Staff Sergeant Michelle Langhorst

U.S. Army

SSG Michelle Rachael Langhorst
U.S. Army | Military Police
May 13, 1983 – March 30, 2015

Staff Sergeant Michelle Rachael Langhorst was born on May 13, 1983, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The beloved daughter of Michael and Concetta Langhorst and sister of Nicole Langhorst, Michelle was deeply loved by her family, friends, and the many people whose lives she touched.

Raised in Pittsburgh, Michelle was a bright, vivacious, and athletic young woman with a passion for sports, especially soccer. Her energy, determination, compassion, and natural desire to help others would become defining qualities throughout both her life and military career.

In February 2002, Michelle enlisted in the United States Army and became a Military Police Soldier. After completing her initial military training, she was assigned to Germany and subsequently deployed to Afghanistan with the 212th Military Police Company in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Following her service in Afghanistan and Germany, Michelle was one of only two women selected for a special assignment in Brussels, Belgium, where she performed protective-service duties in support of NATO. The assignment reflected the trust placed in her abilities, professionalism, and dedication as a Soldier.

Over the course of more than nine years of honorable service, Michelle earned numerous awards and accolades and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. Her Army career ultimately came to an end after she sustained an injury to her arm and was honorably discharged.

Michelle's commitment to serving others did not end when she took off the uniform. Following her military service, she devoted significant time to helping fellow veterans, including volunteering with the Wounded Warrior Project. Caring for others came naturally to Michelle, and she continued to give of herself to the veteran community she loved.

Michelle passed away on March 30, 2015, at the age of 31.

While her military accomplishments speak to her strength and dedication, those who knew Michelle best remember her for something even greater—her heart. She was an extraordinarily giving and compassionate person who consistently placed the needs of others before her own. Whether serving her country, supporting her fellow Soldiers and veterans, or simply being there for the people she loved, Michelle gave generously of herself.

She was a daughter, sister, Soldier, athlete, veteran, friend, and advocate for others whose kindness left a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to know her.

SSG Michelle Rachael Langhorst served her country with honor and continued serving others long after her military career ended. She lived with compassion, generosity, and a genuine desire to care for those around her. She is loved beyond words, deeply missed, and her life, service, and legacy will always be remembered.

SSG Lawrence Woods

U.S. Army

SSG Lawrence Woods
U.S. Army | 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
March 18, 1925 – October 24, 1964

Staff Sergeant Lawrence Woods was born on March 18, 1925, in Clarksville, Tennessee. His remarkable military career began when, determined to serve his country, he enlisted in the U.S. Army at just 15 years old after misrepresenting his age. When the Army discovered he was underage, he was discharged and told to return when he turned 18. He did exactly that.

SSG Woods went on to serve his country through three wars—World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. During his long Army career, he served in roles that included medic and cook and ultimately became a member of the famed 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

When the conflict in Vietnam intensified, SSG Woods volunteered to go. On October 24, 1964, he was aboard a U.S. Air Force C-123B Fairchild Provider when the aircraft was struck by enemy fire and crashed. The aircraft was largely destroyed by fire, with the tail section among the few portions that remained recognizable. Subsequent searches of the crash site resulted in the recovery or accounting of seven individuals who had been aboard, but SSG Woods could not be located.

For nearly 49 years, his family waited for answers.

On September 27, 2013, SSG Woods' remains were finally recovered from the crash site. After nearly half a century, a soldier who had served his nation through three wars was coming home.

On March 21, 2014, SSG Lawrence Woods was laid to rest with honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Over the course of his distinguished military career, SSG Woods earned more than 18 military medals and decorations. But his legacy extends far beyond the medals he wore. It is a legacy of service, sacrifice, courage, and an extraordinary determination to serve his country—a commitment that began with a 15-year-old boy who wanted so badly to serve that, when told he was too young, he simply waited until the Army would take him back.

SSG Lawrence Woods served through three wars. He volunteered when his country called. He gave his life in Vietnam. And nearly 50 years later, he finally came home.

We remember his name. We honor his service. We will never forget his sacrifice.

PFC Samuel S Lance

U.S. Army

PFC Samuel Stephen Lance
U.S. Army | 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile)
November 24, 1949 – May 1, 1970

Private First Class Samuel Stephen “Steve” Lance was born on November 24, 1949, and was from Chickamauga, Georgia, in Walker County. The oldest child of Jo O'Neal, Samuel was remembered by his mother as a handsome, good-natured young man who never gave his family trouble.

As the Vietnam War continued, Samuel faced a decision familiar to many young Americans of his generation. College was an option, but according to his mother, Samuel refused to attend college simply as a means of avoiding military service. Instead, he chose to serve his country.

Samuel entered the United States Army and was assigned to 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile)—the famed “Screaming Eagles.”

In the spring of 1970, Samuel deployed to the Republic of Vietnam. Tragically, his time in country would be extraordinarily short. Only about 30 days after arriving in Vietnam, the 20-year-old infantryman found himself engaged in intense combat during Operation Texas Star in Thua Thien Province.

In late April 1970, Bravo Company was operating near Firebase Maureen in the rugged mountains of northern South Vietnam. On April 25, the company conducted a combat assault into an area occupied by a substantial North Vietnamese Army force. Over the following days, Bravo Company fought to clear the surrounding ridgeline while supplies of ammunition, radio batteries, and other necessities became critically low.

On May 1, 1970, the company moved from the ridgeline toward an old landing zone where helicopters could conduct a badly needed resupply. Bravo Company established a defensive perimeter, with 2nd and 3rd Platoons positioned to protect the force.

Approximately two hours into the resupply operation, North Vietnamese troops launched a fierce attack against the American position. Enemy soldiers penetrated the company's rear security and poured fire into 2nd Platoon's command area. The platoon leader was wounded, his radio operator was killed, and communications were disrupted as the fighting intensified.

Samuel's 3rd Platoon maneuvered to assist the embattled Soldiers of 2nd Platoon.

During the battle, PFC Samuel Stephen Lance and fellow 3rd Platoon Soldier Robert Lee Collett Jr. were killed. Other members of their platoon were wounded as Bravo Company fought to repel the attack. By the end of the engagement, seven members of Bravo Company had been killed or mortally wounded, and many others had been wounded.

Samuel was only 20 years old.

His death left a loss his family would carry for decades. More than half a century later, his mother, Jo O'Neal, continued to speak about her son and the life he never had the opportunity to finish. She later devoted herself to honoring Vietnam veterans who returned home, offering them the welcome that her own son would never receive.

In 2026, the Chickamauga community again honored Jo as a Gold Star Mother and remembered Samuel's sacrifice during its celebration of America's 250th anniversary—a testament to a young Soldier whose life and sacrifice remain part of his community's history more than 55 years after his death.

PFC Samuel Stephen Lance is memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., Panel 11W, Line 81.

Samuel was a son, brother, Soldier, and Screaming Eagle. At only 20 years old, he chose service during a difficult period in America's history and gave his life alongside the Soldiers of his platoon.

PFC Samuel Stephen Lance answered his nation's call and gave his life in the mountains of Vietnam. More than half a century later, his family continues to carry his memory, and we remain committed to ensuring that his name, his service, and his sacrifice are never forgotten.

