligence Battalion, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

Air Force Senior Airman Alecia S. Good, 23, Broadview Heights Ohio, was one of two airmen to die when two helicopters crashed into the Gulf of Aden in the vicinity of Ras Siyyan, Northern Djibouti, Africa, Airman Good was assigned to the 92nd Communications Squadron, Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. The helicopters were flying a training mission in the Godoria Range area. All of the service members killed were deployed to Djibouti as part of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

First Lt. Jaime L. Campbell was among the 12 Americans who died in Iraq when the UH-60 Black Hawk wend down near Tal Afar. Lt Campbell, 25, and an accompished pilot, was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment in Anchorage, Alaska.

Pfc. Tina M. Priest, 20, of Austin, Texas, died in Taji, Iraq on March 1, from non-combat related injury. Pfc. Priest was assigned to the 4th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Divison, Fort Hood, Texas.

Sgt. Amanda N. Pinson,21, of St. Louis, Mo. was killed in Tikrit, Iraq, on Mar. 16, when a mortar round detonated. Sgt Pinson was assigned to the 101st Military Intelligence Detachment, 501st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Pfc. Amy A. Duerksen, 19, of Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on March 11, from a non-combat related injury. Pfc. Duerksen was assigned to the 4th Combat Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Lance Cpl. Juana NavarroArellano, 24, of Ceres, Calif., died April 8 from wounds received while supporting combat operations in Al Anbar, Iraq. She was assigned to 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jaime S. Jaenke, 29, of Bay City, Wis., died June 5 as a result of enemy action when her HMMWV was struck by an improvised explosive device in Al Anbar province, Iraq. She was assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 25, Fort McCoy, Wis.

Pennsylvania National Guard member, Spc. Kirsten Fike, died a day after collapsing in 104-degree heat near Yuma, Ariz., at a border patrol surveillance outpost in the desert. Spc. Kirsten Fike, 36, was in the initial stage of a two-week deployment for Operation Jump Start, She had also served for five years in the Air Force, where she had been a family support technician.

Lt. Jessica Hill, 30, of St. Augustine, Fla., assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy, died in a diving accident during a science mission in the Arctic Ocean.

Army Sgt. Wakkuna A. Jackson, 21, of Jacksonville, Florida, was killed in Kunar, Afghanistan, Aug. 19 when an IED detonated near her convoy vehicle. Sgt. Jackson was assigned to the 710th Combat Support Battalion, Fort Drum, N.Y.

Sgt. Jennifer M. Hartman, 21, of New Ringgold, Pa.died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Sept. 14 of injuries suffered when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated in the vicinity of a West Baghdad Substation. Hartman was assigned to the 4th Support Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas.


Army Pfc. Hannah Leah McKinney, 20, of Redlands, Calif., died on Sept. 4 in Taji, Iraq, from injuries suffered when she was struck by a vehicle. Pfc. McKinney was assigned to the 542nd Maintenance Company, 44th Corps Support Battalion, Fort Lewis, Wash.

2nd Lt. Emily J.T. Perez, 23, of Texas, died on Sept.12 of injuries sustained in Al Kifl, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near her HMMWV during combat operations. Perez was assigned to the 204th Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Sgt. 1st Class Merideth L. Howard, 52, of Alameda, Calif. , was killed in Kabul when a car bomb detonated near her HMMWV. Sgt Howard was assigned to the Army Reserve's 405th Civil Affairs Battalion, Fort Bragg, N.C. A resident of Waukesha, Wis., Sgt Howard entered the Army in Oakland, Calif., May 21, 1988, as a medical equipment repairer.



1st Lt. Ashley L. (Henderson) Huff, 23, of Belle Mead, N.J., died of injuries suffered in Mosul, Iraq, on Sept.19, when a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near her mounted patrol during combat operations. Lt. Huff was assigned to the 549th Military Police Company, 385th Military Police Battalion, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Army Sgt. Denise A. Lannaman, 46, of Bayside, N.Y., died at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, on Oct. 1 from a non-combat related incident.
Sgt. Lannaman was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1569th Transportation Company, Newburgh, N.Y. and was on her second tour in the Middle East. Many thanks to Sgt. Cristina Frisby for the above photo.


