Fallen heroes from your town? Please share.

[Foxfur]

Chief Warrant Officer Joshua M. Tillery, 10th Mountain Division, 6th Aviation Brigade, United States Army.
26 Feb 1977 - 29 Jan 2009
Banks, Oregon

I didn't know him well. I met him in Jim's Market while standing in line. Just a chance meeting.
I thanked him for his service and we talked for ten minutes about our experiences.
He was a helicopter pilot and loved his job.
He went straight into the army in 1995 after graduating from Banks High School.
He was a highly decorated soldier.
The Army Air Medal
2 Army Commendation Medals
6 Army Achievement Medals
The National Defense Service Medal
The Iraq Campaign Medal for Combat Service
The Global War on Terror Service Medal
The Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon
The Army Service Ribbon
The Army Overseas Service Ribbon
The Army Air Assault Badge
The Army Aviator Badge
The Combat Action Badge
The Parachutist Badge
Posthumously awarded The Bronze Star Medal.

I didn't remember his last name until I saw it in the newspaper. I just knew his first name was Josh and that he was with 6th of the 10th.
I found the list of awards at the site listed below.
I had a whole new level of respect and admiration for him.

Rest in peace Joshua.




Please share. Not just American soldiers but any soldier from any nation on this blue planet.
If you only know thier name or just want to select a soldier that you didn't even know that was from your town, you can go to:
http://freedomremembered.com/index.php/category/states/

[ygmir]

My Step-Dad, a wonderful guy.

UDT WWII (pre-seals) , Normandy (D-Day), Southern France, Sicily landings.

and:

Daniel Durgin, Navy medic, attached to the Marines.
Survived two tours in Iraq, only to get run over by a distracted soccer mom with a car full if screaming kids, yelling at them instead of driving.

I stand, salute, and proudly shed a tear.

[wedeliver]

What a great thread, not to honor war or killing but to remember and honor the people who have made the ultimate Sacrifice so that we can go to Burning Man and be Free. Really to see this is fantastic, but in 1968 - 1974 those of us that returned from Vietnam were often called baby killers. So, from a Veteran, thank you! and like ygmir above, I stand at attention and offer a salute, in your memory

[goathead]

Grandfathers, uncles, my dad, cousins and now nephews.
All made it back home except a couple of cousins in the 60's.
Most never talked about it.

Good Men.

[Mr. Flintstone]

My ex wife's best friend. Great dude.

Sgt Jay Anthony Blessing

Birth: Jan. 4, 1980
Washington, USA
Death: Nov. 14, 2003, Afghanistan

Army Sgt. Blessing was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, Washington, as an armorer. Blessing was injured and later died when his humvee struck a home made land mine in Asadabad during 'Operation Mountain Resolve'. Jay joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington and volunteered for the Army after he graduated in August 1998. He joined the military to follow in his father's footsteps – he was in the Navy. He completed basic combat training and advanced individual training in the military operational specialty of Infantryman at Fort Benning, Ga. He continued his military training at Fort Benning when he attended the Basic Airborne Course in November 1998 and graduated from the Ranger Indoctrination Program in January 1999. On January 28, 1999, Jay was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Lewis, Wash. He went on to graduate from the U.S. Army Ranger Course, the Primary Leadership Development Course and was promoted to sergeant in June 2002. After graduation, Jay returned to his high school several times to visit teachers and friends, proudly wearing his uniform. He shipped out to the Middle East only two weeks before being killed. Being a Ranger was what he really loved and what he always wanted to do. He once said, "I want to take this to the highest level I can". Jay's awards and decorations include the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge and the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment Combat Shoulder Sleeve Insignia and Ranger tab.

[Foxfur]

Thanks folks.
These are great contributions, your posts and their sacrifices.
Ever since serving, Independence Day has a bit of a melancholy tinge in the background.
Never so much as to take away from all that we celebrate.
Gives one a much deeper understanding of who pays the butcher's bill and what the true cost is.
God bless America and every country we've brought to or restored to freedom.

[EspressoDude]

my dad:

WIEDEMAN, PAUL LEO
CAPT US ARMY
WORLD WAR II
DATE OF BIRTH: 01/06/1918
DATE OF DEATH: 03/09/1965
BURIED AT: SECTION F SITE 3654
WILLAMETTE NATIONAL CEMETERY

[TomServo]

My cousin, Michael Hippach. Killed in Vietnam, 1970.

My Ex Girlfriend Natalie Vines, serving her 4th tour in Iraq, after being injured by an IED.,,
I know she's not fallen, as far as iknow, but I admire her.