Honor Through Action.

SSG Nathaniel Nyren

U.S. Army

SSG Nathaniel J. “Nate” Nyren
U.S. Army | 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
March 5, 1973 – December 28, 2004

Staff Sergeant Nathaniel J. “Nate” Nyren was born on March 5, 1973, in Bristol, Connecticut, and was raised in Reston, Virginia. Growing up, Nate was both physically and musically talented. While attending South Lakes High School, he wrestled and was a member of the marching band.

After graduating from high school, Nate continued his education at Virginia Tech and Northern Virginia Community College before answering the call to serve his country. In 1995, he enlisted in the United States Army.

Following basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Nate was stationed in Germany for three years. During that assignment, he spent nearly six months serving as a peacekeeper in Macedonia. As his Army career progressed, Nate accepted increasing levels of responsibility and leadership. He later served for two years as an Army recruiter in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Nate eventually deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he served as a squad leader with the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, based at Fort Hood, Texas.

On December 28, 2004, Nate was leading a convoy to a maintenance facility in Baghdad when a civilian vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed struck his Humvee, causing it to roll. Nate was killed in the accident. He was 31 years old.

Outside of the Army, Nate enjoyed playing golf with his wife, Becky, and playing video games in his spare time. Those who knew him remember a kind and quiet man whose greatest devotion was to his family. He deeply loved his wife, Becky, and his daughter, Brooke.

Nate was a husband, father, Soldier, peacekeeper, recruiter, squad leader, and combat veteran who dedicated nearly a decade of his life to serving his country and leading Soldiers.

SSG Nathaniel J. “Nate” Nyren served his nation with honor at home and abroad. From peacekeeping duties in Macedonia to leading Soldiers on the streets of Baghdad, he accepted the responsibilities of service and leadership wherever the Army sent him. Though his life was tragically cut short at only 31 years old, his legacy continues through his wife and daughter, his family and friends, and the Soldiers who had the privilege of serving alongside him. His life, service, and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

1LT Larry Garner

U.S. Army

1LT Larry Arthur Garner
U.S. Army | Company C “Bandido Charlie,” 5th Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division
February 19, 1939 – July 30, 1967

First Lieutenant Larry Arthur Garner was born on February 19, 1939, and was from Mulkeytown, Illinois. A combat leader remembered for his courage, unconventional style, and fierce devotion to his Soldiers, Garner created a legacy during the Vietnam War that remains alive in the United States Army more than half a century after his death.

Before becoming an Army officer, Larry had already answered the call to military service. He served as a Noncommissioned Officer in the United States Marine Corps before continuing his education at Southern Illinois University, where he earned a master's degree in history. Still feeling called to serve his country, Larry entered the U.S. Army, completed Officer Candidate School, and was commissioned as an infantry officer.

In December 1966, Garner deployed to the Republic of Vietnam with the 9th Infantry Division. He served first as a platoon leader and later assumed command of Company C, 5th Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment.

It was during his command that Larry Garner became the “Original Bandido.”

While leading his Soldiers in combat, Garner routinely wore a red bandana around his neck. His men soon began following his example. When a battalion commander saw the Soldiers wearing their unauthorized red bandanas, he remarked that Garner and his men looked like “a bunch of bandidos.”

Garner liked the name, and Company C became “Bandido Charlie.”

What began as a comment about a group of Soldiers violating uniform regulations quickly developed into a powerful symbol of unit identity and pride. Garner obtained additional red bandanas for his men and worked with his Soldiers to develop a distinctive unit patch and company guidon. The red bandana became a symbol of belonging, toughness, courage, and loyalty to the Soldiers standing beside them.

Garner was an unconventional leader, but his Soldiers respected and followed him. His approach to command centered on building a cohesive fighting team and leading from the front. He expected his men to accomplish the mission, but he also understood his responsibility to take care of the Soldiers entrusted to him.

His leadership helped establish a philosophy that continues to be associated with the Bandidos today: Mission First, Soldiers Always.

Eventually, Garner relinquished command of Company C, but giving up command did not diminish his commitment to the Soldiers with whom he had fought.

On July 30, 1967, an American helicopter was shot down and its crew was stranded in hostile territory. Although Garner was no longer the company commander, he volunteered to lead a small group of Bandidos on a mission to reach and rescue the downed aircrew.

Garner and his Soldiers fought their way to the crash site, drove enemy forces away from the helicopter, and reached the crew. Knowing the enemy could return, they established a small defensive perimeter around the downed aircraft.

During the night, enemy forces launched a fierce counterattack against their position.

Garner and his Soldiers fought to defend the perimeter and protect the aircrew they had volunteered to rescue. During the battle, 1LT Larry Arthur Garner and two other American Soldiers were killed.

He was 28 years old.

Garner had already relinquished command. He did not have to lead the rescue mission. But when fellow American servicemen were in danger, he volunteered to go.

That decision—and the sacrifice that followed—became an enduring part of the Bandido legacy.

The traditions Garner established survived the Vietnam War and continued through generations of American Soldiers. Decades later, former Bandido leaders and senior Army leadership worked to formally restore the historic identity of the company. In 2005, following a unanimous vote by the company's Soldiers, the Department of the Army approved the Bandido Charlie name and distinctive guidon.

The legacy of the original Bandidos eventually passed from Company C, 5th Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment to the modern Soldiers of Company C, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division.

And the red bandana went with them.

Today, Soldiers who earn their place among the Bandidos continue to carry and wear the red bandana that began with Larry Garner in Vietnam. The company's distinctive guidon and traditions serve as a constant reminder that today's Soldiers are part of something larger than themselves—a lineage built by the Soldiers who came before them.

Larry Garner's legacy also remains at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., where his name is inscribed on Panel 24E, Line 51.

He was a Marine, Soldier, infantry officer, combat commander, and leader whose influence extended far beyond his own lifetime. What began with one lieutenant wearing a red bandana in Vietnam became an Army tradition carried forward by generations of Soldiers.

1LT Larry Arthur Garner led from the front, built a brotherhood among his Soldiers, and ultimately volunteered to place himself in harm's way to save fellow Americans. More than half a century after he gave his life in Vietnam, Soldiers still wear his red bandana, carry the Bandido name, and strive to uphold the standard he established.

Few Soldiers leave behind a legacy that can still be seen on the uniform and in the traditions of Soldiers generations later. Larry Garner did.

The Original Bandido. Bandidos Forever.

Honor Through Action.

MM2 Joseph A. Ashley

U.S. Navy

MM2(SS) Joseph Allen “Joey” Ashley
U.S. Navy | USS San Francisco (SSN-711) | Machinist’s Mate
September 4, 1980 – January 9, 2005

Machinist’s Mate Second Class Joseph Allen “Joey” Ashley was born on September 4, 1980, in Akron, Ohio, and grew up in Manchester, Ohio. He graduated from Manchester High School in 1999, where he played percussion in the marching band and was a member of the Boy Scouts.

Those who knew Joey remember an outgoing young man with an unmistakable personality and a smile that could light up a room. He enjoyed being around people, and friends and family recalled that he rarely met a stranger.

