Chief Warrant Officer 2 Thalia Suzanne Ramiraz, age 28, San Antonio, Texas. F Troop, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division. Thalia died along with Jose Montenegro on September 5th when their OH-58D Kiowa Warrior reconnaissance helicopter crashed near Pul-e Alam in Logar province, Afghanistan. An ex-Marine, Michael O'Donnell, posted this to Thalia's husband on her Guest Book page. "I cannot express the sorrow I feel in words. You were fortunate to have such an outstanding wife."
Sgt. Kyle Bruce Osborn, age 26, Lafayette, Indiana. Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. Kyle died of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire in Muqer, Ghazni province, Afghanistan, on September 13, 2012. "Kyle died a hero with his soldiers, with his brothers at his side," said his wife Maggie. "I cannot thank you enough, his family, friends and mentors, for helping making him the man he became."
Sgt. Bradley Wayne Atwell, age 27, Kokomo, Indiana. Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force. Atwell was one of two Marines killed when 15 insurgents organized into three teams attacked Camp Bastion in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on September 15, 2012. Dressed in U.S. Army uniforms, the insurgents penetrated the camp's perimeter fence and destroyed six AV-8B Harrier jets, six refueling stations and damaged six aircraft hangars before 14 insurgents were killed and one captured.
Brad graduated from Taylor High School in 2003. He then went on to attend various colleges, most recently, while in Afghanistan, attending Thomas Edison State College, where he was only a few credits shy of his associate degree. A friend, Heather Hielman, wrote on his Guest Book page, "I will forever have a hole in my heart for you my friend. I will always remember the all those adventures we took throughout the many years of our friendship. Words cannot express how my I will miss your presence!"
Brad is survived by his wife, Danielle Atwell, Yuma, Ariz.; mother, Cheryl (Turnpaugh) Atwell; father and stepmother, Victor and Kimberlee Atwell; mother and father-in-law, Jeanette and Christopher Cross; brother, Dustin Atwell; two sisters, Erin and Lauren Atwell; and grandmother, Shirley (Turnpaugh) Oody, all of Kokomo.
Lt. Col. Christopher Keith Raible, age 40, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. Marine Attack Squadron 211, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force. Raible was one of two Marines killed when 15 insurgents organized into three teams attacked Camp Bastion in Helmand province, Afghanistan, on September 15, 2012.
On that day, 15 insurgents dressed in U.S. Army uniforms split into three teams and stormed British-operated Camp Bastion, which is connected to an American-run base known as Camp Leatherneck. The Taliban fighters penetrated the perimeter and attacked the shared airbase, destroying six Marine AV-8B Harrier jump-jets and damaging two others. It was the worst loss of U.S. military aircraft since the Vietnam War.
Raised in Irwin, Lt. Col. Raible attended Norwin High School, where he excelled at academics and played football. He graduated in 1990 in the top 10 percent of his class of 520. After high school, Lt. Col. Raible also attended Kent State University and transferred to Carnegie Mellon, graduating in 1995 with a civil engineering degree. He was later promoted to commander of Marine Attack Squadron 211 based in Yuma, where he left behind his wife, Donella, and their three children, ages 11, 9 and 2. You can view his memorial video here.
Pfc. Genaro Bedoy, age 20, Amarillo, Texas. Company C, 52nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. One of four soldiers killed when their position was attacked with small-arms fire in an insider attack suspected to involve members of the Afghan police in Muriani, Mizan district, Zabul province, Afghanistan, on September 16, 2012.
Genaro's mother, Veronica Quiroz, cried aloud, and his widow, Patricia, gripped her flag as they walked away from the cemetery. U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Rich Herman, who escorted Bedoy's mother during the services and burial, said "He could have done anything he wanted, but he wanted to serve his country"He felt like serving his country was like protecting his family. He was an outstanding soldier"He was a stand-up young man, who loved his family, loved his country, loved everything. He loved life." Herman said he is planning a fundraiser on Oct. 14 to help Genaro's widow and infant child.
Pfc. John Ross Townsend, age 19, Claremore, Oklahoma. Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. One of four soldiers killed when their position was attacked with small-arms fire in an insider attack suspected to involve members of the Afghan police in Muriani, Mizan district, Zabul province, Afghanistan, on September 16, 2012.
John married his high school sweetheart while on a leave from Afghanistan and he deployed again only three days later. Three days married - that is all the time he had with his wife. Carl Middleton wrote on Maggie's notebook, regarding Tom, "The whole country of Afghanistan isn't worth the blood of Jon Townsend or any of the others we have lost. I say it's past time to bring them all home together, not one at a time this way. May God bless and keep his young wife."
Sgt, Sapuro Brightley Nena, age 26, Honolulu, Hawaii. Company C, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. One of four soldiers killed when their position was attacked with small-arms fire in an insider attack suspected to involve members of the Afghan police in Muriani, Mizan district, Zabul province, Afghanistan, on September 16, 2012. Linda Holcolmb wrote on his facebook page, "words cannot express the sadness in my heart...so young but so brave and honorable. RIP."
Spc. Joshua Nathaniel Nelson, age 22, Greenville, North Carolina. Company D, 202nd Military Intelligence Battalion, 513th Military Intelligence Brigade. Joshua was one of four soldiers that died when their position was attacked with small-arms fire in an insider attack suspected to involve members of the Afghan police in Muriani, Mizan district, Zabul province, Afghanistan, on September 16, 2012.
Sgt. Jason M. Swindle, age 24, Cabot, Arkansas. 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. Jason died on September 20, 2012 of injuries suffered when he was attacked by insurgents armed with rocket-propelled grenades while on patrol in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar province, Afghanistan. An excerpt from Jason's Guest Book page: "It's personal and it's heartbreaking. My thoughts and prayers are with Jason's wife and children and all the Swindle family."
Petty Officer 2nd Class Dion R. Roberts, age 25, North Chicago, Illinois. East Coast Naval Special Warfare Unit. While the details are still unclear, it is officially reported that Dion died as a result of a single vehicle accident in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, on September 22, 2012. "My brother lived his life to the fullest," Jaleesa Roberts said. "He never took life for granted. He would say that I better be grateful for what I have because a lot of people don't have half of what I have." Dion was a 2005 graduate of North Chicago High School and was expected to return stateside next month.
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