Map of Afghanistan



Map of Afghanistan [pic] Map of Iraq

New Mexico Warriors Killed

in Afghanistan and Iraq

“Their Service Made a Difference”

[pic] USMC Pfc. Christopher S. Adlesperger

Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico Age: 20 years old

Died: December 9, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed by enemy rifleman during action in the Anbar providence of Fallujah

Unit:Marines, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, CA

Christopher S. Adlesperger's last message to his mom was good news. "Chris said he had just been promoted meritoriously to lance corporal," said his mother, Annette. "He said, 'How cool is that?'" Adlesperger, 20, of Albuquerque, N.M., died Dec. 9 during fighting in Iraq's Anbar province. He was based at Camp Pendleton. Adlesperger ran track, did tae kwon do and wrestled in high school, which he graduated from in 2003. "He was always looking to have fun," said his uncle, Dennis Adlesperger. "He loved the outdoors, he loved sports. He loved being around people, but he was competitive." After graduation, Adlesperger briefly attended the University of New Mexico and joined the Marines. "He felt like that was what he wanted to do _ go over there and defend us," Dennis Adlesperger said. "He knew when he was signed up that he was probably going over. That was his duty." He also is survived by his father, Gary.

[pic] Army Sergeant James Akin

Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico Age: 23 years

Incident: Killed June 3, 2007 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unit: US Army

Someday, the Oval Office would be his.

James C. Akin, the would-be president, was so driven by that thought that he enlisted in the Army and served in Iraq so that as a presidential candidate, he could speak with the experience of a war veteran.

Army Sgt. James C. Akin was killed Sunday near Baghdad, when a roadside bomb exploded near his Humvee. The Department of Defense has not released the information, but his family has confirmed it.

"He was willing to put his actions where his mouth was," said Victor Raigoza, a spokesman for Akin's family. "If one day he occupied the office where war would be determined, (he felt) that it would be necessary for him to have experienced that."

Akin, a 2001 Valley High School graduate, was one of four soldiers killed when the Humvee he was driving was struck by an improvised explosive device, Raigoza said. Akin would have turned 24 this month.

"You always did what you loved to do, and that is serve your country," Akin's wife, Syreeta, of Rio Rancho, wrote on his page on the social networking site . "I appreciate your sacrifice as well as all others before you. Without people like you where would our country be?"

Raigoza met Akin in 2004. Akin had sold his retail cell phone company in the Northeast Heights and signed on to manage Raigoza's Democratic bid for a state Senate seat. Raigoza lost the nomination to former Los Ranchos Mayor John Hooker.

"We ended up spending three months together, almost day and night," Raigoza said. "My campaign was based out of my house, and James pretty much moved in."

Akin was deployed in the fall of 2004, Raigoza said, a development that was worrisome based on what he learned of Akin during their months spent together.

"I was nervous by the fact that James was going to war," Raigoza said.

"Because of his gregarity and his leadership, there's a good chance James will never come back," Raigoza said he thought at the time. "I hated to believe that, but knowing his personality, those are the people leading the way."

Elements of Akin's personality can be found throughout his MySpace page (akin_for_president). He was fond of military movies and admired President Clinton. He also was a sports fan.

In a posting on Saturday, his wife wrote "Go Cavs" - a reference to the NBA playoff victory by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The postings since have turned his Web page into an Internet memorial, with comments from Army colleagues, family and friends.

"I don't have my battle buddy anymore," wrote an Army colleague identified as "Casey" on the site. "I love you, man, and know that I wish it was my life instead of yours."

Raigoza said Akin's character is showcased in a letter he wrote after the 2004 political campaign.

"Live life to serve, because you can. Dissent, because you can. Enjoy freedom, because you can," Akin wrote. "Remember always that the measure of our progress is not whether we can provide more for those who have plenty, but whether we can provide enough to those who have little."

Akin is survived by his wife, Syreeta, and father, James W. Akin of Albuquerque. His mother, Marianne Antonucci, died in October, Raigoza said.

Funeral arrangements are pending, but Raigoza said Akin requested burial in Santa Fe National Cemetery.

[pic] Army Sgt. Matthew S. Apuan

Hometown: Las Cruces, New Mexico Age: 27 years old

Died: February 18, 2007 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed when his unit came in contact with the enemy using small arms fire while on combat patrol in Baghdad.

Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX

Ernesto Rodriguez remembered Matthew S. Apuan as a fun-loving prankster and avid skateboarder who could always cheer up his comrades. "He always, always put everybody in a good mood," Rodriguez said. "It's just hard to put it into words. He was a bright person, brought you up when you were down. He was always there." Apuan, 27, of Las Cruces, N.M., was killed Feb. 18 by small-arms fire in Baghdad. He was a 1998 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Hood. As a freshman, Apuan was a member of the Air Force Junior ROTC program; as a senior, he was on the track team. Apuan also played soccer in the High Noon Soccer League. He attended New Mexico State University for two years and studied hotel-motel management. On his first deployment to Iraq in 2004, Matthew was awarded an Army Commendation Medal for his role in the battle of Najaf. He also was involved in the battle of Fallujah. On his return, he proposed to his girlfriend, Nicole, purchased a new sports car, learned about wine and put Vietnamese hot chili sauce on his favorite foods. Apuan also is survived by his father and stepmother, Charles and Martha Apuan; and his mother, Sandra Apuan.

[pic] USAF 1st Lt. Tamara Archuleta

Hometown: Los Lunas, New Mexico Age: 23 years old

Died: March 23, 2003 in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Incident: Killed when their HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter crashed in stormy weather during a rescue mission in southeast Afghanistan.

Unit: Air Force, 41st Rescue Squadron, Moody AFB, Air Force Base, GA

The day before she was to return from Afghanistan, 1st Lt. Tammy Archuleta, a 23-year-old Air Force helicopter pilot, set out to rescue two children in a medical emergency. Hurtling across the plains, her aircraft slammed into a mountain 10 feet from its summit, killing everyone onboard. It was two days into the Iraq war.

Archuleta was to be married this past June, and left behind her 4-year-old son, Donnie. She was a community kid--Girl ...

NO Photo

Available

Navy Petty Officer Second Class Menelek M. Brown

Hometown: Roswell, New Mexico, U.S. Age: 24 years old

Died: January 4, 2008 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unit: Navy, USS Hopper, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Incident: Declared dead Jan. 4 after apparently going overboard from USS Hopper in the Arabian Sea Jan. 3.

ROSWELL, N.M.—A 24-year-old sailor from southern New Mexico has been declared dead after apparently going overboard in the Arabian Sea, military officials announced Monday.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Menelek M. Brown of Roswell went missing Thursday morning while the USS Hopper was conducting maritime security operations, according to the Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain.

"A 'man overboard' was immediately called and air and surface forces from the Hopper, USS Port Royal and USS Ingraham began conducting search and rescue operations," the central command said in a statement.

Lt. John Gay, a spokesman for the U.S. Fifth Fleet, said at the time that water temperatures in the part of the Arabian Sea where the sailor went overboard were about 79 degrees.

Despite the search effort, Brown could not be found. He was declared dead Friday, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

USS Hopper, which has a home port at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is deployed to the Fifth Fleet's area of operations. Bahrain an oil-refining and banking island in the Arabian sea, hosts the Fifth Fleet.

[pic] Army Cpl. Lyle J. Cambridge

Hometown: Shiprock, New Mexico Age: 23 years old

Died:July 5, 2005 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed in a makeshift bomb explosion while on patrol in Baghdad

Unit: Army, 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colo.

To his older sister, Cpl. Lyle J. Cambridge will always be little Lyle, the brother who bought her an Easter dress each year and always tried to make people laugh. "I don't believe there was ever a day when Lyle got mad. He just wins your heart," Shauna Dee said. Cambridge, 23, of Shiprock, N.M., was killed July 5 in Baghdad, Iraq, when an explosive detonated near his vehicle. He was based at Fort Carson. He is survived by his wife, Evonne, and two young sons, 3-year-old Wyatt and 1-year-old Nick. A member of the Navajo Nation, Cambridge joined the Army in May 2002, two years after graduating from Aztec High School. His father, Joe Cambridge Sr., is a veteran, as his brother Vernon. "He was a good man," Evonne Cambridge said, crediting his parents and siblings for her husband's good nature. "You raised him to be a very respectful and honest, encouraging man."

[pic] Army Capt. Thomas J. Casey

Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico Age: 32 years old

Died: January 3, 2008 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire during combat operations when his unit came in contact with the enemy using small arms fire while on combat patrol in Baghdad.

Unit: Army, 1st Infantry Division, 1st Brigade, Fort Riley, KS, Military Transition Team.

The wife Leslie Anne, and their two children live in Reno. U.S. Army captain killed in Iraq remembered him Saturday as a committed family man who placed the needs of his family before his own.

Capt. Thomas J. Casey, 32, of Albuquerque, N.M., died Thursday from wounds suffered when insurgents attack his unit with small arms fire near Sadiyah, Iraq, the U.S. military reported.

Casey spent as much of his free time as possible with his family, the Nevada National Guard reported in a statement. He was also a soccer fan and participated in sporting events and also worked out. He was a competitive swimmer in high school in New Mexico.

