Vetiquette 2019

ARMY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ARTHUR CARL ALTERWISHER

Artie, as he was known growing up, was a Yonkers boy for all of his life. He was born on September 4, 1946 and grew up in Yonkers with his sister, Diane, and brother, David. He made his First Communion at St. Peter's Church on Ludlow Street in Yonkers, went to school at Hawthorne Junior High School and graduated from Yonkers High School. While growing up, Artie was a hard worker who worked at a part-time job at a local newspaper called The Herald Statesman while he was in school. He started working as a newspaper delivery boy and went on to work in the newspaper's Circulation Department. He must have been a good worker because after graduating from Yonkers High School in June of 1964, The Herald Statesman newspaper hired him as a Circulation District Advisor. Arthur did this full time job during the day while he attended classes at Westchester Community College in the evenings. About a year later in August of 1965, he left that job and began working for the General Motors Corporation in Tarrytown up until the time he was drafted to fight in Viet Nam. He was inducted into the Army on Jan. 18, 1966 and then went through basic training.

One friend from high school also attended basic training with him and said that Artie was just a great man. Shortly before leaving for Viet Nam Arthur ran into a former co-worker from the newspaper and told him that anyone who says they're not afraid to go fight in the war is either a fool or a liar, but despite his fear, he said that he was determined to support his country. He arrived in Viet Nam in June of 1966.

While serving in Viet Nam, he often wrote home to his parents and said that the fighting was tough. His last letter home that was written just after having celebrated his 20 th birthday and just one week before he died. Despite being at war and having to endure many difficult attacks, he nonetheless wrote home with an attitude of gratefulness for his younger years. In reflecting on turning 20 years old, he wrote that "my birthday has come and gone and at least I can say that my teen years were the greatest." He was killed in combat on September 21, 1966.

In 2018, a new Vietnam Veterans Memorial was unveiled at Coyne Park in Yonkers.

Arthur’s name is the first one listed on that monument and he is also honored on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington DC. He was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously (posthumously means after he died).

ARMY CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER ROBERT SCOTT SCHETTIG

Scott, as he was known, was a lively boy growing up in Rockland County. He was born on January 2, 1951 to his mom, Doris, and dad, “Buddy”, who was a World War II veteran. Scott had two younger siblings: a sister, Pam, and brother, Guy. He attended Upper Nyack Elementary School and had all sorts of mischievous adventures with his best friend Richard Ricca, and cousin, Vic Alfieri, Jr., who grew up nearby so they saw each other every weekend.

When Scott’s parents had to move away for work, Scott moved in with his Aunt June and Uncle Victor Alfieri (Senior) who had moved to Spring Valley. Like Scott’s dad, his uncle Vic was also a WWII veteran. Scott began high school and started to show a strong interest in becoming a pilot.

At this time,

The Vietnam War was ongoing. Scott knew a helicopter pilot who had served in the war and had returned home after having been trained as a pilot which intrigued Scott. So, Scott decided to enlist in the Army right after graduating from Spring Valley High School to pursue his passion of becoming a pilot.

While in the Army, he attended primary flight training in Texas, HUEY Helicopter flight training and Officers School in Alabama, and additional training in Georgia. He became both an airplane and a helicopter pilot. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and was deployed to Vietnam where he flew many dangerous missions and survived a rocket attack on his base at Khe Sanh. Sadly, on July 3, 1971, he was killed in a helicopter crash while heading a squadron on a night mission near Vietnam’s border. He was listed as "Missing In Action” (MIA) for about a month during which time his family hoped that he had survived the crash. He earned many awards posthumously (meaning after he died) including The Distinguished Flying Cross (for heroism in battle), The Air Medal, The Bronze Star, North Viet Nam Medal for Gallantry and The Purple Heart. He was only 20 years old. His cousin Vic went on to become a lawyer and then a Judge for 28 years, devoting his career to public service in Rockland County.

ARMY STAFF SGT. ROBERT MILLER

Rob was born on October 14, 1983 to Maureen and Philip Miller. He was a very active child and his first friends were the children of Cambodian refugees. Their stories about how difficult their lives were living under a brutal dictator made a deep impression on Rob. As a young boy in Wheaton, Illinois, Rob played many sports: baseball, gymnastics, basketball and track. He was also a Boy Scout and musician, playing the trumpet and tuba. He had a lively curiosity about the world and was particularly interested in history. In high school, he was Co-Captain of the gymnastics team for two years and led them to the highest level in the state tournament. While doing all of this, he also worked. His jobs included being a janitor at a local gym and teaching autistic children. He was patient, hard-working and driven. Rob followed his passions, like learning Latin and other foreign languages. One thing that was not his passion: doing homework!

Growing up, he wanted to apply to the Naval Academy but could not because he was color blind. He was not discouraged and his resolve strengthened after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. He wanted to be in the Army Special Forces, even though he knew the training would be challenging and take years. After a year of college, he enlisted and began several years of training, eventually achieving the rank of Special Forces Sergeant where he was assigned to an Airborne Special Forces Group. His dedication to his training and the values with which he was raised would later save many lives.

In 2006, during his first deployment to Afghanistan, Rob was awarded two Army Commendation Medals for Valor for his courage under fire. In 2007, he returned to Afghanistan serving his second tour of duty. On January 25, 2008, his patrol was engaged in a fierce gun battle. After the engagement, they were assessing the damage and had no cover when they were ambushed. Rob was less than 20 meters from enemy forces. With total disregard for his own safety, he called for his men to quickly move back to covered positions as he charged the enemy alone, with no cover, and against overwhelming enemy fire and was shot. Despite being hurt, Rob continued to push the enemy back and killed 10 insurgents. His extraordinary valor saved the lives of 22 soldiers for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor by then President Obama.

