In the year since we last celebrated Memorial Day eight more soldiers from Oregon have lost their lives in the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan. Oregon has lost a total of 128 soldiers in this "war on terror."
At the start of the conflict in Iraq Oregon's former governor, Ted Kulongoski, pledged to attend the funerals of Oregon soldiers who died in the war effort. When I was a school administrator I remember receiving notifications from the governor's office to fly our school's flag at half staff when Oregon lost another soldier, and I remember reading in the newspaper that Governor Kulongoski was attending another funeral. Some months it seemed that our flag was always flying at half staff. I don't think our current governor attends the funerals, but he does maintain a website that shows the faces of Oregon's fallen soldiers. You can view it here. So many young faces. So many fathers who will never see their children grow up. So many young lives lost to war.
This Memorial Day take a moment to mourn those we have lost.
Oregon's Casualties in Iraq
Tobler Brandon S. Portland Ore. U.S. Mar 22, 2003
Contreras Aaron J. Sherwood Ore. U.S. Mar 30, 2003
Stever Robert A. Pendleton Ore. U.S. Apr 8, 2003
Bradach-Nall Travis J. Portland Ore. U.S. Jul 2, 2003
Kesterson Erik C. Independence Ore. U.S. Nov 15, 2003
Blickenstaff Joseph M. Corvallis Ore. U.S. Dec 8, 2003
Wesley Christopher J. Rivera Portland Ore. U.S. Dec 8, 2003
Nakis Nathan W. Corvallis Ore. U.S. Dec 16, 2003
Moothart Travis A. Brownsville Ore. U.S. Jan 27, 2004
Ramirez William C. Portland Ore. U.S. Feb 11, 2004
Rogers Philip G. Gresham Ore. U.S. Apr 4, 2004
Van Leuven Gary F. Klamath Falls Ore. U.S. Apr 17, 2004
Whitham Chase R. Eugene Ore. U.S. May 8, 2004
Roberts Bob W. Newport Ore. U.S. May 17, 2004
McCrae Erik S. Portland Ore. U.S. Jun 4, 2004
Eyerly Justin L. Salem Ore. U.S. Jun 4, 2004
Linden Justin W. Portland Ore. U.S. Jun 4, 2004
McKinley Eric S. Corvallis Ore. U.S. Jun 13, 2004
Huston James B. Umatilla Ore. U.S. Jul 2, 2004
Kelly Bryan P. Klamath Ore. U.S. Jul 16, 2004
Leisten Ken W. Cornelius Ore. U.S. Jul 28, 2004
Weisenburg David J. Portland Ore. U.S. Sep 13, 2004
Isenberg Benjamin W. Sheridan Ore. U.S. Sep 13, 2004
Johnson David W. Portland Ore. U.S. Sep 25, 2004
Mitts David A. Hammond Ore. U.S. Dec 4, 2004
Moore James L. Roseburg Ore. U.S. Jan 26, 2005
Warren Mark C. La Grande Ore. U.S. Jan 31, 2005
Plumondore Adam J. Gresham Ore. U.S. Feb 16, 2005
Davis Kevin D. Lebanon Ore. U.S. Apr 8, 2005
Thornton Steven W. Eugene Ore. U.S. Apr 18, 2005
Wessel Kevin S.K. Newport Ore. U.S. Apr 19, 2005
Kent Aaron A. Portland Ore. U.S. Apr 23, 2005
Rockholt Ricky W. Winston Ore. U.S. Apr 28, 2005
Simpson Jacob M. Ashland Ore. U.S. May 16, 2005
Troyer Tyler J. Tangent Ore. U.S. Nov 19, 2005
Zyla Michael S. Elgin Ore. U.S. Dec 13, 2005
Walker Ryan D. Stayton Ore. U.S. Jan 5, 2006
Nettles Marcques J. Beaverton Ore. U.S. Apr 2, 2006
Loveless Jeremy M. Estacada Ore. U.S. May 29, 2006
Jones Robert L. Milwaukie Ore. U.S. Jun 17, 2006
