Oklahoma Soldiers in Remberance

Sources used:
http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/

Obituaries from Various Newspapers

Please email me with info on any Oklahoma Military Soldiers that may have been overlooked.

Cpl. Jeremy D. Allbau	Services for Marine Cpl. Jeremy D. Allbaugh, 21, Whitehouse, are scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, July 13, 2007, at First Christian Church of Blackwell, Okla., with 2nd Lt. Jason Allbaugh delivering the eulogy.  Burial will be in Blackwell Cemetery, Blackwell, Okla., with military rites by the United States Marine Corps. Arrangements under direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home, Blackwell, Okla.  Marine Cpl. Allbaugh was killed on July 5, 2007, when the Humvee in which he was riding struck a roadside bomb in the An-Bar province of Iraq.  Marine Cpl. Jeremy D. Allbaugh was born on Jan. 17, 1986, in Traverse City, Mich., to Jon and Jenifer (Payne) Allbaugh. He grew up in Harrah, Okla., where he played baseball and graduated from Harrah High School in 2004. Immediately following his graduation he entered the United States Marine Corps. His first duty station was a security detail at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland. He was then assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Headquarters and Service Company where he served in the personal security detachment to Lt. Col. Bohm in the Al An-Bar province in Iraq. During his service Jeremy received the National Defense Medal, the Global War of Terrorism Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon and the Purple Heart. He had been a member of the Marine Corps for three years.   He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Marvin Allbaugh.  Survivors include his parents, Jon and Jenifer Allbaugh of Whitehouse; grandparents, Peggy Allbaugh of Wichita, Kan., John and Dorothy Payne of Tulsa, Okla.; sister, Alicia Allbaugh of Whitehouse; brothers, 2nd Lt. Jason Allbaugh of El Paso, and Bryan Allbaugh of Crowley.  Casketbearers are Jason Allbaugh, Bryan Allbaugh, Johnny Young, Kyle Burnett, Dustin Alred and Chris Cotrell.  The family requests that contributions be made to Freedom Alliance, care of Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Okla. 74631, in lieu of flowers.
Col. Brian D. Allgood	Col. Brian D. Allgood, the top American medical officer in Iraq, was the kind of commander who ate in the dining facility nearly every day and would sit and chat with anyone, regardless of rank. "I think this is what endeared him to his soldiers. He was personable and likable and he was always visible to his troops," said Maj. Andrew Corrow. Allgood, 46, who grew up in Colorado Springs, Colo., and had lately lived in Oklahoma, was killed Jan. 20 when his helicopter crashed in Baghdad. He was assigned to Heidelberg, Germany. After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., in 1982, he went to Oklahoma University's medical school and became an orthopedic surgeon. He was a commander of the Army hospital at his alma mater and he spent two years in Korea, where he was in charge of military medical facilities. He also served as a medical officer in Panama, and parachuted into that country during the 1989 invasion. "He loved the military," said his uncle, Dr. Richard Allgood. "He knew the risks, but went willingly and without reservation." He is survived by his wife, Jane, and son, Wyatt.
Spc. William E. Allmon	Spc. William E. Allmon's death was confirmed Monday in a news release posted by the U.S. Department of Defense. The brief notice said Spc. Allmon "died April 12 ... of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga. A spokesman with the Fort Stewart Public Affairs office said Allmon was a combat engineer on his second deployment to Iraq. Allmon is the second Ardmore soldier killed in the line of duty. Spc. Micheal "Pokey" Phillips, the 19-year-old son of Steven and Angelia Phillips, died on Feb. 24. Source: The Ardmorite April 15, 2008
Spc. Jonathan Paul Barnes	COWETA -- A soldier who grew up in Coweta was among three U.S. servicemembers killed over the weekend in a grenade attack in Iraq, a relative said Monday. Spc. Jonathan Paul Barnes, 21, died Saturday while guarding a children's hospital in Baqouba, 45 miles northeast of Baghdad, said Kim Riley, Barnes' sister. A married father of one, Barnes was a member of the 4th Infantry Division, which numbers between 16,000 and 20,000 troops, said his sister. "What are the odds that out of the whole the 4th Infantry, one of the three (killed) would be him?" Riley said. She heard news of the attack Saturday, and military officials notified her family of Barnes' death Sunday, Riley said. He and two comrades were killed as a result of a grenade being thrown from a window of an Iraqi civilian hospital, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Defense. "He was assigned to follow the 3rd Infantry when they invaded Baghdad," Riley said. "But they went in and took over Baghdad so easily that just before he was shipped, his infantry ended up staying to guard the airport and radio and television stations as they were being rebuilt. "He was assigned to the children's hospital because they were storing weapons there." Barnes is believed to be the first Cowetan to die in the Iraq conflict. Eight soldiers from Coweta were killed while fighting in the Vietnam War. That number was the most for any town in the United States, on a per capita basis. Cowetan Dana Fransisco, who helped organize the sending of care packages to the local troops, said about 50 soldiers from the town have served in the war against Iraq. "He wrote several letters and always said there was nothing to worry about," Riley said of her brother. "He asked every time about his house because we were to take care of the grass and the bills. And he always asked about family." Barnes met his wife of three years, Amanda, in Anderson, Mo., northeast of Grove, Riley said. Amanda and her daughter, Michelle, who turns 3 next month, were staying in Anderson while Barnes was overseas, the sister said. Born in Muskogee, Barnes attended school in Coweta until about the 10th grade. Home-schooled thereafter, he eventually earned his high school equivalency test. He joined the military after a recruiting visit to Joplin, Mo., and underwent basic training in Fort Benning, Ga., Riley said. Barnes served in Korea and Kuwait before being sent to Iraq, she said. Having begun taking law enforcement classes in the service, Barnes had designs on becoming a member of the highway patrol, his sister said. "He wanted to find a way to better his education and also support his family better," Riley said. "He chose to join the military. He thought that way, not only would he have housing for them but that he would be a better provider." Barnes' body is expected to arrive in Fort Hood, Texas, next week, Riley said. His wife has requested that Barnes be buried in a cemetery in Anderson, Riley said.  Source: Tulsa World
Lance Cpl. Thomas A. Blair	Lance Cpl. Thomas Blair joined the Marine Corps in 1997, the same year he graduated from high school in Broken Arrow, a suburb of Tulsa, Okla. Teachers at Broken Arrow High School remembered him as a disciplined student who played drums in the band. As a sophomore, Blair sewed a military insignia to his band uniform.   Marine Lance Cpl. Thomas Blair, 24, Broken Arrow, Okla. Thomas A. Blair was a free spirit who tempered his shyness with a strong will, someone who would "give the shirt right off his back if he could help you," in the words of older brother Al Blair.  "He said he was proud of what he was doing, proud of where he was at, and he was doing the job he'd been trained to do, which was defend this country," said Al Blair, a Marine staff sergeant.  Blair, 24, of Broken Arrow, Okla., disappeared during fighting March 23, and was later confirmed killed in action.  Blair joined the Marines at 19 and was based in Cherry Point, N.C., a quick drive from his brother. He often visited Al Blair's family for home-cooked meals and the chance to play with his brother's children.  As a sophomore in the high school band, Blair sewed a military insignia to his band uniform, just like senior band members. "You'd give him an inch ... and he'd just want to take it to the next step," said Darren Davis, Blair's high school band teacher.
