Mary Wildes put on a HeroBracelet before her son, 18-year-old Pfc. Matthew Wildes, deployed to Iraq last May, but for some reason Mary could not take the bracelet off.

Wildes said she was going to take the bracelet off when Matthew returned from Iraq, but Wildes never got that chance.

Wildes saw her son when he took his leave in August, only 23 days before a roadside bomb killed Matthew in Iraq.

HeroBracelets offers Gold Star families a way to remember, and Wildes recently received her bracelet from the company.

HeroBracelets began in December 2004, as a way to raise money for families who lost loved ones in the war and honor the fallen, last week HeroBracelets began offering a free Memorial HeroBracelet to the first 150 Gold Star families who write to the company. It has garnered a positive response, HeroBracelet founder Chris Greta said.

Greta said when funds allow he would like to provide a bracelet to every Gold Star family in America.

“If we can afford to do it and maintain that operation, we’re going to keep doing it as long as we can,” Greta said.

“(HeroBracelet) has given myself and my family a tangible way to keep my brother with us,” Lisa Haglof said. “By wearing a bracelet with his name, we take him everywhere with us. It also allows us to honor him and the cause for which he fought.”

Haglof’s brother, Staff Sgt. Matthew Pucino, was killed in November. in Afghanistan.

Two hundred HeroBracelets engraved with the names of the soldiers with the 467th Medical Detachment who were killed in the Nov. 5 shooting at the Soldier Readiness Processing Center were donated to the unit before they deployed in December, Greta said.

Greta runs the Ad Ranch in Austin, where HeroBracelets got its start.

The company initially donated $2 from every sale to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, but has since expanded the donation to other organizations of the buyer’s choice. Those include Gold Star Moms or Blue Star Families. Two dollars from each Purple Heart HeroBracelet goes to the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

By Alicia Lacy
Fort Hood Herald

The copper bracelet is a great reminder (not that I need any), and rugged. After all, it has to go through a year, just like me.
We will be placing another order for my friend.

Connie Ehmann

In some recent photo’s of Sarah Palin, we noticed she’s wearing her Deployed HeroBracelet bearing her son’s name, Track Paliin. Track is serving in the Middle East right now.

Back in 2008, we had heard that both Sarah Palin’s son and now Vice President Joseph Biden’s son were heading off on deployements, so we made them both a set of Deployed HeroBracelets with their son’s names on the bracelets. Our way for thanking them both for having son’s in the military. We actually got a very nice call from Senator Biden’s office, thanking us for the HeroBracelets. And now we’re quite proud to see Sarah Palin wearing her HeroBracelet.

(Since this went up, there has been a lot of controversy about the stories that have cropped up online. The basic facts are simple. We sent Gov Palin and Sen Biden Deployed HeroBracelets to honor thier sons. That’s all! They obviously love their sons and were happy to receive the HeroBracelets. With both Palin and Biden, I believe they are showing thier son’s love and respect, not making a political statement. If you’ve got a son or daughter serving our country, you’d probably feel the same way!)

SSG Thomas D. Rabjohn, Us Army Arizona National Guard, OEF

On 3 October 2009 SSG Rabjohn made the ultimate sacrifice for his country and friends, while interrogating an IED in Afghanistan. I was with him and saved my life as well as that of our two of our security personnel and countless other lives that day. He will forever be remembered as a  father, friend, mentor, soldier and HERO. Rest in peace my friend. We will see you on the other side when our tour is done.

SSG John W. Pinnix, II

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is the voice of the 21st century veteran. Founded in June 2004, IAVA is the nation’s first and largest non-partisan, nonprofit supporting veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families. IAVA has thousands of active member veterans and more than 120,000 grassroots supporters nationwide. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are in their sixth and seventh years respectively. More than 1.8 million American troops have served in Iraq or Afghanistan, and thousands have been deployed multiple times. IAVA addresses critical issues facing new veterans and their families, including mental health, Traumatic Brain Injury, inadequate access to VA health care, and outdated GI Bill educational benefits.

Send us stories about YOUR Hero. We’d like to publish them on the HeroBracelets.org Web site. Once a month, we’ll select a HeroStory and send the winner a sterling silver custom HeroBracelet. Submit your stories to info@herobracelets.org.