USMC LT. COL. MICHAEL MURPHY

Mike grew up on Hayes Street in Blauvelt, New York, with his parents, Annie and Buddy Murphy, his sister, Patty, and brother, John. (His brother John was also a Marine and his father served in the Army during the Korean War where he earned a Purple Heart) His mother said that as a young boy, Mike was always very active.

Everyone who talks about Mike smiles when they talk about him and speak of his happy and mischievous demeanor. He always had a smile on his face and shared a special bond with his mom with whom he always shared a good laugh.

Even as a boy, Mike was always very good with mechanics. One time he took even took his entire bike apart and was able to put it entirely back together. Schoolwork was not easy for him because he had a hard time paying attention. Mike was interested in being a pilot so he worked very hard studying and never gave up. After graduating from St. Josephs High School and Embrey Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, Mike joined the Marines. He eventually became a pilot who flew many missions and even flew President Clinton. He laughed remembering how his parents did not always let him use their car as a teenager. When he grew up, he liked reminding his parents that the Marines let him fly helicopters worth millions of dollars!

Mike died with 3 other Marines in a training accident caused by an equipment malfunction while doing test flights of the OSPREY helicopter. He was 38 years old. He left behind his wife, son, daughter, parents and siblings. His mother raised money to create a beautiful outdoor monument at the Marine Corps Museum in Virginia to honor those who died in this crash. Locally, there is a memorial plaque honoring Mike at Lions Park in Blauvelt and Murphy Court in Blauvelt was named in his honor.

ARMY CORPORAL MANNY LOPEZ

One elementary school classmate described Manny as always having a lot of common sense, was very determined … and handsome! Neighbors who knew him as a boy said he was constantly running around in the backyard and very active. They said what they remember most about Manny as a boy growing up was his extreme kindness to everyone he met. He played little league baseball (usually 3 rd base or shortstop) and loved the NY Yankees. Friends from Haverstraw described him as honest, athletic, sincere, comforting, caring, and a positive role model. His mother says he always saw the best in others and did good deeds for others, even if he didn’t know them. Manny was a devoted son to his mother and always watched out for her, even as a boy.

As a teenager, his thoughtfulness towards his mom continued, like surprising her at work with flowers for no reason other than to just to show his love for her. He had a deep love for and faith in God. His mom said he would go to church as a teenager without having to be told to do so.

In 2002, Manny graduated from North Rockland High School and shortly thereafter joined the Army. His fellow soldiers describe him as brave, extremely honorable and someone who always had a smile on his face. They said no matter how many hours they were working under very difficult conditions, that Manny was the one who could always make the other soldiers laugh. He was a devoted husband, father of a four month old baby girl Isabella, loving brother, and son to his wonderful mother, Yolanda. He was deployed to Baghdad in Iraq for several months when he was killed while on patrol by a rocket propelled grenade (“RPG”) on April 12, 2005. He was 20 years old. There is a monument in his memory in Haverstraw at the baseball field, which has also been named after him. David Grega is a soldier who served with Manny and, like most soldiers, returned home safely. He thinks of Manny often and said that when he thinks about Manny, he is inspired to work through difficult times, never quit trying and be grateful for every day.

ARMY 1st LT. LOUIS E. ALLEN Lieutenant Allen was best known as Mr. Allen to his students at George F. Baker High School. He was also a husband and father of four boys named Trevor, Collin, Sean and Jeremy who were ages 2 through 6 when he died. Lou, as he was known by friends, was a science teacher when he was not working as a soldier. He loved kids and had a real passion for his students, according to Superintendent Joseph P. Zanetti.

Lou’s many friends and students said that he always had a way of making people feel good. His principal described him as someone who was very special to the students and staff alike. Many people said he was the best teacher at the school.

Fellow teachers said that “everyday he took good care of all of his students and friends and made us laugh". He was extremely proud of his students.

Allen enlisted in the National Guard in 1999. Being in the Army National Guard Reserve, he worked full time as a science teacher and one weekend a month training for his Reserve duty. "He deployed to Iraq for many reasons - for patriotism, to support his friend who was already there and having some trouble. He went to help”. His dad said Lou had what he called 'Lou's Rules' as a way to come to understand his system of life. The rules included the following: "The benefits of teaching always outweigh the drawbacks; Being a good dad is measured by the love of your children and good behavior; Fall in love and let the chips fall where they may; Quote every movie like you wrote it; Sing every song like you wrote it; Treat others like you want to be treated."

Lou died on June 8, 2005 after an explosion in Tikrit located in Iraq. He was 34 years old. Lou made the world a better place because he was a good person who helped others.

USMC SGT. CHRISTOPHER HRBEK Chris Hrbek may have been a mischievous boy, but he spent most of his life in service to others.

He was born on June 6, 1984. When he was just 16, he became a cadet firefighter in his hometown of Westwood, New Jersey. He became a volunteer firefighter thereafter for the next nine years. He came from a family of firefighters where his stepfather and two brothers were all firefighters. From the time he was 8 years of age, he was someone who would do anything, for anybody. He was known in his town as someone who always wanted to help others and put a smile on someone’s face.

It was always his dream since he was a boy to be in the military. He would read books and watch any movie that had to do with the Marines. He enlisted in the Marines on his 18th birthday before he had even graduated from high school. He served 9 years with the Marines, serving his last mission in Afghanistan and completed 3 deployments in Iraq. He wanted to be a drill instructor. Although he had an opportunity to leave the military and join the New York City Fire Department in 2009, he chose instead to re-enlist with the Marines. He just loved being a soldier.

He said that he was “committed to excellence in all that I do, so that I can set the proper example for all other Marines”.