Staff Sgt. Melvin L. Blazer	Before the 15 years of marriage, before the birth of their two children, Melvin and Dana Blazer were friends. "We were such wonderful friends for many, many years," Dana Blazer said. "That friendship blossomed into a wonderful love. The stuff fairy tales are made of." The 38-year-old Marine from Moore, Okla., was killed Dec. 12 in Iraq's Anbar province. He was based at Camp Pendleton, Calif. "To know my husband was to love my husband," Dana Blazer said. "Everybody loved him and admired him and respected him and held him in such high regard. He was a hero in his everyday life." Blazer chose the military as his career shortly after high school, and it was a commitment he believed would carry on even after his death, one of his comrades said. "He always had this theory that when you get to heaven, the streets will be guarded by the Marines," Master Gunnery Sgt. Melvin Waters said. Survivors include Blazer's children, Alyssa and Erik.Staff Sgt. Melvin L. Blazer of Moore, Oklahoma graduated from Moore High School in 1984 and it didn't take long for him to join the military and make it his career. As a Marine, he was proud to help the people of Iraq, but also told relatives he was glad to be in the country for another reason. Before the 15 years of marriage, before the birth of their two children, he chose the military as his career shortly after high school, and it was a commitment he believed would carry on even after his death. He always had this theory that when you get to heaven, the streets will be guarded by the Marines. He married his wife in 1989 and they had two children. He received the Purple Heart in November after being injured by shrapnel from an improvised explosive device. He enjoyed bowling, playing chess, fishing, boogie boarding, cook-outs and BBQ with the family. He is survived by his wife, parents, a daughter, a son, 2 brothers. Grandparents Wilburn and Billie Blazer and Dan Tatum preceded him in death. Melvin was killed by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq at age 38.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Doyle W. Bollinger	Petty Officer 3rd Class Doyle W. Bollinger Petty Officer 3rd Class Doyle W. Bollinger, 21, joined the U.S. Navy shortly after high school. He joined the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion, the Seabees. Bollinger, from Poteau, Okla., was killed June 6 when a piece of unexploded ordnance accidentally detonated in the area where he was working. "Wayne is a very special young man and is proud to be a Navy Seabee. He died defending his country. He is without doubt one of America's finest," a family statement said. His unit has been in the Middle East since January. The unit provides construction support to the Navy, Marines and other armed forces during military operations. "He marched to the beat of a different drum, and he was happy in his own little world," said Pat Eidschun, a retired teacher who taught Bollinger when he was in the seventh grade in Poteau.
Capt. John J. Boria	Capt. John J. Boria In death, John J. Boria offered life to others. Boria, 29, of Broken Arrow, Okla., died Sept. 6 of injuries he suffered when a recreational all-terrain vehicle he was driving over sand dunes crashed near Doha, Qatar. He was based at Grand Forks. Boria was an organ donor and several of his organs were made available for others. "He was filled with valor and kindness. He was always doing something for somebody else," said family friend Marcia Allison. Boria graduated in 1993 from high school and his dreams of one day flying began to materialize when he joined the Air Force, graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs in 1998. While at the academy, he and other classmates had a special inscription put inside their graduation rings: "A friend that sticks closer than a brother." At his funeral, the song "I Believe I can Fly" was played and old photos were shown capturing him as a schoolboy in a flight uniform that was much too big. He is survived by his parents, John and Wanda Boria.
Spc. Adam Noel Brewer	Spc. Adam Brewer of Dewey, Oklahoma was serving a second tour of duty in Iraq and was scheduled to be back in Oklahoma in the middle of March. He graduated from Bartlesville High School in 2000 and had hoped to become a police officer. He was proud to serve his country, proud when Baghdad fell and proud when victory was declared. He was a boy who left to join the Army, and the Army made him a man. The soldier's legacy will be that "not only did he defend our country but he defended the values of freedom that we hold so dear. Besides his wife, Molly, of Bartlesville, Brewer is survived by his mother, Karen Brewer of Tulsa; his father, Jeffrey and stepmother, Debi, of Bartlesville; and a sister, Jennifer Sullivan of Tulsa. Oklahoma soldier killed in Iraq laid to rest BARTLESVILLE, Okla. — An Oklahoma soldier killed in Iraq made life better for the people there, his family and friends were told.  Army Spc. Adam Noel Brewer, 22, “was proud to serve his country, proud when Baghdad fell and proud when victory was declared,” said the Rev. Rod MacIlvaine, who presided over Brewer’s funeral at Grace Community Church on Monday.  Brewer was killed Feb. 25 near Taji, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was on patrol. Brewer, who was based at Fort Hood, Texas, was serving a second tour in Iraq and was scheduled to return home this month.  “You looked forward to his return, and you were shocked when you heard the news of his death,” MacIlvaine told about 350 in attendance. “I know his passing has been hard. But for the rest of your life, whenever you see his picture or mention his name, you can be proud.  “He was proud for what he did.”  Brewer was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment. He joined the Army after graduating from Bartlesville High School in 2001 and was married in December of that year, MacIlvaine said.  “He was a boy who left to join the Army, and the Army made him a man,” MacIlvaine said.  After being stationed in Germany, Brewer “was part of the original invasion that began in March 2003 in Iraq,” the pastor said.  John Brewer, an uncle, said Adam was a hyper kid, just like his father, Jeffrey Brewer  “My heart just aches for Karen and Jeff,” John Brewer said. “It just doesn’t seem right that Adam had to leave so soon.”Besides his wife, Molly, of Bartlesville, Brewer is survived by his mother, Karen Brewer of Tulsa; his father, Jeffrey and stepmother, Debi, of Bartlesville; and a sister, Jennifer Sullivan of Tulsa.his father, Jeffrey and stepmother, Debi, of Bartlesville; and a sister, Jennifer Sullivan of Tulsa.  The soldier’s legacy, MacIlvaine said, will be that “not only did he defend our country but he defended the values of freedom that we hold so dear.“It is soldiers like Adam who have made life so much better for those who have been liberated.”