Operation Gratitude Twin 500,000th Packages Delivered
2 Paratroopers in Afghanistan Receive Keys to Harley Bikes
Based on reporting by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Susan Wilt
Combined Joint Task Force-82 Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Two deployed 82nd Airborne Division Paratroopers got a nice surprise when they opened up boxes from Operation Gratitude and each found a set of keys to a new motorcycle in his care package.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. William Fullerton, a squad leader with Company B, 82nd Division Special Troops Battalion, and U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Herne, an infantryman with Company A, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, were lucky recipients of the Operation Gratitude Milestone 500,000th Twin Care Packages shipped on December 19, 2009.  A new Harley Davidson Sportster motorcycle will be waiting for each Paratrooper upon his redeployment from Afghanistan.

“I’m still in shock from winning, so I’m a little lost for words. It’s the coolest thing I’ve received in my life,” said Herne, a native of Addison, N.Y.

Fullerton, a native of Quincy, Mass., was happy because his wife likes motorcycles, so it will be a nice treat for her.

The Paratroopers weren’t the only ones glad they’d received Harley’s, their leadership was pleased to see their Paratroopers get such a generous care package.

“Sergeant Herne is a very dedicated soldier,” said 1st Sgt. Michael Black, Herne’s company first sergeant.  “When asked to perform a task he goes above and beyond his duty and always gives 110 percent. All the other Paratroopers look up to him for guidance and mentorship. The day he came off of leave he volunteered to go on mission. That is the type of Paratrooper Sgt. Herne is.”

Fullerton’s first sergeant echoed similar sentiments.

“He’s one of my strongest (noncomissioned officers), an outstanding leader, very deserving of the motorcycle,” said 1st Sgt. John S. Woodson, a Charleston, W. Va., native and Fullerton’s first sergeant at Co. B.

Not only was Woodson happy that Fullerton won a motorcycle, but he also thought the gesture showed there was a lot of outside support for Servicemembers who are deployed. The Milestone 500,000th packages were sent by Operation Gratitude along with 1,800 additional care packages personally addressed to Soldiers of the Task Force.

The two motorcycles were purchased by Mr. Don Allen, the CEO of American Veteran Traveling Tribute and Mr. Lee Rawcliffe, the CEO and owner of Sands Resorts, as a way of rewarding two Soldiers for all their service.

“Mr. Allen and Mr. Rawcliffe wanted to show their appreciation by asking Operation Gratitude to randomly select two Soldiers to receive their gift,” said retired Army Col. Melinda S. Woodhurst, the director of operations for AVTT.

“Staff Sgt. Fullerton and Sgt. Herne are wonderful representatives of the U.S. Military and we are delighted that they received the Milestone 500,000th Care Packages,” said Carolyn Blashek, founder of Operation Gratitude.   “The volunteers and supporters of Operation Gratitude are also honored to send expressions of respect and appreciation to all of our heroic warriors on the front lines of freedom.”

As far as future plans go for the most recent recipient of the motorcycle, when Herne redeploys from Afghanistan he’s looking forward to learning how to actually ride a motorcycle.
“I’ve ridden a lot of dirt bikes, so it should be the same,” said Herne, who ironically was saving his money to buy a motorcycle when he returned from Afghanistan.

We mourn the loss of Navy Lt. Jason S Manse

Who loved his country,God and Family

He had  vision to Help others less fortunate

We miss you Jason

Ronald J Manse

Pfc. Scott G. Barnett 24 Headquarters Company, 412th Aviation Support Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade Concord, California Died of injuries sustained while supporting combat operations in Tallil, Iraq, on January 28, 2010

Pfc. Gifford E. Hurt 19 Battery C, 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Regiment, 214th Fires Brigade, 4th Infantry Division Yonkers, New York Died of injuries sustained from a non-combat related vehicle accident in Mosul, Iraq, on January 20, 2010

Pfc. Michael R. Jarrett 20 Company D, 2nd Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade North Platte, Nebraska Died of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident in Balad, Iraq, on January 6, 2010

