Hero Stories for California

Sgt. Joshua M. Hardt, 24, of Applegate, California, died October 3, 2009, in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenade, and indirect fires. Sgt. Hardt was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. </d

Petty Officer 3rd Class James R. Layton, 22, of Riverbank, California, died September 8, 2009, in Kunar province, Afghanistan, while supporting combat operations. Petty Officer 3rd Class Layton was assigned to an embedded training team with Combined Security Tranisiton Command in Afghanistan. </d

Spc. Jonathan D. Welch, 19, of Yorba Linda, California, died August 31, 2009, in Shuyene Sufia, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Spc. Welch was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington. </d

Spc. Tyler R. Walshe, 21, of Shasta, California, died August 31, 2009, in southern Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Spc. Walshe was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington. </d

Lance Cpl. Donald J. Hogan, 20, of San Clemente, California, died August 26, 2009, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Lance Cpl. Hogan was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. </d

Capt. John L. Hallett III, 30, of California, died August 25, 2009, in southern Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Capt. Hallett was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington. </d

Pfc. Brian M. Wolverton, 21, of Oak Park, California, died August 20, 2009, in Kunar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with indirect fire. Pfc. Wolverton was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York. </d

Spc. Matthew K.S. Swanson, 20, of Lake Forest, California, died August 8, 2009, at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over July 19 in Logar Province, Afghanistan. Spc. Swanson was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York. </d

Lance Cpl. Javier Olvera, 20, of Palmdale, California, died August 8, 2009, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Lance Cpl. Olvera was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. </d

Lance Cpl. Pedro A. Barboza Flores, 27, of Glendale, California, died July 11, 2009, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Lance Cpl. Barboza Flores was assigned to 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. </d