Spc. Kyle A. Brinlee	PRYOR -- A "squeaky-clean" preener who took 40-minute showers at home, Spc. Kyle Adam (Showler) Brinlee didn't mind the dirty work when it came to war, an officer said Wednesday. Before a estimated 1,300 people in the Pryor High School auditorium, Lt. Col. John C. Lile eulogized Brinlee as a self-achiever who was the first to volunteer for duties, a "standard-bearer of the young, military soldier." Friends, family and fellow soldiers remembered Brinlee in the Mayes County town in which he graduated from high school. The first member of the Oklahoma National Guard killed in Iraq, Brinlee died May 11 near Alasad when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device, the state Military Department said. He was 21. "We all have the capacity to make a difference," Gov. Brad Henry said. "Kyle made a huge difference." Henry, the commander in chief of the Oklahoma National Guard, said he spoke at the funeral at the request of Brinlee's father, Robert Showler. "He may not have been the leader in rank," he said of Brinlee. "But from what I'm told, he was the leader in morale-building." Reared in Adair and Pryor, Brinlee graduated from high school in 2001. He joined the Oklahoma National Guard that same year and was sent to Iraq in February as a member of the 120th Combat Engineer Battalion. He was the fifth Oklahoma soldier reported killed in Iraq in just more than a month. The National Guard posthumously awarded Brinlee two medals, the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, and promoted him to sergeant Wednesday. Brinlee was buried at Graham Memorial Cemetery in Pryor. Lile never met Brinlee. But he related anecdotes he got from the Guard member's relatives, drawing hearty chuckles from the audience. Nicknamed "Chubs" in the seventh grade, Brinlee matured into a good-looking young man who took primping to the extreme. He scrubbed his teeth with baking soda and peroxide and made girls jealous with eyelashes that he perfected with eyelash curlers, Lile said. Protective of his women kinfolk, he helped clean his grandmother's house, screened telephone calls from boys for his sister, Kaylee, and took great care of his mother, Tracy, who died Sept. 30 at age 38. In the field, he placed his comrades at ease with a keen sense of humor, Lile said. He reportedly made another Guard member laugh so hard during a sandstorm that the man swallowed a mouthful of the grains. Pryor police Sgt. Derek Melton said he had known Brinlee since Brinlee was 14. Melton, who is also a pastor of Pryor Creek Community Church, said Brinlee liked riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles and working on cars. Brinlee, who had an interest in carpentry, helped install the floor in the high school's new gymnasium, he said. "When you were around Kyle, he had a special way of making things better," Melton said. During a visit the day before his deployment, Brinlee told Melton how much he loved his family, Melton said. "Kyle knew the seriousness of war," he said. "I believe with all my heart he had made things right with God." Source: Tulsa World Published: 5/20/2004
Staff Sgt. Kevin Brown	VINE GROVE BROWN, STAFF SGT. KEVIN RAY, 38, died September 25, 2007 in Iraq. Funeral: 11 a.m. Wednesday, New Salem Baptist Church. Visitation: 6-8 p.m. Tuesday; 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nelson- Edelen-Bennett Staff Sgt. Kevin Brown A decorated soldier from Harrah who was nearing the end of his career in the military is the latest Oklahoma casualty in Iraq, his family said Wednesday. Staff Sgt. Kevin Brown, 38, died Tuesday in Muqdadiyah, Iraq, after a bomb detonated near his vehicle, the Defense Department said. Brown was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, based in Fort Hood, Texas. He was deployed to Iraq in October and had been with the unit since April 2006, Fort Hood officials said. "He was looking forward to retirement, so he could be with his family forever,” said his mother, Glenda Brown. "My son also wanted to go fishing with his dad again.” ‘Loved to have fun'A Cavalry scout, Brown joined the military in 1988, a year after graduating from Harrah High School. He was inspired to join the military by his father, Richard Haynes Brown, a senior master sergeant who retired at Tinker Air Force Base after 22 years of service, Glenda Brown said. Kevin Brown's birthday was coming up on Oct. 12, and the family had just sent him a birthday package the day he was killed, his mother said. "He was fun to be around. He always made you laugh,” she said. "He had the bluest eyes in the world — bluer than the sky,” his mother said. "He was never a grownup. He didn't smoke and he didn't drink. He was always a little boy at heart. He loved to have fun.” Brown kept in contact with his family either by phone or e-mails, and they got to see him in February during a two-week leave, his mother said. He didn't talk much about Iraq, except to say he was doing his job, Glenda Brown said. It was his second time in Iraq, having also served a tour there in 2005, she said. Kevin Brown earned the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, among others. Besides his parents, Brown is survived by his wife, Lena, of Killeen, Texas; the couple's daughters, Maria, 13, and Charlene, 14; a sister, Brandy Ross of Moore; and two stepchildren, Jeremy and Pamela. A funeral will be held at the Brown family plot in Rineyville, Ky. Published in The Oklahoman on 9/27/2007
Spec Derek Alan Calhoun	Derek Alan Calhoun, 23, of Oklahoma City, was born on Sept. 8, 1983 in Oklahoma City and passed away on June 23, 2007 in Baghdad, Iraq while serving his country in the U.S. Army as an Army Specialist. Derek attended Moore High. After completing high school, he enrolled at Wright Business School where he received his Associate degree. In 2005, Derek heard his country's call and enlisted in the United States Army. Derek was a member of the South Lindsay Baptist Church in OKC. He enjoyed sports & the outdoors; watching and playing football, basketball, fishing and dogs. Derek's first love was spending time with his family, especially with his nieces and nephews. He is survived by his parents, Alan & Lou Calhoun of OKC; one sister, Lanesha Morris of OKC; grandparents, Jean & JoAnn Calhoun of Choctaw, OK; three nieces, Sierra, Cheyenne and Autumn Morris; and one nephew, Takoda Morris. Derek is preceded in death by his grandparents, Brooks & Eula Choate. Funeral Services are 11:00am, Tuesday, July 3, 2007 at South Lindsay Baptist Church, located at 3300 S. Lindsey in Oklahoma City. Pastor George Brock officiating. Interment will follow to the Moore City Cemetery, where Army Spc. Calhoun will be receiving Full Military Honors from the United States Army. Services are under the direction of the John M. Ireland Funeral Home & Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorial donations be sent to: The Muscular Dystrophy Association, 5601 NW 72nd Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73132 and/or the South Lindsay Baptist Church. Published in The Oklahoman from 6/30 to 7/1/2007
