Hero Stories for November 2009

One of my most memorable moments was when I was in the military. When I was serving in the first Gulf War a friend of my in my unit received a care package from his mother. It normally took 3-4 week to receive a box back then. Any way his mother was so concerned about him having turkey on Thanksgiving that she decided to make Turkey Cookies. Just like Chocolate chip cookies but substituted turkey for the chocolate. Between the travel time, lack of refrigeration and the desert heat the box was...

Sgt. Jason A. McLeod, 22, of Crystal Lake, Illinois, died November 23, 2009, west of Pashmul, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with mortar fire. Sgt. McLeod was assigned to the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. </d

A newly established NATO command was activated at Camp Eggers in Kabul, as the Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan merged with the new NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan to create a unified command for the training of the security forces in Afghanist

Sgt. Briand T. Williams, 25, of Sparks, Georgia, died November 22, 2009, in Numaniyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. Sgt. Williams was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Georgia. </d

Pfc. Marcus A. Tynes, 19, of Moreno Valley, California, died November 22, 2009, in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Pfc. Tynes was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. </d

Sgt. James M. Nolen, 25, of Alvin, Texas, died November 22, 2009, in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Sgt. Nolen was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. </d

Lance Cpl. Nicholas J. Hand, 20, of Kansas City, Missouri, died November 22, 2009, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Lance Cpl. Hand was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. </d

Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian M. Patton, 37, of Freeport, Illinois, died November 19, 2009, in Kuwait in a non-combat accident. Petty Officer 2nd Class Patton was an individual augmentee assigned to the Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom Law and Order Detachment. </d

Sgt. Daniel A. Frazier, 25, of Saint Joseph, Michigan, died November 19, 2009, in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when a suicide car-bomber attacked his unit. Sgt. Frazier was assigned to the 782d Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. </d

Staff Sgt. John J. Cleaver, 36, of Marysville, Washington, died November 19, 2009, in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when a suicide car-bomber attacked his unit. Staff Sgt. Cleaver was assigned to the 782d Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. </d