Hero Stories for August 2010

Spc. Faith R. Hinkley, 23, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, died August 7, 2010, in Baghdad, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked her unit in Iskandariya, Iraq. Spc. Hinkley was assigned to the 502nd Military Intelligence Battalion, 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. </d

Pfc. Vincent E. Gammone III, 19, of Christiana, Tennessee, died August 7, 2010, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Pfc. Gammone was assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. </d

Cpl. Max W. Donahue, 23, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, died August 7, 2010, of wounds received August 4 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Cpl. Donahue was assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. </d

Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Cornelius, 20, of Ashtabula, Ohio, died August 7, 2010, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Lance Cpl. Cornelius was assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. </d

Pfc. John E. Andrade, 19, of San Antonio, Texas, died August 7, 2010, at DE Khak Chupan Turah, Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. Pfc. Andrade was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany. </d

Master Sgt. Jared N. Van Aalst, 34, of Laconia, New Hampshire, died August 4, 2010, in Kunduz province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered while his unit was conducting combat operations. Master Sgt. Van Aalst was assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. </d

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – After decades of tyrannical rule followed by a seven-year war, some of Iraq’s cities have fallen into disrepair.  Clinics, schools, hospitals, factories, homes – none of these were immune from the effects of the last three decades.  For some of the smaller villages, the effects were harder felt, as they depend on a single clinic or school to serve hundreds of families.  This is the case with al Naml, a clinic about 35 kilometers north of Baji.  It i...

CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, Iraq – There’s always time to seek self improvement and Task Force Marne leadership validated that statement by flying  Soldiers to Tikrit, Iraq, and recognizing them for taking extra measures to mentor, lead and purse professional growth. Eighteen noncommissioned officers received the Maj. Gen. Aubrey “Red” Newman Award, and one NCO was inducted into the Sgt. Audie Murphy Club, July 22, Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Tikrit, Iraq.  Originally, six S...

Dear Patriots -- Please review the attached flyer regarding a special Labor Day event at Hidden Falls Park - Marble Falls, TX.  The "Wheeler's for the Wounded - San Antonio" are sponsoring an abbreviated version of the May 1, 2010 event.  This event is for our Wounded Warriors - especially the new Chapter 1919, members from Ft Hood.  It will start about 11:00  A M on Saturday, September 4, 2010.  If you can you are welcome to stay for all the event.  There will be hotdogs served before everyo...

As I sit at my keyboard reflecting on tomorrow's date Aug 2nd I am drawn to so many memories and emotions.  It seems as though it was just yesterday when I received the knock on the door that would forever change my life. I would be informed of the heroic actions of my son Marc Alan Lee who willingly gave his life so that others could live. He stood out in the direct line of fire 3 times that day so that his teammates could survive. He showed the depth of his love and gave the greatest gift t...