The Pentagon announced the death of a soldier from The Bronx. Sgt. Jeannette T. Dunn, 44, succumbed in December to a noncomat-related injury. Sgt Dunn was assigned to the 15th Sustainment Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Maj. Gloria D. Davis, 47, of St. Louis, Mo., died Dec. 12 in Baghdad, Iraq, from a non-combat related incident. She was assigned to the Defense Security Assistance Agency, Washington, D.C.

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jane E. Lanham, 43, of Owensboro, Ky., died of natural causes Sept. 19 in Bahrain. Cmdr. Lanham was assigned to Naval Branch Health Clinic, Bahrain.

Navy Seaman Sandra S. Grant, 23, of Linwood, N.C., died Dec. 31 while serving in the Arabian Sea. Seaman Grant was assigned to the USS Eisenhower.

Spc. Carla J. Stewart, 37, of Sun Valley, Calif., died Jan. 28 in Tallil, Iraq, of injuries suffered when her convoy vehicle rolled over. Spc. Stewart was assigned to the 250th Transportation Company, El Monte, Calif.



Maj. Megan M. McClung, 34, of Coupeville, Wash., died Dec. 6 while supporting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. McClung was assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, I MEF, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Senior Airman Elizabeth A. Loncki, 23, of New Castle, Del. was killed Jan. 7 by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device while performing duties in the Baghdad area supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. She was assigned to the 775th Civil Engineer Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

Command Sgt. Maj. Marilyn L. Gabbard, the first woman to obtain her rank in the Iowa Army National Guard, was killed when an Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed, killing all 12 people on board.Sgt. Major Gabbard, 46, of Polk City, was a full-time member of the Iowa National Guard and was based at Camp Dodge.


Cpl. Jennifer M. Parcell, 20, of Bel Air, Md., died Feb. 7 while supporting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.
Cpl. Parcell was assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

Naval Academy graduate Marine Captain Jennifer Harris, 27, was killed while piloting her CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter north of Baghdad. The helicopter was reportedly shot down by enemy fire.

Ashly Lynn Moyer,21, was killed in Baghdad, Iraq, on March 3 when an improvised explosive device detonated near her vehicle. Moyer was serving with the 630th MP Company, 759th MP Battalion and 89th MP Brigade.

Pfc. Katie M. Soenksen, 19, of Davenport, Iowa, died May 2 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near her vehicle.She was assigned to the 410th Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas.

Spc. Karen N.Clifton, 22, of Lehigh Acres, Fla., died June 21 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when her vehicle was hit with a rocket propelled grenade. She was assigned to the 554th Military Police Company, 95th Military Police Battalion, Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Sgt. Trista L. Moretti, 27, of South Plainfield, N.J., died June 25 in Nasir Lafitah, Iraq, when her unit was attacked by insurgents using indirect fire.She was assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Spc. Michelle R. Ring, 24, of Martin, Tenn., died July 5 of wounds sustained from enemy mortar fire in Baghdad, Iraq.She was assigned to the 92d Military Police Battalion, Fort Benning, Ga.

Capt. Maria I. Ortiz, 40, of Pennsauken, N.J. died July 10 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from enemy indirect fire.
She was assigned to the Kirk U.S. Army Health Clinic, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

Staff Sgt. Alicia A. Birchett, 29, of Mashpee, Mass., died Aug. 9 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered from a non-combat related accident Aug. 8 in Baghdad.
She was assigned to the 887th Engineer Company, 326th Engineer Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

The Department of Defense announced the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Aug. 15 in Taji, Iraq, when the enemy attacked using indirect fire.
Killed were:

Sgt. Princess C. Samuels, 22, of Mitchellville, Md. She was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
Spc. Zandra T. Walker, 28, of Greenville, S.C. She was assigned to 4th Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Aviation Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Spc. Marisol Heredia, 19, of El Monte, Calif., died Sept. 7 at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, of injuries suffered from a non-combat related accident July 18 in Baghdad, Iraq. She was assigned to the 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas as a petroleum supply specialist.

