Sacramento Blue Star Moms
Military Moms on a Mission!
Remembering local service members who are no longer with us:
SSgt. Joshua A. Brassica
1st Lt. Robert S. Byrnes
Ryan E. Harris
Jordan Heer
Chuck Johnson
John A. Karibo
Wyatt McNulty
Matthew Maddox
Roy Brooks Mason
Miguel M. Mendoza
Olaf Nelson
Taylor Donald Norris
Trevor C. Pashnee
HM3 Devon C. Rideout
Christopher B. Sainsbury
Sgt. Eric Schenck
Lt. Shawn Snyder
Alecia C. Snyder-Guerrera
Roland E. Tamayo
Mark Taylor
Remembering local service members who have fallen
Post 9/11/2001 as a result of Operations
ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and NEW DAWN
Genaro F. Acosta, 26
Army, Specialist
Based: Ft. Hood, Texas
1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: November 11, 2003
Taji, Iraq
Married, 1 child
Gender: Male
Hometown: Fair Oaks
High School: Mayfair High (Lakewood)
Burial: Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio
Shawn G. Adams, 21
Army, Sergeant
Based: Ft. Richardson, Alaska
3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: July 22, 2007
Owaset, Iraq
Married
Gender: Male
Hometown: Dixon
High School: Vanden High (Fairfield)
Burial: Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, Dixon, Calif.
Kenneth Michael Ballard, 26
Army, 1st Lieutenant
Based: Friedberg, Germany
2nd Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: May 30, 2004
Najaf, Iraq
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Mountain View
High School: Mountain View High (Mountain View)
Burial: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.
Michael S. Barnhill, 39
Marine Reserve, 1st Sergeant
Based: Eugene, Ore.
6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Force Service Support Group
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: May 28, 2005
Haqlaniya (6 mi. from), Iraq
Married, 3 children
Gender: Male
Hometown: Folsom
High School: Folsom High (Folsom)
Burial: Mount Vernon Memorial Park, Fair Oaks, Calif.
Timothy W. Brown, 21
Marines, Lance Corporal
Based: Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii
2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: November 14, 2006
Haditha, Iraq
Engaged
Gender: Male
Hometown: Sacramento
High School: Foothill High (Sacramento)
Burial: Mount Vernon Memorial Park, Fair Oaks, Calif.
Frank L. Cady III, 20
Army, Specialist
Based: Ft. Riley, Kan.
4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: October 10, 2007
Baghdad, Iraq
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Sacramento
High School: Visions in Education (Carmichael)
Burial: Cremated
James M. Christen, 29
Army, Staff Sergeant
Based: Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: July 19, 2011
Kunar province, Afghanistan
Married
Gender: Male
Hometown: Loomis
High School: Del Oro High (Loomis)
Burial: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.
Michael K. Clark, 24
Army, Sergeant
Based: Ft. Carson, Colo.
2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: October 7, 2008
Mosul, Iraq
Married, 1 child
Gender: Male
Hometown: Sacramento
High School: Amador High (Sutter Creek)
Burial: Sacramento Memorial Lawn, Sacramento
Ronald L. Coffelt, 36
Army, Sergeant
Based: Ft. Bragg, N.C.
503rd Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne), XVIII Airborne Corps
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: July 19, 2007
Baghdad (eastern part), Iraq
Married, 5 children
Gender: Male
Hometown: Fair Oaks
High School: Del Campo High (Fair Oaks)
Burial: Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, Dixon, Calif.
Ryan J. Connolly, 24
Army Specialist
Based: 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, based in Italy with units in Germany. Serving during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Died June 24, 2008 in Khogyani, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his vehicle struck a suspected landmine.
Gender: Male
Married, 1 child
Hometown: Vacaville
Amon Bruce Cook, 24
US Air Force, Senior Airman
Based: Davis-Monthan, AFB, AZ
355th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Died: October 19, 2006
Beale AFB, CA
Married
Gender: Male
Hometown: Sacramento
High School: Highlands High School
Burial: Cremated
Kyle A. Coumas, 22
Army, Specialist
Based: Ft. Lewis, Wash.