Chris was 25 when he was killed in Afghanistan on January 14, 2010. After he died, he was awarded a Bronze star with Valor for saving the life of his sergeant when, despite the danger, he rushed to help him when the other soldier was badly injured. Christopher carried him to safety and applied tourniquets to stop the bleeding. He left a wife, mother, step-father, two sisters, two step-brothers and a father. The post office in Westwood has been named after him. His fellow soldiers said he would have thought that was very cool!

ARMY CAPT. PHILLIP T. ESPOSITO

Phillip Esposito was born on June 24, 1974 to his devoted parents Thomas and Joan in Westchester but grew up with his sister, Alyssa, in Rockland County and graduated from St. Anthony’s Grammar School in Nanuet. Among his many impressive accomplishments was earning the title of an Eagle Scout, the highest level attainable in the scouts organization. He graduated from Albertus Magnus High School where besides being an excellent student, he ran on the track team, was co-captain of the cross country team and senior class Vice-President. It seemed no matter what role he was in, either as a student or an athlete, Phillip was a natural leader and enjoyed serving the needs of others.

For many years, it was Phillip’s goal to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and he earned that appointment upon graduating from high school. While at West Point, he continued showing his leadership abilities and earned the title of Company Commander. He graduated from West Point in May 1997 and entered the active Army service as a 2nd Lieutenant, serving with distinction in several leadership positions. After completing his active duty, he left his full time military career for a job working in the private sector at Smith Barney but remained in the Army Reserves. After the attack on Sept. 11th, he was called back to active duty and later deployed to the war in Iraq. This meant he had to be away from his wife and daughter who were “the pride and joy of his world”. He was also leaving his parents to whom he was very close. He was killed while serving in Iraq on June 8, 2005 with his friend 1 st Lt. Lou Allen. He was a devoted husband, father, son and brother who loved his country, family and friends immensely. His selfless and brave service remains inspirational to us all.

USMC CORPORAL STEVE VAHAVIOLOS

Steve was born in Brooklyn on April 24, 1985 to Greek immigrant parents. It was there that he and sister Penny started their childhood but the family later moved to Airmont in northern Rockland County. Steve attended school in the Suffern School District. As a young boy, Steve was always interested in the military, drawing battle scenes and playing soldier around the house. It was his dream as a child to become a Marine. Growing up, he enjoyed reading science fiction and action oriented books, listening to music, playing video games, studying history and eating his mother’s delicious Greek food. His uncle said he was always a very kind and gentle boy. This side of Steve was evident as he took especially good and loving care of the family cat named Kitty.

He graduated from Suffern High School in 2003 and at age 17, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of joined the Marine Corps. Once he joined the Marines, he went to boot camp on Parris Island in South Carolina. He was deployed twice to the war in Iraq. His first deployment was in 2004 where he was stationed near the border of Iraq and Syria for 7 months. In 2006, he was deployed again to Iraq but this time in Fallujah. His commander in Iraq described him as an incredibly trustworthy young man.

On May 11, 2006, he and his crew of three other Marines died when their tank went off a bridge during night maneuvers. Steve was 21 years old. His medals include a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal& Expeditionary Medal & an Iraq Campaign Medal. There is a monument in Haverstraw in his memory.

NAVY SEAMAN JAMES RODERICK McDANIELS

James was killed while working on the U.S.S. Cole. On October 12, 2000, it was in the port of Yemen in the Middle East when it was the target of a terrorist attack while the ship was refueling. The terrorist ran a boat with explosives into the ship creating a 40 foot hole in the ship killing 17 crew members and injuring 39 others. James was only 19 years old when the attack occurred which took his life and he was on his first overseas deployment.

He was a towering figure standing at 6 feet and 4 inches tall, but to his friends and family, James was known as 'Little Mac'. As a high school student in Norfolk, Virginia, he played basketball and was number 24 on the Norview HS Pilots. He would later enjoy pickup basketball games with his Navy buddies. He was known at his high school as being quiet, but always friendly and contributed to his school.

Driven by a love of adventure and a sense of duty, James chose to join the Navy. He planned to stay in the Navy for three years, then use the money he saved to attend college. The baby-faced 19-year-old set off sailing to the Middle East on a Navy destroyer and felt it was one of the most exciting things he had ever done. He emailed with his sister daily telling her how excited he was and how much he loved the experience. James was also going to be a father in another four month at the time of the attack. He knew it was going to be a boy and wanted to nickname his son ``Ace'', but he never got the chance to meet his son.

NAVY SEAMAN RECRUIT LAKIBA N. PALMER

During high school, Lakiba was a track star and good student. She wanted to join the Navy for stability and a sense of purpose. Friends recall her pride in wearing her Navy uniform. "She missed her family when she was away but she was so proud of what she was doing, seeing the world and serving her country�. She was a real athlete, very aggressive, very competitive and spoke up for herself. Her never wavered in her desire to make something of her life.

A star hurdler and sprinter, she was the anchor on a relay team that went to the regional finals in her senior year. She was selected by a local newspaper in its academic honor roll of athletes. She was very popular, highly regarded for her good attitude and her refusal to give up" said her math teacher. She maintained a top grade-point average despite missing school because she was needed to babysit young children in her extended family.

Friendly to everyone, so dedicated to doing well at track and never one to complain about going to practice every day, she was a stellar teammate. She was also known for having great fashion sense and wearing a constant smile. She graduated in June 1996 and thereafter got married and had a young child when she joined the Navy in 1997.

Lakiba was killed while working on the U.S.S. Cole. On October 12, 2000, it was in the port of Yemen in the Middle East when it was the target of a terrorist attack while the ship was refueling. The terrorist ran a boat with explosives into the ship creating a 40 foot hole in the ship killing 17 crew members and injuring 39 others. At the time, the USS Cole was on a mission to support the United Nations.

