Tag: State of Illinois

Posted on

Meari, Andrew N.
Army Private 1st class

Andrew N. Meari, age 21, from Plainfield, Illinois, Will county.

Parents: Denise (Gerald) Meehan and Mahmoud (Aisha) Meari

Service era: Afghanistan
Schools: Drauden Point Middle School, Plainfield South High, Port Washington High in Wisconsin graduate
Military history: 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Date of death: Monday, November 1, 2010
Death details: Died in Kandahar, Afghanistan of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Spc. Jonathan M. Curtis was also killed.
Cemetery: Abraham Lincoln National; Elwood, Illinois

Source: National Archives, Chicago Tribune, Herald News, Military Times

Posted on

Catherwood, Alec E.
Marines Lance corporal

Alec E. Catherwood, age 19, from Byron, Illinois, Ogle county.

Parents: Kirk Catherwood and Gretchen (Ernst) Catherwood
Spouse: None
Children: None

Service era: Afghanistan
Schools: Byron High (2009)
Military history: 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. Purple Heart

Date of death: Thursday, October 14, 2010
Death details: Died while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Cemetery: Byron

Source: Department of Defense, Northwest Herald, findagrave.com

Posted on

Sparks, John T.
Marines Lance corporal

John T. Sparks, age 23, from Chicago, Illinois, Cook county.

Service era: Afghanistan
Military history: 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. Enlisted in February 2008. Purple Heart.

Date of death: Friday, October 8, 2010
Death details: Killed by small-arms fire in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Source: Department of Defense, Chicago Sun-Times, North County Times, Military Times

Posted on

Johnson, Daniel James
Air Force Senior airman

Daniel James Johnson, age 23, from Schiller Park, Illinois, Cook county.

Parents: Jim Johnson and Holly Johnson
Spouse: Kristen (Harlow) Johnson (married June 5, 2010)
Children: None

Service era: Afghanistan
Schools: Monona Grove High (2005) in Monona, Wisconsin
Military history: 30th Civil Engineer Squadron, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Enlisted November 2006.

Date of death: Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Death details: Died of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Cemetery: Santa Maria

Source: Department of Defense, Santa Maria Times, Chicago Tribune, Military Times

Posted on

Simpson, Mark A.
Army Sergeant

Mark A. Simpson, age 40, from Peoria, Illinois, Peoria county.

Parents: George Simpson and Carol Sheaffer Simpson
Spouse: Aletha Simpson
Children: Shantallia Simpson, Krystin Simpson and Jamie Simpson

Service era: Afghanistan
Schools: Richwoods High graduate
Military history: 20th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. Enlisted in 2005. Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart

Date of death: Sunday, September 26, 2010
Death details: Died at Kandahar, Afghanistan of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their military vehicle with an improvised explosive device on Sept. 25 at Forward Operating Base Frontenac, Afghanistan. Spc. Donald S. Morrison also died.
Cemetery: Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery

Source: Department of Defense, Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home, Military Times

Posted on

Powell, Joshua D.
Army Staff sergeant

Joshua D. Powell, age 25, from Pleasant Plains, Illinois, Sangamon county.

Parents: David Powell and Susan Brooks Powell

Service era: Afghanistan
Schools: Pleasant Plains High (2003)

Date of death: Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Death details: Died in a helicopter crash during combat operations in Zabul Province, Afghanistan. Killed were Brendan J. Looney, David B. McLendon, Adam O. Smith, Denis C. Miranda, Robert F. Baldwin, Matthew G. Wagstaff, Jonah D. McClellan, Joshua D. Powell, Marvin R. Calhoun Jr.
Cemetery: Camp Butler National

Source: Department of Defense, State Journal-Register

Posted on

Grider, Ronald A.
Army Sergeant 1st class

Ronald A. Grider, age 30, from Brighton, Illinois, Jersey county.

Spouse: Brittany Reed (married in March 2010)
Children: Daughter, 4

Service era: Afghanistan
Military history: U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Date of death: Saturday, September 18, 2010
Death details: Died in Kunduz Province, Afghanistan of wounds suffered when he was struck by machine gun fire.

Source: Department of Defense, St. Louis Post Dispatch, Military Times

Posted on

Newton, Robert J.
Marines Lance corporal

Robert J. Newton, age 21, from Creve Coeur, Illinois, Tazewell county.

School: East Peoria Community High (2007)

Service era: Afghanistan
Military history: 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California. Enlisted 2007. Purple Heart

Date of death: Monday, August 23, 2010
Death details: Died while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Source: Department of Defense, Pekin Times, Peroia Journal Star, Military Times

Posted on

Boyd, Christopher J.
Marines Corporal

Christopher J. Boyd, age 22, from Palatine, Illinois.

Parents: Patricia Boyd and Kenneth Boyd
Spouse: Married
Children: Two children

Service era: Afghanistan
Schools: Palatine High (2006)
Military history: 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. Enlisted 2006, Purple Heart

Date of death: Thursday, August 19, 2010
Death details: Died while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Source: Department of Defense, Valley News, Chicago Tribune, Military Times

Posted on

Oratowski, Kevin E.
Marines Lance corporal

Kevin E. Oratowski, age 23, from Wheaton, Illinois, DuPage county.

Service era: Afghanistan
Schools: Glenbard South High (2005)
Military history: 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. Enlisted June 23, 2008, Purple Heart

Date of death: Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Death details: Died while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Source: Department of Defense, Sun Times, Daily Herald, Chicago Tribune, Military Times