Hero Stories for OIF

Pfc. Richard A. Dewater, 21, of Topeka, Kansas, died April 15, 2009, of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device while on a dismounted patrol near Korengal Valley, Afghanistan. Pfc. Dewater was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. </d

Sgt. Raul Moncada, 29, of Madera, California, died April 13, 2009, near Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Sgt. Moncada was assigned to the 563rd Military Police Company, 91st Military Police Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York. </d

Cpl. Michael J. Anaya, 23, of Crestview, Florida, died April 12, 2009, in Bayji, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Cpl. Anaya was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. </d

Staff Sgt. Gary L. Woods, Jr., 24, of Lebanon Junction, Kentucky, died April 10, 2009, when his military vehicle was struck by a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in Mosul, Iraq. Staff Sgt. Woods was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. </d

Cpl. Jason G. Pautsch, 20, of Davenport, Iowa, died April 10, 2009, when his military vehicle was struck by a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in Mosul, Iraq. Cpl. Pautsch was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. </d

Sgt. Christopher D. Loza, 24, of Abilene, Texas, died April 10, 2009, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., of a non-combat related illness after becoming ill March 17 in Radwaniyah, Iraq. Sgt. Loza was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 124th Cavalry Regiment, 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry Division, Waco, Texas. </d

Sgt. 1st Class Bryan E. Hall, 32, of Elk Grove, California, died April 10, 2009, when his military vehicle was struck by a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in Mosul, Iraq. Sgt. 1st Class Hall was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. </d

Pfc. Bryce E. Gautier, 22, of Cypress, California, died April 10, 2009, when his military vehicle was struck by a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in Mosul, Iraq. Pfc. Gautier assigned to the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. </d

Sgt. Edward W. Forrest, Jr., 25, of St. Louis, Missouri, died April 10, 2009, when hi military vehicle was struck by a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device in Mosul, Iraq. Sgt. Forrest was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo. </d

Spc. Israel Candelaria Mejias, 28, of San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico, died April 5, 2009, near Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when a mine detonated near him during combat operations. Spc. Candelaria Mejias was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment in Task Force 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Grafenwoehr, Germany. </d