Army Sgt. 1st Class Victor A. Anderson

A medical condition initially prevented Victor Anderson from deploying to Iraq, but he refused to stay behind.

"He felt like not only was it his duty and his calling, but he wanted to be there with his fellow troops," said Col. Eric Bryant of the Sumter County Sheriff's Department, where Anderson worked as a deputy.

Anderson, 39, of Ellaville, Ga., was killed in an explosion in Baghdad on July 30. He was based at Albany.

He was deemed medically unfit for deployment because of diabetes. Determined to go to Iraq, Anderson lost weight, stuck to his diet and hired an attorney to fight the Army's medical board in time to make it to training in California.

Four days before he died, Anderson e-mailed the sheriff's department saying he'd witnessed the July 24 explosion that killed four others in his battalion.

"He mentioned how the loss of life was so regular over there, but he had a job to do and it was his intention to do it," Bryant said. "He was just a super dedicated guy. He wasn't one to run and hide."

Anderson is survived by his wife, Ellen, and two children.

Army Pfc. Elden D. Arcand

Pfc. Arcand

Through her grief, Elden D. Arcand's mother won't focus on losing him at such a young age or turn her life over to grief. After all, her son is likely "bouncing off the walls" of heaven.

"I thanked God for Elden's life, for giving him to me as a son," said Kelly Freudenberg. "I thanked him for his death."

Arcand, 22, of White Bear Lake, Minn., died Aug. 22 when his vehicle rolled over in Mosul. A 2001 high school graduate, he was based at Fort Carson.

Pastor Mike Haseltine noted that Arcand was named for a great-uncle who died during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II and who, like Arcand, died one month shy of his 23rd birthday.

Kim Hetzer, a cousin, described Arcand as a young man who loved sports and the outdoors. "He loved to be outside," she said. "He loved dogs."

Arcand requested the assignment in Iraq, and had passed on a chance to come home on leave in September or October, preferring to bank his time for a later leave.

"Mom, I want to make a difference in this world," his mother recalled him telling her.

Arcand also is survived by his father, David Arcand.

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Terry W. Ball Jr.

Terry W. Ball Jr.'s work ethic was something you had to respect. Just ask his football coach.

"I've been coaching a long time," said Jim Dulin. "There's 15 or 20 kids you never forget. He was one of them. A hard worker, an overachiever, one of the kids you never had to worry about."

Ball, 36, of East Peoria, Ill., died Aug. 5 in a Maryland hospital of wounds he suffered in an explosion in Karmah on June 12. He was based at Camp Lejeune.

"He promised he would come home, and he did," said his wife, Jennifer. "I think that's all he could do."

Ball had suffered brain injuries, kidney damage, the amputation of his left leg and was in a coma when President Bush came to the hospital to award him a Purple Heart. He also had been awarded the Bronze Star.

Ball, who was a co-captain of the wrestling and football teams in high school, which he graduated in 1987, joined the Marines with his cousin, Jeff, for adventure.

"He was a leader," said high school friend Tom Simpson. "You always knew he had your back."

He also is survived by his children: 8-year-old Gavin, 5-year-old Riley and 1-year-old Ethan.

Army Spc. Rusty W. Bell

"Hi," wrote the serviceman on a military bulletin board on June 20. "My name is Rusty Bell, and I am serving in Iraq for the third time since 2001. I would love to have someone write me."

The answers came swiftly. "I'm composing an e-mail right now for ya," wrote Leah. Sarah in London told Rusty "to drop her a line." Elizabeth wrote "I am hoping to find a soldier who is away from home just like you."

On Aug. 14, another message appeared. "To everyone who has been in contact with Rusty Bell," it said. "My name is Robert Holder and I am Rusty's uncle. I regret to send this message to inform you all that Rusty was killed in Iraq."

Army Spc. Rusty W. Bell, 21, of Pocahontas, Ark., died Aug. 12 from non-combat related injuries in Taji. He was based at Hunter Army Airfield.

"I loved his smile and his eyes," Pocahontas High School Librarian Lin Hatch said, "and, he was so appreciative of any opportunity that was given to him."

Bell's mother says he loved to read, was a helicopter repair worker and was a member of the organization called Books For Soldiers. He also is survived by his wife.

Marine Lance Cpl. Timothy Michael Bell Jr.

Timothy Michael Bell Jr. was a black-belt in judo who hoped to buy a motorcycle when he returned from his tour in Iraq in September.

"My son was the last of the John Waynes, but tougher," said his father, Timothy Michael Bell Sr.