His fitness was recognized by the U.S. Army when he received the President’s Award for fitness, the national guard reported. Casey is survived by Leslie Anne Casey and their two children, ages 3 and 1 years old. Casey is also survived by his parents, John J. Casey of Albuquerque and Patricia A. Casey of Cape May Point, N.J.

Casey was assigned to the military transition team, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division from Fort Riley, Kan. Casey, a military intelligence officer, was an embedded trainer with 2/3 Armored Cavalry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division. He was part of a team responsible for training Iraqi police and Iraqi military forces, the guard said.

Stand down, CPT Thomas J. Casey, your mission is now complete, may you rest in Honored, Eternal Peace. Our deepest, heartfelt condolences to the Family and Friends of this Fallen Hero. We thank you for your sacrifice, we are a grateful nation. Stand Proud…An American Hero Is Coming Home.

[pic] USMC Lance Cpl. Steven M. Chavez

Hometown: Hondo, New Mexico Age: 20 years old

Died: March 14, 2007 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Died from a non-hostile incident in Anbar Province

Unit: Marines, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA

[pic] Army Spec. Jeremy E. Christensen

Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico Age: 27 years old

Died: November 27, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed by a roadside bomb in Ad Duilayah, Iraq

Unit: Army, 1st Squadron, 4th Armored Cavalry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany

Jeremy E. Christensen never did anything halfway, either in work or in play. Take Thanksgiving: His preferred activity wasn't a relaxed game of tossing the pigskin with the family. "Full-contact football," said his younger brother, George Hunt Jr. "No pads." Christensen, 27, of Albuquerque, N.M., died Nov. 27 when his tank was destroyed by a roadside bomb during a combat patrol north of Baghdad. He was based at Schweinfurt, Germany. He grew up in the Portland area and signed up with the Army National Guard at age 18 and attended Mt. Hood Community College. Once Christensen was a civilian again, he moved to Idaho to work as bail bondsmen and later moved to Albuquerque to serve as office manager with the company. After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Christensen decided to re-enter the military. He said "that's too close to home. I need to go and serve my country, and keep you guys safe," said Gerri Jimenez, a co-worker and friend. "He was prepared for the war. He wasn't scared." He is survived by his mother, Linda Hakes; stepfather, Rick Adamek; and father, George Hunt.

[pic] USAF Tech. Sgt. Scott E. Duffman

Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico Age: 32 years old

Died: February 18, 2007 in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Incident: Killed when the coalition CH-47 helicopter he was riding in crashed eastern Afghanistan

Unit: Air Force, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Air Force Base, NC

Tech. Sgt. Scott Duffman was among the eight U.S. service members killed Feb. 18, 2007 in Afghanistan when the Chinook helicopter they were riding in crashed. He was 32. Duffman was born in the Philippines and spent his first three years in Belleville when his parents, Rose and Jerry Duffman, were stationed at Scott Air Force Base. After his parents divorced, Duffman eventually moved to Albuquerque, N.M., with his mother and sister, Wendy.

He was an active child who played soccer and wrestled on school teams. "He loved to skateboard, he wore the wheels right off of one of them," said his stepmother, Trudy Duffman, of Shiloh. "He was just an energetic, all-around good kid." When Duffman graduated from high school in 1992, he followed a long line of family members into the Air Force -- in addition to his parents, his stepmother, Uncle James Duffman, and grandfather were in the service.

Duffman completed basic training and immediately volunteered for the elite pararescue squad. His stepfather had been the commandant of the U.S. Air Force Pararescue School in New Mexico, and Rose Duffman said her son decided after his 10th birthday that he wanted to be a pararescueman.

Duffman endured months of physically and psychologically grueling training to earn his maroon beret. As a pararescue medic with the 24th Special Tactics Squadron out of Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina, Duffman parachuted out of helicopters and airplanes to tend to wounded troops.

Jerry Duffman, of Shiloh, said the pararescue squad fit his son's daredevil personality. "I'm pretty sure he was an adrenaline junkie. He loved to skydive, he loved to scuba dive, rappel and climb mountains, snowboard and snow ski. All of those things he liked to do were part of his job," he said.

Everyone agrees Duffman was a prankster -- he would change the language setting on friends' cell phones and arrange reindeer lawn statues in compromising positions. "Scott liked a good joke. Early on, from the whoopee cushion to the buzzer in the hand; nothing harmful," said Rose Duffman, who lives in Bristow, Va. "He was a happy person and he enjoyed laughing and smiling and joking."