ARMY STAFF SGT. ALICIA BIRCHETT Alicia’s uncle found a note she wrote

before being deployed on this last tour of duty which read: "I am doing this to make you proud." Alicia was a career military officer and at 29 she had

already served five international tours of duty from Germany, to Korea and Iraq.

She had 12 years of service when she was killed in Iraq in August of 2007.

She was survived by her husband and

three young sons: Joe, Julian and Silas who were between 2 through 7 years of age at the time.

Alicia grew up in Mashpee, Massachusetts located on Cape Cod. She was a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Native American Tribe. After graduating Falmouth High School on Cape Cod in 1995, she thereafter enlisted in the Army in 1996. Relatives said she was the person who always put everyone else first and described her as a strong, loving, giving person who loved to take care of people.

In the Army, she worked as a mechanic. It was a tough job that she loved.

Alicia appreciated that her military career gave her a chance to travel, serve her country and make her family proud. Her military decorations include the Bronze Star.

USMC CAPT. JENNIFER J. HARRIS

Jennifer grew up in Swampscott, a shore town outside of Boston. She was an overachiever in high school and won several scholarships including one from the Parent-Teacher Council. She graduated from high school in 1996 then headed to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis where students study to become Naval leaders. While there, she organized a "Toys for Local Children" group. She modeled it after a similar program started by a teacher at her high school. After graduating from college, she continued to support this charity by sending them annual checks.

After the Naval Academy, she could have gone into the Navy or Marines and chose the Marines and decided she wanted to be pilot. She trained at Quantico in Virginia, Pensacola in Florida and Corpus Christi in Texas. She was then assigned to an infamous squadron called the "Purple Foxes" with a lengthy combat history. She finished her training as a helicopter pilot at the end of 2002 and was assigned to Iraq to fly helicopters carrying both supplies and troops between Iraq and Kuwait. If a Marine lay wounded on a battlefield, Jennifer flew her helicopter during day or night in order to help a fellow soldier. She had completed two tours of duty in Iraq before her third and final tour.

Her final mission came when she volunteered to transport blood supplies and insurgents shot down her chopper, killing Harris just days before she was due to return home. Before leaving for this flight, another Marine suggesting letting someone else do this mission, but Jennifer insisted that she wanted to fly as that was why she was there.

USMC STAFF SERGEANT RICHARD JACKSON

Richard Bernard Jackson was born on February 16, 1939 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. In 1959, Jackson enlisted in United States Marine Corps just two years after graduating high school. Some of his positions in the military were assistant brig warden, security guard, squad leader, medical corpsman and rifleman, and platoon leader in Vietnam. On September 6, 1967, Jackson’s platoon was tasked with capturing a hill in the Quang Tin Province in a Battle for Hill 43. One hundred and seven (107) Marines died in this brutal battle, including Richard Jackson. He was only 28 years old. He was survived by his wife and son.

Almost 40 years later, his widow, Mary said that she misses him every day. She remembers him as a devoted husband, a good father and a dedicated Marine. She said he will always be with her and remain in her heart, forever. One of his fellow Marines, Fred Smith, returned home after Vietnam, attended Harvard Business School and started a company that guaranteed overnight deliveries called Fed Ex where he remains the CEO. Yet Mr. Smith said that his best teacher was not at Harvard. “What I learned from teachers such as Staff Sergeant Richard Jackson has been of incalculable value to me. He was one of the most competent and courageous people I ever knew”.

USMC CAPT. DAVID L. JONES

As a boy, Dave was very shy and sensitive. His mom said there was just always something special about him, even as a young child. He never talked about himself and always tried to encourage others. He was always interested in flying. When he was 15 years old, he painted the fence of someone who knew how to fly in exchange for flying lessons. Even as a boy, he was determined to challenge himself.

He was born on December 7, 1961 and grew up in Dublin, Ohio, living with his parents, Alice and Ken Jones, and his older brother, Ken. Dave followed in his family’s path of service. His mom was a nurse and father served in the Navy during the Korean War and later became a teacher. After high school, Dave attended Cedarville University, a Christian college, where he was active in their ministry program, was an All American Soccer player and where he met his wife, Angela, whom he called “Angie”.

The couple shared a deep faith in God. They later married and had two sons, Madison and Ian. Dave loved being an active father and would play with his boys all the time.

After graduating from college in 1984, Dave played semi-pro soccer for a team in Tacoma in Washington and got to play all over the world. He then coached soccer at Ohio Wesleyan University but still had a dream of being a helicopter pilot so he joined the Marines and studied to become an officer. A fellow Marine who attended Officer’s Candidate School with him described Dave as very smart, gregarious, a happy person who smiled and laughed a lot. The friend said that even with all these talents, Dave was very humble and thoughtful of others. He did not have a big ego.

Dave trained at Pensacola to become a pilot and graduated third in his class. He selected to then train in California so he could also learn to fly the Cobra Helicopter. He absolutely loved being a Marine pilot and play on the USMC soccer team.

When the U.S. started sending troops in to the Persian Gulf War when Iraq had invaded our ally Kuwait, Dave felt an obligation to serve. He was deployed Kuwait for joint training where the U.S. was helping Kuwait’s military. He died in a helicopter crash on August 9, 1992 while do a training exercise. He was 30 years old. His son Madison was 3 and son Ian was not yet 1 year of age. Scholarships were set up at his high school and college by friends and former teammates. Kuwait also established scholarship funds for both his sons.

COAST GUARD PETTY OFFICER 3rd CLASS JAMES G. CAINES

James was born in Savannah but lived in Hinesville, Georgia, for most his life.