Capt. (Dr.) Roselle M. Hoffmaster, 32, of Cleveland, Ohio, died Sept. 20 in Kirkuk, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.ÊShe was assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

Spc. Ciara M. Durkin, 30, of Quincy, Mass., died Sept. 28 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident.ÊShe was assigned to the 726th Finance Battalion, Massachusetts Army National Guard, West Newton, Mass. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

Seaman Apprentice Shayna Ann Schnell, 19, of Tell City, Ind., died as a result of injuries suffered from a vehicle accident.ÊSchnell was serving as a master-at-arms assigned to Naval Security Force Bahrain, Jebel Ali Detachment, United Arab Emirates.

Spc. Rachael L. Hugo, 24, of Madison, Wis., died Oct. 5 in Bayji, Iraq, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked her unit using an improvised explosive device and small arms fire.ÊShe was assigned to the 303rd Military Police Company, 97th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade, U.S. Army Reserve, Jackson, Mich.

The Department of Defense announced the death of Staff Sgt. Lillian Clamens, 35, of Lawton, Okla.Ê She died Oct. 10 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked her unit with rockets. Sgt Clamens was assigned to the 1st Postal Platoon, 834th Adjutant General Company, Miami.

2nd Lt. Tracy Lynn Alger, 30, of New Auburn, Wis., died Nov 1 in Shubayshen, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near her vehicle.ÊShe was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Staff Sgt. Carletta S. Davis, 34, of Anchorage, Alaska.Êdied Nov. 5, in Tal Al-Dahab, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near her Humvee during combat operations. She was assigned to the 10th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

Spc. Ashley Sietsema, 20, of Melrose Park, Ill., died Nov. 12 in Kuwait City, Kuwait, of injuries suffered in a vehicle accident. She was assigned to the 708th Medical Company, 108th Medical Battalion, 108th Sustainment Brigade, Illinois National Guard, North Riverside, Ill.

The Department of Defense announced the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sgt. Tracy Renee Birkman, 41, of New Castle, Va., died Jan. 25 in Owesat, Iraq, from non-combat related injuries.ÊShe was assigned to the 626th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Spc. Keisha M. Morgan, 25, of Washington, D.C., died Feb. 22 in Baghdad, Iraq, of a non-combat related cause.ÊShe was assigned to the Division Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. The circumstances are under investigation.

The Department of Defense announced the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Petty Officer 1st Class Cherie L. Morton, 40, of Bakersfield, Calif., died April 20 in Galali, Muharraq, Bahrain. She was assigned to Naval Security Force, Naval Support Activity Bahrain. The cause of death is under investigation.

The Department of Defense announced the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Spc. Mary J. Jaenichen, 20, of Temecula, Calif., died 9 May 2008 in Iskandariyah, Iraq, of a non-combat related injury. She was assigned to the Brigade Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga. The incident is under investigation.

Cpl. Jessica A. Ellis, 24, of Bend, Ore., died 11 May 2008 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when her vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.ÊShe was assigned to the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of four Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lance Cpl. Casey L. Casanova, 22, was one of the Marines - she is from McComb, Miss. All four Marines died May 2 in Al Anbar province, Iraq, supporting combat operations. They were assigned to the Combat Logistics Battalion 1, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Spc. Seteria L. Brown, 22, of Orlando, Fla., died July 25 2008 in Sharana, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained in a non-combat related incident. She was assigned to the 62nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, Fort Hood Texas. The incident is under investigation.

Pfc. Jennifer L. Cole, 34, of American Canyon, Calif., died Aug. 2 in Bayji, Iraq, of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident. She was assigned to the 426th Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. The incident is under investigation.