After high school, Joey attended Stark State College of Technology, where he studied welding and earned his welding certifications. Inspired by his father, who had also served in the Navy, Joey decided to follow in his footsteps.

In April 2001, Joey enlisted in the United States Navy.

After completing his initial training and submarine school, Joey reported aboard the USS San Francisco (SSN-711) in February 2002. The Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine later relocated to its new homeport at Apra Harbor, Guam.

Joey served aboard San Francisco as a Machinist’s Mate, working with the complex mechanical and engineering systems essential to the submarine's operation and survival at sea.

In June 2004, Joey achieved one of the defining milestones in the career of a submariner when he earned his Submarine Warfare Insignia, commonly known as the “Dolphins.” Earning Dolphins requires a Sailor to demonstrate extensive knowledge of the submarine's systems and the ability to respond during emergencies—earning the trust of fellow submariners to help protect both the boat and its crew.

Joey distinguished himself through his technical ability and dedication to his ship. He earned a reputation for being able to diagnose and repair difficult mechanical problems and was selected as the USS San Francisco's Junior Sailor of the Quarter during the third quarter of 2004.

He had also recently reenlisted for a second four-year term and intended to make the Navy his career.

On January 8, 2005, USS San Francisco was traveling at flank speed approximately 364 nautical miles southeast of Guam. The submarine was operating at a depth of approximately 525 feet when it suddenly collided with an uncharted undersea mountain.

The impact was catastrophic.

Sailors were violently thrown throughout the submarine, some reportedly as far as 25 feet. Ninety-eight members of the crew suffered injuries ranging from lacerations and broken bones to serious spinal injuries. The submarine itself sustained devastating damage to its bow, including its sonar dome and forward ballast tanks.

Joey suffered severe head injuries in the collision.

Despite the tremendous damage, the submarine's pressure hull remained intact and its nuclear reactor was not damaged. Through the actions of the crew and the continued operation of the submarine's critical systems, San Francisco was able to surface and eventually make its way back to Guam.

Joey died from his injuries on January 9, 2005.

He was 24 years old and the only Sailor aboard USS San Francisco to lose his life as a result of the collision.

Joey's death was deeply felt throughout his family, his hometown, and the submarine community. His fellow Sailors remembered not only an exceptionally capable Machinist's Mate, but a shipmate whose personality, enthusiasm, and technical ability had earned their respect.

Joey was laid to rest with military honors at Fox Cemetery in Reedy, West Virginia, beside his great-grandfather and namesake, who had also been a veteran.

His legacy has continued long after his death. Manchester High School established a scholarship in his honor, and his name has been memorialized through transportation landmarks dedicated to preserving his service and sacrifice.

Joey was a son, brother, friend, Sailor, and submariner. He followed his father's example into the United States Navy, earned the Dolphins that marked him as a qualified submariner, and became a trusted member of one of the closest-knit communities in America's Armed Forces.

MM2(SS) Joseph Allen “Joey” Ashley dedicated himself to his ship and his shipmates. At only 24 years old, he had already earned their trust, distinguished himself through his technical ability, reenlisted, and chosen the Navy as his future. Although the USS San Francisco survived the devastating collision of January 8, 2005, Joey became the sole Sailor who did not return home with his crew.

His name remains forever part of the USS San Francisco, the United States submarine community, and the family and shipmates who continue to carry his memory.

Fair winds and following seas, Joey.

Honor Through Action.

SGT Matthew M. Gantt

U.S. Army

SGT Matthew “Matt” Gantt
U.S. Army | Military Intelligence | Human Intelligence Collector
March 6, 1979 – June 11, 2019

Sergeant Matthew “Matt” Gantt was born on March 6, 1979, and grew up in Kettering, Ohio, as one of eight children. Raised in a large family, Matt developed the outgoing personality, curiosity, and appreciation for others that would remain with him throughout his life.

Matt graduated from Archbishop Alter High School in 1997, where he ran cross-country and played baseball. His interests extended well beyond athletics. He enjoyed golfing, cooking, building models, and trips to Disney World. An avid movie fan, he had a particular appreciation for the James Bond and Jurassic Park films.

Following high school, Matt attended Bowling Green State University. While there, he brought his athleticism and enthusiasm to the university's cheerleading program and earned his degree in communications in 2003.

In 2004, Matt answered the call to serve his country and enlisted in the United States Army. He trained as a Human Intelligence Collector, entering a demanding field in which Soldiers gather and analyze information critical to understanding adversaries and protecting American forces.

After completing basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Matt's Army career took him to assignments across the country and around the world. He served at Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Fort Gordon, Georgia; Fort Shafter, Hawaii; and attended the Defense Language Institute in California, where he studied Tagalog.

In December 2005, Matt deployed to Kuwait and Iraq, where he served for approximately eight months in support of military operations in the region.

Two years later, he answered the call again.

In November 2007, Matt deployed to Afghanistan for a seven-month tour at Bagram Airfield with the 205th Military Intelligence Battalion. His work as a Human Intelligence Collector placed him within a profession whose contributions often occurred quietly and outside public view but provided commanders and Soldiers with information essential to accomplishing their missions and protecting lives.

After five years of honorable Army service and deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan, Matt left active military service in 2009.

His commitment to the military community, however, did not end when he took off the uniform.

Matt continued serving as a defense contractor at Fort Huachuca, Arizona—the home of Army Military Intelligence. Drawing upon the experience he had gained during his Army career and combat deployments, he helped prepare the next generation of intelligence professionals by teaching interrogation, operations, and tactical skills until 2013.

Matt passed away on June 11, 2019, at the age of 40.

Those who knew Matt remember far more than his military accomplishments. He was a husband, brother, son, friend, Soldier, teacher, athlete, and a man with an infectious curiosity about the world around him. Whether serving overseas, teaching fellow intelligence professionals, cooking, golfing, watching a favorite movie, or spending time with those he loved, Matt brought his own enthusiasm and personality to everything he did.

His legacy continues through his loving wife, Jackie, his large and devoted family, his friends, and the Soldiers and intelligence professionals who benefited from his experience and instruction.

SGT Matthew “Matt” Gantt served his country on deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan and continued that service after leaving the Army by preparing others for the difficult missions he once performed himself. His years in uniform were only one chapter of a life filled with family, friendship, curiosity, laughter, and service to others.

His life, his service, and the impact he made on those fortunate enough to know him will never be forgotten.

Honor Through Action.

ITCS (SEAL) Daniel R. Healy

U.S. Navy

SOCS Daniel Richard “Dan” Healy
U.S. Navy SEAL | SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE (SDVT-1)
July 17, 1968 – June 28, 2005

Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Daniel Richard “Dan” Healy was born on July 17, 1968, and grew up in Exeter, New Hampshire. He graduated from Exeter High School in 1986, where he played soccer and developed a lifelong dedication to physical fitness and weightlifting. He also enjoyed swimming, golf, and bowling—and possessed an unabashed love for Neil Diamond, frequently making sure those around him had the opportunity to appreciate the music as much as he did.

Those who knew Dan remember much more than his physical strength. He was helpful, compassionate, hardworking, and deeply devoted to the people in his life. Dan surrounded himself with good people and possessed a remarkable ability to bring them together. Friends and family remembered a man who could make the world seem smaller, more connected, and more meaningful simply through the relationships he built.

