Nick Bravo-Regules, age 20, from Largo, Florida.
Service era: Afghanistan
Date of death: Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Death details: Died in Jordan while supporting operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility from a non-combat related incident
Source: Department of Defense
Matthew S. Sitton, age 26, from Largo, Florida.
Parents: Cheryl and Steve Sitton
Spouse: Sarah M. Sitton
Children: Brodey S. Sitton
Service era: Afghanistan
Military history: 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Date of death: Thursday, August 2, 2012
Death details: Died in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan of wounds suffered when they encountered an enemy improvised explosive device.
Source: Department of Defense, Military Times, Tampa Bay Times
Jonathan D. Porto, age 26, from Largo, Florida, Pinellas county.
Parents: Steve Porto
Spouse: Rachel Porto
Children: Daughter, 2 months
Service era: Afghanistan
Military history: 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Date of death: Sunday, March 14, 2010
Death details: Died while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Source: Department of Defense, Tampa Tribune, Military Times
Louis Edward Niedermeier, age 20, from Largo, Florida, Pinellas county.
Parents: Ed Niedermeier and Denise Hoy
Service era: Iraq
Military history: Hhb, 2D Battalion, 17Th Field Artillery, (2Id), (2Mef), Fort Carson, Co
Date of death: Wednesday, June 1, 2005
Death details: Hostile; Ar Ramadi, Iraq
Source: Department of Defense, Military Times
William Joseph Golden, age 35, from Largo, Florida, Pinellas county. Their last known residence was in Mission Hills, California.
Parents: William Golden
Children: John S. Golden
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Sunday, May 10, 1970
Cemetery: Sylvan Abbey
Source: National Archives, Tampa Bay Times (1970)
Henry Powless, age 26, from Largo, Florida, Pinellas county.
Spouse: Married
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Saturday, November 20, 1943
Death details: From November 20 through 23, 1943, the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy conducted a large-scale amphibious assault on the Japanese-held atoll of Tarawa as part of Operation Galvanic, the Allied capture of the Gilbert Islands. Located 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii, Tarawa was a crucial stepping stone in the planned U.S. offensive across the central Pacific toward Japan. The Japanese garrison on Tarawa’s main island of Betio was well-entrenched with hundreds of bunkers and gun positions behind formidable beach obstacles. The first wave of Marines approaching the shore encountered lower-than-expected tides, forcing them to leave their landing craft on the reef and wade the hundreds of yards to the beach under intense enemy fire. The heaviest number of U.S. casualties were suffered during this phase of the landing. Eventually, rising tides allowed U.S. warships to maneuver closer to shore and support the troops with effective naval gunfire. More Marines landed on the second day, launching attacks inland from the beaches and seizing the Japanese airfield on the island. However, the enemy launched vicious counterattacks and two more days of intense fighting were needed to secure Betio. The last enemy strongpoints were taken on the morning of November 23. The fighting on Betio cost the Marines nearly 3,000 casualties but enabled U.S. forces to press further across the Pacific and yielded valuable tactical lessons that reduced U.S. losses in future amphibious landings. Sergeant Henry Powless entered the U.S. Marine Corps from New York and served in Company A of the 2nd Amphibious Tractor Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. He was killed in action on November 20, during the Battle of Tarawa, when his tractor was incinerated by enemy fire, and his remains could not be recovered. Sergeant Powless is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency