This is Veterans Day, and we rightfully spend time remembering the people we know who served in the military.
But this serves as a tribute to the veterans who couldn’t make it home from Afghanistan and Iraq. Let’s not forget them, too.
UPDATE: Here’s an editorial in today’s Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff that says everything better than I would.
Here is a list of military personnel from Route 66 towns who have died in these wars. I’ve also added informative links to each of the fallen, wherever possible.
ILLINOIS
Chicago
- Staff Sgt. Oscar D. Vargas-Medina, died May 1, 2004
- 1st Sgt. Edward Smith, died April 5, 2003
- Sgt. Ivory L. Phipps, died March 17, 2004
- Pfc. Torry D. Harris, died July 13, 2004
- Sgt. Sirlou C. Cuaresma, died June 21, 2006
- Cmdr. Adrian Basil Szwec, died April 12, 2004
- Machinist’s Mate Fireman Apprentice Bryant L. Davis, died Nov. 7, 2001
- Master Sgt. Wilberto Sabalu Jr., died May 6, 2007
- Sgt. Eric A. Lill, died July 6, 2007
- Pfc. Omar E. Torres, died Aug. 22, 2007
- Cpl. Albert Bitton, died Feb. 20, 2008
- Pfc. Howard A. Jones Jr., died May 18, 2008
- Staff Sgt. Jason A. Vazquez, died Sept. 17, 2008
- Staff Sgt. Roberto Andrade Jr., died Jan. 18, 2009
- Spc. Omar M. Albrak, died May 9, 2009
- Sgt. Albert D. Ware, died Dec. 18, 2009
- Lance Cpl. John T. Sparks, died Oct. 8, 2010
Countryside
- Spc. John R. Sullivan, died Nov. 15, 2003
Cicero
- Sgt. Pedro J. Colon, died Feb. 19, 2007
Romeoville
- Sgt. Joshua W. Harris, died Sept. 17, 2008
- Spc. Kyle J. Wright, died Jan. 13, 2010
Dwight
- Lance Cpl. Raymond J. Holzhauer, died March 15, 2007
Lincoln
- Staff Sgt. Daniel G. Gresham, died Feb. 24, 2005
- Spc. Francis M. Trussell Jr., died May 26, 2007
Normal
- Spc. Jessica L. Cawvey, died Oct. 6, 2004
Bloomington
- Capt. Ryan Anthony Beaupre, died March 21, 2003
- 1st Lt. Debra A. Banaszak, died Oct. 28, 2005
Springfield
- Spc. Jacob C. Palmatier, died Feb. 24, 2005
Virden
- Staff Sgt. Gary R. Harper Jr., died Oct. 9, 2005
Carlinville
- Spc. Jeremiah D. Costello, died June 2, 2007
Edwardsville
- Pfc. Ryan C. Garbs, died Feb. 18, 2007
Granite City
- Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Christopher Dostie, died Dec. 30, 2005
- Sgt. Steven P. Mennemeyer, died Aug. 9, 2006
MISSOURI
Florissant
- Pvt. Lavena L. Johnson, died July 19, 2005
- Cpl. Gunnar W. Zwilling, died July 13, 2008
St. Louis
- Maj. William F. Hecker III, died Jan. 5, 2006
- Sgt. Amanda N. Pinson, died March 16, 2006
- Pfc. James F. Costello III, died April 11, 2006
- Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Walsh, died Sept. 4, 2006
- Cpl. Jacob R. Fleischer, died Nov. 24, 2004
- Spc. Christopher M. Katzenberger, died Aug. 9, 2005
- Maj. Gloria D. Davis, died Dec. 12, 2006
- Lance Cpl. Matthew W. Clark, died Dec. 14, 2006
- Sgt. Milton A. Gist Jr., died Jan. 30, 2007
- Sgt. Brandon L. Wallace, died April 14, 2007
- Lt. Daniel P. Riordan, died June 23, 2007
- Pvt. Vincent C. Winston Jr., died Sept. 4, 2008
- 1st Lt. Roslyn L. Schulte, died May 20, 2009
- Cpl. Donald M. Marler, died June 6, 2010
Wildwood
- Spc. Peter J. Navarro, died Dec. 13, 2005
Ballwin
- Sgt. Zachary M. Fisher, died July 14, 2010
Pacific
- Cpl. Riley E. Baker, died June 22, 2006
St. Clair
- Cpl. Michael C. Bailey, died June 16, 2010
Bourbon
- Corp. James E. Summers III, died May 28, 2007
Lebanon
- Sgt. Lawrence Parrish, died Oct. 7, 2006
- Spc. James M. Finley, died May 31, 2008
Marshfield
- Spc. Michael C. Campbell, died May 19, 2004
Springfield
- Pfc. Jesse Alan Givens, died May 1, 2003
- Sgt. Timothy J. Sutton, died July 11, 2005
- Sgt. 1st Class Randall L. Lamberson, died April 10, 2006