After high school, Dan spent several years searching for the career and sense of purpose he wanted in life.

He eventually found both in the United States Navy.

Inspired in part by a Navy SEAL promotional video and encouraged by a friend already serving, Dan enlisted in 1990. After completing recruit training, he attended Information Technician School before volunteering for one of the most demanding military training programs in the world.

In January 1991, Dan began Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training—BUD/S.

The months that followed tested his physical endurance, mental toughness, and determination. By 1992, Dan had successfully completed BUD/S, airborne training, and SEAL Qualification Training, earning his place among the United States Navy SEALs.

He was assigned to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE (SDVT-1) at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Dan's career within Naval Special Warfare would span more than a decade and take him through increasingly demanding assignments and leadership positions. He attended the Defense Language Institute, where he studied Russian, served with SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team TWO, and eventually returned to SDVT-1.

As Dan advanced through the enlisted ranks, he became not only an accomplished SEAL but a respected leader and mentor. He eventually led a training platoon, placing him in a position to prepare other SEALs for the extraordinarily difficult missions they would face.

By 2005, Dan had reached the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer.

In March of that year, he deployed to Afghanistan with SDVT-1 in support of combat operations.

On June 28, 2005, a four-man Navy SEAL reconnaissance team operating in the mountains of Kunar Province became engaged in a fierce battle with enemy fighters during Operation Red Wings.

A quick reaction force was assembled to reach them.

Dan was among the eight Navy SEALs who boarded an MH-47D Chinook helicopter flown by Soldiers of the Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)—the “Night Stalkers.”

They flew directly toward the fight.

As the Chinook approached the mountainous battle area, an enemy fighter fired a rocket-propelled grenade that struck the aircraft.

The helicopter crashed into the mountainside.

All 16 American service members aboard—eight Navy SEALs and eight Army Night Stalkers—were killed.

Dan was 36 years old.

The losses of June 28, 2005, made Operation Red Wings one of the costliest days in the history of Naval Special Warfare. Yet Dan's final mission demonstrated the same loyalty and commitment to others that had characterized his life.

Fellow SEALs were in trouble.

Dan went to them.

After more than a decade within Naval Special Warfare, he understood exactly what it meant to board that helicopter and fly toward a battle already underway. He went because Americans were waiting in those mountains, and bringing them home was the mission.

Dan left behind far more than an extraordinary military career. He was a family man, friend, teammate, mentor, and leader whose influence extended well beyond the SEAL Teams. Those who knew him remembered his compassion and humor as readily as his strength and professionalism.

That legacy continues through the Dan Healy Foundation, established in his honor. The foundation carries Dan's commitment to helping others forward by awarding scholarships to students entering the military or pursuing trade schools, assisting single parents through grants, and supporting veterans within the community.

Through those efforts, Dan's name continues to represent something larger than the circumstances of his death. It represents service, opportunity, community, and people taking care of one another.

SOCS Daniel Richard “Dan” Healy spent more than a decade serving among America's most elite warriors. He became a Navy SEAL, a Senior Chief, a mentor, and a leader entrusted with preparing others for the dangerous missions that defined Naval Special Warfare.

On June 28, 2005, when fellow SEALs were fighting for their lives in the mountains of Afghanistan, Dan answered the call. He boarded a helicopter with seven fellow SEALs and eight Army Night Stalkers and flew toward the fight in an attempt to bring his brothers home.

That willingness to go when others needed him reflected not only the SEAL he had become, but the man he had always been.

His strength was undeniable. His compassion was equally powerful. His legacy continues in the family, friends, teammates, veterans, and communities whose lives bear his influence.

Dan Healy will never be forgotten.

Honor Through Action.

Maj Ryan W. Nicklin

U.S. Air Force

MAJ Ryan Nicklin
U.S. Air Force | A-10 Thunderbolt II “Warthog” Pilot | Operation Enduring Freedom Veteran
October 14, 1978 – April 11, 2022

Major Ryan Nicklin was born on October 14, 1978, and grew up in Greenville, Pennsylvania. From an early age, Ryan demonstrated the combination of intelligence, discipline, athletic ability, and determination that would later define his career as an Air Force officer and combat pilot.

Ryan excelled both academically and athletically at Greenville High School. Outside the classroom, he was active in Scouting and achieved one of its highest distinctions—the rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated with honors in 1997.

That same year, Ryan accomplished something no student from Greenville High School had done before: he earned an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The move west introduced Ryan to another lifelong passion—the mountains. During his years in Colorado, he embraced skiing, hiking, fishing, and the outdoor lifestyle while undertaking the demanding academic, military, and physical training required of an Air Force Academy cadet.

Ryan graduated from the Academy in 2001 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

He then entered Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. After earning his Air Force pilot wings, Ryan was selected to fly one of the most recognizable and respected combat aircraft in the American inventory: the A-10 Thunderbolt II, better known as the “Warthog.”

Designed around its powerful 30mm GAU-8/A cannon and built to operate close to the battlefield, the A-10's primary mission is close air support—protecting troops on the ground when they need airpower most.

Ryan became part of that mission.

Throughout his Air Force career, he served with the 25th, 75th, and 354th Fighter Squadrons, with assignments that included Osan Air Base in South Korea, Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina, and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona.

His service took him to the Korean Peninsula, where he flew missions supporting the defense of South Korea near one of the world's most heavily militarized borders.

It also took him to war.

Ryan deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, flying the A-10 in combat and providing close air support to American and coalition forces operating on the ground.

Over the course of his operational career, Ryan completed more than 50 combat missions.

For the Soldiers, Airmen, Marines, and coalition troops operating below, the sound and presence of an A-10 overhead could mean that help had arrived. Ryan was one of the pilots entrusted with delivering that help.

Even while meeting the demands of military service and flying high-performance combat aircraft, Ryan continued his education. While serving overseas, he earned a Master of Business Administration through Boston University School of Management, preparing himself for the next chapter of his life.

In 2013, after approximately 12 years of service, Ryan separated from the United States Air Force and returned to the Pennsylvania community where his journey had begun.

He came home to Greenville and joined his family's business, bringing with him the leadership, discipline, education, and experience developed during years of military service.

Ryan passed away on April 11, 2022.

He was 43 years old.

Ryan's life represented an extraordinary journey from a small Pennsylvania community to the United States Air Force Academy, the cockpit of an A-10 Warthog, and the skies over Afghanistan and the Korean Peninsula.

But his accomplishments extended beyond military titles and combat missions.

He was an Eagle Scout, scholar, athlete, Air Force Academy graduate, officer, combat aviator, outdoorsman, businessman, family member, friend, and fellow Airman.

Ryan's legacy lives on through his family, friends, the Greenville community that helped shape him, and the Airmen and service members with whom he served.

MAJ Ryan Nicklin spent more than a decade serving his country from the cockpit of one of America's most respected close-air-support aircraft. He flew more than 50 combat missions, stood watch on the Korean Peninsula, and carried into every assignment the discipline and commitment to service that had defined him since his youth.

From Greenville to Colorado Springs, from the cockpit of an A-10 to the skies over Afghanistan, Ryan continually accepted challenges that demanded courage, preparation, and service to others. When his military career ended, he returned to the community where his story began and continued building a life centered on family and service.

