A TRIBUTE TO OUR ARMED FORCES
One soldier served his country to help provide for his wife and family.
Another followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, father and uncle.
Yet another
was a high school cheerleader before he joined the National Guard.
But while
their personal stories and the reasons they chose to serve vary, their
names are forever united on the growing list of local soldiers who are
casualties of ongoing wars.
On this Fourth
of July we celebrate freedom and liberty – the hallmarks of America. And
as we stand beside waving flags and under festive skies, we pay tribute
to the soldiers whose sacrifices helped secure our freedoms.
– Photos from our pages
Lance
Cpl. Brian A. Medina
He
told me we shouldnt leave. It would be a slap in the face to those
who had died. -Cecil Medina, Lance Cpl. Medina’s uncle and a lieutenant
colonel in the U.S. Air Force.
– Soldier Brian Medina killed after writing home to father
– Lance Cpl. Brian A. Medina buried at Arlington
12/22/04
attack kills 24
A sudden, pinpoint attack killed more than 20 and wounded at least 60
others in a dining-hall tent inside a U.S. military compound near Mosul
yesterday. It was the deadliest single attack on U.S. troops since the
start of the Iraq war.
12/28/04
soldiers honored at memorial in Iraq
Hundreds of soldiers from across the United States filed into a cavernous
movie theater on base yesterday to say goodbye to two 276th soldiers who
died in the explosion: Nicholas C. Mason and David A. Ruhren. Both were
posthumously promoted to sergeant.
01/01/05
2004: Prince William area feels impact of war
The Prince William County area felt the anguish of a distant war in Iraq
and the battle against terrorism in Afghanistan in 2004 as some of its
own were killed and many more were sent to fight.
01/02/05
2004: Fallen soldiers
Each soldier either lived in or had family in the Prince William County
area and their losses put faces and stories on a war happening halfway
across the world.
Sgt. Morgan W. Strader
“I
think our country needs to know the price that’s being paid for what we’re
doing over there. Morgan, unfortunately, is one of many. People need to
realize that freedom is not free.” -Sgt. Strader’s stepfather, Timothy
Kelley.
– Montclair woman’s son killed in Iraq
– Fallen Marine wanted to help comrades
Sgt.
Jack Bryant Jr.
“If
we didn’t have our faith, if we didn’t have our relationship with Jesus
Christ, I don’t know how we would deal with it. Hearing the news was paralyzing.”
-Jack Bryant, Sgt. Bryant’s father.
– Dale City soldier dies in Iraq
– Prince William soldier laid to rest
Spc.
David Ruhren
“He
was the first person I met when I went to Gar-Field [High School]. We
had a class together and we met on the first day in German class … I
never thought that five years later I would have to bury him.” –
Amanda Menzie, Sgt. Ruhren’s classmate and friend.
– Spc. Ruhren, a 2002 Gar-Field graduate, was killed in Iraq
– Friends remember soldier
Army
Sgt. Kristopher Linwood Shepherd
“He
loved what he was doing. He believed in our president and every time someone
would say something (like) how stupid it was we were over there, I’d get
so mad. But when I told him that, he’d say, ‘Don’t let it bother you,
Mom. I’m over here to give them that choice.’ – Sgt. shepherd’s
mother, Sheila Campbell
– Woodbridge family mourns fallen soldier
– Family buries area soldier
Staff
Sgt. LeRoy Alexander
He
always talked about wanting to be a father. He was so excited to be having
children. Its so sad that he will never be able to see them.
– Staff Sgt. Alexander’s brother, Reggie Alexander
– Family mourns fallen soldier
– Services held for fallen soldier
Army
Capt. Humayun S.M. Khan
Capt.
Khan, 27, of Bristow was the victim of a suicide bomber in Iraq on June
8, 2004. Khan wanted to go to law school and eventually enter politics.
Sgt.
Maj. Robert D. O’Dell
“Robert
was so friendly and kind to me and it was a pleasure to know him.
– the Riddle family of Dumfries
– Manassas soldier remembered as loving dad, husband
Robert
Zangas
A
retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, died in Iraq March 9, 2004, while
working for the U.S. State Department. He was 44 and was shot by terrorists
disguised as police officers at a checkpoint north of Hilla. Zangas went
to Osbourn High School in Manassas.
Pfc.
Kyle M. Hemauer
Pfc.
Hemauer, 21, was a member of the National Guard in Manassas. He died while
serving in Afghanistan. He trained with the Manassas company but lived
in Newport News. His home town was Chilton, Wis.