Hero Stories for Texas

Spc. Jarrett P. Griemel, 20, of La Porte, Texas, died June 3, 2009, at Forward Operating Base Gardez, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident. Spc. Griemel was assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska. </d

Pfc. Matthew D. Ogden, 33, of Corpus Christi, Texas, died June 1, 2009, in Nerkh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Pfc. Ogden was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) Fort Drum, New York. </d

Lance Cpl. Matthew G. Reza, 27, of Austin, Texas, was killed May 31, 2009, as a result of a non-hostile incident in Khandahar province, Afghanistan. Lance Cpl. Reza was assigned to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31, Marine Aircraft Group 31, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina. </d

Lt. Col. Mark E. Stratton II, 39, of Houston, Texas, died May 26, 2009, near Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device. Lt. Col. Stratton was assigned to the Joint Staff, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. </d

Maj. Matthew P. Houseal, 54, of Amarillo, Texas, died May 11, 2009, in Camp Liberty, Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered in a non-combat related incident. Maj. Houseal was assigned to the 55th Medical Company, Indianapolis, Indiana. </d

Sgt. Christopher D. Loza, 24, of Abilene, Texas, died April 10, 2009, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., of a non-combat related illness after becoming ill March 17 in Radwaniyah, Iraq. Sgt. Loza was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 124th Cavalry Regiment, 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry Division, Waco, Texas. </d

Staff Sgt. Archie A. Taylor, 37, of Tomball, Texas, died March 14, 2009, as a result of a non-hostile incident in Kabul province, Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Taylor was assigned to 2nd Intelligence Battalion, II MEF Headquarters Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. </d