Army Spc. Hoby F. Bradfield Jr.

Spc. Bradfield

Hoby F. Bradfield Jr. watched the World Trade Center fall from his home in New Jersey and decided that very day he would enlist in the Army.

"The day the towers fell, he called a recruiter," said his mother, Dianne Sterling. "I said, 'Hoby, please, just think about it for a few days.' But he had his mind made up."

Bradfield, 22, of The Woodlands, Texas, was killed when the ambulance he was riding in struck a roadside bomb July 9 in Tal Afar. A 2001 high school graduate, he was based at Fort Carson.

Dianne Sterling described her son as generally quiet but with a dry sense of humor. He loved children and often helped out elderly neighbors without being asked.

"I've never really had a hero, except for Hoby," said Bradfield's brother Jared. "I hope some day I can be that man. I want to be the man that he was."

His wife Crystin, 19, is due to deliver their daughter in September.

His grandmother, Mary Sikes, said he couldn't wait.

"He wrote me a letter about his wife and the baby and he said, 'Nana, I never believed you could love anyone that you have never seen as much as I already love this baby,"' she said.

Army Staff Sgt. Scottie L. Bright

Scottie Lee Bright's favorite part of being in the Army was teaching younger soldiers.

"He was always cheerful and willing to do anything in the world to help anybody," his older brother Willie said.

In his last message to his brother, on July 4, Scottie Bright wanted to know if the family was enjoying the holiday and inquired about his mother's health.

Bright, 36, of Montgomery, Ala., was killed July 5 in Baghdad when an explosive detonated near his vehicle. He was based at Fort Carson.

Bright is survived by his wife, Carolyn, a daughter, Breshay Nicole, and a son, Scottie Jr.

"I want everyone to know that he was a very good family man -- a loving husband and a great dad," his wife said. "I'm just so thankful that we had a wonderful life together. He really took care of us and I just love him so much."

Army Staff Sgt. Jeremy A. Brown

Sgt. Brown

Jeremy A. Brown was a newlywed who wanted to leave the Army to be a dad. But he felt a responsibility to the younger soldiers who would see war for the first time.

"He said, 'I have to go. I have to,"' said his mother, Teresa. "He said, 'Mom, I don't know if you realize this or not, but there are 18- and 19-year-old kids who are going to be scared. I'm a veteran."'

Brown, 26, of Mabscott, W.Va., died July 3 in Mosul from injuries in Tal Afar, Iraq, where his vehicle accidentally rolled over. He was based at Fort Carson.

Brown met his wife, Rosemary, in Korea. They were married in January 2003, before his first tour in Iraq.

He was scheduled to leave the military in October 2006 and was buying a home in Fredericksburg, Va. He is also survived by a son, Seth, from a previous relationship.

Brown's twin brother, Jason, said he encouraged Jeremy to stay in the military for another 10 years so he could retire and move on to another career.

"He told me that if it wasn't for the time away from his son he wouldn't mind spending time over there," Jason Brown said. "He felt like he was doing some good."

Army Spc. Jacques E. Brunson

Spc. Brunson

One night more than 20 years ago, Jacques E. Brunson and his dad were stranded on the side of the Florida Turnpike when the family's moving van ran out of gas.

As they waited for help, Brunson heard the sharp music of insects and asked his father what it was. Crickets, was the reply.

Moments later, the son piped up, "I'll tell you what they're saying, Daddy. They're saying, 'I love you, I love you."'

Brunson, 30, of Americus, Ga., died July 24 in Baghdad when an explosive detonated near his vehicle. He was stationed at Albany.

His parents nicknamed him after the old Schlitz beer commercial with the slogan, "Go for the gusto." At the time, the 10-month-old was proving to be a real handful himself, so his father decided to start calling him Gus.

He is survived by his children, Kayla, 9, and Jake, 8.

Pfc. Johnny Mann, a friend, said what he's likely to remember most about Brunson was how he would rush over to his bunk to talk about a video game.

"'Hey man, I've got something to show you,"' Mann recalls Brunson saying. "'There's a new monster they created. There's a new level I just got."'

Army Spc. Adrian J. Butler

Spc. Butler

The best memories of Adrian J. Butler are of him hanging out with friends, listening to R&B and going bowling. Lots of bowling.