Lance Cpl. Stacy A. Dryden, 22, of North Canton, Ohio, died Oct. 19, '08 from injuries sustained in a non-hostile incident in Anbar province, Iraq. She was assigned to 1st Supply Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, Camp Pendleton, Calif. The incident is under investigation.

PFC Cwislyn K. Walter, 19, of Honolulu died 19 Feb '09 in Kuwait City, Kuwait, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. She was assigned to the 29th Special Troops Battalion, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Hawaii National Guard. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

Spc. Simone A. Robinson, 21, of Dixmoor, Ill., died 1 March '09 at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near her security post on Jan. 17 in Kabul, Afghanistan. She was assigned to the 634th Brigade Support Battalion of the Illinois Army National Guard, Crestwood, Ill.

Pfc. Jessica Y. Sarandrea, 22, of Miami, Fla., died 3 March '09 in Mosul, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked her forward operating base with mortar fire. She was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Lt. Florence B. Choe, 35, of El Cajon, Calif., and Lt. j.g.ÊFrancis L. Toner IV, 26, of Narragansett, R.I., died March 27 '09 when an insurgent posing as an Afghan National Army soldier opened fire on personnel assigned to Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan at Camp Shaheen, Mazar-E-Sharif, Afghanistan.

1st Lt. Roslyn L. Schulte, 25, of St. Louis, Mo., died May 20 near Kabul, Afghanistan of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. ÊShe was assigned to the Headquarters, ÊPacific Air Forces Command, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.

Senior Airman Ashton L. M. Goodman, 21, of Indianapolis died May 26 near Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device. She was assigned to the 43rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, N.C.

Staff Sgt. Tara J. Smith, 33, of Nashville, N.C., died Aug. 8 in Bagram, Afghanistan, from a non-combat related incident that occurred Aug. 4 at Camp Phoenix, Afghanistan,. She was assigned to the 50th Signal Battalion, 35th Signal Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

Sgt. Eduviges G. Wolf, 24, of Hawthorne, Calif., died Oct. 25 '09 in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked her vehicle with a rocket propelled grenade. She was assigned to the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Staff Sgt. Amy C. Tirador, 29, of Albany, N.Y., died Nov. 4 '09 in Kirkush, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. She was assigned to the 209th Military Intelligence Company, 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

Ft Hood shooting victims names released:
Pvt. Francheska Velez, 21, of Chicago, Ill. She was assigned to the 15th Combat Support Battalion, Fort Hood.
Lt. Col. Juanita L. Warman, 55, of Havre De Grace, Md. She was assigned to the 1908th Medical Company, Independence, Mo.
Sgt. Amy Krueger, 29, of Kiel, Wis. She was assigned to the 467th Medical Company, Madison, Wis.

VA employees, serving on active duty with their Army Reserve units, were among the slain. The VA's fatality was Juanita L. Warman, 55, a nurse practitioner at VA's medical center in Perry Point, Md. She was a lieutenant colonel in the Maryland National Guard, with two daughters and six grandchildren. She was the daughter of a career Air Force member and held a master's degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

This is not about what is right or wrong this is about Brave Women Serving Our Country ..Honor and Respect them for their Tour of Duty.....

k, cool story?

I'd like to also honor the investment bankers, retail workers, teachers, police officers, and politicians, and really just about any job or service, respect them, too.

Remember, you have a greater chance of dying on your way to work than in a war, and you can take that to the bank.

sleeper wrote: k, cool story?

I'd like to also honor the investment bankers, retail workers, teachers, police officers, and politicians, and really just about any job or service, respect them, too.

Remember, you have a greater chance of dying on your way to work than in a war, and you can take that to the bank.

People who die in a war are doing so to protect the freedom you apparently don't appreciate that you have. People who die on there way to work are only serving themselves.

I don't agree with every war that we are involved in and I think we send troops to places they don't need to be. But that's the fault of the politicians we elected, not the troops who are trying to protect us.

FatHobbit wrote:

sleeper wrote: k, cool story?

I'd like to also honor the investment bankers, retail workers, teachers, police officers, and politicians, and really just about any job or service, respect them, too.