His life, his service, and the impact he made on those around him will not be forgotten.

Honor Through Action.

PVT Karl J. Sellner

U.S. Army

SPC Karl J. Sellner
U.S. Army | 977th Military Police Company, 97th Military Police Battalion
May 12, 1993 – September 11, 2016

Specialist Karl J. Sellner was born on May 12, 1993, and grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, surrounded by a large family that included six siblings. From an early age, Karl possessed a creative spirit, a love of music, and an ability to express himself through the performing arts.

One of the earliest influences in his life was his grandfather, John Alden, who helped inspire Karl's lifelong passion for music and performance.

At just eight years old, Karl began attending Hope Academy of Music and the Arts during evenings and weekends. Offering music, dance, and theater opportunities to young people in the Pittsburgh community, Hope Academy quickly became an important part of Karl's life.

There, his creativity flourished.

Karl participated in numerous productions and embraced opportunities to perform, learn, and grow. The Academy provided more than artistic instruction—it gave him a community in which his individuality and creativity could thrive.

As Karl grew older, music became an increasingly important means of expression. He developed into an accomplished guitarist and gifted songwriter, using music to communicate thoughts and emotions in ways uniquely his own.

His interests were not confined to a stage or guitar. Karl also loved being outdoors, particularly camping and fishing, and like many Pittsburgh natives, he was a devoted fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Karl graduated from Career Connections Charter High School in 2012. Soon afterward, he chose another path that would become an important part of his life: service to his country.

He enlisted in the United States Army.

Karl served as a Military Policeman with the 977th Military Police Company, 97th Military Police Battalion, based at Fort Riley, Kansas. During his four years in uniform, he deployed to Africa in support of U.S. military operations.

His Army service took the young musician from Pittsburgh into a world requiring discipline, responsibility, teamwork, and commitment to something larger than himself.

On September 11, 2016, Karl passed away at the age of 23 following a struggle with bipolar disorder.

His life, however, cannot be defined by the circumstances of his death.

Karl was a Soldier and veteran, but he was also an artist.

He was a guitarist and songwriter.

He was a husband, son, brother, grandson, friend, and fellow Soldier.

He was someone who could create something meaningful from a guitar and a few words, who enjoyed the simplicity of fishing and camping, who cheered for his hometown hockey team, and who left an impression on the people fortunate enough to share his life.

Karl's connection to the arts continues to make a difference today.

Following his death, the Karl Sellner Memorial Fund was established at Hope Academy of Music and the Arts—the same place where an eight-year-old Karl had first been given the opportunity to explore his creativity.

Through the fund, young artists are provided opportunities in theater, dance, and music. In that way, Karl's story has come full circle. The organization that once nurtured his talent now helps nurture the talents of other young people in his name.

His legacy lives on through his wife, Shelby; his parents, Erin and Rad; his siblings and extended family; his friends; his fellow Soldiers; and the young artists whose opportunities are made possible through the memorial fund bearing his name.

SPC Karl J. Sellner lived a life of both creativity and service. From the stages and classrooms of Hope Academy to his service as a United States Army Military Policeman, he pursued paths that demanded courage, expression, discipline, and commitment.

Karl's life reminds us that the men and women who wear our nation's uniform are more than the rank on their chest or the missions recorded in their service history. They are musicians and artists, husbands and wives, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters—each carrying talents, dreams, struggles, and stories that deserve to be remembered.

Today, Karl's music, military service, and creative spirit continue through the people who loved him and through every young artist given an opportunity in his name.

SPC Karl J. Sellner will not be forgotten.

Honor Through Action.

Capt Derek M. Argel

U.S. Air Force

1LT Derek S. Argel
U.S. Air Force | 23rd Special Tactics Squadron | Special Tactics Officer
March 11, 1977 – May 30, 2005

First Lieutenant Derek S. Argel was born on March 11, 1977, and raised in Lompoc, California. From an early age, Derek possessed an extraordinary combination of athletic ability, determination, and competitive drive—qualities that would eventually carry him from the swimming pools of California to the United States Air Force Academy and ultimately into the elite world of Air Force Special Tactics.

Water was Derek's first arena.

He developed a passion for water sports, particularly water polo, at an unusually young age. By the fifth grade, Derek was already attending high school water polo practices, testing himself alongside athletes years older than he was.

At Cabrillo High School, that dedication transformed him into a standout athlete. Derek graduated in 1995 after an exceptional water polo career that included earning league Most Valuable Player honors.

But athletics represented only one of Derek's ambitions.

Military service had also taken root in him early, inspired in part by his grandfather, a World War II Marine. Derek set his sights on attending the United States Air Force Academy and was determined to do whatever was necessary to earn his opportunity.

After high school, he attended two preparatory schools to strengthen his academic credentials and improve his chances of receiving an Academy appointment.

His persistence paid off.

In 1997, Derek entered the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Once there, he continued pursuing excellence both as a cadet and athlete. Derek became a four-year letterman on the Academy's water polo team and earned all-conference recognition during his collegiate career.

In 2001, Derek graduated from the Air Force Academy and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

He then chose one of the most demanding career paths available to an Air Force officer.

Derek volunteered for Air Force Special Tactics.

He entered the rigorous combat control training pipeline, where candidates are required to master an extraordinary range of skills involving battlefield communications, air traffic control, parachuting, combat operations, and the coordination of airpower in austere environments.

In 2003, Derek successfully completed the demanding pipeline and earned the scarlet beret, becoming a Special Tactics Officer.

He was assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Florida.

As a Special Tactics Officer, Derek became part of an elite community of Airmen trained to operate alongside America's special operations forces. Special Tactics personnel deploy into some of the world's most dangerous environments, integrating air and ground operations and bringing the capabilities of American airpower directly to forces fighting on the battlefield.

Derek's work placed him alongside special operations units such as Navy SEALs and Army Rangers, coordinating aircraft and air support for missions where precision, judgment, and trust could mean the difference between mission success and failure.

In February 2005, Derek deployed to Iraq in support of ongoing combat operations.

Only a few months later, on May 30, 2005, Derek was participating in a training mission in eastern Diyala Province.

He was aboard an Iraqi Air Force aircraft when it crashed.

All personnel aboard were killed.

1LT Derek S. Argel was 28 years old.

He left behind his wife, Wendy, and their young son, Logan, along with a family, community, and Special Tactics brotherhood forever changed by his loss.

Derek's journey had been defined by determination.

As a boy, he practiced alongside high school athletes years before he was old enough to join them.

As a teenager, he became one of California's standout water polo players.

When admission to the Air Force Academy did not come easily, he attended preparatory schools and kept working until he earned his appointment.

At the Academy, he became a four-year collegiate athlete.

And when the time came to choose his path as an Air Force officer, Derek again sought one of the most demanding challenges available to him.

He became a Special Tactics Officer.

That relentless drive—to improve, to compete, to serve, and to accept difficult challenges—became one of the defining characteristics of his life.

But Derek's legacy is greater than his accomplishments.

He was a husband and father, son and grandson, teammate and friend, Airman and special operations warrior. The same determination that propelled him through athletics and military training was matched by his loyalty to those around him and his commitment to something greater than himself.