Spc. David A. Croft Jr. 22 B Troop, 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Plant City, Florida Died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with a roadside bomb and small arms fire in Baghdad, Iraq, on January 5, 2010

Spc. Brushaun X. Anderson 20 Company C, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Columbus, Georgia Died of wounds suffered from a non-combat related incident in Baghdad, Iraq, on January 1, 2010

Spc. Ahmed K. Altaie 41 Army reservist assigned Provincial Reconstruction Team Baghdad Ann Arbor, Michigan On October 23, 2006, Altaie was categorized as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown when he allegedly was kidnapped while on his way to visit family in Baghdad, Iraq. The Pentagon changed his status to missing-captured on December 11.

Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl 23 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Ketchum, Idaho Captured in Paktika province in Afghanistan, on June 30, 2009. The Pentagon declared him Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown on July 1 and his status was changed to Missing-Captured on July 3.

Spc. Marc P. Decoteau 19 6th Psychological Operations Battalion, 4th Psychological Operations Group Waterville Valley, New Hampshire One of two soldiers that died of injuries sustained during an incident in Wardak province, Afghanistan, on January 29, 2010

Capt. David J. Thompson 39 Operational Detachment Alpha 3334, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group Hooker, Oklahoma One of two soldiers that died of injuries sustained during an incident in Wardak province, Afghanistan, on January 29, 2010

Staff Sgt. Rusty H. Christian 24 Company C, 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group Greenville, Tennessee Killed when a roadside bomb detonated during a patrol in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, on January 28, 2010

Sgt. David J. Smith 25 Company B, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve Frederick, Maryland Died on January 26, 2010, from wounds received on January 23, 2010, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan

Sgt. Carlos E. Gill 25 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division Fayetteville, North Carolina Gill was medically evacuated from Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, on December 19, 2009, and died on January 26, 2010, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. of an illness.

Soldier Claes Joachim Olsson 22 Telemark Bataljon, Brigade Nord (Telemark Battalion, Northern Brigade) Gressvik, Norway Killed when a roadside bomb struck his CV9030 infantry fighting vehicle in Ghormach district, Faryab province, Afghanistan, on January 25, 2010

Sgt. Daniel M. Angus 28 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force Thonotosassa, Florida One of three Marines killed while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on January 24, 2010

Lance Cpl. Daniel Cooper 22 Company A, 3rd Battalion, The Rifles Hereford, England Died of wounds sustained when a roadside bomb detonated while he was leading a resupply patrol near Sangin in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on January 24, 2010

Lance Cpl. Timothy J. Poole 22 Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force Bowling Green, Kentucky One of three Marines killed while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on January 24, 2010

Lance Cpl. Zachary D. Smith 19 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force Hornell, New York One of three Marines killed while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on January 24, 2010

Lance Cpl. Jeremy M. Kane 22 Company B, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve Towson, Maryland Died while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on January 23, 2010

Petty Officer 2nd Class Xin Qi 25 Navy corpsman assigned to 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Marine Expeditionary Brigade – Afghanistan Cordova, Tennessee One of two Marines killed when a roadside bomb detonated while supporting combat operations in southern Afghanistan, on January 23, 2010

Rifleman Peter Aldridge 19 Company A, 4th Battalion, The Rifles Folkestone, Kent, England Killed when a roadside bomb detonated during a foot patrol near Sangin in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on January 22, 2010

Staff Sgt. Thaddeus S. Montgomery 29 Company B, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division West Yellowstone, Montana Died of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident at Korengal Outpost in Kunar province, Afghanistan, on January 20, 2010

Tech. Sgt. Adam K. Ginett 29 31st Civil Engineer Squadron, 31st Mission Support Group, 31st Fighter Wing Knightdale, North Carolina Died of wounds suffered from a roadside bomb near Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, on January 19, 2010

Capt. Paul Pena 27 Company B, 2nd Battalion, 508th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division San Marcos, Texas Died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with a roadside bomb in Arghandab River Valley in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on January 19, 2010

Sgt. 1st Class Michael P. Shannon 52 Individual Ready Reservist assigned to International Security Assistance Force Joint Command, Kabul Canadensis, Pennsylvania Died of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident in Kabul, Afghanistan, on January 17, 2010