Duffman, who had been deployed to Afghanistan multiple times on three-month rotations, was replacing someone who was coming home when he left on Feb. 13. Jerry and Trudy Duffman last talked to Duffman the Sunday before he was killed.

"We had a great conversation, one of those things you'll remember forever," Jerry Duffman said. "It was kind of a joke whenever he went that they were going camping, and I just told him to keep his head down -- and this particular mission it didn't make any difference."

In addition to his wife of two years, Mary, Scott Duffman leaves behind a 5-month-old daughter, Sophia. He was buried Friday at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. "I think the most important thing that needs to be emphasized is we're going to miss Scott, and our loss can hardly be described, but people in the United States are going through this every day," Jerry Duffman said. "All of the men and women who are dying for their country daily, and we can't forget those families who are going through the same thing." U.S. Army Ranger Ryan Garbs, of Edwardsville, also died in the helicopter crash, and 14 others were injured.

[pic] USMC Lance Cpl. Jonathan W. Grant

Hometown: Pojoaque, New Mexico Age: 23 years old

Died: May 11, 2005 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed when their amphibious assault vehicle struck an explosive device in Karabilah

Unit: Marine Reserves, 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Corps Reserves, Albuquerque, NM

[pic] Army Sgt. Tommy L. Gray

Hometown: Roswell, New Mexico Age: 34 years old

Died: August 3, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed in an accident when he was caught between two motor vehicles in Taji.

Unit: Army, 215th Forward Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX

Tommy L. Gray had a passion for fishing, for reading comic books _ and for life. "He loved people and he loved his life," Joyce Gray said of her son. "He smiled all the time. He was such a bright person." The 34-year-old tank mechanic from Roswell, N.M., died Aug. 3 when he was caught between two vehicles in his unit's motor pool in Taji, Iraq. He was based in Fort Hood, Texas. Gray entered the military in 1989 at the age of 18. He had served in the Army for 15 years before going to Iraq earlier this year. Army officials said his death was under investigation. Joyce Gray said her son was intensely patriotic. "He loved his God, his family and his country," she said. Survivors include his wife, Rene. He was a tank mechanic.

[pic] Army Lt. Col. Marshall A. Gutierrez

Hometown: Las Vegas, New Mexico Age: 41 years old

Died: September 4, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Died from non-combat related injuries at Camp Virginia, Kuwait.

Unit: Army, Area Support Group, Arijan, Kuwait

A 41-year-old soldier from Las Vegas has died from non-combat related injuries in Kuwait, the U.S. Department of Defense announced Thursday. Army Lt. Col. Marshall A. Gutierrez died Monday in Camp Virginia, Kuwait, marking the second death of a military member from Las Vegas in a week. Marine Lance Cpl. Shane P. Harris, 23, was killed Sunday during combat operations in Iraq's Al Anbar province. He was assigned to the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division; I Marine Expeditionary Force based in Twenty-nine Palms, Calif. Gutierrez was assigned to the Area Support Group in Arijan, Kuwait. The Defense Department said Gutierrez's death is under investigation and provided no further details. Gutierrez is a 1983 graduate of West Las Vegas High School and a 1987 graduate of New Mexico Highlands University. He is the son of Mary E. Gutierrez of Las Vegas. Harris' battalion was scheduled to return to the United States this month, said Marine Corps spokesman Sgt. Chris Cox, who declined say how Harris was killed because of security reasons. Friends and family say Harris was a devote Christian with a strong work ethic and sense of patriotic duty. "He was a great man," said Harris' father, Pat. "He told his mamma, 'If I don't stand between, if I don't go over there and stand over there, they are going to be over here, and your grandbabies are not going to have the life I had.'" Pat Harris, his wife, Carol, and their four children _ Logan, Shane, Ryan and Tiffany _ moved to New Mexico from Texas in 1993, said Wayne Sonchar, a family friend who is serving as a spokesman. The family plans to bury Harris at its ranch in San Geronimo, a tiny rural village about 15 miles southwest of Las Vegas.

[pic] USMC Lance Cpl. Shane P. Harris

Hometown: Las Vegas, New Mexico Age: 23 years old

Died: September 3, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed while conducting combat operations in Anbar Province

Unit: Marines, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Twenty-nine Palms, CA

[pic] USMC Lance Cpl. Chad R. Hildebrandt

Hometown: Springer, New Mexico Age: 22 years old

Died: October 17, 2005 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Rutbah.