1LT Derek S. Argel spent his life refusing to settle for the easy path. From the water polo pool at Cabrillo High School to the United States Air Force Academy and ultimately the scarlet beret of Air Force Special Tactics, Derek repeatedly sought challenges that demanded everything he had to give.

He followed a family tradition of military service, became an Air Force officer, and earned a place among an elite community entrusted with bringing American airpower to special operations forces on the battlefield.

Derek's life was cut short at only 28 years old, but his legacy continues through Wendy and Logan, his family and friends, his Air Force Academy teammates, and the Special Tactics Airmen who continue to serve in the footsteps of those who came before them.

The determination that defined Derek's life remains part of the example he left behind: pursue difficult things, refuse to quit, serve something greater than yourself, and give everything you have to the people and purpose entrusted to you.

1LT Derek S. Argel will never be forgotten.

Honor Through Action.

CPT Victor Lee Donnell Jr.

U.S. Army

CPT Victor Lee Donnell Jr.
U.S. Army | Captain
February 27, 1964 – May 1993

Captain Victor Lee Donnell Jr. was born on February 27, 1964, at Fort Knox, Kentucky, beginning a life that would remain closely connected to the United States Army.

Victor chose military service as his profession and rose through the officer ranks to become a Captain in the United States Army. His career eventually took him and his family overseas to Germany, where he continued serving his country as an Army officer.

Victor was married to Kyra Donnell, and together they were building their life and family while stationed overseas.

In May 1993, that life was suddenly and tragically changed when Victor was killed in an automobile accident in Germany.

He was only 29 years old.

Victor died as a young Army officer with much of his military career and life still ahead of him. He left behind a wife, family, friends, and fellow Soldiers who would carry his memory forward.

For his family, the loss was not simply that of an Army Captain.

It was the loss of a husband.

A father.

A son.

A friend.

Military service takes many forms, and so does military sacrifice. Not every servicemember we honor is lost in combat. Some are taken during training, while traveling, or while serving far from home. What connects them is the commitment they made when they chose to wear the uniform.

CPT Victor Lee Donnell Jr. made that commitment.

He chose the profession of arms, accepted the responsibilities of leadership, and served his country overseas.

Victor's connection to East Tennessee endured through his wife, Kyra, who later made her home in the Lenoir City area. Through his family, fellow Soldiers, and those who continue to speak his name, his story lives on.

The Mountain Man Memorial March exists not simply to remember how our servicemembers died, but to preserve the stories of how they lived and served.

For Victor, that means remembering the young Army officer.

The husband and father.

The Soldier serving far from home.

And the man whose life and service continue to matter more than three decades later.

CPT Victor Lee Donnell Jr. will never be forgotten.

Honor Through Action.

SSG Rusty H. Christian

U.S. Army

SSG Rusty Hunter Christian
U.S. Army | 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)
November 15, 1985 – January 28, 2010

Staff Sergeant Rusty Hunter Christian was born on November 15, 1985, and called Greeneville, Tennessee, home.

Rusty chose a life of military service at a young age and developed into the kind of Soldier others remembered long after they stopped serving together—dedicated to the mission, committed to his fellow Soldiers, and deeply devoted to the people he loved.

His service took him into combat in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

From 2006 to 2007, Rusty served a 15-month deployment to Baghdad, Iraq. One of the Soldiers who served in his platoon, Darrin Carroll, later remembered:

“Rusty Christian was a dedicated Soldier and he loved his wife. I learned a lot from him and it has stayed with me through my career.”

Those words speak to a legacy that cannot be captured by military records alone.

Rusty made an impact on the Soldiers around him.

After Iraq, Rusty's Army journey led him to 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, where he served as a Special Forces Engineer Sergeant.

By 2009, Rusty was back at war, deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

On January 28, 2010, while serving near Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, Rusty's unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device. He suffered fatal wounds in the attack.

SSG Rusty Hunter Christian was killed in action at the age of 24.

In just 24 years, Rusty had already accomplished what many would not in an entire lifetime. He had served a lengthy combat deployment in Baghdad, become a noncommissioned officer, earned his place in the Special Forces community, and returned to war in Afghanistan.

But Rusty's legacy is measured by more than deployments and military accomplishments.

He was a devoted husband.

A trusted teammate.

A leader whose lessons stayed with the Soldiers who served beside him.

For a Soldier, there may be no greater testament than knowing that years later, the people who shared the hardest days with you still remember what you taught them.

That is Rusty's legacy.

His story continued through the Soldiers who came home carrying those lessons, through the teammates who remembered his dedication, and through the family who remembered the man behind the uniform.

Darrin Carroll ended his remembrance of Rusty with one word:

“TOMAHAWKS.”

To the Soldiers who shared those 15 months in Baghdad, it represented far more than a name. It represented a unit, a deployment, a brotherhood, and memories forged through experiences few others could fully understand.

Rusty was one of them.

And he always will be.

Remember the Soldier who served 15 months in Baghdad.

Remember the Special Forces Soldier who returned to war in Afghanistan.

Remember the husband who loved his wife.

Remember the teammate whose lessons remained with his fellow Soldiers long after they came home.

SSG Rusty Hunter Christian will never be forgotten.

TOMAHAWKS.

Honor Through Action.

CPL Jonathan R. Ayers

U.S. Army

CPL Jonathan R. Ayers
U.S. Army | Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
May 4, 1984 – July 13, 2008

Corporal Jonathan R. Ayers was born on May 4, 1984, in Atlanta, Georgia, and raised in Snellville. From an early age, Jonathan was known for his competitive spirit, loyalty to others, faith, and ability to bring people together.

He began playing soccer at just four years old. Whether playing defense or later developing into a strong offensive player, Jonathan played hard and looked out for his teammates—a quality that would follow him from the soccer field to the battlefield.

Jonathan was also a gifted musician and singer. As a child, he sang with the Young Singers of Callanwolde and later played cello in middle school, often arriving early to practice until he earned first-chair honors. Music remained part of his life even after he put aside the cello in high school to focus on JROTC. He continued singing with his family and even played in his mother's handbell choir.

At school, Jonathan emerged as a natural leader. He became his JROTC unit's Cadet Commander during his senior year and was recognized as an Outstanding Commander at a Georgia state JROTC drill competition.

Those experiences foreshadowed the path he would ultimately choose.

Jonathan joined the United States Army and became an infantryman assigned to Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.

In 2007, Jonathan deployed to Afghanistan.

On July 13, 2008, Chosen Company was establishing a combat outpost near the village of Wanat when a large enemy force launched a coordinated attack in the early morning darkness.

The Soldiers were heavily outnumbered.

A small group of Americans manned an observation post positioned away from the main defensive perimeter. Their position offered little protection, but it was critical. If the observation post fell, enemy fighters would have an even greater advantage over the Soldiers defending the main position below.

Jonathan and his fellow Soldiers held their ground.

During the intense fighting, Jonathan was struck in the helmet by enemy fire.

He got back up and continued fighting.

As ammunition dwindled and casualties mounted, Soldiers repeatedly exposed themselves to enemy fire attempting to reinforce and resupply the observation post.

Jonathan remained in the fight until he was struck a second time.

This wound was fatal.