Bell, 22, of West Chesterfield, Ohio, died in an explosion Aug. 3 south of Haditha. A 2003 high school graduate, he was based in Columbus.

He was a nephew of Kansas City Royals manager Buddy Bell and cousin of Buddy Bell's son, David, who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. He was a grandson of Gus Bell, Reds outfielder from 1953 to 1961.

Bell wanted to be a Marine since he was 6. His bedroom was filled with Marine posters and memorabilia. A camouflage Marine blanket even covered his bed.

When his parents took him to deploy for training with his unit, he had just one message for them, said his stepmother, Vivian Bell.

"He just said, 'This is what I was born to do,"' she said.

Always protective of his three younger sisters, Bell joined the Marines in part because he wanted to protect them.

"It's very important for me that everybody knows that he did this for them," the elder Bell said.

He also is survived by his mother, Jacqueline.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael A. Benson

During his two decades in the Army, Michael A. Benson would often come home and tell stories about traveling all over the world. Few of those locations were vacations.

"He used to rattle off a long list of names of places and then we would realize those were all places where bad things were happening," said his mother, Norma Benson.

Benson, 40, of Winona, Minn., died Aug. 10 at a Maryland hospital of injuries he sustained Aug. 2 in Baghdad when a bomb struck his convoy. He was based at Fort Drum.

Benson graduated high school in 1983 and joined the Army two years later, hoping to make a career out of it. He earned a host of decorations, including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Over his Army career, Benson mastered the intricacies of infantry weapons, the life of a paratrooper and he served for years as an Army recruiter.

His ex-wife, Robyn Benson, said Michael was "super smart" and routinely aced any exam the military required him to take. He also liked to cook and do creative writing.

"There wasn't anything he couldn't do," she said.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth.

Marine Lance Cpl. Eric J. Bernholtz

Lance Cpl. Bernholtz

The night before his funeral, friends of Eric J. Bernholtz gathered to recall a guy who would sneak into church to play basketball, who would drink chocolate milkshakes and talk all night.

They laughed about his trademark footwear, which he called "shandals." He'd cut the toes and heels off old gym shoes, turning them into something resembling sandals.

"This is a person that loved life," said Dave Montgomery, a friend.

Bernholtz, 23, of Grove City, Ohio, died Aug. 3 when his vehicle was hit by a bomb south of Haditha. He graduated from high school in 2000 and was assigned to Columbus.

The Rev. Rob Paugh laughed about Eric's navigational skills.

"He thought he had a sense of direction," he said, explaining that Bernholtz managed to find a wedding in Louisiana by driving south without knowing the name of the town or the church. Paugh was amazed to see him there in a suit -- but no socks.

His older brother Adam, who is deaf, gave a eulogy in sign language. As he finished, he signed: "I love you. I can't wait to run and hug you."

He also is survived by his parents, James and Cathy Bernholtz.

Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas William B. Bloem

Nicholas Bloem didn't hide his future career goal. During his first conversation with his high-school sweetheart, he told her he wanted to be a Marine.

"It was definitely his calling in life. I don't think he could have asked for a better way to die," said Kacie Ouano.

Bloem, 20, of Belgrade, Mont., died Aug. 3 when his vehicle was hit by an explosive south of Haditha. He was based at Billings.

Bloem graduated high school in 2003, moving to Montana with his family from Bellevue, Wash., just before his senior year. He wanted to enroll at Montana State University in Bozeman.

His dream was to rise to the top of the command chain as an officer in the Marine Corps.

"It appealed to that part of him that wanted to overcome something that was seemingly insurmountable," said his father, Al Bloem.

His father said Bloem had been excited about joining the military and chose the Marines because "he wanted the hardest and he wanted the best." He joined in July 2003.

"I was proud and he was beaming from ear to ear," he said.

He also is survived by his mother, Debbie.

Marine Cpl. Jeffrey A. Boskovitch

Jeffrey A. Boskovitch was so tight with his sniper team that when he was offered a promotion that would separate the group, he declined.

"They were a close-knit group," said his uncle, Dan Boskovitch. "He always spoke about their loyalty and how they fought for each other. I know they fought for each other to the very end."

Boskovitch, 25, of Seven Hills, Ohio, died Aug. 1 in small-arms fire outside Haditha. He was stationed at Brook Park.

"He had the biggest heart in the world," said his uncle. "He was just a great kid."

Boskovitch had just set an October 2006 wedding date with his fiancee, Shelly Tevis.

"We're going to miss his presence. There is a big hole in our family," said another uncle, Joe Andrich. He said Boskovitch was the "oldest of 42 cousins" who "all looked up to him."