Remember, you have a greater chance of dying on your way to work than in a war, and you can take that to the bank.

People who die in a war are doing so to protect the freedom you apparently don't appreciate that you have. People who die on there way to work are only serving themselves.

I don't agree with every war that we are involved in and I think we send troops to places they don't need to be. But that's the fault of the politicians we elected, not the troops who are trying to protect us.

And people that fight in wars aren't serving themselves? It is a paid job if I remember correctly. A doctor is only serving himself? A teacher doesn't make the population more educated? A policeman doesn't save lives?

Your argument is so terrible I don't even have to present anything other than mockery and sarcasm to deflate it. Once again, I'm not diminishing the job of people in the military, but this country is overzealous about praising one particular job for no reason.

sleeper wrote: And people that fight in wars aren't serving themselves? It is a paid job if I remember correctly.

The pay isn't that great. The risk is.

sleeper wrote:A doctor is only serving himself? A teacher doesn't make the population more educated? A policeman doesn't save lives?

When policemen (or anyone serving their community) die in the line of duty I think we do honor them and rightfully so. For the most part Drs and teachers do not risk their lives.

sleeper wrote:Once again, I'm not diminishing the job of people in the military, but this country is overzealous about praising one particular job for no reason.

Yes you are. Maybe some day, when you grow up, you'll understand. I know that most of the time you're just a little troll, so I don't feel the need to explain it to you any further.

Belly,
well said.

And to all those who served male or female
Thank you and God Bless each and every one of you

FatHobbit wrote:

sleeper wrote: And people that fight in wars aren't serving themselves? It is a paid job if I remember correctly.

The pay isn't that great. The risk is.

sleeper wrote:A doctor is only serving himself? A teacher doesn't make the population more educated? A policeman doesn't save lives?

When policemen (or anyone serving their community) die in the line of duty I think we do honor them and rightfully so. For the most part Drs and teachers do not risk their lives.

sleeper wrote:Once again, I'm not diminishing the job of people in the military, but this country is overzealous about praising one particular job for no reason.

Yes you are. Maybe some day, when you grow up, you'll understand. I know that most of the time you're just a little troll, so I don't feel the need to explain it to you any further.

Okay, maybe I am, but when you are over-inflated sense of self worth, putting you in your place can seem condescending or degrading.

The pay is not that great? It's fair market value. Maybe some day, when you acquire a basic understanding of economics, you'll understand. And Dr's and teachers do risk their lives, driving to work > dying(severly injured) in a war.

And yeah, I'm a troll LOL If you want to know what a troll is, go check out Al Capone, just because I don't suck the teet of everyone on here doesn't mean I'm a troll.

sleeper wrote:

FatHobbit wrote:

sleeper wrote: And people that fight in wars aren't serving themselves? It is a paid job if I remember correctly.

The pay isn't that great. The risk is.

sleeper wrote:A doctor is only serving himself? A teacher doesn't make the population more educated? A policeman doesn't save lives?

When policemen (or anyone serving their community) die in the line of duty I think we do honor them and rightfully so. For the most part Drs and teachers do not risk their lives.

sleeper wrote:Once again, I'm not diminishing the job of people in the military, but this country is overzealous about praising one particular job for no reason.

Yes you are. Maybe some day, when you grow up, you'll understand. I know that most of the time you're just a little troll, so I don't feel the need to explain it to you any further.

Okay, maybe I am, but when you are over-inflated sense of self worth, putting you in your place can seem condescending or degrading.

The pay is not that great? It's fair market value. Maybe some day, when you acquire a basic understanding of economics, you'll understand. And Dr's and teachers do risk their lives, driving to work > dying(severly injured) in a war.

And yeah, I'm a troll LOL If you want to know what a troll is, go check out Al Capone, just because I don't suck the teet of everyone on here doesn't mean I'm a troll.

Feel it.

Respect those in the military for putting their lives on the line, but I don't overvalue them like everyone in America.