In grade, he met Crystal who would become his wife later in life and the mother of his son, Joshua. He joined the Coast Guard in March 1993. After being promoted, he was assigned to Air Station Humboldt Bay in northern California.

James’ son, Joshua was just 4 years old when his dad died in service. Growing up, the Disney character Hercules always reminded him of his dad who is hero for risking his life to save five people who were stranded at sea.

On June 6, 1997, James qualified as a rescue swimmer which was a dream of his for a long time and something that his brother, Jonathon, said he worked very hard to attain. Having achieved this and having his beloved family, James was completely happy. His supervisor said he always showed up to work early with an enthusiastic attitude and would stay as long as was needed because he loved his job. His wife said he “really wanted to get up in a helicopter and save a life,''. This was his first mission and she knew how excited he would have been to tell her about it.

On June 8, 1997, a Canadian sailboat became disabled in 25 foot seas and high winds about 200 miles north of San Francisco, near an area called Shelter Cove.

James was one of four Coast Guard crew members (nicknamed “Coasties”) aboard a helicopter on this rescue mission. They saw a flare alerting them that the sail boat passengers planned to abandon their boat as it was taking on water. The crew tried to airlift the five people off the boat but the helicopter crashed into the ocean, killing all aboard the helicopter. James was 26 years old.

Another Coast Guard rescue crew on a ship was able to rescue all the people from the sail boat. In 1998, Coast Guard Air Station Savannah in his home state of Georgia named their main hangar after Caines.

7th

ARMY 2ND LIETUENANT JAMES L. McCULLIN James L. McCullin was a trailblazer and a hero. He was born on the 25th of November, 1918 in St. Louis, Missouri. At this time, there was legal segregation in America but Lt. McCullin was not the sort of person to be told he could not do something. After high school, he studied at Kentucky State University where he learned of the black fighter squadrons being trained at Tuskegee Army Air Field. McCullin was among just nine men to graduate from flight training on September 6th, 1942. There was great pride in such a prestigious accomplishment and of attaining the rank of 2 nd Lieutenant. He was deployed in April of 1943 to North Africa where they began training for combat.

McCullin had his first mission on June 2, 1943. He flew about two missions a day but did not encounter an enemy until June 9th. The missions varied from bombing enemy targets to escorting bombers over Italy.

On July 2, 1943, McCullin had his first hostile confrontation with the enemy when the airmen were escorting some bombers. They were swarmed by German fighters who were trying to attack the American bombers. When the pilots returned, McCullin and fellow pilot Sherman White were missing. It was later discovered that they were shot down by German forces over Sicily during this mission. They were the first African American pilots killed in combat in World War II. He was only 25 years old and had not yet gotten married or had any children. He was friendly and loved by many. His family has a strong call to service as his nephew, Army Lt. Col. Mark Smith, became a highly-regarded professor at West Point. Lt. McCullin was a true leader overcoming much adversity to persevere and achieve his goals. He had a kind soul that will forever be appreciated and missed. He was a great patriot.

Tuskegee Airmen: Lt. James McCullin: front row, 2 nd from the right

ARMY STAFF SERGEANT AYMAN TAHA

Ayman was not only very smart, but a very hard worker and known for his kindness.

More than all else, he was very loved by his parents. He was athletic, spoke many languages, and a friend to all who met him.

Ayman was born on July 2, 1974 far away in Sudan, a country in Africa, into an academically accomplished family where education was a valued. His parents, Abdel-Rahman and Amal Taha, hold doctoral degrees. When his father worked for the World Bank, Ayman attended elementary school in the suburbs of Washington D.C. where he developed a deep love for America. He went to secondary school in England but then returned to the U.S. for all of his further education. He received a Bachelor's Degree from the prestigious University of California at Berkeley and a Master's Degree in Economics from the University of Massachusetts. He had completed all of his studies towards his Doctorate degree with just his dissertation (which is like a long research essay that he would have to present to teachers) to earn his Doctorate Degree. He planned to become an economist and had an interest in development so he could help people improve their lives.

He was always very patriotic for his adopted homeland of the United States and since boyhood, had an interest in the military. Growing up, he would often be playing with toy soldiers or reading military books. He saw America’s involvement in the Middle East as important to help the people in the region. His father said Ayman was a devout Muslim who believed that "the message of Islam is very simple . . . to believe in God and do good deeds. He believed that what he was doing in Iraq as such good deeds�.

In 2000, he wanted to take a break from school as he had been studying his whole life and felt compelled to serve his country, so he enlisted in the Army in August of 2002. Like everything else he did, Ayman strived to be the best and eventually earned a spot on the most elite unit of the Special Forces, The Green Berets. He was deployed to Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom where sadly he died in an explosion on December 30, 2005. He was 31 years of age. He earned the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the gratitude of our nation for his sacrifice and being such a positive role model. He left behind his parents, two sisters, Rabah and Lubna, his wife, Geraldine and his daughter, Sommer.

ARMY CAPTAIN ELEANOR GRACE ALEXANDER

Captain Eleanor Grace Alexander was from New Jersey and served as a nurse during the Vietnam War. She helped save many people and was the only female from New Jersey who died in the Vietnam War. She was born in Queens, New York on September 18, 1940 and grew up with a younger brother, Frank, and sister, Marguerite.

She was a very bright child and good student. After seeing her father and sister suffer from illnesses, Eleanor was determined to help people through medicine and she did.

