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Born, Joshua A.
Army Sergeant

Joshua A. Born, age 25, from Niceville, Florida, Okaloosa county.

Service era: Afghanistan
Military history: 385th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne), XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Date of death: Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Death details: Died of wounds suffered in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan when his unit came under small arms fire.

Source: Department of Defense, Military Times

Cook, Ryan J.
Army Specialist

Ryan J. Cook, age 29, from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Okaloosa county.

Parents: Kathleen (Cook) Silva and Ronald Sullivan (preceded in death)
Spouse: Kari Cook
Children: Keira James Cook

Service era: Afghanistan
Military history: 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Date of death: Sunday, September 18, 2011
Death details: Died in Takhar Province, Afghanistan of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
Cemetery: Beal Memorial

Source: Department of Defense, Military Times, Emerald Coast Funeral Home

Anaya, Michael Justin
Army Specialist

Michael Justin Anaya, age 23, from Crestview, Florida, Okaloosa county.

Parents: Carmelo Anaya Sr. and Cheryl Anaya
Spouse: None
Children: None

Service era: Iraq
Military history: Company A, 2D Battalion, 27Th Infantry, 3 Bct, Schofield Barracks, Hi

Date of death: Sunday, April 12, 2009
Death details: Hostile; Mosul, Iraq
Cemetery: Heritage Gardens

Source: Department of Defense, Heritage Gardens Funeral Home

Medley, Preston Ray
Army Sergeant

Preston Ray Medley, age 23, from Baker, Florida, Okaloosa county.

Service era: Iraq
Military history: Company D, 1St Battalion, 26Th Infantry, 3D Brigade, Fort Hood, Tx

Date of death: Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Death details: Hostile; Qazi Bandeh, Afghanistan

Source: Department of Defense, Military Times

Walden, Brett Eugene
Army Sergeant 1st class

Brett Eugene Walden, age 40, from Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

Service era: Iraq
Military history: Company C, 1St Battalion, 5Th Sfg (Soccent), Fort Campbell, Ky

Date of death: Friday, August 5, 2005
Death details: Hostile; Rubi’ Ah, Iraq

Source: Department of Defense, Military Times

Mahdee, Marcus
Marines Lance corporal

Marcus Mahdee, age 20, from Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Service era: Iraq
Military history: L Co, 3D Bn, 8Th Mar, Rct-8, 2D Mar Div, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

Date of death: Monday, May 9, 2005
Death details: Hostile; Balad, Iraq

Source: Department of Defense, Military Times

Laramore, Tracy Lee
Army Specialist

Tracy Lee Laramore, age 30, from Okaloosa, Florida, Okaloosa county.

Service era: Iraq
Military history: B Co 1St Battalion 18Th Infantry Regiment, Apo Ae 09033 (Schweinfurt, Ge)

Date of death: Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Death details: Died of injuries sustained when his military vehicle went over an embankment and into a river in Tikrit, Iraq

Source: Department of Defense, Military Times

Blessinger, John P.
Air Force Staff sergeant

John P. Blessinger, age 33, from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Okaloosa county.

Parents: Vilette Blessinger
Spouse: Married
Children: Daughters, ages 6 and 8

Service era: Gulf War

Date of death: Thursday, January 31, 1991
Death details: During the Battle of Khafji, the AC-130 he was aboard was hit by a shoulder-fired missile as the plane attacked rocket launchers threatening U.S. Marines. Air Force officials said no one could have survived the crash. Only five of the 14 men lost were positively identified after remains were recovered from the plane, which was missing for more than a month before discovered on the bottom of the Persian Gulf off Saudi Arabia.

Source: White House Commission on Remembrance, Gulf War Chronicles, Military Times, Newsday (1991)

Buege, Paul G.
Air Force Senior master sergeant

Paul G. Buege, age 43, from Mary Esther, Florida, Okaloosa county.

Spouse: Terry Buege

Service era: Gulf War

Date of death: Thursday, January 31, 1991
Death details: During the Battle of Khafji, the AC-130 he was aboard was hit by a shoulder-fired missile as the plane attacked rocket launchers threatening U.S. Marines. Air Force officials said no one could have survived the crash. Only five of the 14 men lost were positively identified after remains were recovered from the plane, which was missing for more than a month before discovered on the bottom of the Persian Gulf off Saudi Arabia.
Cemetery: Arlington National

Source: White House Commission on Remembrance, Gulf War Chronicles, grave marker, Associated Press (2001)

Clark, Barry M.
Air Force Sergeant

Barry M. Clark, age 26, from Hulburt Field, Florida, Okaloosa county.

Service era: Gulf War

Date of death: Thursday, January 31, 1991
Death details: During the Battle of Khafji, the AC-130 he was aboard was hit by a shoulder-fired missile as the plane attacked rocket launchers threatening U.S. Marines. Air Force officials said no one could have survived the crash. Only five of the 14 men lost were positively identified after remains were recovered from the plane, which was missing for more than a month before discovered on the bottom of the Persian Gulf off Saudi Arabia.
Cemetery: Barrancas National, Pensacola

Source: White House Commission on Remembrance, Gulf War Chronicles, Military Times, grave marker

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