Tag: Tampa Florida

Antwan Lavelle Walker, age 22, from Tampa, Florida, Hillsborough county.

Parents: Andrea Pringle
Children: Antwan Jr. and Antwannaja, 2; Antwanette, 4

Service era: Iraq
Schools: East Bay High graduate
Military history: Company B, 2D Forward Support Battalion, 2 Mef (Tf Liberty), Fort Carson, Co

Date of death: Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Death details: Killed by bomb blast in Ramadi, Iraq

Source: Department of Defense, Military Times

Nicholas David Wilt, age 23, from Tampa, Florida, Hillsborough county.

Service era: Iraq
Military history: Wpns Co, 1St Bn, 7Th Mar, 1St Mar Div, Camp Pendleton, Ca

Date of death: Friday, September 3, 2004
Death details: Hostile; Al Anbar Province, Iraq

Source: Department of Defense, Military Times

Michael Brian Quinn, age 37, from Tampa, Florida, Hillsborough county.

Spouse: Melissa Palmer Quinn
Children: Tim, 8

Service era: Iraq
Military history: E Troop 2D Battalion 3D Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, Colorado

Date of death: Tuesday, May 27, 2003
Death details: Killed when Iraqis opened fire at a checkpoint in Fallujah

Source: Department of Defense, Military Times

John Travis Rivero, age 23, from Tampa, Florida, Hillsborough county.

Service era: Iraq
Military history: Company D 2D Battalion 124Th Infantry, Eustis, Florida

Date of death: Thursday, April 17, 2003
Death details: H1 Airfield, Iraq

Source: Department of Defense, Military Times

Andrew Julian Aviles, age 18, from Tampa, Florida, Hillsborough county.

Service era: Iraq
Military history: H&S Co, 4Th Aabn, 4Th Mardiv, Tampa, Florida

Date of death: Monday, April 7, 2003
Death details: Hostile; , Iraq

Source: Department of Defense, Military Times

Paul Ray Smith, age 33, from Tampa, Florida, Hillsborough county.

Spouse: Married

Service era: Iraq
Military history: Company B, 11Th Engineer Battalion, Fort Stewart, Georgia; awarded Congressional Medal of Honor

Date of death: Friday, April 4, 2003
Death details: Medal of Honor citation: Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy near Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad, Iraq on 4 April 2003. On that day, Sergeant First Class Smith was engaged in the construction of a prisoner of war holding area when his Task Force was violently attacked by a company-sized enemy force. Realizing the vulnerability of over 100 fellow soldiers, Sergeant First Class Smith quickly organized a hasty defense consisting of two platoons of soldiers, one Bradley Fighting Vehicle and three armored personnel carriers. As the fight developed, Sergeant First Class Smith braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons, and organized the evacuation of three wounded soldiers from an armored personnel carrier struck by a rocket propelled grenade and a 60mm mortar round. Fearing the enemy would overrun their defenses, Sergeant First Class Smith moved under withering enemy fire to man a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on a damaged armored personnel carrier. In total disregard for his own life, he maintained his exposed position in order to engage the attacking enemy force. During this action, he was mortally wounded. His courageous actions helped defeat the enemy attack, and resulted in as many as 50 enemy soldiers killed, while allowing the safe withdrawal of numerous wounded soldiers. Sergeant First Class Smith’s extraordinary heroism and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Third Infantry Division “Rock of the Marne,” and the United States Army.

Source: Department of Defense, New York Times, U.S. Army