Unit: Marines, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA

As his casket lay underneath the basketball hoop at one end of Maxwell High School gymnasium, Chad R. Hildebrandt's former teachers and friends recalled the spots on the court where he would dive for loose balls and make other hustle plays. He was a prankster, a warrior, the big man on campus, a role model to younger students, a good older brother and a young man "intent on living his life to the fullest," said those who spoke in eulogy. Hildebrandt, 22, of Springer, N.M., was killed Oct. 17 in Rutba in a gunfight. He was assigned to Camp Pendleton. Hildebrandt, a 2003 high school graduate, enlisted in the Marines eight days after graduation. Friends said becoming a Marine had always been his dream. "Chad was the greatest guy. It's not fair that he had to go out like this. But he died doing what he loved. It's all he talked about _ being a Marine," said Hildebrandt's friend Richard Galli. Hildebrandt's yellow jersey, No. 44, hung from the hoop for his memorial service. When the service was over, Hildebrandt's classmates gave it to his parents, hugging each of them. He is survived by his parents, Coleen and Bob Hildebrandt.

[pic] Army Sgt. Joel W. Lewis

Hometown: Sandia Park, New Mexico Age: 28 years old

Died: May 6, 2007 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb detonated near his vehicle during combat operations in Baqubah

Unit: Army, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, WA

[pic] Army Spec. Christopher A. Merville

Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico Age: 26 years old

Died: October 12, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed by enemy fire during a combat operation in Baghdad.

Unit: Army, 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Hovey, South Korea

Christopher A. Merville liked nothing better than tramping around Revolutionary and Civil War sites. "He really loved history," said his uncle, Edwin Merville. "We walked those battlefields out east. His dad was in the Army, which might have had something to do with his signing up and his interest in history." Merville, 26, of Albuquerque, N.M., died Oct. 12 when his unit came under fire in Baghdad. He was stationed in South Korea, where he became engaged to Renabeth Luis from the Philippines. He wrote his mother about being promoted and getting better pay. "Now I can look forward to having a little more saved for when I finally return to American soil. That way I have something to start my foundation as a married man. Yikes!" he wrote. Merville attended the University of New Mexico and could retain a working knowledge of any language in a few months, said another uncle, Herb Merville. "He spoke German just like a native," he said. "He could pick up other languages so easily. That's why the Army initially recruited him."

ROSWELL, N.M. — A New Mexico soldier who was scheduled to return home before Christmas has died in Iraq.

[pic] Army Spc. Brynn J. Naylor

Hometown: Roswell, New Mexico Age: 21 years old

Died: December 13, 2007 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms fire in Baghdad.

Unit: Army 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd infantry Division, Fort Carson, CO died in Baghdad of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit using small-arms fire.

Naylor was scheduled to return home before Christmas but died in Iraq on December 13, 2007.

For the Naylor family, Christmas time now will always be be marked by that, but you never want to forget either and they won’t forget Brynn’s commitment to family and country. He was stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, CO and had served 15 months in Iraq on security patrol. He graduated from Roswell’s Goddard High School in 2005 and turned down scholarships to join the Army. Naylor is survived by his father, Ross Naylor of Roswell, and his mother D’Ann McGuire of Shallowater, TX

[pic] Army Spec. James H. Pirtle

Hometown: La Mesa, New Mexico Age: 27 years old

Died: October 4, 2003 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed when a rocket-propelled grenade hit his Bradley Fighting Vehicle in Assadah, Iraq just north of Baghdad.

Unit: Army, C Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, TX

While stationed in Iraq, Spc. James H. Pirtle wrote letters to family and friends in New Mexico, telling them of warming relations with farmers, his love for the Iraqis and his hopes for the U.S. mission. In a letter to his mother, he called his work in Iraq "the experience of a lifetime, and the reason I joined the Army." Pirtle, 27, died Oct. 4 when his Bradley fighting vehicle was attacked about 60 miles north of Baghdad. He had been in the Army for more than two years and was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. Pirtle _ who went by the name Heath _ had planned to come home in January and join his wife, two stepsons and a new baby girl in the family's new home. "He was a beautiful person, inside and out," said his wife, Ursula Pirtle. Pirtle graduated from high school in 1994 and attended Dona Ana Branch Community College in Las Cruces, N.M., before joining the Army in 2001. He was featured in a photo in Time magazine before heading off to the Middle East. "My son was my hero before he went in _ now he's the world's hero," said his mother, Kay Beeman.

[pic] USMC Pfc. Christopher Ramos

Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico Age: 26 years old

Died: April 5, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Died of injuries from enemy fire in Anbar province

Unit: Marines, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA

Christopher Ramos grew up in the same city as the woman he would one day marry, but they didn't meet until 2001, at the wedding of mutual friends. They themselves married in January 2003, and Ramos shipped out for the Middle East a few months later. Lance Cpl. Ramos, 26, of Albuquerque, N.M., was on his second tour in Iraq when he was killed April 5 in Anbar province. The couple last spoke about a week before his death, and they talked about their 18-month-old daughter, Malaya. "He loved her more than anything in the whole world," Dianna Ramos said. She said her husband entered the Marines to better himself, although he also aspired to serve as a police officer in Albuquerque, where his brother is a firefighter. "He was a wonderful husband, a great father," Dianna Ramos said. "He was supportive in everything that I did. I was always supportive of everything that he did. We were each other's two best friends."