Tucker Thomas L. Madras Ore. U.S. Jun 16, 2006
Pate Christopher T. Portland Ore. U.S. Jul 21, 2006
Lee Marc A. Hood River Ore. U.S. Aug 2, 2006
Newman Randy L. Bend Ore. U.S. Aug 20, 2006
Henkes Richard J. Portland Ore. U.S. Sep 3, 2006
Haag Chase A. Portland Ore. U.S. Oct 1, 2006
Bright Dean R. Roseburg Ore. U.S. Oct 4, 2006
Jones Derek W. Salem Ore. U.S. Oct 8, 2006
Gibson Brennan C. Tualatin Ore. U.S. Dec 10, 2006
Hill Ryan J. Keizer Ore. U.S. Jan 20, 2007
Fennerty Sean P. Corvallis Ore. U.S. Jan 20, 2007
Browning Brian A. Astoria Ore. U.S. Feb 6, 2007
Windsor Nathanial D. Scappoose Ore. U.S. Mar 13, 2007
Lightner Nicholas J. Newport Ore. U.S. Mar 21, 2007
Walton Brett A. Hillsboro Ore. U.S. Apr 9, 2007
Vaughan Michael L. Otis Ore. U.S. Apr 23, 2007
Peterson Dale G. Redmond Ore. U.S. Apr 23, 2007
Rodriguez Dominic N. Klamath Falls Ore. U.S. Jun 22, 2007
Kenny Joseph P. Veneta Ore. U.S. Jun 23, 2007
Schill Juan M. Garcia Grants Pass Ore. U.S. Jul 2, 2007
Stacy Steven A. Coos Bay Ore. U.S. Jul 5, 2007
Wiens Kory D. Independence Ore. U.S. Jul 6, 2007
Leckel Daniel A. Medford Ore. U.S. Jul 25, 2007
Elizalde Adrian M. North Bend Ore. U.S. Aug 23, 2007
Jensen Drew N. Clackamas Ore. U.S. Sep 7, 2007
McMahon Graham M. Corvallis Ore. U.S. Sep 19, 2007
McBride Zachary W. Bend Ore. U.S. Jan 9, 2008
Young Joshua A. R. Riddle Ore. U.S. Jan 28, 2008
Miller Mikeal W. Albany Ore. U.S. Jan 27, 2008
Ellis Jessica A. Bend Ore. U.S. May 11, 2008
Eggleston Cody J. Eugene Ore. U.S. Oct 24, 2008
Johnson Robert L. Central Point Ore. U.S. Dec 20, 2008
Tillery Joshua M. Beaverton Ore. U.S. Jan 26, 2009
Oregon's Casualties in Afghanistan
Jeffries Joseph Allen Beaverton Ore. U.S. May 29, 2004
Lucas Jeffrey Alan Corbett Ore. U.S. Jun 28, 2005
Baum Tane Travis Pendleton Ore. U.S. Sep 25, 2005
Stump Adrian Bovee Pendleton Ore. U.S. Sep 25, 2005
Blake Joseph Robert Portland Ore. U.S. Aug 17, 2006
Paul Robert Joseph The Dalles Ore. U.S. Sep 8, 2006
Lindsey Nathaniel Bradley Troutdale Ore. U.S. Sep 10, 2006
Nguyen Long Ngoc Portland Ore. U.S. Feb 10, 2007
Bertrand Bryan Pahl Coos Bay Ore. U.S. Jan 9, 2002
Henderson Christopher D. Hillsboro Ore. U.S. Jun 17, 2007
Brennan Joshua C. Ontario Ore. U.S. Oct 26, 2007
Ngo Tan Q. Beaverton Ore. U.S. Aug 27, 2008
Wiley James L. North Bend Ore. U.S. Sep 18, 2008
Posts
Makes it more real to see them listed.
ReplyDeleteThanks for listing these young heroes, Nana. I am so sad that we are still fighting these wars, and the kids are the ones who are dying.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jann.
ReplyDeleteA list far too long. I'm so glad you've given us the opportunity to reflect on the loss of these young lives.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, the cost is so high. We also have scarcely a day go by without news of another young life cut short too soon. So sad.
ReplyDelete(Darn, blogger is refusing to post me as Shrinky - gahhhhhhhh!!)
Thanks for taking the time to list these young people. Yes, the cost is high.
ReplyDeleteSo sad...
ReplyDeleteA nice tribute to those who gave it all