CPL Jonathan R. Ayers was killed in action at the age of 24.

Nine American Soldiers were killed during the Battle of Wanat, and many more were wounded. Their determined defense prevented enemy forces from overrunning the position and made Wanat one of the most fiercely fought engagements of the war in Afghanistan.

For his actions during the battle, Jonathan was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action.

When the medal was formally presented, many of the Soldiers who had survived Wanat gathered with Jonathan's family at the high school where he had once served as a JROTC cadet.

It was a powerful connection between the young man who had learned leadership in those hallways and the Soldier he ultimately became.

Jonathan's community continued finding ways to preserve his memory.

On May 20, 2009, the room at Fort Gillem, Georgia, where new recruits raised their right hands and took the oath of enlistment was dedicated as the Corporal Jonathan Ayers U.S. Army Ceremony Room.

A roadway intersection near his former high school was also named in his honor.

Those memorials are fitting.

Future Soldiers would begin their military service in a room carrying the name of a Soldier who demonstrated exactly what the oath they were taking could one day require.

Yet Jonathan should not be remembered only for the final battle of his life.

Remember the little boy on the soccer field who learned to defend his teammates.

Remember the musician who arrived at school early enough to earn first chair.

Remember the singer and son who continued making music with his family.

Remember the JROTC Cadet Commander.

Remember the Soldier whose Chosen Company teammates discovered that the quiet musician could put down his book, pick up a Guitar Hero controller, and run up the high score.

And remember the 24-year-old infantryman who was knocked down by enemy fire at Wanat, got back up, and continued defending the Soldiers beside him.

Jonathan spent his life looking out for his teammates.

On July 13, 2008, when it mattered most, he did it one final time.

CPL Jonathan R. Ayers will never be forgotten.

Honor Through Action.

SPC Gunnar William Zwilling

U.S. Army

CPL Gunnar William Zwilling
U.S. Army | Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
April 28, 1988 – July 13, 2008

Corporal Gunnar William Zwilling was born on April 28, 1988, in Huntington Beach, California, to Kurt Zwilling and Laura Hall. He had one brother, Alex, who would also serve his country in the U.S. Air Force.

Military service was already part of Gunnar's family. His father, Kurt, was a Navy veteran of the Vietnam era, and Gunnar developed his own desire to serve at an early age.

His family moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1993, where they lived for several years before eventually settling in Missouri. Gunnar graduated from Hazelwood West High School and enlisted in the United States Army at age 17.

He became an infantryman and was assigned to Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, based in Vicenza, Italy.

In June 2007, Gunnar deployed with the 173rd to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The deployment brought personal loss as well as the dangers of combat. In November 2007, while Gunnar was serving overseas, his mother, Laura, passed away.

Still, Gunnar continued the mission alongside his fellow Soldiers.

By July 2008, the deployment was nearing its end. Many Soldiers from the brigade had already begun returning home, and Gunnar and the Soldiers of Chosen Company expected to follow soon.

Before that could happen, they were tasked with establishing a new combat outpost near the remote village of Wanat, Afghanistan.

Gunnar understood the danger.

The position was still being established, defensive preparations were incomplete, and the Soldiers knew enemy forces were operating nearby.

During what would become his final telephone conversation with his father, Gunnar expressed his concern about what might happen at Wanat.

“It's going to be a bloodbath.”

His father hoped his son would be wrong.

Gunnar also told him something else.

If he did not make it home, he wanted his father to stay strong.

On the morning of July 13, 2008, Gunnar's fears became reality.

More than 200 enemy fighters launched a coordinated assault against the newly established American position at Wanat using machine guns, small-arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades, and mortars.

The Soldiers of Chosen Company were heavily outnumbered.

They fought back.

For hours, American and Afghan forces defended their positions while calling for artillery and air support. Enemy fighters penetrated portions of the perimeter, and some of the most intense combat centered around a small observation post protecting the main position.

The fighting became one of the fiercest engagements of the war in Afghanistan.

CPL Gunnar William Zwilling was killed in action during the Battle of Wanat.

He was only 20 years old.

Eight other American Soldiers were killed alongside him:

1LT Jonathan P. Brostrom
SGT Israel Garcia
CPL Jonathan R. Ayers
CPL Jason M. Bogar
CPL Jason D. Hovater
CPL Matthew B. Phillips
CPL Pruitt A. Rainey
PFC Sergio S. Abad

Fifteen more American Soldiers were wounded.

The men of Chosen Company held their position.

For his service and sacrifice, Gunnar was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Army Good Conduct Medal. Brigadier General Tom Hodge presented the decorations to Gunnar's father following his death.

Gunnar was laid to rest at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.

His memory is also preserved by the St. Charles County Veterans Museum, ensuring future generations have the opportunity to learn about the young Soldier and the battle in which he gave his life.

But Gunnar's story should never be reduced to a battle statistic.

He was a son who had already endured the loss of his mother while deployed.

He was a brother from a family with a tradition of military service.

He was a 20-year-old Soldier who understood the danger facing his unit and still remained beside his fellow Soldiers.

And he was a young man who, during his final conversation with his father, was thinking not only about what might happen to him, but about the father who would have to live with that loss.

“Stay strong.”

Only days later, Gunnar and the Soldiers of Chosen Company faced overwhelming enemy forces at Wanat.

They stood their ground.

Remember the 17-year-old who volunteered to serve his country.

Remember the son who continued his mission after losing his mother.

Remember the Soldier who knew what might be waiting at Wanat and went anyway.

Remember the 20-year-old who told his father to stay strong.

And remember Gunnar alongside the eight Soldiers who fell with him and the Chosen Company brothers who carried their memories home.

CPL Gunnar William Zwilling will never be forgotten.

Honor Through Action.

CPL Jared W. Kubasak

U.S. Army

CPL Jared W. Kubasak
U.S. Army | 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment | Cavalry Scout
November 13, 1980 – December 12, 2005

Jared was an only child who grew up in the small rural town of Rocky Mount, Virginia. He loved music, art, and especially reading. He devoured books of every kind—history, religion, biography, nonfiction, and all genres of fiction.

After graduating from Franklin County High School in 1999, Jared spent a year at community college before choosing a different path and enlisting in the United States Army.

He completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, followed by Advanced Individual Training at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Jared was then stationed in Bamberg, Germany, with the 54th Engineer Battalion, where he served as a tracked vehicle mechanic.

In 2003, Jared deployed to Iraq during the initial invasion.

After returning from his first combat tour, Jared sought a greater challenge and a more active role. He reenlisted and changed his military occupational specialty to Cavalry Scout. After completing training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, he joined the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Carson, Colorado.

Jared then returned to Iraq for a second combat deployment.

On December 12, 2005, while conducting a patrol in Baghdad, an improvised explosive device struck Jared's M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

CPL Jared W. Kubasak was killed in action.

He was 25 years old.

Jared's journey as a Soldier reflected his desire to continually challenge himself and contribute more. He began his Army career maintaining the vehicles that carried Soldiers into battle. After experiencing war firsthand, he reenlisted, became a Cavalry Scout, and returned to Iraq to serve on the front lines alongside his fellow Soldiers.

But Jared was more than the circumstances of his death.