1st Batallion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: October 21, 2009
Kandahar province, Afghanistan
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Lockeford
High School: St. Mary's High School (Stockton)
Ronald G. Dayce, 25
US Air Force, Staff Sergeant
Based: Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan
Assigned to 18 Component Maintenance Squadron
Died: August 15, 2011
Okinawa, Japan
Gender: Male
Married, 2 children
Hometown: Fairfield, CA
High School: Fairfield High School
Burial: Sacramento National Valley Cemetery
Kyle Dayton, 22
Army, Sergeant
Based: Ft. Bragg, N.C.
2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: December 3, 2007
Ashwah, Iraq
Married, 1 child
Gender: Male
Hometown: El Dorado Hills
High School: Oak Ridge High School (El Dorado Hills)
Burial: Green Valley Cemetery, Graton, Calif.
Victor A. Dew, 20
Marines, Lance Corporal
Based: Camp Pendleton
3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: October 13, 2010
Helmand province, Afghanistan
Engaged
Gender: Male
Hometown: Granite Bay
High School: Granite Bay High (Granite Bay)
Burial: East Lawn Memorial Park, Sacramento
Richard Dickson, 24
Air Force, Staff Sergeant
Based: Beale Air Force Base, Calif.
306th Intelligence Squadron
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: April 27, 2013
near Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan
Married, 1 child
Gender: Male
Hometown: Rancho Cordova
Brian E. Dunlap, 34
Marine Reserve, Sergeant
Based: Los Alamitos
2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: September 24, 2005
Taqaddum (near), Iraq
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Carmichael
High School: Del Campo High (Fair Oaks)
Burial: Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Sacramento
Arnold Duplantier II, 26
Army National Guard, Sergeant
Based: Auburn, Calif.
1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: June 22, 2005
Baghdad (Al Rasheed Hotel), Iraq
Married, 2 children
Gender: Male
Hometown: Sacramento
High School: C.K. McClatchy High (Sacramento)
William River Emanuel IV, 19
Army, Specialist
Based: Schweinfurt, Germany
1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: July 8, 2004
Samarra, Iraq
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Stockton
High School: Enterprise Alternative (Clovis)
Burial: San Joaquin Catholic Cemetery, Stockton
Jason M. Evey, 29
Army, Staff Sergeant
Based: Ft. Hood, Texas
1st Squadron, 10th Calvary Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: July 16, 2006
Baghdad (southern part), Iraq
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Stockton
High School: Corvallis High School (Corvallis, Ore.)
Burial: Ashes scattered in Oregon
Micah S. Gifford, 27
Army, Corporal
Based: Ft. Richardson, Alaska
3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: December 7, 2006
Baghdad (south of), Iraq
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Torrance
High School: South High (Torrance)
Burial: Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego
Bryan E Hall, 32
Army, Sergeant First Class
Based: Ft. Carson, Colo. 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: April 10, 2009
Mosul, Iraq
Married, 1 child
Gender: Male
Hometown: Elk Grove
High School: Elk Grove High (Elk Grove)
Burial: Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Elk Grove
Joshua M Hardt, 24
Army, Sergeant
Based: Ft. Carson, Colo.
3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: October 3, 2009
Kamdesh, Afghanistan
Married
Gender: Male
Hometown: Applegate
High School: Placer High (Auburn)
Burial: Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, Dixon, Calif.
Kevin J. Hilaman, 28
Army, Specialist
Based: Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: June 26, 2011
Kunar province, Afghanistan
Married, 1 child
Gender: Male
Hometown: Albany
High School: Mesa Verde High (Citrus Heights)
Burial: Sierra Hills Memorial Park, Sacramento
Cory F. Hiltz, 20
Army, Private 1st Class
Based: Ft. Carson, Colo.
2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: June 28, 2007
Baghdad (southern part), Iraq
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: La Verne
High School: LaVerne Lutheran High School (LaVerne)
Burial: Forest Lawn Memorial-Park, Covina Hills
Keicia M.Hines
Army, Sergeant
Based: Ft. Bragg, N.C.
108th Military Police, Combat Support Company
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: January 14, 2004
Mosul, Iraq
Married
Gender: Female
Hometown: Citrus Heights
High School: Florin High (Sacramento)
Burial: St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Sacramento
Ty J. Johnson, 28
Army, Specialist
Based: Ft. Campbell, Ky.
