Memorial Day tribute 2011

Here is a list of military personnel from Route 66 towns who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq. I’ve also added informative links to each of the fallen, wherever possible.

https://youtu.be/RiN_vlzx6Po

Above is a song written more than 15 years ago and performed by Bruce Robison. It later became a big hit for the Dixie Chicks. It was a Vietnam story, but the story remains relevant.

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

Pacific

• Cpl. Riley E. Baker, died June 22, 2006

Bourbon

• Corp. James E. Summers III, died May 28, 2007

Rolla

• Spc. Bradley L. Melton, died May 16, 2011

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

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
• Spc. Rudolph R. Hizon, died Feb. 28, 2011

(Sources: CNN.com, icasualties.org, WashingonPost.com)