Miguel A. Villalon, age 21, from Joilet, Illinois.
Service era: Afghanistan
Military history: 307th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Date of death: Saturday, January 11, 2020
Death details: Killed when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan
Source: Department of Defense, Military Times
Aaron S. Toppen, age 19, from Mokena, Illinois.
Service era: Afghanistan
Military history: 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado
Date of death: Monday, June 9, 2014
Death details: Died in Gaza Village, Afghanistan of wounds suffered in a friendly fire incident while engaged in a combat operation. Killed was: Staff Sgt. Scott R. Studenmund, Staff Sgt. Jason A. McDonald, Spc., Justin R. Helton, Cpl Justin R. Clouse, Pvt. 2nd Class Aaron S. Toppen
Source: Department of Defense, Military Times
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
Kyle J. Wright, age 22, from Romeoville, Illinois, Will county.
Parents: Rich Wright and Lynn Derry
Service era: Afghanistan
Schools: Romeoville High (2006)
Military history: 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington. Enlisted 2006.
Date of death: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Death details: Died at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan of wounds suffered that day when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device in Kandahar Province. He was interdicting drugs and weapons on a main highway when the incident occurred.
Cemetery: Arlington National Cemetery
Source: Department of Defense, Plainfield Sun, Chicago Tribune, Military Times
Michael Pearson, age 21, from Boilingbrook, Illinois, Will county.
Parents: Sheryll Pearson and Jeff Pearson
Spouse: None
Children: None
Schools: Boilingbrook High (2006)
Date of death: Thursday, November 5, 2009
Death details: Killed by gunshot from a fellow soldier, police said, in an attack at Ft. Hood that left 13 dead and 30 injured.
Cemetery: Abraham Lincoln National, outside Joliet, Illinois
Source: Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times
Jeffrey A. Van Us, age 26, from Plainfield, Illinois, Will county. Their last known residence was in Plainfield.
Parents: Dan Van Us and Kathy Eastman
Service era: Iraq
Schools: Joliet West High graduate
Military history: Operations non-commissioned officer who served as a Senior Vehicle Mechanic with Company B, 307th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper. Joined Army in November 2002. Army Commendation Medal (three oak leaf clusters), the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal (three), the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Parachute Badge and the Master Driver Badge (two).
Date of death: Friday, August 14, 2009
Death details: Died after he was found unresponsive in his barracks.
Source: Chicago Tribune, Plainfield Sun, WRAL
Joshua William Harris, age 21, from Romeoville, Illinois, Will county.
Parents: Bill Harris and Mille Harris-Hickey
Service era: Iraq
Schools: Walther Lutheran High
Military history: Battery B, 2D Battalion, 122D Field Artillery, Robbins, Il
Date of death: Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Death details: Hostile; South Of Fob Gardez, Afghanistan
Source: Department of Defense, Military Times
Jacob Michael Lowell, age 22, from New Lenox, Illinois, Will county.
Parents: Raymond Lowell and Bernardine
Service era: Iraq
Schools: Lincoln-Way Central High, New Lenox (2003)
Military history: Company B, 1St Battalion, 503D Infantry, 173D Airborne Bde, Camp Ederle, It
Date of death: Saturday, June 2, 2007
Death details: Hostile; Vicinity Of Gowardesh, Afghanistan
Source: Department of Defense, Military Times
Timothy James Sweeney, age 19, from Will County Romeoville, Illinois .
Parents: Virginia M. Schofield and Howard E. Sweeney
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Saturday, September 23, 1972
Death details: Non-hostile in South Vietnam
Cemetery: Resurrection in Romeoville
Source: National Archives, Chicago Tribune (1972)
Wesley Stewart Shelton, age 19, from Will County Joliet, Illinois .
Spouse: Georgia N. Shelton
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Monday, October 18, 1971
Death details: Non-hostile in South Vietnam
Source: National Archives, Terre Haute Star (1971)