2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: April 4, 2006
Kirkuk, Iraq
Married, 2 children
Gender: Male
Hometown: Elk Grove
High School: Jordan High School (Sandy, Utah)
Burial: Midvale City Cemetery, Midvale, Utah
Adam Kinser, 21
Army Reserve, Sergeant
Based: Sacramento
304th Psychological Operations Company
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: January 29, 2004
Ghazni, Afghanistan
Married, 1 child
Gender: Male
Hometown: Sacramento
High School: Rio Vista High (Rio Vista)
Burial: Rio Vista Catholic Cemetery, Rio Vista, Calif.
Martin J. La Mar, 43
Army, Sergeant
Based: Ft. Hood, Texas
1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division
Supporting: Operation New Dawn
Died: January 15, 2011
Mosul, Iraq
Married, 5 children
Gender: Male
Hometown: Sacramento
High School: Foothill High (Sacramento)
Burial: St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Sacramento
Fernando Cruz Lavana, 44
Army, Major
Supporting: Persian Gulf, Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: February 7, 2019
Married, children
Gender: Male
Hometown: Sacramento
High School: Christian Brother High School
Burial: Sacramento Valley National Cemetery
Isaac S. Lawson, 35
Army National Guard, Specialist
Based: Fairfield, Calif.
49th Military Police Brigade
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: June 5, 2006
Baghdad, Iraq
Married, 1 child
Gender: Male
Hometown: Sacramento
High School: Elk Grove High (Elk Grove)
Burial: Sacramento Memorial Park, Sacramento
Travis J. Layfield, 19
Marines, Lance Corporal
Based: Camp Pendleton
2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: April 6, 2004 Ramadi, Iraq
Single, 1 child
Gender: Male
Hometown: Fremont
High School: Washington High (Fremont)
Burial: Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, Calif.
Jesse D. Mizener, 24
Army, Private 1st Class
Based: Ft. Lewis, Wash.
542nd Maintenance Company, 44th Support Battalion, 593rd Corps Support Group
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: January 7, 2004
Logistics Base Seitz (west of Baghdad), Iraq
Married, 3 children
Gender: Male
Hometown: Auburn
High School: Bear Creek High (Stockton)
Burial: Cherokee Memorial Park, Lodi, Calif.
Joseph C. Nurre, 22
Army Reserve, Sergeant
Based: Weirton, W.Va.
463rd Engineer Battalion
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: August 21, 2005
Samarra (near), Iraq
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Wilton
High School: Elk Grove High (Elk Grove)
Christopher L. Palmer, 22
Army, Private
Based: Vicenza, Italy
2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: August 21, 2005
Baylough, Afghanistan
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Sacramento
High School: Cordova High (Rancho Cordova)
Burial: St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Sacramento
Harvey Emmett Parkerson III, 27
Marines, Sergeant
Based: Camp Pendleton
Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable)
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: August 18, 2004
Najaf, Iraq
Married, 2 children
Gender: Male
Hometown: Yuba City
High School: Orland High (Orland)
Burial: Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego
Adam L. Perkins, 27
Marines, Staff Sergeant
Based: Camp Pendleton
7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine
Expeditionary Force
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: May 17, 2010
Helmand province, Afghanistan
Married, 1 child
Gender: Male
Hometown: Antelope
High School: Center High (Antelope)
Ray A. Ramirez, 20
Army, Specialist
Based: Fort Stewart, GA
3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,
3rd Infantry Division
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: June 1, 2013
Wardak Providence, Afghanistan
Gender: Male
Hometown: Sacramento
Burial: Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, CA
Derek T. Roberts, 24
Army, Sergeant
Based: Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Infantry Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: June 14, 2007
Kirkuk (near), Iraq
Engaged
Gender: Male
Hometown: Gold River
High School: Bella Vista High (Fair Oaks)
Burial: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu
Jessie Earl Robinson, 35
Army, Sergeant
Based: Ft Riley Kansas
Big Red One
1st Infantry, Warrior Transition Unit B Co.
Died: July 19 2009
Milford, Kansas
Married 1 child daughter
Gender: Male
Hometown: Sacramento
High School: Del Oro, Cordova High
Burial: East Lawn Sierra Hills, Sacramento
Casey Sheehan, 24
Army, Specialist
Based: Ft. Hood, Texas
1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: April 4, 2004
Baghdad (Sadr City), Iraq
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Vacaville
High School: Vacaville High (Vacaville)
Burial: Vacaville-Elmira Cemetery, Vacaville, Calif.
