Honoring Lives Lost to Conflict

Corporal Joseph Michael Hernandez, 24, of Hammond, Indiana, was a U.S. Army infantryman killed on January 9, 2009, at Forward Operating Base Lagman in Zabul Province, Afghanistan.

U.S. Army Corporal Keith Eric Essary, 20, of Dyersburg, Tennessee, was killed in hostile action in Maywand, Afghanistan, on January 8, 2009.

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Joshua Lee Rath, 22, of Decatur, Alabama, was killed in a hostile incident in Maywand, Afghanistan, on January 8, 2009.

Lance Cpl. Jessie Adam Cassada, 19, of Hendersonville, North Carolina, was a U.S. Marine killed in hostile action in Now Zad, Afghanistan, on January 6, 2009.

In TIKRIT, IRAQ on January 6, 2009, the ARMY lost SSG Davis, Anthony Dee of DAYTONA BEACH, FL, 29, serving with HHC, 1ST BATTALION, 75TH RANGER, HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, SAVANNAH, GA. Cause: HOSTILE.

2ND BN, 6TH MAR, (26TH MEU, II MEF FWD), 2ND MAR DIV, CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, MARINE CORPS ? LCPL Gilliam, Chadwick Allen (MAYKING, KY), age 29, ? died in CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT on January 3, 2009.

Lance Corporal Alberto Francesconi, 21, of the Bronx, New York, was a U.S. Marine killed in a hostile incident in Now Zad, Afghanistan, on January 1, 2009.

At 20, PFC Lotter, Christopher Warren of CHESTER HEIGHTS, PA was serving with the ARMY, BATTERY A, 3D BATTALION, 7TH FIELD ARTILLERY, 3 BCT, SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI, when he died in BALAD, IRAQ on December 31, 2008. Cause: HOSTILE.

PFC Tollefson, Benjamin Bryan, age 22, of CONCORD, CA ? Active Duty, ARMY, HHC, 2DBRIGADE, SPECIAL TROOP BATTALION, FORT RILEY, KS, ? died on December 31, 2008 in BALAD, IRAQ. Cause: HOSTILE.

CPL Gonzales, Tony Jerold, age 20, of NEWMAN, CA ? Active Duty, ARMY, COMPANY C, 1ST BATTALION, 6TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, SMITH BARRACKS, GERMANY, ? died on December 28, 2008 in SADR CITY, IRAQ. Cause: HOSTILE.

At 19, SA Seitz, Joshua D of SINKING SPRINGS, PA was serving with the NAVY, NAVSECFR BAHRAIN, when he died in Iraq on December 26, 2008.

In MOSUL, IRAQ on December 25, 2008, the ARMY lost MAJ Pryor, John Paul of MOORESTOWN, NJ, 42, serving with 1 MD FWD SURG TM TF 62 MED. Cause: HOSTILE.

From BROKEN ARROW, OK, SPC Zapasnik, Stephen Gage served with the ARMY, COMPANY B, 3D BATTALION, 16TH FIELD ARTILLERY, FORT CARSON, CO, and died on December 24, 2008 in BAGHDAD, IRAQ. He was 19.

Active Duty, ARMY, COMPANY B, 3D BATTALION, 16TH FIELD ARTILLERY, FORT CARSON, CO, SSG Smith, Christopher Glenn of GRAND RAPIDS, MI, 28, died in BAGHDAD, IRAQ on December 24, 2008.

SPC Okray, Stephen Michael, age 21, of SAINT CLAIR SHORES, MI ? Active Duty, ARMY, 3-16 FA (2/4 ID) (TASK ORG MND-C), ? died on December 24, 2008 in BAGHDAD, IRAQ.

Charles Patrick Gaffney Jr., 42, of Phoenix, Arizona, was a U.S. Army corporal who died in a hostile incident in Orgun-E, Afghanistan, on December 24, 2008.

LCPL Reilly, Thomas Jr, 19, a native of LONDON, KY, died serving in the Active Duty, MARINE CORPS, C CO, 1ST BN, 3D MAR, 3D MAR DIV, KANEOHE BAY, HI, during Operation Iraqi Freedom on December 21, 2008. Cause: HOSTILE.

In CAMP BAHARIA, IRAQ on December 20, 2008, the MARINE CORPS lost LCPL Johnson, Robert Lyman of CENTRAL POINT, OR, 21, serving with MT CO, CLB-5, CLR-1, 1ST MLG, (I MEF FWD), CAMP PENDLETON, CA.