When a soldier pays the ultimate price and lays down his or her life protecting the freedom of our great country it goes largely unnoticed.

Every week I post names of those “who gave all” so I can pay my respects and remember why I have the freedom I enjoy today. As always, you don't need my permission to re-post this tribute.


  • Marine Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan W. Gifford

    Marine Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan W. Gifford - Died July 29, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age 34, of Palm Bay, Fla.; assigned to 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died July 29 in Badghis province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations. Also killed was Marine Gunnery Sgt. Daniel J. Price, 27, of Holland, Mich.

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  • Marine Gunnery Sgt. Daniel J. Price

    Marine Gunnery Sgt. Daniel J. Price - Died July 29, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age 27, of Holland, Mich.; assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died July 29 in Badghis province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations. Also killed was Marine Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan W. Gifford, 34, of Palm Bay, Fla.

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  • Army Pfc. Jose O. Belmontes

    Army Pfc. Jose O. Belmontes - Died July 28, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age 28, of La Verne, Calif.; assigned to 630th Engineer Company, 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.; died July 28 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by small-arms fire. Also killed was Army Sgt. 1st Class Bobby L. Estle, 38, of Lebanon, Ohio.

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  • Army Sgt. 1st Class Bobby L. Estle

    Army Sgt. 1st Class Bobby L. Estle - Died July 28, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age 38, of Lebanon, Ohio; assigned to 630th Engineer Company, 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.; died July 28 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by small-arms fire.

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  • Army Spc. Benjamin C. Pleitez

    Army Spc. Benjamin C. Pleitez - Died July 27, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age 25, of Turlock, Calif.; assigned to 746th Combat Support Battalion, 224th Sustainment Brigade, California National Guard, Van Nuys, Calif.; died July 27 in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan, of unspecified causes.

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  • Army Sgt. John E. Hansen

    Army Sgt. John E. Hansen - Died July 26, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age 41, of Austin, Texas; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; died July 26 in Khakrez, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Army 1st Lt. Sean R. Jacobs, 23, of Redding, Calif.

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  • Army 1st Lt. Sean R. Jacobs

    Army 1st Lt. Sean R. Jacobs - Died July 26, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age 23, of Redding, Calif.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; died July 26 in Khakrez, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Army Sgt. John E. Hansen, 41, of Austin, Texas.

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  • Sgt. Justin M. Hansen

    Sgt. Justin M. Hansen - Died July 24, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age Marine Sgt. Justin M. Hansen, 26, of Traverse City, Mich., died July 24 in Badghis province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations. He was assigned to 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

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  • Pfc. Adam C. Ross

    Pfc. Adam C. Ross - Died July 24, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age Army Pfc. Adam C. Ross, 19, of Lyman, S.C., died July 24, in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by small-arms fire. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy.

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  • Army Sgt. Eric E. Williams

    Army Sgt. Eric E. Williams - Died July 23, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age 27, of Murrieta, Calif.; assigned to 3rd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died July 23 in Pul-E Alam, Afghanistan, of unspecified causes.

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  • Army Staff Sgt. Richard L. Berry

    Army Staff Sgt. Richard L. Berry - Died July 22, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age 27, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; assigned to the 508th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died July 22 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Army Pfc. Julian L. Colvin.

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  • Army Pfc. Julian L. Colvin

    Army Pfc. Julian L. Colvin - Died July 22, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age 21, of Birmingham, Ala.; assigned to the 508th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died July 22 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Army Staff Sgt. Richard L. Berry.

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  • Spc. Justin L. Horsley

    Spc. Justin L. Horsley - Died July 22, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age 21, of Palm Bay, Fla., died July 22 in Puli Alam, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Caserma Ederle, Italy.

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  • Pfc. Brenden N. Salazar

    Pfc. Brenden N. Salazar - Died July 22, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age 20, of Chuluota, Fla., died July 22 in Puli Alam, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Caserma Ederle, Italy.

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  • Navy Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Michael J. Brodsky

    Navy Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Michael J. Brodsky - Died July 21, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age 33, of Tamarac, Fla.; assigned to Navy Region Southwest Security Detachment, San Diego; died July 21 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, from injuries caused by an improvised explosive device.

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  • Army Staff Sgt. Brandon R. Pepper

    Army Staff Sgt. Brandon R. Pepper - Died July 21, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age 31, of York, Pa.; assigned to 4th Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died July 21 in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of unspecified causes.

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  • Army 1st Sgt. Russell R. Bell

    Army 1st Sgt. Russell R. Bell - Died August 2, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age 37, of Tyler, Texas, assigned to 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Aug. 2, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by an enemy improvised explosive device. Also killed in the incident was Staff Sgt. Matthew S. Sitton.

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  • Army Staff Sgt. Matthew S. Sitton

    Army Staff Sgt. Matthew S. Sitton - Died August 2, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age 26, of Largo, Fla., assigned to 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Aug. 2, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by an enemy improvised explosive device. Also killed in the incident was 1st Sgt. Russell R. Bell.

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  • Lance Cpl. Curtis J. Duarte

    Lance Cpl. Curtis J. Duarte - Died August 1, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age 22, of Covina, Calif.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; died Aug. 1 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations.

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  • Army 1st Lt. Todd W. Lambka

    Army 1st Lt. Todd W. Lambka - Died August 1, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age 25, of Fraser, Mich., assigned to 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.; died Aug. 1 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by an enemy improvised explosive device. Pfc. Jesus J. Lopez was also killed in the incident.

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  • Army Pfc. Jesus J. Lopez

    Army Pfc. Jesus J. Lopez - Died August 1, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age 22, of San Bernardino, Calif., assigned to 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.; died Aug. 1 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by an enemy improvised explosive device. Also killed in the incident was 1st Lt. Todd W. Lambka.

    Military Times
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  • Spc. Kyle B. McClain

    Spc. Kyle B. McClain - Died August 1, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom. Age 25, of Rochester Hills, Mich.; assigned to 507th Engineer Battalion, 177th Military Police Brigade, Michigan National Guard, Kalamazoo, Mich; died Aug. 1 in Salim Aka, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by an improvised explosive device.

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