Force Protection Team

Members of the force protection team at Camp Eggars, Afghanistan, assess damage resulting from an explosion near the gate. A vehicle-born improvised explosive device exploded near the German Embassy and a U.S. base. Eliminating threats such as the VBIED is the focus of Army’s 3rd Counter-IED Conference that was scheduled July 28-30.
These brave […]

Band Of Brothers

Something a little different this week. Instead of profiling a service member, Wednesday Hero will be profiling a movie. Band Of Brothers. It was a miniseries tha aired on HBO in 2001. It follows Maj. Richard Winters, Cpt. Lewis Nixon and the men of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute […]

Pvt. William Long
23 years old from Conway, Arkansas
D Company, 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry
June 1, 2009

“My brother taught me valuable lessons and made me the man I am today,” said Pfc. Triston Long, brother of Pvt. William Long. “My commander said, ‘Make your brother one of us.’ I will miss my brother with all that I […]

Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class (SEAL) Marc A. Lee
28 years old from Hood River, Oregon
Navy SEAL
August 2, 2006

“Marc was amazing. He was my best friend, my love,” his widow, Maya, said.
Petty Officer Marc A. Lee joined the Navy in 2001 and became an AO after completing Naval Air Technical Training. Later that year […]

Sgt. Pablo A. Calderon
26 years old from Brooklyn, New York
1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
November 30, 2004

“He wanted to fight for his country,” said his heartbroken younger sister, Lilliana Calderone. “He always wanted to be there.”
Pablo Calderon joined the Army in 1997, right out of High School. “He went straight to the […]

USS George H.W. Bush

Sailors assigned to the Air Department of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) are silhouetted against the setting sun at the conclusion of flight operations. George H.W. is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting flight deck certifications.
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that […]

Sgt. Christian E. Bueno-Galdos
25 years old from Paterson, New Jersey
3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade
May 11, 2009

On Mothers Day, Eugenia Gardos made a tabletop shrine to her recently deceased mother, surrounding her photograph with silk roses, a small white rosary cross, two votive candles and a prayer card of Senor de los Milagros, […]

Spc. Robert Hamilton

Spc. Robert Hamilton, from Corpus Christi, Texas, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, prepares to bandage the thumb of an Iraqi boy in Ula Market in Sadr City, April 19. The boy cut his thumb while preparing meat at a local butcher shop.
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their […]

1st Lt. Michael A. Cerrone
24 years old from Clarksville, Tennessee
2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division
November 12, 2006

Cerrone’s men said in written statements of remembrance that he put their safety and welfare first. He lead from the front and all of the paratroopers would “unquestionably” follow him into battle.
His […]

This Week’s Post Was Suggested & Written By Mary Ann
Sgt. Kenneth G. Ross
24 years old from Tucson, Arizona
7th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment
September 25, 2005

“He believed in serving his country,” said Ross’ father, David C. Ross. Gary Anderson, Ross’ best friend and an Army infantry veteran who served nine months in Afghanistan and 11 months […]

Operations Specialist 3rd Class Leonel Yanez

Operations Specialist 3rd Class Leonel Yanez (Right), from Huntington Park, Calif., monitors a radar screen in the Combat Direction Center aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean.
These brave men and women sacrifice so […]

I’m catching up on missed Wednesday Hero postings.
Spc. Jeffrey Scantlin, Sgt. 1st Class Erich Phillips, Sgt. John Hayes, 1st Lt. Aaron Thurman, Sgt. Hector Chavez and Spc. Tyler Hanson
2nd Platoon, Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment

In the early morning hours of July 13, 2008, Soldiers from Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment were […]

I’m catching up on missed posting with Wednesday Hero.
Cpl. Aaron L. Seal
23 years old from Elkhart, Indiana
6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, Marine Forces Reserve
October 1, 2006

With sleet gushing from gunmetal gray clouds, some 30 Marines standing in three trim lines saluted the U.S. flag that four of their brethren used to christen […]

Pfc. Alan R. Blohm
21 years old from Kenai, Alaska
425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
December 31, 2006

Alan R. Blohm enlisted in the Army in 2004 because “He wanted to serve the country,” his brother Jeremy said. “His grandfather had been in the Army, and it’s just something he […]

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Elena
Chief Master Sergeant Paul Wesley Airey

“Chief Airey was an Airman’s Airman and one of the true pioneers for our service,” said Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff. “He was a warrior, an innovator and a leader with vision well ahead of his time. His legacy lives today […]

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Kathi
Kevin Baker

Kevin George Baker, a disabled Navy veteran, had been riding his hand-propelled bicycle from his hometown through Washington, D.C. and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to Marseilles, Illinois to support a new flag designed to honor fallen members of the military. His trip began at his home on Saturday, March 7 […]

Spc. Brian K. Baker
27 years old from West Seneca, New York
2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry)
November 07, 2004

Near his hometown, the flag flew at half-staff outside the East Concord Volunteer Fire Department where Baker had been a junior firefighter. He joined the Army shortly after graduating from Springville-Griffith Institute in 1996 […]

Sgt. Stephen Howell

Sgt. Stephen Howell, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Band percussionist, races a student at Palisades Elementary School in Pearl City, Hawaii during an 11-event circuit course Feb. 20. More than 20 Marines assisted local park volunteers with manning the different events.
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that […]

Spc. Ross A. McGinnis
19 years old from Knox, Pennsylvania
1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
December 4, 2006

His mission was to patrol the streets of Adhamiyah in northeast Baghdad and find a place to put a 250-kilowatt generator that would provide electricity for more than 100 homes. But it’s a […]

Sgt. Kelly Keck
34 years old from West Liberty, Kentucky

Secretary of the Army Pete Geren congratulates Sgt. Kelly Keck after presenting him the Purple Heart.
On September 13, 2008, Sgt. Kelly Keck, a combat medic serving in Afghanistan, was wounded while trying to aid his fellow soldiers who’s truck had just been struck by an IED. […]

This Weeks Post Was Suggested And Written By Brat
Sgt. Patrick Tainsh, 33 years old from Oceanside, California Troop E, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment February 11, 2004

Five years ago today, Sgt. Patrick Tainsh sacrificed all as the mounted unit he was part of was hit by an IED in Baghdad. He was posthumously […]

Gunnery Sgt. Nick Popaditch

In 2003, Sgt. Popaditch, along with 1st Tank Battalion, rolled into Baghdad from Kuwait at the start of the Iraq War. They had just taken the city and the tank that Sgt. Popaditch was in had rolled up to a 40-ft statue of Saddam. I think we all remember that […]

This Weeks Post Was Suggested And Written By Cynthia
Sgt James E. Craig
27 years old from Hollywood, South Carolina
1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
January 28, 2008

James, 27, was killed on January 28, 2008, in Mosul, Iraq, along with four other soldiers when the unit encountered an IED, followed by an […]

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Cindy
Petty Officer 2nd Class Mike A. Monsoor
29 years old from Garden Grove, California
September 29, 2006

In April 2008, Michael Monsoor (who had already been posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his actions in a May 9, 2006 incident, when he and another SEAL pulled a wounded team member to safety […]

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Deb
Capt. Ed Freeman
Company A, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)

While reading the info on Cpt. Freeman, I found that I couldn’t have put it better than this.
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to […]