- Spc. Jessy G. Pollard, died Aug. 22, 2007
- Staff Sgt. Ronald C. Blystone, died April 23, 2008
- Pfc. Dylan T. Reid, died Oct. 16, 2010
Carthage
- Master Sgt. Thomas A. Wallsmith, died Oct. 26, 2005
Joplin
- Sgt. Philip J. Svitak, died March 4, 2002
- Sgt. Paul F. Brooks, died May 21, 2009
KANSAS
Riverton
- Pvt. Dustin L. Kreider, died March 21, 2004
OKLAHOMA
Miami
- Civilian Fern L. Holland, died March 9, 2004
- Tech. Sgt. Jason L. Norton, died Jan. 22, 2006
Vinita
- Sgt. Justin Noyes, died July 2, 2006
Claremore
- Staff Sgt. John G. Doles, died Sept. 30, 2005
- Spc. Matthew D. Hastings, died Aug. 17, 2009
Tulsa
- Pvt. Jason M. Ward, died Oct. 22, 2003
- Spc. James E. Marshall, died May 5, 2004
- Lance Cpl. Jordan D. Winkler, died Nov. 26, 2004
- Cpl. Nathaniel T. Hammond, died Nov. 8, 2004
- Cpl. Jared M. Shoemaker, died Sept. 4, 2006
- Cpl. Derek A. Stanley, died June 5, 2006
- Pfc. Jaron D. Holliday, died Aug. 4, 2007
- Cpl. Stephen S. Thompson, died Feb. 14, 2009
Bristow
- Pfc. Ryan J. Grady, died July 1, 2010
Luther
- Cpl. Jeremy D. Allbaugh, died July 5, 2007
Edmond
- Pfc. David J. Martin, died Oct. 31, 2005
Bethany
- Staff Sgt. Jack M. Martin III, died Sept. 28, 2009
Oklahoma City
- Spc. Sonny Gene Sampler, died July 8, 2004
- Sgt. Carl W. Lee, died Nov. 28, 2004
- Cpl. Jeffry A. Rogers, died Nov. 16, 2005
- Staff Sgt. Lance M. Chase, died Jan. 23, 2006
- Chief Warrant Officer Lawrence S. Colton, died April 11, 2004
- Sgt. Danton K. Seitsinger, died Jan. 29, 2004
- Lance Cpl. Trevor A. Roberts, died March 24, 2007
- Sgt. Ryan M. Wood, died June 21, 2007
- Spc. Derek A. Calhoun, died June 23, 2007
- Staff Sgt. William D. Scates, died Aug. 11, 2007
- Chief Warrant Officer Brady J. Rudolf, died Sept. 18, 2008
- Air Force civilian Frank R. Walker, died Oct. 28, 2009
TEXAS
Amarillo
- Capt. Eric Bruce Das, died April 7, 2003
- Chief Warrant Officer Johnny Villareal Mata, died March 23, 2003
- Spc. Taylor J. Burk, died Jan. 26, 2005
- Staff Sgt. Tommy Ike Folks Jr., died Oct. 19, 2005
- Chief Warrant Officer Miles P. Henderson, died Nov. 6, 2006
- Pfc. Troy D. Cooper, died Dec. 3, 2006
- Maj. Matthew Houseal, died May 11, 2009
NEW MEXICO
Las Vegas
- Lance Cpl. Shane P. Harris, died Sept. 3, 2006
Santa Fe
- Lance Cpl. Jonathan Walter Grant, died May 11, 2005
Albuquerque
- Pfc. Christopher Ramos, died April 5, 2004
- Pfc. Christopher S. Adlesperger, died Dec. 9, 2004
- Spc. Jeremy E. Christensen, died Nov. 27, 2004
- Spc. Christopher A. Merville, died Oct. 12, 2004
- Sgt. 1st Class Christopher J. Speer, died Aug. 7, 2002
- Spc. Eric Vizcaino, died Nov. 21, 2006
- Tech Sgt. Scott E. Duffman, died Feb. 18, 2007
- Spc. Clifford A. Spohn III, died April 9, 2007
- Maj. Douglas Zembiec, died May 10, 2007
- Sgt. James C. Akin, died June 3, 2007
- Capt. Thomas J. Casey, died Jan. 3, 2008
- Sgt. Jose R. Escobedo Jr., died March 19, 2009
- Pfc. Zachary G. Lovejoy, died Feb. 2, 2010
- Pvt. Charles M. High IV, died Aug. 17, 2010
Los Lunas
- Sgt. Joel A. Dahl, died June 23, 2007
- 1st Lt. Tamara Long Archuleta, died March 23, 2003
ARIZONA
Holbrook
- Spc. Damien M. Montoya, died July 9, 2006
Winslow
- Sgt. Christopher N. Gonzalez, died May 14, 2007
Flagstaff
- Lance Cpl. Marty G. Mortenson, died April 20, 2005
- Spc. Alyssa R. Peterson, died Sept. 15, 2003
- Staff Sgt. Eric James Lindstrom, died July 12, 2009
- Lance Cpl. Matthew J. Broehm, died Nov. 4, 2010
Kingman
- Hospitalman Joshua McIntosh, died June 26, 2003
- Staff Sgt. William T. Latham, died June 18, 2003
- Spc. Coty J. Phelps, died May 17, 2007
CALIFORNIA
Barstow
- Sgt. 1st Class James F. Hayes, died Nov. 6, 2005
- Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Phillip Daugherty, died July 6, 2007
Victorville
- Lance Cpl. William J. Wiscowiche, died March 30, 2004
Hesperia
- Sgt. James K. Healy, died Jan. 7, 2008
San Bernardino
- Cpl. Sean R. Grilley, died Oct. 16, 2003
- Cpl. Nicanor Alvarez, died Aug. 21, 2004
- Spc. Timothy D. Watkins, died Oct. 15, 2005
- Pfc. Alex Oceguera, died Oct. 31, 2006
Rialto
- Staff Sgt. Jorge A. Molina Bautista, died May 23, 2004
- Spc. Luis D. Santos, died June 8, 2006
- Spc. Victor A. Garcia, died July 1, 2007
Azusa
- Pfc. Leroy Harris-Kelly, died April 20, 2004
Arcadia
- Sgt. Kyle A. Colnot, died April 22, 2006
Fontana
- Sgt. Bryan A. Brewster, died May 5, 2006
- Lance Corp. Fontana S. Tamayo, died Dec. 21, 2006
Glendora
- Spc. Elias Elias, died Dec. 23, 2006
- Lance Corp. Blake H. Howey, died Feb. 18, 2007
- Staff Sgt. Thomas M. McFall, died May 28, 2007
Monrovia
- Lance Cpl. Raul Mercado, died Jan. 7, 2006
Rancho Cucamonga
- Capt. Mark C. Paine, died Oct. 15, 2006
- Sgt. Lawrence J. Carter, died Dec. 29, 2006
- Spc. Ronnie J. Pallares, died Oct. 23, 2010
Pomona
- Petty Officer 2nd Class Cesar O. Baez, died June 15, 2005
- Sgt. Shakere T. Guy, died Oct. 29, 2005
- Spc. Sergio Gudino, died Dec. 25, 2005
Pasadena
- Lance Cpl. Sergio H. Escobar, died Oct. 8, 2005
- Spc. Adam J. Rosema, died March 14, 2007
- Lance Cpl. Rogelio A. Ramirez, died Aug. 26, 2007
Hollywood
- Sgt. James E. Craig, died Jan. 28, 2008
Los Angeles
- Staff Sgt. Juan de Dios Garcia-Arana, April 30, 2005
- Staff Sgt. Eddie E. Menyweather, died Nov. 23, 2003
- Lance Cpl. Benjamin R. Gonzalez, died May 29, 2004
- Staff Sgt. Abraham D. Penamedina, died April 27, 2004
- Sgt. 1st Class John W. Marshall, died April 8, 2003
- Pfc. Francisco Abraham Martinez Flores, died March 27, 2003
- Cpl. Jorge Alonso Gonzalez, died March 23, 2003
- Lance Cpl. Victor R. Lu, died Nov. 13, 2004
- Sgt. Trinidad R. Martinez-Luis, died Nov. 28, 2004
- Lance Cpl. Luis A. Figueroa, died Nov. 18, 2004
- Spc. Omead H. Razani, died Aug. 27, 2004
- Sgt. Edgar E. Lopez, died Aug. 28, 2004
- Sgt. 1st Class Joselito O. Villanueva, Sept. 27, 2004
- Lance Cpl. Felipe D. Sandoval-Flores, died April 2, 2006
- Lance Cpl. Salvador Guerrero, died June 9, 2006
- Cpl. Roberto Abad, died Aug. 6, 2004
- Pfc. Geoffrey Perez, died Aug. 15, 2004
- Lance Cpl. Veashna Muy, died June 23, 2005
- Cpl. Carlos Pineda, died June 24, 2005
- Lance Cpl. Dion M. Whitley, died June 15, 2005
- Sgt. Milton M. Monzon Jr., died July 24, 2005
- Sgt. Alejandro Carrillo, died Jan. 30, 2007
- Spc. Christopher D. Young, died March 2, 2007
- Spc. Romel Catalan, died June 2, 2007
- Staff Sgt. Greg P. Gagarin, died June 3, 2007
- Sgt. Robert T. Ayres III, died Sept. 29, 2007
- Staff Sgt. Joseph F. Curreri, died Oct. 27, 2007
- Sgt. 1st Class David Nunez, died May 29, 2008
- Sgt. Jose Regalado, died Nov. 12, 2008
- Capt. Kafele H. Sims, June 16, 2009
- Maj. Rocco M. Barnes, died June 4, 2009
- Pvt. Jhanner A. Tello, died Dec. 10, 2009
- Pfc. Jake W. Suter, died May 29, 2010
(Sources: CNN.com, icasualties.org, WashingonPost.com)
Thank you Ron, for running this list again. I know more than one name on it, unfortunately, sadly. Working with foreign travelers as I do, I am constantly reminded both that freedom is not free and that most Americans do not, truly, comprehend the freedom we have in the United States. Thank you for continuing to devote the space on your blogspot to gently remind us. And a special thank you to all the veterans and military personnel who have continued to give so that America remains free. Your efforts do not go unnoticed or unappreciated.