"We owned our own equipment. We were serious about it; 210 was his best score," said Brandon Barnett, Butler's best friend.

Butler, 28, of East Lansing, Mich., was killed July 27 by a bomb blast near his vehicle in Ashraf. He was based at Fort Hood.

"He just loved life, period," Barnett said. "He never had a bad thing to say; he was very positive. We always went to him for advice."

Butler saw the armed services as a step toward his dream job of being an FBI agent. After getting a degree in criminal justice from Michigan State University, he enlisted as an MP.

"He was a real soldier," said his mother, Peggy Donaldson. "He was a business type, conservative, a real professional person. He didn't do a lot of kidding. He was more formal. ... He was a loving and kind person with a good heart and spirit."

He also is survived by his father, Eldridge.

Army Cpl. Lyle J. Cambridge

Cpl. Cambridge

To his older sister, Cpl. Lyle J. Cambridge will always be little Lyle, the brother who bought her an Easter dress each year and always tried to make people laugh.

"I don't believe there was ever a day when Lyle got mad. He just wins your heart," Shauna Dee said.

Cambridge, 23, of Shiprock, N.M., was killed July 5 in Baghdad, Iraq, when an explosive detonated near his vehicle. He was based at Fort Carson.

He is survived by his wife, Evonne, and two young sons, 3-year-old Wyatt and 1-year-old Nick.

A member of the Navajo Nation, Cambridge joined the Army in May 2002, two years after graduating from high school. His father, Joe Cambridge Sr., is a veteran, as his brother Vernon.

"He was a good man," Evonne Cambridge said, crediting his parents and siblings for her husband's good nature. "You raised him to be a very respectful and honest, encouraging man."

Army Sgt. Deyson K. Cariaga

At family gatherings, it was easy to spot Deyson K. Cariaga. He was the guy surrounded by adoring kids.

"He liked children," said his mother, Theresa Inouye. "He was always the Pied Piper at family outings. ... All the kids would follow him. He would be the leader of the pack."

Cariaga, 20, of Honolulu, was killed July 5 when his vehicle struck a land mine in Hammadi. He was stationed at Kalaeloa.

"Anything he did, anything he got himself involved with, he was very passionate about and he wanted to give 100 percent all the time and he would strive to do that," said friend Tiffany Roloos.

A 2002 high school graduate and student at Honolulu Community College, Cariaga loved getting photos, surfing DVDs and food from home, especially his favorite snacks such as li hing mui mango and coconut balls.

"He was inundated with food," said Inouye. The outpouring even prompted her son to ask his mother not to send him any more snacks because he didn't want to gain weight.

"He was a local boy who loved surfing, loved the ocean," she said.

He also is survived by his father, Rodney Cariaga, and stepfather, Jerry Inouye.

Army Spc. Rafael A. Carrillo Jr.

Spc. Carrillo

When he was just 17, Rafael A. Carrillo Jr. got his mother's approval to sign up for the Army. Two weeks later, the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks came, and her heart sank.

"I felt like I had signed his death warrant," said his mother, Amy Tippie. "I said, 'T.J., you don't have to do this.' And he said, 'No, I do."'

Carrillo, 21, was killed June 28 in Baghdad, where a mortar detonated near his vehicle. He was based at Fort Stewart.

Carrillo, called T.J. by his friends and family, lived in Boys Ranch, Texas, a home and school for at-risk youths. He was known as the class clown, a kid who liked to have fun, played football and wrestled.

In his junior or senior year, he wrote a paper about how the strict lifestyle kept him from ending up as a thug, or in jail, said his mother, who lives in Austin.

A few days before he died, he sent his mother a photo of him with an Iraqi boy. "He said, 'Mom, this boy, there's thousands more like him. That's the reason I'm here, to make things better for him,' which made my heart swell with pride,"' she said.

Army Spc. James D. Carroll

When it came to baseball, James D. Carroll didn't much like practice. Game time was another thing entirely.

"One night we had the bases loaded and were holding on to a one-run lead, and I pointed for him to come and pitch. 'Not me! Don't pick me!' he said, and his first warm-up was way in the dirt," recalled coach Brad Hurley.

"But I told him, warm up hard but throw the first pitch half-speed. He did it perfectly and got the ground ball out. When it was time, he stepped up."