Pvt. Cody M. Carver	Cody M. Carver was trickster who loved teasing his mother. "He liked to jump out and scare me," Pam Carver said. "He would put a piece of tape around the handle on the sprayer next to the kitchen sink, and then aim it so that it would squirt me when I turned on the water." Carver, 19, of Haskell, Okla., was killed Oct. 30 when his patrol was struck by an explosive and small-arms fire in Salman Pak. He was based at Fort Benning. "He was really outgoing," said his mother. "Everybody loved him. You couldn't have asked for a better child." Carver's father, Darrell Lee Carver, was wounded during the Vietnam War. That, along with the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, was Cody Carver's motivation for joining the Army, his mother said. "He had talked about joining the Army since the ninth grade. I guess it was about the same time 9/11 happened. That bothered him so bad, he just wanted to go and make it right," she said. He was very much a single man. "I asked him at Valentine's Day if there was anyone he wanted me to send flowers to," said his mother. "He said 'Mom, that would be too many flowers. You couldn't afford it.'"
Staff Sgt. Lance M. Chase	Staff Sgt. Lance M. Chase A former detention officer at the Oklahoma County jail was killed in Iraq when the tank he was riding in ran over a homemade bomb, the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday. Army Staff Sgt. Lance Chase, 32, and Pfc. Peter Wagler, 18, of Partridge, Kan., were conducting patrols when the bomb exploded, killing both men, the Department of Defense said. Both were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood.  "My son truly believed in the mission in Iraq and in helping the Iraqi people," Dana Chase said. "He always felt his heart warmed to know they appreciated what he was doing."  This was Chase's second tour of duty for Operation Iraqi Freedom, family members said. He returned to Iraq beginning in December.  "We're proud of him," said Chase's maternal grandmother, Lillian Haynie. "We'd liked to have kept him, but I guess God seen other things for him."  Chase's military duties were focused on the Abrams tank, Dana Chase pointed out. He taught recruits how to maintain and move it.  "He did it all on that tank," his mother said.  He also was an honored marksman, she said.  Chase leaves behind his wife, Kristen, and two sons, Brett, 11, and Trevor, 9.  "I don't even know where to start," his wife said. "He was just an all-around kind of guy."  A 1991 graduate of Midwest City High School, Chase spent 20 months working for the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office as a detention officer in 1994 and 1995. His father, Mike Chase, is a reserve officer and member of the sheriff's bomb squad.  Source: Tulsa World Lance M. Chase's biggest joy in Iraq was seeing local children returning to schools. After his first tour, he got involved in sending books and hygiene items to the Iraqi people. "It was important to him," said his mother, Dana Chase.  Chase, 32, of Oklahoma City, was killed Jan. 23 by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. He was assigned to Fort Hood and was on his second tour. "He would smile all the time and always had a joke for everyone," said his mother.  He was a 1991 high school graduate, where he played football and was a fan of NASCAR.  "We are devastated as anyone would be," said Capt. Kelly Marshall, of the sheriff's department. "We consider Mike and his family our family."  Relatives and friends bid farewell Thursday to an Oklahoma City soldier who was remembered for his courage and dedication to family. Mourners filled Meadowood Baptist Church for the funeral of Staff Sgt. Lance Michael Chase, 32.  Music chosen by his relatives highlighted Chase's funeral, from Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying," a song about living life to the fullest, to Tommy Shane Steiner's "What If She Is An Angel," a Chase used to sing to his son Trevor, 9.  Those songs were among nine selected for a ceremony that included a uniformed contingent from the military and the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Department. Chase's father, Mike, has been a reserve deputy for more than 20 years.  Pastor Bob Rutherford called Chase a hero for his willingness to risk his life for others. Chase, who had been a soldier for more than a decade, didn't like to be away from his family but was honored to help the people of Iraq, Rutherford said.  After Chase started his second tour of duty, he noted improvements in the country.  "It wasn't just a job for him," Rutherford said. "He said, 'These people need what we're doing.'"  Rutherford said Chase's life was characterized by his love for his family.  Chase visited his grandmother before he left for Iraq just so he could tell her he loved her, the pastor said. He talked to his wife, Kristen, via the Internet before his final patrol.  Rutherford thanked Chase for deciding to join the Army and standing up for others.  "Your life, young man, will always be an inspiration to me," he said.  Source of Information from: The Oklahoman
Staff Sgt. Lillian Clamens	Staff Sgt. Lillian Clamens CLAMENS, LILLIAN L., 35, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Reserve, Military Personnel Clerk for United States Southern Command, wife and mother of three, died in a mortar attack on Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq, on Wednesday, October 10, 2007. She was assigned to the 1st Postal Platoon, 834th Adjutant General Company in Miami. Lillian was born May 9, 1972, in the city of Omaha, Nebraska, to Dorothy Cobbin and Solom Bogard. She graduated from Central High School in 1990. Lillian served in the U.S. Army (Adjutant General Corps) as an Administrative Specialist from 1990 until 2007. She was stationed in Korea; Ft. Leonard Wood, MO; Vilseck, Germany; Ft. Sill, OK; and participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom. She attained the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSG). On August 14, 1997, she was united in marriage to Raymond J. Clamens in Omaha, NE. Lillian was affectionately known as "Lilly" and with her endearing personality, radiant smile and caring demeanor warmed the hearts of everyone that came in contact with her. At home she was a devoted wife, fantastic mother, and the center of the family. She loved taking care of soldiers and their families and touched so many people no matter where she was in the world. Lillian is survived by her husband Raymond, her daughters Lana and Victoria, her son Ayinde; her sister Dana; her mother Dorothy; and her mother-in-law Gemma. She is further survived by aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Funeral services for Lillian L. Clamens will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 19, at St. Brendan's Church, 8725 SW 32nd St. Miami, FL 33165. The Burial will be in Our Lady of Mercy Cemetery, 11411 NW 25th St. Doral, FL 33172. Relatives and friends are welcome for visitation at the Van Orsdel Funeral Home, 9300 SW 40th St. (Bird Rd.) Miami, FL 33165 on Thursday October 18, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. We would like to thank all of the staff of the FIU Army ROTC, USSOUTHCOM, and the 834th AG Postal Company for their help and support. VAN ORSDEL - BIRD RD CHAPEL 9300 SW 40 St. (305)553-0064 Family Owned Since 1924 To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.MiamiHerald.com/obituaries. Published in The Miami Herald on 10/17/2007
