Image courtesy: Pfc. David Hauk, U.S. Army. Kandahar, Afghanistan, November 12, 2009

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Not Just Names

Image courtesy: Staff Sgt. Joseph Swafford

Moments ago, the Department of Defense released the names of the 30 American heroes killed on August 6 in the Wardak province, Afghanistan, helicopter crash.

While the list of these names appears below, every patriotic American knows that this is not simply a collection of names. The list represents life; not only because these heroes fully dedicated themselves to their country, but because they saved countless lives during their stellar military careers.

We will never forget them.

Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Jonas Kelsall, 32, Shreveport, Louisiana

Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis Langlais, 44, Santa Barbara, California

Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Thomas Ratzlaff, 34, Green Forest, Arkansas

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Senior Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Kraig Vickers, 36, Kokomo, Hawaii

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Brian Bill, 31, Stamford, Connecticut

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) John Faas, 31, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Kevin Houston, 35, West Hyannisport, Massachusetts

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Matthew Mason, 37, Kansas City, Missouri

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Stephen Mills, 35, Fort Worth, Texas

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist/Diver) Nicholas Null, 30, Washington, West Virginia

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Robert Reeves, 32, Shreveport, Louisiana

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Heath Robinson, 34, Detroit, Michigan

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Darrik Benson, 28, Angwin, California

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Parachutist) Christopher Campbell, 36, Jacksonville, North Carolina

Information Systems Technician Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Jared Day, 28, Taylorsville, Utah

Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) John Douangdara, 26, South Sioux City, Nebraska

Cryptologist Technician (Collection) Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) Michael Strange, 25, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon Tumilson, 35, Rockford, Iowa

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Aaron Vaughn, 30, Stuart, Florida

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jason Workman, 32, Blanding, Utah

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jesse Pittman, 27, Ukiah, California

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Nicholas Spehar, 24, Saint Paul, Minnesota

Chief Warrant Officer David Carter, 47, Centennial, Colorado

Chief Warrant Officer Bryan Nichols, 31, Hays, Kansas

Sgt. Patrick Hamburger, 30, Lincoln, Nebraska

Sgt. Alexander Bennett, 24, Tacoma, Washington

Spc. Spencer Duncan, 21, Olathe, Kansas

Tech. Sgt. John Brown, 33, Tallahassee, Florida

Staff Sgt. Andrew Harvell, 26, Long Beach, California

Tech. Sgt. Daniel Zerbe, 28, York, Pennsylvania

File image courtesy: Senior Chief Petty Officer Robert Fluegel

2 comments:

  1. I raise a glass in honor of these American heroes. Their memories will live forever here on earth, their love of country will be example for generations to come and their sacrifice has earned them a place in Heaven.

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  2. The Northwood Gratitude and Honor Memorial in Irvine, CA lists by name every fallen American heroes from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is the only memorial in the country that does this - and has since 2003. The names of all of these brave service men will be unveiled in a ceremony on Veterans Day. To learn more see www.NorthwoodMemorial.com.

    Their service and sacrifice will be remembered and honored.

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