Carroll, 23, of McKenzie, Tenn., died July 31 near Baghdad when a bomb struck his vehicle. He was assigned to McKenzie.

Carroll, known as "Dusty," was remembered as a jokester.

"I would come home from work at the hospital, Dusty told me everything was fine, and I'd see he'd be listed as absent in the paper the next week. 'Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you about that stomachache,"' recalled his mother, Deborah.

"Look at his picture. Isn't he beautiful?" she asked in her living room as held a photo of her son in uniform. "A jokester who had looks and charisma."

He also is survived by his father, Sgt. James P. Carroll, and stepfather John Brimm.

Army Sgt. Travis S. Cooper

Joining the military was all Travis S. Cooper talked about growing up. He finished high school a year early to join the military, and when the tattoo on his neck prevented his dream, he saved $2,500 from working at a grocery store to have it removed.

"The world lost a very amazing young man," said Cooper's aunt, Levon Cooper. "Travis was the ambitious type, always trying to do more than the average man."

Cooper, 24, of Macon, Miss., died July 16 from wounds he sustained in Baghdad when an explosive hit his vehicle. He was assigned to Starkville.

Cooper's favorite things to do included playing cards with his family and learning about old wars on the Discovery Channel, said his younger brother, Antwan.

"His legacy will be how he always reached out and touched other people. He had an impact in so many people's lives," he said.

"He really wanted to serve his country. That was always one of the things that he always talked about in high school was wanting to serve his country," said his father, Eddie Tate. "He did a great job. He was an honorable young man, very respectable."

Army Spc. Ernest W. Dallas Jr.

Ernest W. Dallas Jr. badly wanted to be a police officer. He went on so many police ride-alongs that neighbors must have gotten the wrong idea.

"I know the neighbors thought that little boy must be in so much trouble," said Charlene Sauseda, Dallas' mother.

Dallas Jr., 21, of Denton, Texas, was killed July 24 when an explosive detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad. He graduated high school in 2003 and was assigned to Fort Carson.

Dallas' first love was baseball. He started playing when he was 9 and idolized former Texas Rangers catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez.

In 2000, he enrolled in the Denton Police Department's Citizen Youth Academy.

As soon as school let out in the afternoon, Dallas would race home to go out with the officers. The program was scheduled to last from 3 p.m. until midnight, but his stepfather said Dallas would frequently call at midnight asking if he could stay longer.

"He was a protector," Manuel Sauseda said. "He always wanted to take care of us and everybody else."

He also is survived by his father, Ernest Dallas Sr.

Army Spc. Christopher W. Dickison

Christopher W. Dickison had matured since joining the military and couldn't wait to get home and marry the love of his life, Magdalene Hasenkamp.

"He found himself. He was happy with Christopher. He grew up. He became a man," said his mother, Leanna. "He was so looking forward to getting out of the military, getting married and just settling down."

Dickison, 26, of Seattle, was killed July 5 in Baqubah when an explosive detonated near his patrol. He was based at Fort Riley.

Dickison, a twin and one of six children, spent much of his childhood playing baseball, soccer and practicing tae kwon do, his mother said.

After getting his GED, he went to work for a trucking company, then as a mechanic at Sears. He joined the Army in 2002 because he "wanted to get out on his own. He wanted to get away from his older brothers and sisters to test the water," his mother said.

He was to be discharged from the military next year and wanted to go to school and become an engineer because of what he had seen them do in the Army, said his father, Rodney.

Army Staff Sgt. Carl R. Fuller

Sgt. Fuller

Even Carl R. Fuller's personal habits fit those of a soldier.

"Everything had to have a crease," Fuller's sister, Berlinda Alexander, said. "Crease the pants. Crease the shirt. He used to iron my clothes."

Fuller, 44, of Covington, Ga., died July 24 in Baghdad when a bomb detonated near his vehicle. He graduated high school in 1979 and was assigned to Covington.

He had previously worked as a police officer in DeKalb County and also for Atlanta's MARTA public transit system, and was on his second Iraq tour.

Spc. Rodney Davidson said the sergeant was "a blessing to everybody."

"He was the person that picked us up," said Davidson. "If I could be half the man Sgt. Fuller was, I'd be a heck of a man."

It did not come as much of a surprise to some family members when Fuller announced he was enlisting. When Fuller and his four siblings played space games, Fuller always managed to land the role of Capt. Kirk of "Star Trek."

