Christopher M. Talbert, age 24, from Galesburg, Illinois, Knox county. Their last known residence was in Galesburg.
Service era: Afghanistan
Military history: 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, Marion, Illinois.
Date of death: Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Death details: Died in Shindad, Afghanistan of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.
Source: Department of Defense, Military Times
Daniel Brian Miller Jr., age 24, from Galesburg, Illinois, Knox county.
Parents: Robin Mahnesmith and Daniel Miller Sr.; Step parents Daniel Mahnesmith and Shari Miller
Spouse: None
Children: None
Service era: Iraq
Schools: ROWVA High in Oneida (2001); Carl Sandburg College
Military history: 775Th Civil Engineering Squadron, Hill Afb, Utah; enlisted in 2004
Date of death: Sunday, January 7, 2007
Death details: Hostile; Al Mamudiyah, Iraq
Cemetery: Wataga Cemetery
Source: Department of Defense, Journal Star, Military Times
Caleb Andrew Lufkin, age 24, from Knoxville, Illinois, Knox county.
Service era: Iraq
Military history: Company B, 5Th Engineer Battalion, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
Date of death: Thursday, May 25, 2006
Death details: Died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington D.C. of injuries sustained May 4 when an improvised explosive device dtonated near his RG-31 mine protected vehicle during combat operation in Iraq
Cemetery: Knoxville Cemetery, Knoxville, Illinois
Source: Department of Defense, Military Times, findagrave.com
Kyle Brett Wehrly, age 28, from Galesburg, Illinois, Knox county.
Service era: Iraq
Military history: Battery B, 2D Battalion, 123D Field Artillery (Mnc-I) Macomb, Il
Date of death: Thursday, November 3, 2005
Death details: Hostile; Balad, Iraq
Source: Department of Defense, Military Times
James Watson Wood, age 27, from Galesburg, Illinois, Knox county.
Parents: Leslie A. Wood
Spouse: Linda (Erlandson)
Children: Brian, 1
Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Air Force Academy (1965)
Date of death: Monday, August 17, 1970
Death details: Killed during a nighttime aricraft mission in Vietnam
Source: National Archives, Quad City Times (1970)
Terry Elmer Guenther, age 20, from Galesburg, Illinois, Knox county.
Parents: Lester E. Guenther Sr.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Thursday, March 12, 1970
Death details: Non-hostile in South Vietnam
Source: National Archives, Effingham Daily News (1970)
Gary Wayne Ericson, age 23, from Galesburg, Illinois, Knox county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Monday, January 5, 1970
Death details: Hostile, killed in South Vietnam
Source: National Archives, Associated Press (1970)
James Russell Kovar, age 27, from Knox County Oneida, Illinois .
Spouse: Nancy Kovar
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Thursday, May 5, 1966
Death details: Hostile, killed in South Vietnam
Source: National Archives, Effingham Daily News (1966)
Robert Louis III Fields, age 21, from Knox County Galesburg, Illinois .
Parents: Robert L. Fields
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Thursday, January 27, 1966
Death details: Non-hostile, died while missing in South Vietnam; drowned in the China Sea near Can Ranh Air Base.
Source: National Archives, Globe Gazette (1966)
Robert P. Heflin, age 21, from Knox County Victoria, Illinois .
Service era: Korea
Date of death: Tuesday, July 14, 1953
Death details: On July 13, 1953, the U.S. Army’s 555th Field Artillery Battalion was positioned to support the Republic of Korea (ROK) 6th Division along a stretch of line known as the Kumsong Salient, when the Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) launched a massive night attack. The 555th Field Artillery continued to fire in support of the ROK forces during the initial stage of the attack, despite coming under heavy enemy artillery fire themselves. However, early on July 14, CCF troops penetrated the ROK lines and were able to attack the 555th’s own positions. Several battery positions were overrun by the numerically superior attackers before a withdrawal order was received. By that point, few men were actually able to withdraw. Some managed to evade enemy forces and work their way back to friendly lines over the following days, but a number of the 555th Field Artillery’s men were captured by the enemy or went missing. The battlefield now lies on the North Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea. Sergeant Robert Paul Heflin, who entered the U.S. Army from Illinois, served with Battery C, 555th Field Artillery Battalion, 24th Infantry Division. He was reported missing on July 14, 1953, following the CCF attack, although specific details regarding his loss are unknown. His remains were not recovered at the time, and subsequent search efforts have been impeded by the fact that the loss area now lies in North Korean territory. Today, Sergeant Heflin is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Galesburg Register Mail (1953)