CWO Lawrence S. Colton	CWO Lawrence S. Colton CWO Lawrence S. Colton won medals when he ran cross-country for his Oklahoma high school, and his picture still hangs on the wall, his ex-wife said. He was in the military for the long haul, too, said Shannon Daughtry, Colton's ex-wife. "He's been in the military for 12 years," she said. "He definitely planned on be a lifer." Colton, 32, of Oklahoma City, died April 11 along with another pilot when their helicopter was shot down near Baghdad. Colton was based at Fort Hood, Texas. He seemed to enjoy his military career, according to a news release from the 122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment describing conditions in Iraq. "Life's not so bad here," Colton was quoted as saying. "We get some mortars here and there, but they're not that effective. We've got good flying and good maintenance. We're well-suited for the mission here." It was not clear when he made the comments. Colton leaves behind a wife in Texas and an 11-year-old son from his marriage with Daughtry.
Spc. Ryan S. Dallam	NORMAN -- An Army soldier from Norman has died while serving in Iraq, according to his father. Cpl. Ryan Scott Michael Dallam, 24, died Friday in Baghdad along with two other soldiers, Dallam's father, Scott Dallam, said Monday. The federal Department of Defense had not identified Dallam as a war casualty as of Monday afternoon. Ryan Dallam was born in Norman and lived for a time in Arizona, where he graduated in 2002 from Show Low High School. He later attended Oklahoma City Community College. Dallam served in the Headquarters Company, 1st/18th Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division that was deployed to Iraq. He had been scheduled to return to Oklahoma next week on leave, his father said. Published in The Oklahoman on 4/9/2007
Mike Dawes former Cherokee Nation marshal	TAHLEQUAH -- A former Cherokee Nation marshal killed by a suicide bomber Tuesday in Iraq was the kind of law enforcer who never backed down from dangerous conflicts, friends said Wednesday. Mike Dawes of Stilwell was killed in downtown Baqubah in the Diyala province north of Baghdad, reports say. He was in the dining area of police headquarters when the bomber walked in and detonated the explosives. Dawes was working as a privately contracted police liaison officer for DynCorp International of Irving, Texas, reports say. Braving such violent hot spots was nothing new for Dawes. In addition to his career with the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, he worked in Kosovo several years ago as a peacekeeper under a United Nations contract. He also served in Vietnam as a member of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division, authorities said. "He was the kind of guy that when you went on a call you did not have to look around," said Pat Ragsdale, a former head of the tribal marshal service and now the director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. "He was going to be there." Funeral services are pending under the direction of Reed-Culver Funeral Home in Tahlequah. Dawes is survived by his wife and four children. Dawes was a Tahlequah police officer until Ragsdale hired him for the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service in the early 1990s. He held the job for several years, including the turbulent 1997. That was the year when marshals raided then-Cherokee Chief Joe Byrd's headquarters, investigating allegations of misuse of funds,according to reports. Byrd fired the marshals, instigated an impeachment of tribal justices and took control of the Cherokee Nation Courthouse. Dawes was with Ragsdale and others when they tried to storm the building in an Aug. 13, 1997, melee. Three people were arrested. The marshals were later reinstated, and Ragsdale never forgot Dawes' loyalty. "He was loyal to the Cherokee Nation and loyal to the Constitution," the BIA director said from Washington, D.C. "He never complained and he never wavered. "Mike was a steady, steady person." Dawes received the tribe's Medal of Patriotism in 2003 "in recognition of his service to the Cherokee Nation and his efforts to uphold the Cherokee Constitu tion," according to a statement by Chief Chad Smith. "He devoted his entire life to protecting people," Smith said. "It is numbing when we lose someone of his stature in the service of our country." Dawes' portrait was included in a Cherokee photographic exhibit shown in 2001 at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. Cherokee County Sheriff Norman Fisher, who was the Tahlequah police chief during Dawes' time on the force, said he was not surprised to see Dawes in such tricky war zones as Kosovo and Iraq. "He was a good police officer," Fisher said. "Knowing Mike like I did, he didn't shirk his duties. He wouldn't back off any task." Dawes was honored several times during his 18-month stint in Kosovo, reports say. He served with an elite United Nations special operations unit, a tribal report said. He once helped arrest an Albanian caught with a hand grenade but moments later was protecting the Albanian from a mob of angry Serbs, reports say. "Their commitment to their prisoner was beyond expectations while foregoing their own safety," United Nations Deputy Station Commander Clinton Park said in commending Dawes and other officers at the time. "The dangers they faced were clear and their bravery was admirable," Park added. Dawes worked for DynCorp helping to train Iraqis as police officers, according to reports. The company is working under a contract with the Department of State. Seven other people were killed in the Baqubah bombing. A U.S. soldier and five Iraqis -- four center employees and a police officer -- also died in the strike on the Diyala Provincial Joint Coordination Center, according to news reports.  Mike is survived by his wife Deretha Dawes, sons Mikeal and Daniel Dawes of the home; daughters, Lee (Randall) Studie of Ft Gibson; Kate (Josh) Sasser of Peggs; brothers, Lee (Joy) Keener of Tulsa and Sam (Dr Colleen) Dawes of Ann Arbor, Mi; sisters Callie (Dr. Jim) Hildebrand of Wamego, KS, Dr. Barbara (James) Martens of Cookson. Polly Boyer and Sherryl Dawes of Tahlequah; the Anderson Family, several nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends. Services: 11 AM, Wednesday, August 31, 2005 Cornerstone Fellowship Church- Tahlequah, Oklahoma Clergy: Pastor Steve Hamby ~ Eulogy: Mr. Pat Ragsdale Burial: Ft. Gibson National Cemetery ~ Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma
Pfc. Jerod R. Dennis	Pfc. Jerod Rhoton Dennis Army Pvt. Dennis was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Dennis died of wounds sustained during a firefight with enemy forces in the vicinity of Ne Shkin after his platoon was ambushed. Jerod graduated from Antlers High School in May 2002 where he was a popular and fun-loving student. He was quite an achiever – one who went all out on anything in which he was interested whether it was winning championships in tennis or aggravating the teachers in that endearing way of his. His tennis skills won him trips to the state championships in high school; his pranks won him the record for being paddled by the principal and his fun-loving personality won him friends. Jerod liked his algebra teacher, but each day he tried to take the American flag from the classroom and was caught every time. When he was late for class, he would try to crawl in through a window. Teachers usually noticed the 6-foot teenager trying to fit through the window. He was also a member of the high school drama club and Bearcat band. He joked later that his band experience made the Army's close order drill a snap. One day, the military visited Antlers, Oklahoma and Jerod took a qualification test – he aced it. All of the military branches were hunting him down but he liked the Army's presentation the best and left for basic training a month after graduation. He proudly wore his Airborne Wings and the Combat Infantry Badge and shot expert in weapons qualification. His awards include the National Defense Ribbon and now, the Purple Heart. It was his goal to go to Ranger School when he returned from Afghanistan. Jerod is remembered as an all around great guy. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, country music, camping, basketball and baseball. He was proud of what he was doing and it is what he wanted to do – he never wavered in his position. Jerod told his family, "You have to be proud of what we have in America."
Staff Sgt. John Doles	Chelsea resident John Glen Doles died in an ambush Friday, Sept. 30, 2005 while serving overseas in Afghanistan. He was 29. Staff Sgt. Doles had fought in combat in both Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. He graduated from Airborne School, Air Assault School, Ranger School, the Primary Leadership Development Course and the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course. In 2000, Doles was assigned to Fort Beginning, Ga. for Basic Training and Airborne School. From 2001 to 2003, he was assigned to Fort Polk, La. as a member of B Company 1-509th Infantry (Airborne) OPFOR at the Joint Readiness Training Center. On March 26, 2003, he parachuted into Iraq as a member of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in the largest combat jump since WWII. From 2003 to 2005, he was assigned to Vicenza, Italy as squad leader in B Company 1-508th Infantry (Airborne) Brigade. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the national Defense Service medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Global War of Terror Service Medal, the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead Device, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Ranger Tab, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Parachutist Badge with Combat Star and the Air Assault Badge. Doles was planning to re-enlist in the Army as soon as he was able. Doles was born June 6, 1976 in Phoenix, Ariz. He was a graduate of Chelsea High School. Doles leaves behind his parents, Gene and Sonja Doles of Chelsea, and Susan Appleman of Colorado Springs, Colo., a wife, Heather (Jenkens) Doles, children, Logan and Breanna Doles, and several other friends and relatives. Services for Doles have been scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2005 at the First Christian Church of Chelsea. He will be laid to rest at Dawes Cemetery near Chelsea under the direction of Seaman-Blanke Funeral Service of Chelsea. Source: The Claremore Daily Progress printed 2005/10/04
Sgt. Daniel M. Eshbaugh	Sgt. Daniel M. Eshbaugh Chelsea resident John Glen Doles died in an ambush Friday, Sept. 30, 2005 while serving overseas in Afghanistan. He was 29. Staff Sgt. Doles had fought in combat in both Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. He graduated from Airborne School, Air Assault School, Ranger School, the Primary Leadership Development Course and the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course. In 2000, Doles was assigned to Fort Beginning, Ga. for Basic Training and Airborne School. From 2001 to 2003, he was assigned to Fort Polk, La. as a member of B Company 1-509th Infantry (Airborne) OPFOR at the Joint Readiness Training Center. On March 26, 2003, he parachuted into Iraq as a member of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in the largest combat jump since WWII. From 2003 to 2005, he was assigned to Vicenza, Italy as squad leader in B Company 1-508th Infantry (Airborne) Brigade. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the national Defense Service medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Global War of Terror Service Medal, the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead Device, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Ranger Tab, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Parachutist Badge with Combat Star and the Air Assault Badge. Doles was planning to re-enlist in the Army as soon as he was able. Doles was born June 6, 1976 in Phoenix, Ariz. He was a graduate of Chelsea High School. Doles leaves behind his parents, Gene and Sonja Doles of Chelsea, and Susan Appleman of Colorado Springs, Colo., a wife, Heather (Jenkens) Doles, children, Logan and Breanna Doles, and several other friends and relatives. Services for Doles have been scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2005 at the First Christian Church of Chelsea. He will be laid to rest at Dawes Cemetery near Chelsea under the direction of Seaman-Blanke Funeral Service of Chelsea.  Source: The Daily Claremore Progress Oct. 4, 2005
Steven Farley State Department	Steven graduated from Edmond Memorial High School in Edmond, Oklahoma in1969 and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1970. While in the Army, he was stationed in Korea but joined the Navy after receiving his master's degree from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1976. During his 34 years of military service he served in Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and Iraq and received numerous medals and awards. Those medals include the "Meritorious Service Medal", "Navy Commendation Medal"(5th award), "Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal", "Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation Award", "Navy "E", "Army Good Conduct", "Navy Expeditionary Medal", "National Defense Service Medal" (3rd award), "Armed Forces Expeditionary", "Southwest Asia Service Medal", "Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal", "Global War on Terrorism Service Medal", "Iraq Campaign Medal", "Sea Service Deployment Ribbon" (3 Bronze Stars), "Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Deployment Ribbon" (3 Bronze Stars), "Armed Forces Reserve Medal", "Navy Rifleman" (Expert), and "Navy Pistol" (Expert). Steven was mobilized shortly after September 11, 2001, and served on the staff of the U.S Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific. He volunteered in Iraq, first joining The Surge with the Department of Defense in April 2007 and later signing with the State Department in April of 2008. He had been serving on a provincial reconstructive team helping citizens of Iraq to rebuild and revitalize their local government which took him to Sadr City. Only a week before his death, he told his son that his life was in danger after a member of the city council loyal to anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr was forced off the council. Because Steven was committed to making a difference in Iraq, he paid the ultimate price when a bomb tore through a district council building in the Shiite stronghold. He leaves behind his loving wife Donna and three sons, Brett, Chris, and Cameron.