She graduated with a degree in nursing from D’Youville College in Buffalo, New York, and then moved to River Vale, in Bergen County, New Jersey. She was a successful operating room supervisor here and was engaged to be married, but she wanted to help people by serving in the ongoing Vietnam War. Friends tried to discourage her from enlisting, but Eleanor felt compelled to enlist in the Army Nurse Corps. She actually chose the Army over any other branch because they were the only one that would guarantee that she would be sent to Vietnam.

She enlisted in 1967 and was enthusiastic as she served. She worked in a an Army hospital in Vietnam where she was part of a team that stabilized seriously wounded American and enemy patients. Her colleagues nicknamed her “Rocky” and said she was an excellent nurse who was consistently calm under pressure and always composed despite the chaos around her. People were always struck by her beauty, but even more so by the power of her commitment, strength of her character, poise and ability to ease the physical and emotional suffering of the many injured soldiers whom she helped.

Five months into her deployment, medical staff was needed closer to the battle lines. Another nurse was scheduled to go but could not be located, so Eleanor immediately took her gear and jumped in with the group going to help the many wounded soldiers. When they arrived there, she was working very long shifts. She wrote to her mom saying she was getting about four hours of sleep per night because there were so many people to help but the “funny thing is that I love it”. She died on the way back to the hospital in a crash. She was 27 years old.

The nurse whose place she took has devoted her life to making a positive impact in the world to honor Eleanor who is remembered as an unstoppable force who helped ease the suffering of others. She is buried in St. Andrews Cemetery in River Vale in Bergen County.

ARMY SPECIALIST MARC SEIDEN Army Specialist Marc Seiden was born on July 20, 1977 to his parents Jack and Gael in Brooklyn and had one brother, Adam. This nice Jewish boy from Brooklyn would move with his family to Brigatine, New Jersey where Marc became an avid fisherman while growing up. Marc was a risk taker growing up, sticking coins in electrical sockets, skateboard off the roof or take the car on a family joyride at 16. His parents spent his formative years alternating between hollering, worrying and laughing at his antics but his mother described him as “a wonderful son, a wonderful boy.� He was always very friendly and happy, and loved to help others. This reputation stayed with him through adulthood.

He graduated from Hightstown High School in 1995 and then attended Ramapo College where he played soccer and worked as a construction worker. He was physically tall and broad chested with an outgoing personality. Marc joined the Army because he believed it was his duty to serve his country and enlisted in the Army months after the attacks on 9/11. He was inspired and enthusiastic. His mother said he wanted to eventually become a warrant officer and fly helicopters.

He joined the 82nd Airborne Division earning his parachutist badge where he was deployed to Iraq. Even though he was older than most of his fellow soldiers, they still described him as the company clown, always cracking jokes even amidst gun fire. He would jokingly turn to soldiers in ask if his uniform made his butt look big. He always knew how to make everyone laugh. He served nine months in Iraq and was scheduled to return home just a few weeks before he was killed. He is an inspirational because he lived life to the fullest and always tried to help others.

ARMY 1st LIEUTENANT DEREK S. HINES

Derek was an Army Ranger and First Lieutenant, but also a proud Army hockey player! “He was a great guy, more than just a hockey player,” said one West Point cadet.

“He wasn’t big in stature, about 5’8 … but he had a big heart. He came to play every game. He never wavered on anything.”

Growing up in Massachusetts, he attended St. John’s Prep School in Danvers, MA. At Prep School, he excelled both academically and athletically. He was a 4 year starter on the varsity hockey team and a 3 year starter on the lacrosse team while doing numerous service projects that distinguished him amongst his peers. Graduating in 1999 as a member of the National Honor Society, he earned an appointment to West Point.

At West Point, he was motivated to eventual success in the classroom and on the hockey team. Due to his perseverance, he eventually became Captain of the hockey team that at one point he wasn’t sure he would make. All who knew Derek were not surprised.

He possessed the inherent ability to triumph even though odds might be against him.

He was strong in every sense of the word.

September 11, 2001 did not deter Derek from seeking positions that might put him in harm’s way. Upon graduation in 2003 from West Point, Derek completed his training to become a Ranger and attended Airborne School after briefly serving as the Graduate Assistant to the Army hockey team. Soon after completing the rigorous test of Ranger School, Derek joined the 173rd Airborne Division in Italy before being deployed to Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, Derek’s unit worked to get rid of terrorists.

On September 1, 2005, Derek died in Afghanistan. He was so proud to wear the Army uniform and lead the heroes that he said he was around daily. Derek was 25 years old and is survived by his parents, Steve and Susan, and his younger siblings Michael, Ashley, and Trevor.

ARMY SPECIALIST FRANCES MARIE VEGA

Frances made many friends at Antilles High School in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is part of the United States and many Puerto Ricans have served in all the branches of the military.

Growing up, Frances loved to dance as a girl at school and with her family and friends. All who knew her say she had a caring nature, big smile, a lot of energy and was very kind.

She was born Frances Marie Benitez on September 2, 1983 in San Francisco where her father was stationed with the Army. As a young girl, she was a loyal friend who would fight to defend her best friend when needed. After her father retired, the family settled down in Puerto Rico, where she graduated high school in 2000. Influenced by her dad’s call to service and the events of September 11th, Frances decided to enlist in the Army which is also where she would meet her husband. Friends from basic training would remember her as someone that everyone gravitated to because of her warm personality, spunk and joy for life.

She was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, and then deployed to Iraq as part of the Global War on Terrorism. She served our country from 2001-2003 and in that time she became a hero for how she lived and how she served. She was deployed to Iraq and on November 2nd, 2003, she died along with 15 other soldiers in a Chinook helicopter. She was 20 years old.

She was buried in the Puerto Rico National Cemetery. She was the first woman of Puerto Rican descent to die in Iraq. Her family is extremely proud of her service as such a brave soldier.

