Hero Stories for Michigan

Sgt. Lucas T. Beachnaw, 23, of Lowell, Michigan, died January 13, 2010, in Darya Ya, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms fire. Sgt. Beachnaw was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Camp Ederle, Italy. </d

Sgt. Ralph Anthony Webb Frietas, 23, of Detroit, Michigan, died December 8, 2009, as a result of unknown causes in Baghdad, Iraq. Sgt. Frietas was assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. </d

Spc. Christopher T. Griffin, 24, of Kincheloe, Michigan, 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. Spc. Griffin was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. </d

Spc. Paul E. Andersen, 49, of Dowagiac, Michigan, died October 1, 2009, in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his camp using indirect fire. Spc. Andersen was assigned to the 855th Quartermaster Company, South Bend, Indiana. </d

Petty Officer 3rd Class Benjamin P. Castiglione, 21, of Howell, Michigan, died September 3, 2009, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Petty Officer 3rad Class Castiglione was assigned to the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Battalion. </d

Pfc. Eric W. Hario, 19, of Monroe, Michigan, died August 29, 2009, in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when he was shot by enemy forces August 28 while conducting combat operations. Pfc. Hario was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. </d

Cpl. Nicholas R. Roush, 22, of Middleville, Michigan, died August 16, 2009, in Herat, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Cpl. Roush was assigned to the 1st Psychological Operations Battalion, 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina. </d

Sgt. Timothy A. David, 28, of Gladwin, Michigan, died June 28, 2009, in Sadr City, Iraq, of wounds suffered earlier in Baghdad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Sgt. David was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. </d