Hero Stories for Texas

Died: May 3, 2010 in Mosul, Iraq Staff Sgt Esau S. Gonzales of Panhandle, Texas graduated from Panhandle High School in 1998 where he was voted Most Talented, Class Favorite, and Most Friendly. Esau was currently serving his third tour of duty in Iraq, two tours with the Army, and one tour with the Navy. [.

Birth: October 19, 1967 – Pecos, Texas Died: March 23, 2003 – near Nasiriyah, Iraq CWO2 Mata was assigned to 507th Maintenance Company, Fort Bliss, Texas. He was one of eight soldiers found dead during the rescue of Pfc. Jessica Lynch, who was being held as a prisoner of war. Johnny grew up in the small [.

Capt. Paul Pena, 27, of San Marcos, Texas, died January 19, 2010, in Arghandab River Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Capt. Pena was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. </d

Cpl. Nicholas K. Uzenski, 21, of Tomball, Texas, died January 11, 2010, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Cpl. Uzenski was assigned to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. </d

Lance Cpl. Mark D. Juarez, 23, of San Antonio, Texas, died January 9, 2010, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Lance Cpl. Juarez was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. </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

Spc. Joseph M. Lewis, 26, of Terrell, Texas, died November 17, 2009, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Spc. Lewis was assigned to the 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington. </d

Lance Cpl. Cody R. Stanley, 21, of Rosanky, Texas, died October 28, 2009, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Lance Cpl. Stanley was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California. </d

Staff Sgt. Shawn H. McNabb, 24, of Terrell, Texas, died October 26, 2009, of wounds suffered when the MH-47 helicopter he was aboard crashed in Darreh-ye Bum, Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. McNabb was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Regiment (Airborne), Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. </d

Staff Sgt. Bradley Espinoza, 26, of Mission, Texas, died October 19, 2009, in Qwest, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Staff Sgt. Espinoza was assigned to 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. </d