Spc. Wilfred Flores	Cpl. Wilfred "Willy" Flores Jr. LAWTON, OKla. A memorial service for Cpl. Wilfred Flores Jr. will be held at 3 p.m. April 15 at Frontier Chapel on Fort Sill, near Lawton, OK. Burial with full military honors will follow at 10 a.m. April 16 in the new Fort Sill National Cemetery near Elgin, OK. Flores, 20, died March 31 near Baghdad, Iraq, when his military vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. He was a Commando Brigade Soldier who deployed to Iraq with his unit in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The son of retired Army Sergeants First Class Wilfred Sr. and Vicky Flores, he was born April 10, 1986, at Fort Sill. He attended Eisenhower High School in Lawton and was active in the school's Jr. ROTC program. He was in the Army Delayed Entry Program prior to his enlistment. He also was a volunteer at Giddy Up & Go, a non-profit therapeutic horse riding program for disabled children and adults. After graduating from Eisenhower High School in 2004, Flores joined the Army as an infantryman after completing basic and advanced individual training at Fort Benning, GA. After initial training, he was assigned to the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) at Fort Drum, NY. He is survived by his parents, Wilfred Sr. and Vicky Flores of Lawton, OK; sister, Theresa Siegrist of Lawton, OK; grandfather, retired USAF SSgt. Modesto Flores Jr. of Poth, TX; three nieces; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. A scholarship has been created in his name by his family, and memorials may be made to: Cameron University Foundation Inc., Attn: Willy Flores, Jr. Scholarship Fund, 2800 West Gore Boulevard, Lawton, OK 73505.  Published in the Express-News on 4/13/2007
	Sgt. Daniel Lee Galvan, 30, with the United States Army stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, died August 12, 2004, during a mission in Afghanistan. Daniel is an honored hero who sacrificed his life protecting his country and the freedom it represents. Daniel is remembered, cherished, and loved by his wife, Sonya Denise Galvan and two children, Audrey and Joseph and his beloved dog, Teddi Galvan. He is also survived by: his parents, Blas E. and Nelda Galvan of Moore, OK; sister, Erica M. Galvan of Moore, OK; brothers, Marc A. and Michele Galvan of Sicklerville, NJ, Ernesto N. Galvan, of Moore, OK; niece, Erin Noelle Lee Galvan of Moore, OK; nephew, Brandon J. Martherus of California; maternal grandmother, Carmen Navarro Arteaga of Mercedes, TX; paternal grandmother, Consuelo Galvan, of San Juan, TX; great-grandmother, Angelita de la Cerda of Mercedes, TX. Daniel was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Isabel and Eulalia Galvan, great-grandfather, Lucio de la Cerda, grandfathers, Blas G. Galvan and Jesus M. Garza all of Mercedes, TX. Daniel was also a loving member of the Torres Family leaving father and mother -in-law Cesario and Dolores Torres, brothers-in-law, Cesario K. Torres, Junior Sierra, Jesus Gaytan; sisters-in-law, Maria Sierra, Luisa Gaytan, Veronica Torres, niece, Alicia Torres and nephews, Andres Gaytan, Robert Torres and Justin Sierra. A rosary was offered at 7:00 pm, Friday, August 20, 2004 at Resthaven's Abbey Chapel with Deacon Ernesto Hernandez officiating. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, August 21, 2004, at Saint Theresa Catholic Church with Bishop Placido Rodriguez officiating. Interment with Military Honors will follow at Resthaven Memorial Park under the direction of Resthaven Funeral Home, 5740 West 19th Street, Lubbock, Texas 79407. Honorary Pallbearers: Marc A. Galvan, Cesario K. Torres, Ernesto N. Galvan, Balerino Sierra Jr., Rolando Garza and Jesus Gaytan. Published in The Oklahoman on 8/21/2004
Sgt. James R. Graham III	Graham died as a result of a vehicle-born improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations near Hit, Iraq. He was assigned to Marine Reserve’s 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. As part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Graham’s unit was attached to Regimental Combat Team 2, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). Died on August 1, 2005.Betty Willhoite, a next-door neighbor of James R. Graham III, has fond memories of Graham playing with his boys. "He would always be out there showing the oldest how to kick a soccer ball into the net," she said. Graham, 25, of Coweta, Okla., died in an explosion Aug. 1. He was based at Broken Arrow. "I just hate to see this happen to such a nice, young family," Willhoite said. "He felt like it was his duty." Graham, best known as "J," started working at a Subway restaurant and eventually managed several others. "My first impression was J was irresponsible and wet behind the ears," said Graham's father-in-law, Bob Bratton. "My impression was wrong. At 18 and 19, he carried responsibility like many adults don't carry responsibility." Willhoite, who heard the news about Graham from his wife, said Graham was a hard worker and a good person. "He was very gentle and a great father, a little on the quiet side," Willhoite said. "I've never heard him raise his voice." Graham is survived by his wife, Melissa, and two sons, ages 9 and 6.