Spc. Robert Donevski 19 Company B, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Sun City, Arizona Died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire in Abad, Kunar province, Afghanistan, on January 16, 2010

Sgt. John Faught 44 Company D, 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada Killed when a roadside bomb detonated during a dismounted security patrol near the town of Nakhonay in Panjwayi district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on January 16, 2010

Cpl. Lee Brownson 30 Company A, 3rd Battalion, The Rifles Bishop Auckland, England One of two British soldiers killed when a roadside bomb detonated while on patrol near Sangin in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on January 15, 2010

Rifleman Luke Farmer 19 Company A, 3rd Battalion, The Rifles Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England One of two British soldiers killed when a roadside bomb detonated while on patrol near Sangin in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on January 15, 2010

Sgt. Christopher R. Hrbek 25 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force Westwood, New Jersey Died while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on January 14, 2010

Sgt. Lucas T. Beachnaw 23 Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team Lowell, Michigan Died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms fire in Darya Ya, Afghanistan, on January 13, 2010

Sgt. 1st Class Harouna Diop 40 517e Régiment du Train (517th Train Regiment), assigned to a French Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team France Killed when his armored vehicle struck a roadside bomb while traveling in a joint Afghan-French logistics convoy from Bagram Air Base to Kapisa province, Afghanistan, on January 13, 2010

Staff Sgt. Daniel D. Merriweather 25 118th Military Police Company, 503rd Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade Collierville Tennessee One of two soldiers killed when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with a roadside bomb at Combat Outpost McClain in Logar province, Afghanistan, on January 13, 2010

Pfc. Geoffrey A. Whitsitt 21 118th Military Police Company, 503rd Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade Taylors, South Carolina One of two soldiers killed when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with a roadside bomb at Combat Outpost McClain in Logar province, Afghanistan, on January 13, 2010

Spc. Kyle J. Wright 22 Company A, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division Romeoville, Illinois Died on January 13, 2010 at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered earlier that day when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with a roadside bomb in Kandahar province

Capt. Fabrice Roullier 39 1e Brigade Mécanisée (1st Mechanized Brigade), assigned to a French Operational Mentoring Liaison Team Caen, France Died on January 12, 2010, of wounds suffered when a joint French-Afghan National Army patrol was attacked during a foot patrol in the village of Alasay, Kapisa province, Afghanistan, on January 11. Another French soldier was killed in the attack.

Staff Sgt. Matthew N. Ingham 25 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force Altoona, Pennsylvania One of three Marines killed while supporting combat operations in Now Zad district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on January 11, 2010

Cpl. Jamie R. Lowe 21 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force Johnsonville, Illinois One of three Marines killed while supporting combat operations in Now Zad district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on January 11, 2010

Cpl. Nicholas K. Uzenski 21 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force Tomball, Texas One of three Marines killed while supporting combat operations in Now Zad district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on January 11, 2010

Capt. Daniel Read 31 821 Squadron, 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps Rainham, Kent, England Killed when a roadside bomb detonated in the Musa Qala district of Helmand province, Afghanistan, on January 11, 2010

Staff Sgt. Mathieu Toinette 27 402e Régiment d’Artillerie (402nd Artillery Regiment), assigned to a French Operational Mentoring Liaison Team Reunion, France Killed when a joint French-Afghan National Army patrol was attacked during a foot patrol in the village of Alasay, Kapisa province, Afghanistan, on January 11, 2010. Another soldier wounded in the attack died the next day.

Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Meinert 20 Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin Killed when a roadside bomb detonated in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on January 10, 2010

Lance Cpl. Mark D. Juarez 22 Headquarters & Service Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force Bakersfield, California Killed when his MRAP armored vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on January 9, 2010. Rupert Hamer, a British newspaper correspondent, also died in the blast.

