Hero Stories for Georgia

Sgt. Briand T. Williams, 25, of Sparks, Georgia, died November 22, 2009, in Numaniyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire. Sgt. Williams was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Georgia. </d

Chief Warrant Officer Michael P. Montgomery, 36, of Savannah, Georgia, died October 26, 2009, of wounds suffered when the MH-47 helicopter he was aboard crashed in Darreh-ye Bum, Afghanistan. Chief Warrant Officer Montgomery was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Regiment (Airborne), Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. </d

Staff Sgt. Vernon W. Martin, 25 of Savannah, Georgia, died October 3, 2009, in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenade, and indirect fires. Staff Sgt. Martin was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. </d

Staff Sgt. Alex French IV, 31, of Milledgeville, Georgia, died September 30, 2009, in Kwhost, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using an improvised-explosive device. Staff Sgt. French was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, Lawrenceville, Georgia. </d

Sgt. 1st Class Shawn P. McCloskey, 33, of Peachtree City, Georgia, died September 16, 2009, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle on September 15 with an improvised explosive device. Sgt. 1st Class McCloskey was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. </d

Staff Sgt. Aaron M. Kenefick, 30, of Roswell, Georgia, died September 8, 2009, while supporting combat operations in Kunar province, Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Kenefick was assigned to 3rd Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. </d

Gunnery Sgt. Edwin W. Johnson, Jr., 31, of Columbus, Georgia, died September 8, 2009, while supporting combat operations in Kunar province, Afghanistan. Gunnery Sgt. Johnson was assigned to 3rd Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. </d

1st Lt. Joseph D. Helton, 24, of Monroe, Georgia, died September 8, 2009, near Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive devise. 1st Lt. Helton was assigned to the 6th Security Forces Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. </d

Capt. Matthew C. Freeman, 29, of Richmond Hill, Georgia, died August 7, 2009, while supporting combat operations in Kapisa province, Afghanistan. Capt. Freeman was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. </d

Spc. Raymundo P. Morales, 34, of Dalton, Georgia, died July 21, 2009, in Methar Lam, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over. Spc. Morales was assigned to the 148th Brigade Support Battalion, Cedartown, Georgia. </d