[pic] Army Pfc. Mario A. Reyes

Hometown: Las Cruces, New Mexico Age: 19 years old

Died: November 7, 2005 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near his dismounted

Unit: Army, 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, CO

Pfc. Mario A. Reyes was assigned to the 3rd Armored Cavalry regiment, Fort Carson, CO and was killed when a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated near his dismounted patrol in Baghdad.

[pic] Army Cpl. Demetrius L. Rice

Hometown: Ortonville, New Mexico Age: 24 years old

Died: July 14, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed in a vehicle accident in Talafar.

Unit: Army, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, WA

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[pic] USMC Sgt. Moses D. Rocha

Hometown: Roswell, New Mexico Age: 33 years old

Died: August 5, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Died of injuries from an attack in Najaf.

Unit: Marines, Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA

Moses Daniel Rocha was a strong man with a powerful presence so powerful that a friend called him "Superman." "He just had that aura about him like nothing could hurt him and he helped make you a stronger person by being near him," Melanie Varagon said. "He was such a strong person who could always lift your spirits up." Rocha, 33, died Aug. 5 when Iraqi militants outside Najaf opened fire on his vehicle. The Roswell, N.M., native was serving his second tour in Iraq. This time, Rocha was doing infantry work. His job last year was protecting military VIPs. A 1990 high school graduate, Rocha joined the Marines when he was 24 and was stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif. He is survived by a 15-year-old daughter, Miranda Pruitt. Aloysius "Joe" Sanchez said he talked his stepson into joining the military. "He died for his country," Sanchez said. "He was a good kid."

[pic] Army Staff Sgt. Joseph E. Rodriguez

Hometown: Las Cruces, New Mexico Age: 25 years old

Died: January 28, 2005 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb struck his vehicle in Baghdad

Unit: Army, 8th Engineer Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX

Although Joseph E. Rodriguez weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces at birth, he didn't grow up to be a large guy. That came later. "More recently he had started lift weights, working out," said his mother, Gloria Nava. "It wasn't until then that I noticed he was really starting to get buffed up." Rodriguez, 25, of Las Cruces, N.M., died Jan. 28 when insurgents attacked his Humvee in Baghdad. He was stationed at Fort Hood. After six years of active service, Rodriguez was mulling whether to stay in the Army and try to become a helicopter pilot. A 1998 high school graduate, Rodriguez did well in academics. He also played football and rugby as a teen. "He always did really well in school," said his mother. "Math was always his best subject. He could add numbers in his head; I know because he always did that for me." While his stepfather attended school in Arizona, Rodriguez took it upon himself to help around the house. "It was just Joseph and I," Nava said. "He would do all the work over here, and he was just in his early teens." He is survived by his wife, Leslie, and son, Ethen, 2.

[pic] Army Pfc. Ricky Salas Jr.

Hometown: Roswell, New Mexico Age: 22 years old

Died: March 7, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near his military vehicle while conducting mounted operations in Mosul.

Unit: Army, 2nd Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, Friedberg, Germany.

[pic] USMC Lance Cpl. Emilian D. Sanchez

Hometown: Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico Age: 20 years old

Died: January 21, 2007 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed while conducting combat operations in Anbar Province

Unit: Marines, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA

SANTA FE (AP) Gov. Bill Richardson has ordered flags around New Mexico to fly at half-staff through sundown Wednesday in honor of a New Mexico infantryman who was killed while serving in Iraq. Marine Lance Cpl. Emilian Sanchez, 20, the son of David and Jennie Sanchez of Santa Ana Pueblo, died Jan. 21 in Al Anbar Province. He was assigned to Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, stationed in Camp Pendleton, Calif. Sanchez's body arrived at Albuquerque's international airport Monday morning. His flag-draped coffin was escorted by a Marine honor guard. Sanchez, who joined the Marines in July 2005, leaves behind his parents, three brothers, three sisters, his fiancée and other relatives from Santa Ana and Sandia pueblos. "Lance Cpl. Sanchez's patriotism, bravery and dedication to the state of New Mexico will always be remembered," Richardson said in an executive order signed Monday.