Her father described her as earning her name: F-Friendly, R-Respectful, A-Affectionate, NNatural, C-Character, E-Enthusiastic and S-Sensible. She is survived by her parents, sister, husband and numerous friends.

JOSEPH LEMM AIR NATIONAL GUARD TECHNICAL SERGEANT

His life was one of service to others. Known as “Superman” to his loved ones, Joseph Lemm died on December 21, 2015 at the age of 35 in Iraq. He was born on August 12th, 1970, in a small town in Iowa and grew up in Beemer, Nebraska. At Beemer High School, he ran track and played both football and basketball. He went on to serve six years in active duty for the Air Force where he was honorably discharged.

He then continued his service to our country in the Air National Guard. He served three tours.

When he wasn’t serving our country, he was serving the people of New York City as a New York City police detective in the NYPD. He got his nickname “Superman” because of his bravery. He was even nominated for a Liberty Medal for his courage in chasing on violent criminal.

Besides these two important jobs, he was also a father to a son, Ryan (4), and step daughter, Brooke Chaco (17). They lived in Westchester County in New York. He enjoyed spending time with his friends and family on his boat, rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles and hunting. of life” said one friend. courage, and kindness.

“Joe was a great man, a great friend and he was full

He will be remembered for his service, selflessness, bravery,

ARMY LIEUTENANT FRANCES SLANGER

Frances Slanger was an immigrant and an American war hero. She was born in 1913 Frances in Lodz, Poland, to a Jewish family. They immigrated to the United States when she was seven years old via Ellis Island but was initially detained due to an eye infection that would impact her sight. She grew up in Boston going to school and helping her father peddle fruit. Growing up, she dreamed of becoming a nurse and made this dream a reality when she graduated from the Boston City Hospital Nursing School in 1937. She did this despite her parents and the Nursing School discouraging her career path. There were few Jewish women in the school and they were not made to feel welcomed. Nevertheless, she graduated and then entered hospital work.

After learning about the horrors Jewish people were suffering during World War II, Frances enlisted as a nurse in the U.S. Army in 1943. She was with the first team of nurses to arrive in France after the D-Day invasion and splashed ashore wearing men’s fatigues and a helmet. She was met with 17 truckloads of wounded men. Her courage and selflessness are obvious in the work she volunteered for which was being part of a surgical team on the front lines, only a mile from the German front.

She served in a field hospital for the wounded soldiers and took excellent care of them. She eventually was moved to Belgium. No matter where she was, Slanger treated the soldiers as if they were family and worked tirelessly to help them recover from their injuries. She put her patient’s needs in front of her own. Slanger wrote an inspiring letter that was read by thousands of soldiers, honoring the soldiers she worked with and thanking them for the privilege of caring for them. It was published in the Stars and Stripes, an Army newspaper. She was killed a few days before her letter was published on October 21, 1944 in Belgium from a German artillery attack. (Belgium had tried to stay neutral in WWII but Hitler invaded it in 1940 and remained occupied by the Germans until the U.S. and the Allied forces liberated it in 1944) Slanger was 31 years old when she died and there was outpouring of love as so many people were moved by her letter. The mayor of Boston and a thousand people paid their respects to her when she was buried here. In 1945, the U.S. army honored her by naming a hospital ship used to return servicemen back to the U.S. The Frances Y. Slanger.

SFC RANDY SHUGHART Sergeant 1st Class Randy Shughart was born in Lincoln, Nebraska where his father was assigned to Lincoln Air Force Base. When his dad retired from the Air Force, the family moved to a dairy farm in Newville, Pennsylvania, which was a lot of hard work for Randy and his siblings. This dairy farm boy would go on to earn the highest military award, the Medal of Honor for his selfless and extremely brave actions.

Randy ran cross country in high school and graduated from Big Spring High School in 1976. He joined the Army and was clearly driven to excel and challenge himself, eventually qualifying for the elite Army Ranger School. After qualifying for Special Forces he was transferred to South Carolina. It was from there in 1993 that he would be deployed to Somalia with other Delta Force members.

U.S. troops were on a mission in Somalia for the United Nations and rying to get food to starving people. Local criminals were intercepting the supplies.

Randy’s unit was trying to capture some of these criminals. Inside the Somali city of Mogadishu on October 3, 1993, two U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopters were shot down by these criminals, trapping the American soldiers who were on them. Randy and fellow soldier, Gary Gordon, saw the mob of people attacking the first helicopter crew, so when the next helicopter was shot down, they told their commanders they needed to go in immediately to rescue the crew of the second helicopter. Their commanders repeatedly denied their request, but relented upon realizing if they did not try to rescue the crew, the crew would be killed by the mob. Knowing the extreme risk to their lives, the two men went to the site of the second downed helicopter and rescued the pilot, Michael Durant, despite many members of these mobs shooting at him. Sadly, he and Gary were both killed after saving their fellow soldier. Randy was 35 years old.

Both men were awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously (meaning after they died) for their extraordinary courage and selflessness. Michael Durant said that “without a doubt, I owe my life to these two men and their bravery." The Battle of Mogadishu is the subject of a book and movie entitled “Blackhawk Down". Randy was survived by his wife, Stephanie, parents Herbert and mother Lois, two sisters, brother, and cousin. His father has been trying to get a local high school named after his son.

Randy Shughart was selfless, brave, and a courageous person who was not afraid to put his life on the line to save others.

SPC JAMES MANUEL CAVACO

Specialist James M. Cavaco was born on February 12, 1967. He grew up in Forestdale, Massachusetts, and his mom, Barbara, can still picture him, running up and down the sidewalks with a knapsack loaded with rocks on his back. He was in training for his dream job. We remember him as many things: a son, musician, a soldier, funloving hard worker and patriot. He was important to us, just like all soldiers, but James M. Cavaco wasn’t any ordinary soldier.

