Hero Stories for Alabama

Senior Airman Mark Forester, 29, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, died September 29, 2010, in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations in the area. Senior Airman Forester was assigned to the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. </d

Spc. Andrew L. Hand, 25, of Enterprise, Alabama, died July 24, 2010, at Qalat, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his military vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Spc. Hand was assigned to 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Fires Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. </d

Sgt. Robert D. Gordon II, 22, of River Falls, Alabama, died September 16, 2009, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, from a non-combat related illness, after becoming ill on September 11 in southern Afghanistan. Sgt. Gordon was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington. </d

Spc. William Z. Van Osdol, 23, of Pinson, Alabama, died August 19, 2009, at Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy rocket fire struck his quarters. Spc. Van Osdol was assigned to the 172nd Support Battalion, Schweinfurt, Germany. </d

Lance Cpl. Bruce E. Ferrell, 21, of Perdido, Alabama, died August 10, 2009, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Lance Cpl. Ferrell was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. </d

Sgt. Jerry R. Evans, Jr., 23, of Eufaula, Alabama, died August 7, 2009, in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Sgt. Evans was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York. </d

Sgt. Ricky D. Jones, 26, of Plantersville, Alabama, died June 21, 2009, in Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his unit was attacked by indirect fire. Sgt. Jones was assigned to the 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Fort Polk, Louisiana. </d

Spc. Charles D. Parrish, 23, of Jasper, Alabama, died June 4, 2009, in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered earlier that day in Jalula, Iraq, when his vehicle was struck by an anti-tank grenade. Spc. Parrish was assigned to the 5th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. </d

Staff Sgt. Jeffrey A. Hall, 28, of Huntsville, Alabama, died June 1, 2009, in Nerkh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Staff Sgt. Hall was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) Fort Drum, New York. </d

Sgt. Carlie M. Lee III, 23, of Birmingham, Alabama, died May 15, 2009, at Forward Operating Base Shank, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his patrol was attacked by enemy forces using small-arms fire in Chak, Afghanistan. Sgt. Lee was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York. </d