[pic] Army Sgt. Christopher A. Sanders

Hometown: Roswell, New Mexico Age: 22 years old

Died: January 9, 2008 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Died of injuries from a makeshift bomb detonated during combat operations in Sinsil. north of Baghdad.

Unit: Army, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Vilseck, Germany

ROSWELL, N.M. -- A soldier from southeastern New Mexico has been killed while serving in Iraq is being remembered as a wonderful father and a patriot who fought for his country.

Family members of Army Sgt. Christopher Sanders of Roswell were notified by the U.S. Department of Defense that the 22-year-old died Jan. 9. They were told Sanders was killed by an improvised explosive device.

Sanders, who graduated from the New Mexico Military Institute in 2003, leaves behind his wife, Dara, and a young son and daughter.

His parents, Kelly and Marie Sanders, are Carlsbad residents, having moved here about six months ago. Kelly Sanders works for PNM, while Marie Sanders works for Lakeview Hospice, a Lakeview spokeswoman said Tuesday.

The Defense Department said Friday that Sanders was one of six soldiers who died in the attack in Sinsil, Iraq. The soldiers were assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division out of Vilseck, Germany.

"We will miss him," Dara Sanders said. "He was the best father, a great husband."

Sanders joined the Army in February 2004 after briefly attending Eastern New Mexico University in Roswell. He was first deployed to Iraq in October 2004 and spent a year there. He was deployed again last August and was scheduled to return home in November.

"He was a proud American," his wife said. "He was honored to serve for his country."

Sanders' mother, Marie Sanders, said her son reminded her about a week before his death why he was serving in Iraq. "Mom, somebody has to do it," he told her.

She described her son as a wonderful person. "He was a very active child, always getting into something, always on the move," she said.

From an early age, it was clear to the family that Sanders would end up in the military. His mother said at age 9, he wanted to attend NMMI.

"He was always very patriotic," she said, adding that her son would want to be remembered as someone who proudly served the country he loved and who believed the American involvement in Iraq is a noble mission.

Sanders was honored with a memorial service at NMMI, and Gov. Bill Richardson ordered flags to fly at half-staff in his honor. Sanders, a graduate of New Mexico Military Institute, leaves behind a wife and two young children.

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[pic] Army Sgt. Leroy Segura Jr.

Hometown: Clovis, New Mexico Age: 23 years old

Died: August 4, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Died of injuries suffered in a Humvee incident in Habbaniyah

Unit: Army, 362nd Engineer Company, 54th Engineer Battalion, Fort Benning, GA

[pic]Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher James Speer

Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico Age: 28 years old

Died: August 7, 2002 in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Incident: Died in a German hospital of wounds received during a reconnaissance mission July 27 in eastern Afghanistan

Unit: Army, U.S. Army Special Operations Command Headquarters, Fort Bragg, NC

[pic] Army Spec. Clifford A. Spohn III

Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico Age: 21 years old

Died: April 9, 2007 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed when the enemy attacked his location with indirect fire in Karmah

Unit: Army, 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, AK

Paratrooper from New Mexico slain at a police station in Iraq. A Fort Richardson-based paratrooper killed in Iraq on Monday was identified Tuesday as a 21-year-old New Mexico man.

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Army Spc. Clifford Spohn III, of Albuquerque, died of wounds suffered when his unit was hit by indirect fire while working at an Iraqi police station in Karmah, Iraq, Army officials said.

Three unidentified paratroopers were also hurt in the Karmah attack. Two were wounded seriously, and the third was treated and returned to duty.

Spohn was assigned to 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division.

A 2004 graduate of Cibola High School in Albuquerque, Spohn joined the Army in October 2004 and was assigned to Fort Richardson in May 2005.

He leaves behind a wife and a young daughter.

Another Fort Richardson soldier was killed Sunday. Sgt. Adam Kennedy, 25, of Norfolk, Mass., died when his unit was hit by indirect fire near Diwaniyah, south of Baghdad.

[pic] Army Sgt. Lee D. Todacheene

Hometown: Farmington, New Mexico Age: 29 years old

Died: April 6, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed when mortar fire hit his guard post in Balad.

Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 77th Armored Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany

[pic] Army Spec. Eric Vizcaino

Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico Age: 21 years old

Died: November 21, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Died in a non-combat related incident in Balad.

Unit: Army, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC

In a second-row pew at San Jose Parish, Daniela Vizcaino sat with her husband, Fernando Alcal , at her side, 2-month-old son Jess in her arms and memories of a cousin lost to war swirling around her mind.

She and Eric Vizcaino, a 21-year-old West Mesa High School graduate who died in Iraq on Monday, grew up together, separated by one year in age.

