Hero Stories for Texas

Staff Sgt. Chris N. Staats, 32, of Fredericksburg, Texas, died October 16, 2009, in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Staff Sgt. Staats was assigned to the 143rd Infantry Detachment, Austin, Texas. </d

Senior Airman Matthew R. Courtois, 22, of Lucas, Texas, died September 20, 2009, as a result of a non-hostile incident on Abdullah Al Mubarak Airbase, Kuwait. Senior Airman Courtois was assigned to the 366th Security Forces Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. </d

Sgt. David A. Davis, 28, of Dalhart, Texas, died September 19, 2009, at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked Bagram Airfield using indirect fire. Sgt. Davis was assigned to the 32nd Transportation Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 43rd Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. </d

Sgt. David A. Davis, 28, of Dalhart, Texas, died September 19, 2009, at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked Bagram Airfield using indirect fire. Sgt. Davis was assigned to the 32nd Transportation Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 43rd Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. </d

Staff Sgt. Joshua M. Mills, 24, of El Paso, Texas, died September 16, 2009, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle on September 15 with an improvised explosive device. Staff Sgt. Mills was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. </d

Staff Sgt. Michael C. Murphrey, 25, of Snyder, Texas, died September 6, 2009, in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Staff Sgt. Murphrey was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska. </d

Capt. Joshua S. Meadows, 30, of Bastrop, Texas, died September 5, 2009, while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan. Capt. Meadows was assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Pendleton, California. </d

2nd Lt. Darryn D. Andrews, 34, of Dallas, Texas, died September 4, 2009, in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device and a rocket-propelled grenade. 2nd Lt. Andrews was assigned to 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska. </d

Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Baltazar, Jr., 19, of San Antonio, Texas, died September 3, 2009, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Lance Cpl. Baltazar was assigned to 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. </d

Staff Sgt. Clayton P. Bowen, 29, of San Antonio, Texas, died August 18, 2009, in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Staff Sgt. Bowen was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska. </d