He was the only son from a small Virginia town who loved books, music, and art. He was a thoughtful young man with an appetite for learning and a Soldier who continually pushed himself toward greater responsibility and service.

His legacy endures in the memories of his family, friends, and the Soldiers who served beside him.

Remember the reader and thinker from Rocky Mount.

Remember the mechanic who challenged himself to become a Cavalry Scout.

Remember the Soldier who served during the initial invasion of Iraq and then volunteered to return for a second combat tour.

CPL Jared W. Kubasak will never be forgotten.

Honor Through Action.

SSG Ryan E. Haupt

U.S. Army

SSG Ryan E. Haupt
U.S. Army | HHC, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division | Sniper
June 6, 1982 – October 17, 2006

Ryan E. Haupt spent his early years in Southern California, later splitting his time between North Hollywood and Madisonville, Tennessee. At 15, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he completed high school. The second of four children—and the only son—Ryan was known for his kindness, sense of humor, and ability to make those around him laugh.

At just 17 years old, Ryan enlisted in the United States Army.

He began his Army career at Fort Benning, Georgia, completing Basic Combat Training in 2000. Ryan was eventually assigned to the “Silver Lions” of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, at Fort Carson, Colorado, where he served as an infantryman.

From 2002 to 2003, Ryan served in South Korea. He continued developing his skills as a Soldier and later graduated from Sniper School, earning a position within his unit's sniper section.

In November 2005, Ryan deployed to Iraq, where he served as a squad leader in the sniper section.

Despite the seriousness of his mission, Ryan maintained the upbeat personality and sense of humor for which he had always been known. He especially valued humanitarian missions, when he and his fellow Soldiers visited local schools, distributed supplies, and played soccer with Iraqi children.

Those moments reflected another side of the infantryman and sniper—a Soldier who understood that service could also mean helping others.

On October 17, 2006, Ryan was conducting operations near Baqubah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

Ryan and two fellow Soldiers—SGT Norman R. Taylor III and PFC Nathan J. Frigo—were killed.

SSG Ryan E. Haupt was 24 years old.

Ryan's legacy cannot be measured only by his military accomplishments or the circumstances of his death.

He was a son, brother, husband, friend, and Soldier. He enlisted at 17, became an infantryman and sniper, and earned the responsibility of leading other Soldiers in combat.

He was also the Soldier who enjoyed visiting Iraqi schools, handing out supplies, playing soccer with children, and finding reasons to laugh even in the middle of a combat deployment.

Ryan's legacy lives on through his wife, Nannette, his extended family, friends, and the Soldiers who served beside him.

Remember the young man who enlisted at 17.

Remember the sniper and squad leader trusted to lead Soldiers in combat.

Remember the Soldier who could still find humor and humanity in the middle of war.

And remember the 24-year-old who gave his life alongside his fellow Soldiers near Baqubah, Iraq.

SSG Ryan E. Haupt will never be forgotten.

Honor Through Action.

SSG Brian F. Piercy

U.S. Army

SSG Brian F. Piercy
U.S. Army | A Company, 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division | Weapons Squad Leader
March 11, 1983 – July 19, 2010

Brian grew up in Clovis, California, alongside his twin brother and younger brother. Imaginative, curious, and energetic, he spent his childhood creating adventures with action figures, riding his bike, playing street hockey and capture the flag, and enjoying family trips to the mountains and beach.

At nine years old, Brian began taking piano lessons and quickly developed a passion for music. At Buchanan High School, he excelled academically while playing keyboard and percussion. He carried the third bass drum in the marching band and performed in halftime shows and winter percussion competitions throughout California.

After graduating in 2001, Brian attended Fresno Pacific University, studying liberal studies for two years before putting his education on hold to serve his country.

Military service became a family commitment. Brian enlisted in the United States Army six months after his twin brother, and their younger brother followed two months later.

Brian completed Basic Combat Training, Infantry Training, and Airborne School before joining the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Known for his professionalism, precision, and genuine concern for his Soldiers, Brian rose quickly through the ranks to Staff Sergeant and became a weapons squad leader with A Company, 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

In 2007, Brian deployed to Afghanistan for 15 months. In August 2009, he returned for a second combat deployment, this time for 12 months.

On July 19, 2010, just weeks before the end of his second tour, Brian was leading his squad on a dismounted patrol in Afghanistan's Arghandab River Valley when an improvised explosive device detonated.

SSG Brian F. Piercy was killed in action.

He was 27 years old.

Brian's life reflected both creativity and leadership. The boy who loved music and carried a bass drum onto the football field grew into a paratrooper trusted to lead Soldiers through some of Afghanistan's most dangerous terrain.

His legacy lives on through his wife, Christina, his extended family, friends, and the Soldiers who served beside him.

Brian was also one of eight Buchanan High School graduates who gave their lives during the Global War on Terror. Their hometown remembers them collectively as “The Buchanan Eight.”

The school honors all eight in a memorial garden and recognizes them at every home football game. Each year at graduation, eight doves are released—one at a time—as the names of the fallen graduates are read.

It is a fitting tribute to Brian and the seven others who once walked those same halls.

Remember the musician who loved the piano and percussion.

Remember the brother who followed his twin into military service.

Remember the paratrooper who became a Staff Sergeant and weapons squad leader.

Remember the leader who was at the front of his squad when his Soldiers needed him most.

And remember the young man from Clovis whose name is still spoken every year at the high school where his journey began.

SSG Brian F. Piercy will never be forgotten.

Honor Through Action.

SSG Ernest G. Bucklew

U.S. Army

SSG Ernest G. “Ernie” Bucklew
U.S. Army | 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
July 28, 1970 – November 2, 2003

Ernest G. “Ernie” Bucklew grew up in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. After graduating from Preston High School in 1988, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve, serving for several years as a cook with the 354th Ordnance unit out of Morgantown, West Virginia.

Determined to make the Army his career, Ernie transitioned to active-duty service in 1999 and was assigned to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Carson, Colorado.

In 2003, Ernie deployed with his unit to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he served in an ordnance role.

While Ernie was serving overseas, tragedy struck his family back home. His mother passed away, and Ernie was granted leave to return home for her funeral.

On November 2, 2003, Ernie boarded a CH-47 Chinook helicopter for the first leg of his journey home.

He never made it.

The Chinook was struck by enemy fire and crashed near Fallujah, Iraq.

SSG Ernest G. Bucklew was killed in action.

He was 33 years old.

The circumstances of Ernie's death made an already devastating loss even more painful. He had survived the dangers of serving in Iraq and was simply trying to get home to his family—to say goodbye to his mother—when his helicopter was shot down.

Ernie had devoted years of his life to military service, beginning in the Army Reserve before choosing to make the Army his career. He served his country as both a Reserve and active-duty Soldier and ultimately gave his life during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

His legacy lives on through his wife, Barb; his sons, Joshua and Justin; his extended family, friends, and the Soldiers who served beside him.

Remember the young man who chose a life of service.

Remember the Soldier who wanted to make the Army his career.

Remember the husband and father serving his country far from home.

And remember the son who was simply trying to make it home to say goodbye to his mother.

SSG Ernest G. “Ernie” Bucklew will never be forgotten.

Honor Through Action.