James enlisted in the Army in 1991 at age 24 and as such he was a little older than most recruits. After earning a degree from Cape Cod Community College, he decided that since he couldn't find fulfilling work in the civilian world, he thought he could find it in the Army. His mom, Barbara, said he was focused on the idea of group success as a unit which he liked. He really enjoyed being in the Army and loved challenging himself, which he had done throughout his life. So in the Army, it wasn’t enough for James to be a solider, he wanted to be one of the elite soldiers known as the Rangers in Special Operations and he loved it even though it took a long time and was very difficult. But James always loved learning something new. For example, he also decided to learn how to play the guitar and loved playing rock music. His mother said it used “to drive all the guys crazy in the barracks. For a hard worker who loves challenges, being an Army Ranger was a perfect fit for him.

James joined the Rangers and served as a weapons specialist. He loved his work. In 1993, his unit was sent to Somalia. More than 300, 000 people had starved in Somalia, a country located on the continent of Africa. Food being sent to them from the US and other countries was not reaching the people because of violent warlords (criminals). The U.S. led international troops to restore safety to Somalia so that food could get to the starving people. On October 3 rd, Special Forces were on a mission to capture some warlords in the city of Mogadishu but when two American Blackhawk helicopters were shot down in the middle of this very violent city, James was part of a convoy that went in to try to rescue the crew from the helicopter. American troops battled for two days as they tried to rescue their fellow soldiers. James was mortally wounded during this rescue attempt. He will be remembered for his selfless devotion to his fellow man, both for trying to help other soldiers and the starving people of Somalia.

SGT DOMINICK M. PILLA

He was born March 31, 1972 and grew up in Vineland, New Jersey where there is lots of farmland in south Jersey, but Dominick wanted to be where the action was.

Ever since Dominick was little, he knew he wanted to join the Army to become a Ranger. His dad would tell him stories about how people can get killed or wounded but this did not dissuade him at all. His father was a Vietnam War veteran so he knew the realities of war.

Dominick was a very athletic, loving, competitive, kind, funny, person who loved to pull pranks on his friends and family. In describing his bigger than life personality, his mom, Diane, said he “was a real card…and he loved life." He was quick to learn things and had a sharp mind. He not come from a very wealthy family but he was the type of person who would give someone his last dollar. Dominick loved his country and couldn’t wait to serve for it.

While still in high school, he enlisted in the Army and began preparing for the difficult test and training to become an Army Ranger which he pursued after graduating.

His plan was to join the Army and become a member of the elite Army Rangers, which he achieved. His brother, Frank, said that Dominick "always wanted to be special, he wanted to be one of the few, not one of the masses." His plan after the Army was to pursue career in either the FBI or the Drug Enforcement Administration. That did not happen. Sadly, he was killed at age 21 in The Battle of Mogadishu.

In 1993, his unit was sent to the African country of Somalia where people were starving. Food being sent to them from the US and other countries was not reaching the people because of violent warlords (criminals). The U.S. led international troops to restore safety to Somalia so that food could get to the people. On October 3 rd, Special Forces were on a mission to capture some warlords in the city of Mogadishu. Dominick was killed while trying to rescue a soldier who had fallen from a helicopter during this mission during a horrible battle that lasted two days. The soldier he was helping, Todd Blackburn, was saved. Even in a dangerous battle, Dominick still helped others and tried to save lives.

ARMY SGT. PAMELA G. OSBOURNE “I'm going to serve my country, to protect my country.”

“This was her life. She loved what she did”, said Rohan Osbourne, Pamela's extremely supportive husband. “Sgt. Osbourne’s smile was a beautiful light in a dark place in Iraq” said a fellow soldier. Two other soldiers talked about her joy for sharing a good meal and company with her fellow soldiers. One said that she was like a mother figure to the younger soldiers…and would take his Dr. Pepper sodas but she was so nice that he didn’t even mind!

But on October 11, 2004, Pamela's bright smile would no longer be seen. She died when two rockets hit the camp in Baghdad where she was stationed during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Her husband said that in their last call, she reminded him to “take care of the kids, stay strong, and remember I love you.”

Pamela was an immigrant who was born in Jamaica. She moved to America at 14 and lived in Miami, Florida for several years. When Pamela grew up, she found her true love when she met Rohan Osbourne. . They got married, moved to Fort Hood, Texas and had three children: Rohan, Latoya, and Tony. All who knew her describe her as a kind and loving person with a smile that could light up a room. She loved to help people and had no enemies.

Pamela wanted two things: to become a U.S citizen and serve in the military to protect this country. She achieved both goals. She joined the Army in 2001 and became a citizen in 2003. She could have avoided this most recent deployment to Iraq due to a medical condition, but she felt that would not be fair to her fellow soldiers and her husband supported her decision.

Her son, Rohan Osbourne, remembered doing different things with his mom like their talks, playing tic-tac-toe, quizzing him on his spelling, looking at the clouds w and playing basketball. He remembers when two soldiers came to their house 5 a.m., and he knew something had happened to his mom. “I went to school the next day because I felt like that was what my mother would want”. He told his teacher that he “might have a bad day, because my mom was killed yesterday in Iraq”. The Army sent a counselor for them. Rohan handles difficulties like his mom did and says that when things get tough, he keeps going. He thinks about his mom every day and wears her dog tags and a copper bracelet that she was wearing when she died. “Sometimes I feel she’s still with me.”

Pamela was 38 when she died. She loved her family with all her heart and will be dearly missed by them. More than two million children have had parents deployed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and more than 2,200 children have lost a parent who was serving our country.