Pfc. Travis J. Grigg	Before he went to war, Travis J. Grigg told his father that if the worst happened, he didn't want mourners to spend money on flowers. He wanted them to donate to Inola High School's athletic program. Grigg, after all, had virtually lived on sports. He was a good catcher in baseball, an all-county receiver in football and part of a powerhouse basketball squad that never lost a conference game. Principal Robert Kinnick called Grigg an "all-American kid." He talked about the young man's "subtle" demeanor in class and his smooth athleticism on the field of play. "I watched him play a zillion ballgames," Kinnick said. "He wasn't flashy because he was so smooth in what he did. He was just a natural athlete." Grigg, 24, of Inola, Okla., was killed Nov. 15 by a bomb blast near his vehicle in Taji. He graduated high school in 1999 and was assigned to Fort Campbell. Grigg joined the Army after working in construction and airplane maintenance. He told his father he wanted to join the Tulsa Fire Department. "That made me proud," said Barney Grigg, a widower and volunteer firefighter for 30 years.
Chief Warrant Officer Travis W. Grogan	Travis Grogan was born January 12, 1973 to Barbara and Lewis Grogan. He died November 27, 2004 while serving his country in Afghanistan. He was a Chief Warrant Officer II in the 25th Division, 3 4th Cavalry, Charlie Troop and a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army. Before transferring to the Army he served his country as a Search and Rescue Swimmer with the US Navy. He was a graduate of Moore High School and attended the First Baptist Church of Moore. He is survived by his wife, Tracy and two children, Ashley and Austin, his mother, Barbara Grogan, his father, Lewis Grogan, grandmother, Wilma North, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, December 9, 2004 at the First Baptist Church of Moore with burial to follow at 1 p.m. at Ft. Sill National Cemetery in Elgin, OK. GUARDIAN NORTH 11600 N. Pennsylvania 752-9292 Published in The Oklahoman on 12/7/2004
Maj Scott Hagerty	Maj. Scott A. Hagerty was born on September 1, 1966, in Muskogee, OK to Don Hagerty and Shirley (Beyreis) Hagerty.  He was a trained civil affairs officer assigned to the 451st Civil Affairs Battalion, Pasadena, TX. He died in Zormat, Afghanistan when a roadside bomb exploded next to his military vehicle during a patrol Tuesday, June 3, 2008. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 13, 2008 at First United Methodist Church with the Reverend Henry Siems and the Reverend Mark Jones officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Strode Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.  A resident of Stillwater, Hagerty graduated from Stillwater High School, and entered into the United States Army at the rank of specialist in Oklahoma City, during the fall of his senior year of high school in 1983. Upon graduation in 1984, he entered into active-duty service to be an infantryman.  Three years later, into his second enlistment, Hagerty changed his military occupational specialty to be a crewman in air defense artillery, serving as a newly promoted corporal.  At the turn of the next decade, he departed active duty and began his 16-year Army Reserve career as an infantry drill sergeant.  After nearly three-and-a-half years as an ROTC cadet at Oklahoma State University, Hagerty earned his commission in the spring of 1993, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in political science.  In the same year, he completed the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, OK.  While assigned to the 1st Battalion, 291st Regiment in Stillwater, Okla., Hagerty held such positions as executive officer and executive training officer.  He then transferred to the Shawnee, OK-based Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 291st Regiment in 1995, where he served as a company commander twice and a battalion S4.  He was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in 1996 and to rank of captain in 2001. Just after he completed his commissioned officer’s advance course as a military policeman in 2004, Hagerty began his civil affairs career.  He transferred from the 291st Regiment to the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion located in Danbury, Conn., deploying with the battalion to Iraqi for one year.  In 2006, he transferred to the 413th Civil Affairs Battalion, Lubbock, Texas, in order to deploy in support of the Horn of Africa mission in Djibouti, Africa.  He returned to U.S. soil in the summer of 2007 and was promoted to the rank of major Nov. 4, 2007.  In February of 2008, Hagerty was assigned to the 451st CA BN, Pasadena, TX, and shortly thereafter he deployed with the unit to Afghanistan.  His military training includes Basic Combat Training, NBC School, Field Artillery Basic Officer’s Course, Security Management Course, Company Supply Course, Military Police Advanced Officer’s Course and the Civil Affairs Officer Course.  His military awards included two Meritorious Service Medals, Joint Service Commendation Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, six Army Achievement Medals, Good Conduct Medal, three Army Reserve Components Achievement Medals, two National Defense Service Medals, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Korean Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with ”M“ (mobilization) device and numeral ”2,“ the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Action Badge, Driver and Mechanic Badge with Driver Tracked Vehicle Bar and the Marksmanship Qualification Badge.  Hagerty’s civilian education included a Bachelor of Political Science from Oklahoma State University, Okla. He married Daphne Drake on December 24, 1995 in Perkins, OK. He was employed by National Standard, an industrial wire products headquartered in Stillwater, Okla., working as a 29-line operator.  He was also a member of the Church of the Nazarene.  He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Virgil Hagerty and Ethel (Aliff) Hagerty; and his maternal grandparents, James Beyreis and Ruperta (Reed) Beyreis.  Major Hagerty is survived by his wife, Daphne of Stillwater, OK, and their two sons, Jonathan Barrett Hagerty and Samuel Aren Hagerty; his parents, Don and Shirley of Stillwater, OK; one brother, Mark Hagerty and his wife Kathy; and one sister, Lynne Farmer and her husband Bruce.  Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Jonathan and Samuel Hagerty Trust Fund, C/O Banc First, P.O. Box 1, Stillwater, OK 74076; OSU Foundation, Army ROTC Fund, P.O. Box 1749, Stillwater, OK 74076; or First Nazarene Church Children’s Playground Fund, 1023 E. Will Rogers, Dr. Stillwater, OK 74075.