Sean A. Silva, 23
Army, Private
Based: Ft. Polk, La.
2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: October 9, 2003
Baghdad, Iraq
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Roseville
High School: Pinole Valley High (Pinole)
Burial: East Lawn Memorial Park, Sacramento
Gurpreet Singh, 21
Marines, Corporal
Based: Camp Pendleton
1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: June 22, 2011
Helmand province, Afghanistan
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Antelope
High School: Oakmont High (Roseville)
Foreign Country of Birth: India
Kristoffer M. Solesbee, 32
Air Force, Technical Sergeant
Based: Hill Air Force Base, Utah
775th Civil Engineer Squadron
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: May 26, 2011
Kandahar province, Afghanistan
Married
Gender: Male
Hometown: Citrus Heights
High School: Freedom Christian School (Fair Oaks)
Burial: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.
PV2 Michael Lee Sparling, 22
Army, Private 2nd Class
Based: Ft. Bliss Texas
C Troop, 1st Squadron 13th Calvary
Died: June 1st, 2011
Suffered Cardiac Arrest while training, Ft. Bliss Texas
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Roseville Ca
High School: Woodcreek High (Roseville)
Raymond N. Spencer Jr., 23
Army, Specialist
Based: Ft. Bliss, Texas
2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: June 21, 2007
Baghdad (southwest part), Iraq
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Carmichael
Burial: Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, N.Y.
Joseph W. Stevens, 26
Army, Staff Sergeant
Based: Vilseck, Germany
2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry, 1st Infantry Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: January 24, 2005
Khan Bani Saad (near), Iraq
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Sacramento
High School: Oakmont High (Roseville)
Burial: Chapel of the Chimes Memorial Park, Sacramento
Sean A. Stokes, 24
Marines, Corporal
Based: Camp Pendleton
3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: July 30, 2007
Taqaddum, Iraq
Engaged
Gender: Male
Hometown: Auburn
High School: Bear River High (Grass Valley)
Mathew D. Taylor
Army, Specialist
Based: Vicenza, Italy
1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: September 26, 2007
Sarobi district, Afghanistan
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Cameron Park
High School: Ponderosa High (Shingle Springs)
Kristofer D.S. Thomas, 18
Army, Private 1st Class
Based: Ft. Benning, Ga.
3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: February 18, 2007
Southeastern Afghanistan, Afghanistan
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Roseville
High School: Roseville High (Roseville)
Burial: Newcastle District Cemetery, Newcastle, Calif.
Robert B. Thrasher, 23
Army, Sergeant
Based: Ft. Bliss, Texas
2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: February 11, 2007
Baghdad, Iraq
Married
Gender: Male
Hometown: Folsom
High School: Folsom High (Folsom)
Burial: Mount Vernon Memorial Park, Fair Oaks, Calif.
Alexander Varela, 19
Army,
Based Fort Hood, TX
1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: May 19, 2007
Amariyah section of Baghdad
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Roseville & Fernley, NV
Manuel J. Vasquez, 22
Army, Specialist
Based: Grafenwoehr, Germany
2nd Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Infantry Brigade
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: April 24, 2012
Paktika province, Afghanistan
Gender: Male
Hometown: West Sacramento
Steven J. Walberg-Riotto, 18
Army, Private 1st Class
Based: Ft. Riley, Kan.
1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: April 15, 2007
Baghdad (southern part), Iraq
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Paradise
High School: Pleasant Valley High (Chico)
Burial: Skyway Memorial Park, Magalia, Calif.
David L. Waters
Army, Private
Based: Ft. Drum, N.Y.
2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry)
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: October 14, 2004
Baghdad (eastern part), Iraq
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Auburn
High School: Placer High (Auburn)
Burial: New Auburn Cemetery, Auburn, Calif.
Jonathan D. Welch, 19
Army Spc.
Based: Fort Lewis, Wash.
1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: Aug. 31 2009
Shuyene Sufia, Afghanistan
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Yorba Linda, Calif.
Charles A. Williams
Army, Specialist
Based: Ft. Riley, Kan.
97th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: February 7, 2010
Camp Nathan Smith, Afghanistan
Gender: Male
Hometown: Fair Oaks
Burial: Fair Oaks District Cemetery, Fair Oaks, Calif.