Hero Stories for August 2010

Here is the set up. Luisa, the one crying and the one pictured with me and her husband- threw me the dinner party at her home. I purposely wore my uniform (im Navy)- going to serve with the Army for 460 days embedded in Afghanistan as an OR nurse. But I had my "joint" uniform already so I let them see a sneek peek of me in what i would be wearing. I also had my mother (in yellow) and I wore our Hero bracelets. Anyway- Luisa saw mine and said "i want one". I told her that I had them made for f...

Staff Sgt. Michael A. Bock, 26, of Leesburg, Florida, died August 13, 2010, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Bock was assigned to the 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California. </d

Our son, 2nd. Lt. Darryn Deen Andrews was an amazing son, husband, father, brother, friend and soldier.  He loved fishing, scuba diving, sky diving and playing with his son. He made life-long friends everywhere he went.  He was a positive influence on the young men when he was coaching.  Many former students contacted us to tell us what a positive impact he had had on their lives.  His fellow soldiers wrote and told us what a good soldier and leader he was.  He was a believer in Jesus Christ ...

DIYALA, Iraq — The Soldiers of Command Post - South at Forward Operating Base Warhorse in Diyala province said goodbye to approximately one third of their team, Aug. 7.  The departing Soldiers were part of the responsible drawdown of forces, which will reduce the number of troops in Iraq to 50,000 by Sept. 1. The night before the team began their trip home, Task Force Marne Deputy Commanding General Maneuver, Brig. Gen. Patrick Donahue, held a small awards ceremony for the departing team, dur...

Sgt. Christopher N. Karch, 23, of Indianapolis, Indiana, died August 11, 2010, in Arghandab Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. Sgt. Karch was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. </d

Sgt. Jose L. Saenz III, 30, of Pleasanton, Texas, died August 9, 2010, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Sgt. Saenz was assigned to 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. </d

Pfc. Bradley D. Rappuhn, 24, of Grand Ledge, Michigan, died August 8, 2010, at Zhari Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. Pfc. Rappuhn was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia. </d

Sgt. Andrew C. Nicol, 23, of Eaton, Michigan, died August 8, 2010, at Zhari Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. Sgt. Nicol was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Georgia. </d

Cpl. Kristopher D. Greer, 25, of Ashland City, Tennessee, died August 8, 2010, of wounds received August 6 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Cpl. Greer was assigned to 4th Combat Engineering Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, based out of Knoxville, Tennessee. </d

Pfc. Paul O. Cuzzupe, 23, of Plant City, Florida, died August 8, 2010, in Akhtar-Mohammad-Khan, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. Pfc. Cuzzupe was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Calvary Regiment, Vilseck, Germany. </d