Pvt. Simon S. Hoffmann 23 2. Lette Opklaringseskadron, Opklaringsbataljonen, Gardehusarregimentet (2nd Facilitate Solution Squadron, Solution Battalion, Guard Hussar Regiment) Denmark Killed when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb near Forward Operating Base Armadillo in Nahri Sarraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on January 8, 2010

Pvt. Christian Javier Quishpe Aguirre 24 Grupo Logístico de Montaña número 1 (1st Mountain Logistical Group) Ecuador Died of wounds sustained when he was struck by a vehicle at a support base in Herat, Afghanistan, on January 8, 2010

Sgt. 1st Class Jason O. B. Hickman 35 Company A, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Kingsport, Tennessee Died on January 7, 2010, at Forward Operating Base Salerno in Khost province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with a roadside bomb and small arms fire earlier that day at Combat Outpost Bowri Tana

Spc. Brian R. Bowman 24 Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Crawfordsville, Indiana One of three soldiers killed when insurgents attacked their unit with multiple roadside bombs and small arms fire in Ashoque, Zhari district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on January 3, 2010

Pvt. John P. Dion 19 Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Shattuck, Oklahoma One of three soldiers killed when insurgents attacked their unit with multiple roadside bombs and small arms fire in Ashoque, Zhari district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on January 3, 2010

Pvt. Robert Hayes 19 Company C, 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment Cambridge, England Killed when a roadside bomb detonated during a security patrol south of Check Point Paraang in Nad-e Ali district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, on January 3, 2010

Sgt. Joshua A. Lengstorf 24 Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Yoncalla, Oregon One of three soldiers killed when insurgents attacked their unit with multiple roadside bombs and small arms fire in Ashoque, Zhari district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on January 3, 2010

Senior Airman Bradley R. Smith 24 10th Air Support Operations Squadron, 3rd Air Support Operations Group, 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing Troy, Illinois Died of wounds sustained while supporting combat operations near Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, on January 3, 2010

Cpl. Donte J. Whitworth, 21 Combat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group Noblesville, Ind. Died as a result of a non-hostile vehicle accident in Anbar province, Iraq. February. 28, 2009

Spc. Brian M. Connelly 26 40th Engineer Battalion, Task Force 1-6, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division Union Beach, New Jersey Died of wounds suffered when his vehicle was struck by an explosive device in Adhamiya, Iraq, on February 26, 2009

1st Lt. William E. Emmert 36 269th Military Police Company, 117th Military Police Battalion Lincoln, Tennessee Died of wounds suffered when he was shot while participating in a local Iraqi Police function in Mosul, Iraq, on February 24, 2009. The incident is under investigation.

Spc. Micheal B. Alleman 31 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Logan, Utah One of three soldiers killed when insurgents attacked their unit using small-arms fire in Balad, Iraq, on February 23, 2009

Cpl. Michael L. Mayne 21 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Burlington Flats, New York One of three soldiers killed when insurgents attacked their unit using small-arms fire in Balad, Iraq, on February 23, 2009

Pfc. Zachary R. Nordmeyer 21 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Indianapolis, Indiana One of three soldiers killed when insurgents attacked their unit using small-arms fire in Balad, Iraq, on February 23, 2009

Staff Sgt. Mark C. Baum 32 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Pennsylvania Army National Guard Telford, Pennsylvania Died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using small-arms fire in Mushada, Iraq, on February 21, 2009

Pfc. Cwislyn K. Walter 19 29th Special Troops Battalion, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Hawaii Army National Guard Honolulu, Hawaii Died of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident in Kuwait City, Kuwait, on February 19, 2009

Staff Sgt. Sean D. Diamond 41 610th Engineer Support Company, 14th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade Dublin, California Killed when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle in As Salam, Iraq, on February 15, 2009

Cpl. Stephen S. Thompson 23 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Tulsa, Oklahoma Died of injuries sustained from a gunshot wound in Baghdad, Iraq, on February 14, 2009

Pvt. Ryan Wrathall 21 Company A, 1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment Surbiton, Surrey, England Died of a nonhostile gunshot wound at the British Contingency Operating Base in Basra, Iraq, on February 12, 2009

Lt. Col. Garnet R. Derby 44 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Missoula, Montana One of four soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle in Mosul, Iraq, on February 9, 2009

Pfc. Albert R. Jex 23 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Phoenix, Arizona One of four soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle in Mosul, Iraq, on February 9, 2009

Pfc. Jonathan R. Roberge 22 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Leominster, Massachusetts One of four soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle in Mosul, Iraq, on February 9, 2009