As mourners trickled out of the church Thursday, Daniela Vizcaino remembered her cousin as a loving and athletic boy, an Atlanta Braves fanatic, and a guy always up for a bike ride, a soccer match or even the occasional light existential talk.

"We would wonder how Jesus would laugh," Daniela said. Ditto for Our Lady of Guadalupe, though no conclusions were reached.

Celebrating a Thanksgiving Day Mass is common practice for Catholics, but at San Jose, the day - better known as Acci¢n de Gracias - hadn't much festivity to offer. Eric Vizcaino's life was a main topic in the Rev. Gabriel Paredes' homily. It was mentioned in the prayers of the faithful, too.

At the end of Mass, while two musicians played a tune about peace, thanks and destiny titled "Hoy Senor," fully half the church crowded around the family, well-wishing, hugging and crying.

Vizcaino died from injuries suffered in what the military says was a noncombat related incident. Details weren't immediately available from the Army on Wednesday.

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Vizcaino is survived by his wife, Sabrina, and 2-year-old daughter, Jasmine. They were scheduled to arrive in Albuquerque on Thursday after traveling from their home at Fort Bragg. Another memorial service is planned for Sunday at San Felipe de Neri Church.

"He had a lot of love to give all the time," Daniela said, as she drifted back to June 12, 1999 - her quinceaera.

She danced with Eric then. He didn't know what he was doing, "but he didn't care," she said. "He looked cute."

The two last met in August of 2005, when he returned from base in North Carolina.

"He was always in his uniform," Daniela said. "He came back happy, because he had new tattoos."

Besides the barbed-wire image around his arm, the occasion was all the more special because he was able to meet Daniela's 2-year-old daughter for the first time.

Looking down at Jess, she added, "he didn't get to meet this one."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

[pic] Army Sgt. Marshall A. Westbrook

Hometown: Farmington, New Mexico Age: 43 years old

Died: October 1, 2005 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near his Humvee in Baghdad.

Unit: Army National Guard, 126th Military Police Company, Army National Guard, Albuquerque, NM

Before Marshall A. Westbrook was deployed to Iraq, he installed a new door on his family's home. It was the start of many home improvement projects he wanted to get done. Recently, about 20 community volunteers from at least eight local businesses _ including the Public Service Company of New Mexico, where Westbrook worked as an environmental process operator _ picked up hammers and other tools and picked up where Westbrook left off. "He worked for us for 23 years. This is the least we could do," said Dick Goeden, who worked with Westbrook at PNM. "The house definitely needed some repairs." Westbrook, 43, of Farmington, N.M., was killed Oct. 1 by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. He was based at Albuquerque. "He was a gentle giant," said Sgt. 1st Class Arthur Garcia, who has known Westbrook in and out of the military for about 15 years. "He had a soft voice. He was a good guy, and he will be sorely missed." He is survived by his wife, Jolene, and five children: Marcia, 24, Ryan, 23, Anthony, 20, Nicole, 14, and Chadrick, 22 months. "He was a father figure," said Sgt. Darryl Henry.

[pic] Army Spec. Clifton J. Yazzie

Hometown: Fruitland, New Mexico Age: 23 years old

Died: January 20, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near his Humvee during patrol operations in Huwijah.

Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, KY. He was a graduate of Kirtland Central High School.

[pic] Army Spec. Jose Zamora

Hometown: Sunland Park, New Mexico Age: 24 years old

Died: August 6, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near his Humvee while conducting combat operations in Baghdad

Unit: Army, 2nd Brigade Troop Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY

[pic] Army Spec. Jesse M. Zamora

Hometown: Las Cruces, New Mexico Age: 22 years old

Died: February 3, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Died when a makeshift bomb exploded near his Humvee in Bayji

Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, KY. He was a graduate of Mayfield High School. He died during his second tour and was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

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[pic] USMC Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec

Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico Age: 34 years old

Died: May 11, 2007 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Incident: Killed while conducting combat operations in Baghdad.

Unit: Marines, Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps National Capital Region, Henderson Hall, Arlington, VA

On Thursday, May 10, 2007 Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec, USMC died in Iraq. Beloved husband of Pamela and father of Fallyn Justice Zembiec. He is also survived by his parents Don and Jo Ann Zembiec and his brother John Zembiec. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 15th from 3-5 and 7-9 PM at John M. Taylor Funeral Home, 147 Duke of Gloucester St., Annapolis, MD. Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, May 16th at 8:30 AM at the US Naval Academy Memorial Chapel, with interment to follow in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial contributions be made to Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec Scholarship, MC-LEF c/o William Venezia, MC-LEF Office, 10 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1007, New York, NY 10020. Please sign the guest book at obituaries.

Published in the San Diego Union-Tribune on 5/15/2007.

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