Boskovitch, who graduated from high school in 1999, had completed the law enforcement program at Cuyahoga Community College and worked with the Geauga County sheriff.

He had been scheduled to receive a Cleveland Indians jersey autographed by second baseman Ronnie Belliard, having been randomly selected to receive the honor. Instead the jersey will go to his family.

Army Sgt. Nathan K. Bouchard

In high school, Nathan K. Bouchard was a 5-foot-5-inch "little bulldog" who bored through offensive lines and into backfields for the occasional sack.

"He probably weighed 135 pounds soaking wet," said former football coach Mark Chandler. "He created havoc for the opposing teams. When you watched films, you could really see the guys cheating, trying to pull him down."

Bouchard, 24, of Wildomar, Calif., died Aug. 18 in Samarra when a bomb detonated near his vehicle. He was based at Fort Stewart and was on his second deployment.

Neighbors said Nathan was always active, shooting hoops for hours with other children in the neighborhood. He also loved to surf, hike and mountain bike.

"He was always happy," said Steve Harding, a family friend. "I'd never seen him in a bad mood."

Bouchard graduated from high school in 1999 and spent two years at Mt. San Jacinto College before enlisting. He often signed his letters home with "Esse quam Verdi" -- Latin for "to be rather than to seem."

He is survived by his parents, Alida and John.

Marine 2nd Lt. James J. Cathey

2nd Lt. Cathey

James J. Cathey devoured books -- especially those related to the land he loved.

"You could drive across Nevada with my son and he could tell you about every Indian battle, why it was done, where it took place and what happened afterward," said Caroline Cathey.

Cathey, 24, of Reno, Nev., died Aug. 21 in an explosion near Karmah. He was based at Camp Lejeune.

He finished high school in just over three years -- the same amount of time he would take to finish his degrees in anthropology and history from the University of Colorado in Boulder.

"He was always in a hurry to grow up," said Tim Riley, who knew Cathey since first grade. "He was always in a hurry."

Though he stood more than 6 feet tall with steel-cable arms and shoulders covered in tattoos, Cathey also wielded a disarming charm and tenderness hidden in the bulk.

"Jim knew how to knit," said his wife, Katherine. "He could knit better than me."

He left for Iraq with his wife pregnant and the sex of their child still unknown. She has since learned it is a boy, and will name him James Jeffrey Cathey Jr.

Army Spc. Miguel Carrasquillo

Miguel Carrasquillo saw a lot of things growing up in a rough neighborhood of Chicago. He turned them into music.

"He has books and books of lyrics going back to when he was 13," said his sister, Angela Martinez. "We struggled through childhood and he wrote about it."

His rap moniker was Proliphic, a play on the word prolific.

"Look up what prolific means," his sister said. "That's what he was to me."

Carrasquillo, 25, of River Grove, Ill., died Aug. 9 in Baghdad when a bomb detonated near his vehicle. He was based at Fort Stewart.

After his mother died, Carrasquillo took care of his younger sister and brother, always insisting that they go to school, said his sister, a sophomore at Columbia College.

"He was our Mom and our Dad," she said.

Carrasquillo dropped out of high school in his junior year and later received a GED. Then he made his move.

"He decided to join the Army," Martinez said. "He really turned his life around. He wanted to make a living for his family and be a hero to all of us."

Next August, he planned to marry his girlfriend, 20-year-old Nicole Rosa.

Marine Lance Cpl. Roger D. Castleberry Jr.

You could tell Roger D. Castleberry Jr. dreamed of becoming a Marine just by looking at his clothes -- in kindergarten.

"He wore camouflage clothes to school when he was in kindergarten and my husband used to have to tell him, 'Dale, you have other clothes,"' said his stepmother, Deborah.

Castleberry, 26, of Austin, Texas, died Aug. 1 in small-arms fire outside Haditha. He was stationed at San Antonio.

Castleberry joined the Marines in 2000, a year after graduating high school.

"We said, 'Do you want to do something else with your life?,' and he said, 'No, this is all I ever want to do,"' his mother said.

In a letter, Castleberry said he'd found something he was good at: "Some people are good at sports like playing football and baseball. I am good at this and I am keeping Marines alive."

When he was 13, Castleberry and his cousin buried a time capsule that included a Xeroxed target of Saddam Hussein. An angry face is doodled beside it.

"It gave me goosebumps when I found it, and if he were here, he'd be laughing -- laughing at me for getting goosebumps," said his grandmother, Mary Atwood.

He also is survived by his father, Roger.