Sgt. Joshua A. Ward 30 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Scottsville, Kentucky One of four soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle in Mosul, Iraq, on February 9, 2009

Spc. James M. Dorsey 23 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Beardstown, Illinois Died in a non-combat related incident in Kamaliyah, Iraq, on February 8, 2009

Spc. Christopher P. Sweet 28 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 172d Separate Infantry Brigade Kahului, Hawaii Died of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident in Kirkush, Iraq, on February 6, 2009

Afghanistan – The Still Forgotten War – and The Third Front Pakistan!! There have been 1082 coalition deaths — 655 Americans, 8 Australians, 149 Britons, 108 Canadians, 3 Czech, 21 Danes, 18 Dutch, 3 Estonians, 1 Finn, 24 French, 25 Germans, 2 Hungarian, 12 Italians, 1 Latvian, 1 Lithuanian, 3 Norwegians, 9 Poles, 2 Portuguese, 9 Romanians, 1 South Korean, 25 Spaniards, 2 Swedes — in the war on terror as of December 1, 2008, according to a CNN count. Below are the names of the soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors whose deaths have been reported by their country’s governments. The troops died in support of the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom or were part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. At least 2,701 U.S. personnel have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon.

Capt. Brian M. Bunting 29 An Individual Ready Reservist assigned to the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New York Army National Guard Potomac, Maryland One of four soldiers killed when a roadside bomb detonated near their vehicle in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on February 24, 2009

Sgt. Schuyler Patch 25 Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Illinois Army National Guard Galva, Illinois One of four soldiers killed when a roadside bomb detonated near their vehicle in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on February 24, 2009

Sgt. Scott Stream 39 Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Illinois Army National Guard Mattoon, Illinois One of four soldiers killed when a roadside bomb detonated near their vehicle in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on February 24, 2009

Sgt. Daniel J. Thompson 24 An Individual Ready Reservist assigned to the 715th Military Police Company, Florida Army National Guard Madison, Wisconsin One of four soldiers killed when a roadside bomb detonated near their vehicle in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on February 24, 2009

Staff Sgt. Jeremy E. Bessa 26 Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group Honolulu, Hawaii One of two soldiers killed when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb during a mounted combat reconnaissance patrol near Khordi in Oruzgan province, Afghanistan, on February 20, 2009

Staff Sgt. Timothy P. Davis 28 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, 720th Special Tactics Group Aberdeen, Washington Died of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered a roadside bomb near Bagram, Afghanistan, on February 20, 2009

Master Sgt. David L. Hurt 36 Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group Oak Park, Illinois One of two soldiers killed when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb during a mounted combat reconnaissance patrol near Khordi in Oruzgan province, Afghanistan, on February 20, 2009

Sgt. 1st Class Raymond J. Munden 35 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Mesquite, Texas Died of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using indirect fire at Forward Operating Base Tillman in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, on February 16, 2009

Sgt. Daniel L. Hansen 24 Marine Wing Support Squadron 171, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Air Wing, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force Tracy, California Died while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan, on February 14, 2009

Staff Sgt. Marc J. Small 29 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group Collegeville, Pennsylvania Died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and small-arms fire in Faramuz, Afghanistan, on February 12, 2009

Spc. Peter J. Courcy 22 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Frisco, Texas One of two soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle in Salerno, Afgahnistan, on February 10, 2009

Pfc. Jason R. Watson 19 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Many, Louisiana One of two soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle in Salerno, Afgahnistan, on February 10, 2009

Staff Sgt. Jason E. Burkholder 27 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Brigade Combat Team, Illinois Army National Guard Elida, Ohio One of two soldiers who died of wounds suffered from a roadside bomb in Kabul, Afghanistan on February 8, 2009

1st Lt. Jared W. Southworth 26 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Brigade Combat Team, Illinois Army National Guard Oakland, Illinois One of two soldiers who died of wounds suffered from a roadside bomb in Kabul, Afghanistan on February 8, 2009

Lance Cpl. Kevin T. Preach 21 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force Bridgewater, Massachusetts Died on February 7, 2009 from wounds he received while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan, on January 24, 2009