Hero Stories for OEF

Staff Sgt. Paul G. Smith, 43, of East Peoria, Illinois, died June 19, 2009, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device. Staff Sgt. Smith was an Illinois Army National Guardsman assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry, Aurora, Ilinois. </d

Staff Sgt. Joshua A. Melton, 26, of Carlyle, Ilinois, died June 19, 2009, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device. Staff Sgt. Melton was an Illinois Army National Guardsman assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry, Marion, Illinois. </d

Master Sgt. Kevin A. Dupont, 52, of Templeton, Massachusetts, died June 17, 2009, at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, of wounds suffered March 8 in Kandau, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Master Sgt. Dupont was assigned to the 79th Troop Command, Rehoboth, Massachusetts. </d

Spc. Jonathan C. O'Neill, 22, of Zephyrhills, Florida, died June 15, 2009, at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, of wounds suffered June 2 in Paktya, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Spc. O'Neill was assigned to the 549th Military Police Company, 385th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne) at Fort Stewart, Georgia. </d

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ricky L. Richardson, Jr., 33, of Franklin, Missouri, died June 10, 2009, while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Richardson was assigned to 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. </d

Spc. Eduardo S. Silva, 25, of Greenfield, California, died June 9, 2009, at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, from a non-combat related incident. Spc. Silva was assigned to the 563rd Aviation Support Battalion, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky. </d

Lance Cpl. Joshua R. Whittle, 20, of Downey, California, died June 6, 2009, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Lance Cpl. Whittle was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. </d

Spc. Jeffrey W. Jordan, 21, of Rome, Georgia, died June 4, 2009, near Kapisa, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. Spc. Jordan was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 108th Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard, Calhoun, Georgia. </d

Maj. Kevin M. Jenrette, 37, of Lula, Georgia, died June 4, 2009, near Kapisa, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. Maj. Jenrette was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 108th Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard, Calhoun, Georgia. </d

Maj. Rocco M. Barnes, 50, of Los Angeles, California, died June 4, 2009, in Afghanistan of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over. Maj. Barnes was a member of the Tactical Command Post, 40th Infantry Division, California Army National Guard, assigned as an individual augmentee to the 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. </d