The last time Alexander talked to him, Fuller said he was tired, which she found unusual because he never complained. "He said he missed being with my brother Willis, but he had to step up."

Marine Cpl. Steven P. Gill

Steven P. Gill went from wanting to enter a seminary, to mentoring youth, to carrying a gun. At every step, people were drawn to him.

"He would make you laugh. If you needed someone to be there for you, he was there for you. He was just really an outgoing person. Never shy. Basically straight up. What you see is what you get," friend Chris Cartwright said.

Gill, 24, of Round Rock, Texas, was killed July 21 by an explosive near Zaidon. He was stationed at San Antonio.

Gill enrolled at Concordia University after graduating high school in 1999. His father said Gill had planned to enter a seminary and decided to be a youth minister because of his love of children and his own involvement in church youth groups.

Then came the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

"He was moved by what happened on 9-11," Bill Gill said. "When he saw those towers crashing, he had to do something."

Steven played guitar, golf and a good enough game of pool that "I couldn't beat him anymore," his father said.

"He was a boisterous, can-do kind of guy. He was a leader," his father said. "He was a unique spirit that's all I can say."

Marine Staff Sgt. Joseph P. Goodrich

Sgt. Goodrich

Joseph P. Goodrich tried to explain why he was a Marine in his last letter to his wife, Amy. He wrote about his childhood visits to the graves of veterans.

"Looking at all the headstones with flags in front of them, I started thinking about who they were, how they lived, how they died and what they did for me," Goodrich wrote. "I swore to myself that I would not let them down. They sacrificed and gave to me something that I could never repay, freedom."

Goodrich, 32, of Allegheny, Pa., was killed July 10 by mortar fire in Hit. He was assigned to Moundsville.

"I never saw him without a smile on his face. I can't look at the front door because that was the first thing I saw when he came to the door, his smile," said his mother, Patricia.

A graduate and criminology major at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Goodrich worked as a policeman from 1999 to 2001 before starting a lawn care business.

"When bad things would happen, he would handle it with a take-charge attitude," said Brian Armstrong, a fellow officer who followed him into the Marine Reserve. "That's when the Marine came out of him."

Army Pvt. Ernesto R. Guerra

The desire to care for his mom came early to Ernesto R. Guerra.

"His grandfather said, 'You have to go back to the United States and learn English and to be the strong man of the family,"' said his mother, Maria Valadez.

Young Ernesto took that advice to heart: As a boy, he sold candy bars and brought back his earnings. As a man, he sent home his military paycheck.

Guerra, 20, Long Beach, Calif., died July 28 in Baghdad of injuries from a July 28 vehicle accident in Baghdad. He was assigned to Fort Stewart.

He was an avid skateboarders and also enjoyed going to Dodger games and movies. Ernesto taught his younger brother, Juan, how to skate and gave him one of his boards.

He joined the Reserve Officers Training Corps when he was 14.

Before he joined the Army, Ernesto filled out immigration papers for his mother, who has lived in the United States for more than 20 years but has been unable to gain amnesty or legal status.

Ernesto's goal was to file the papers as soon as he was 21, when they would be legally valid.

"His dream was for her to be without the onus of being undocumented," said Amelia Nieto, a social worker.

Army Spc. Adam J. Harting

When Adam J. Harting visited home in June, it was a chance for him and his twin brother, Alex, to be together.

"We went out every night," Alex said.

The pair even took in a Chicago Cubs game. Even though the Cubs lost, the men had fun, just as they always did. "That's all we ever did together," Alex said

Adam Harting, 21, of Portage, Ind., was killed July 25 when an explosive detonated near his vehicle in Samarra. A 2002 high school graduate, he was based at Fort Stewart.

He and his twin brother gave their father letters when they were in fifth grade saying they wanted to become soldiers, said their dad, Jim Harting. Alex joined the Air Force; Adam chose the Army.

Alex Harting said the longest he had ever been away from his brother before they joined the military was when Adam Harting spent three or four months in Missouri. "It was lonely," Alex Harting said, "just like it's going to be lonely now."

Katherine Brown, the twins' mother, said she called Adam her "Baby Bear."

"And he called me 'Mama Bear,"' Brown said. "I'd send him bears. He kept them all."