Army Maj. Gregory J. Fester

The next care package being prepared for Gregory J. Fester contained a pink and yellow, flower-shaped dog toy for a pup he had adopted.

"I'd be talking on the phone and I'd hear him say, 'Oh, hi, Snowball,"' said his wife, Julie Fester. "It was like no dog I'd ever seen -- white and straggly."

Fester, 41, of Grand Rapids, Mich., was killed Aug. 30 by a bomb blast in Iskandariyah. He was based at Fort Bragg.

The rest of the care package offered a picture of Fester: his three favorite magazines -- National Geographic, Car & Driver and Popular Mechanics -- and DVDs of the movie "Coach Carter" and the first two seasons of "Seinfeld."

His wife also planned to send him a book of constellations. He loved the night sky and was always pointing out the Big and Little dippers. "He said the sky was so clear over there," she said of Iraq. "You could see even more of the constellations."

He attended Ohio State University and served in the Army for 8 1/2 years, including a stint in Operation Desert Storm, before taking a job in pharmaceutical sales at Pfizer Inc.

He also is survived by his children Jenni, 16; Megan, 13; and Peyton, 6.

Marine Lance Cpl. Grant B. Fraser

Cpl. Fraser

One day while Grant B. Fraser was trundling around the house in his diapers and slippers, his father asked, "Sprout, why are you so happy?"

Grant paused, then answered, "Because mommy and daddy are happy at me."

Fraser, 22, of Anchorage, Alaska, died Aug. 3 when his vehicle was hit by an explosive south of Haditha. He was assigned to Elmendorf Air Force Base.

Friends and relatives remembered Fraser as spontaneous, mischievous and witty. They talked about the big ears that jutted out from his head, the "award-winning" smile, and his favorite nickname, Tnarg -- "Grant" spelled backward.

He had a wide range of interests: Acting, mountain biking, skiing, playing the piano, scuba diving, rock climbing, tennis and sailing. He left the University of Alaska at Anchorage in 2002 and enlisted in the Marines.

"The day Grant enlisted was a watershed day for all of us," said his godmother, Lynn Manley. "What a happy guy he was that day. I saw him after boot camp and there was a tree trunk where his long graceful neck used to be. Grant was exactly where he wanted to be."

He is survived by his parents, Sharon Long and James Fraser.

Army Spc. Ray M. Fuhrmann II

As a medic, Ray M. Fuhrmann II probably saved more lives in Iraq over the past three years than most emergency room doctors.

"Ray saved everybody -- Iraqis, soldiers, anybody. He didn't care," said his wife, Tylea. "He even tried to go to the Iraqi hospitals to help people who were wounded."

Fuhrmann, 28, of Novato, Calif., was killed by a roadside bomb Aug. 18 in Samarra. He was assigned to Fort Stewart and was on his second tour of Iraq.

Fuhrmann, who grew up in Hawaii, attended community colleges in Sonoma and Alameda counties. He married his high school sweetheart, enlisted and shipped out for Iraq, all in 2002.

"He was a wonderful person. He was an asset to the community and to the country, and they are the ones who will be losers, really," said his grandfather, Ray Fuhrmann.

The younger Fuhrmann enjoyed martial arts and studied aikido in Japan. Inspired by his tours in Iraq, he hoped to go to medical school and become a trauma surgeon when he got out.

"When I spent time with him, I was very introverted," said half brother, Tyler Gold. "He kind of helped me get out of that."

Spc. Ganey

Army Spc. Jerry L. Ganey Jr.

There was no mistaking Jerry L. Ganey Jr. for anything but a tough guy. He'd played football in high school and enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduation. He loved guns, fighting and women.

"He'd fight at the drop of a hat," his aunt, Phyllis Haddock. "He was the type of guy, if he saw a gentleman or young man disrespect a lady, he would put that young man in their place."

Ganey Jr., 29, of Folkston, Ga., died Aug. 3 when a bomb exploded near his vehicle in Baghdad. He was assigned to Statesboro.

Standing about 6-feet-2 and tipping the scales at 240 pounds, Ganey had a healthy appetite and a habit of charming his way to the Sunday dinner tables of family and friends.

"He'd call Sunday 'Fat Day,"' Haddock said. "He'd go around to all the people who cooked and then he'd eat. He would go to two or three houses sometimes. Wherever Lewie went, he was welcome."

In December he had secretly married his sweetheart, Debbie. Ganey became stepfather to Jay Michael, 14, with whom he roughhoused for hours and went four-wheeling. Debra became stepmom to Vanessa Elizabeth, 6.

Lt. Giaimo

Army 1st Lt. David L. Giaimo

Getting good grades wasn't enough for David L. Giaimo -- he had to join the National Honor Society. Being a good shot wasn't enough either -- he had to be a championship-winning marksman,

"David was a born leader," his family said in the statement. "He earned respect and people naturally followed him."

Giaimo, 24, of Waukegan, Ill., died Aug. 12 when his vehicle hit a land mine in Tikrit. He graduated high school in 1999, had attended Iowa State and was based at Fort Stewart.

Giaimo was on the high school's rifle team for four years and its captain for two, during the last of which the school won a state championship.

A lifelong baseball fan who was an honorary batboy for the Chicago White Sox when he was 8, Giaimo was a shortstop and catcher on the varsity baseball team.

Giaimo had been promoted last July from second lieutenant to first lieutenant.

"He was a good brother, a good kid, and matured into a fine young man. David was patient and quiet. He did himself and us proud," the family said.

He is survived by his father, Thomas, and his mother and stepfather, Julie and Frank Derrig.

Army Spc. Mathew V. Gibbs

Spc. Gibbs

Martha Meeks remembers her grandson, Mathew V. Gibbs, as a ham who loved to be noticed -- and for his hugs.

"He just had the best hugs anybody could have because he's a big, tall guy and here I'm this short, little grandma, and he would be so sweet," Meeks said.

Gibbs, 21, of Ambrose, Ga., died Aug. 3 when a car bomb exploded near his vehicle in Baghdad. He was assigned to Statesboro.

Gibbs joined the Georgia Army National Guard at age 18 to improve himself and qualify for educational benefits. He worked at a mobile home factory before shipping out.

Gibbs was known as "Big Country" and for routinely smoking a "lucky cigar."

"Specialist Mathew Gibbs was a big man with an even bigger heart," Capt. David Henderson said. "He loved to joke around, and he could tell a story like no one else."

Martha Meeks said: "I refer to him as just a sweet teddy bear, big guy, tall. I'm going to miss his hugs and how sweet he is really. He was a good sweet guy. We're going to miss him."

He is survived by his wife, Rae, and two daughters, Ariana, 5, and Arissa, 3.

"He is always in our hearts," Ariana said.

Marine Sgt. James R. Graham III

Sgt. Graham

Betty Willhoite, a next-door neighbor of James R. Graham III, has fond memories of Graham playing with his boys.

"He would always be out there showing the oldest how to kick a soccer ball into the net," she said.

Graham, 25, of Coweta, Okla., died in an explosion Aug. 1. He was based at Broken Arrow.

"I just hate to see this happen to such a nice, young family," Willhoite said. "He felt like it was his duty."

Graham, best known as "J," started working at a Subway restaurant and eventually managed several others.

"My first impression was J was irresponsible and wet behind the ears," said Graham's father-in-law, Bob Bratton. "My impression was wrong. At 18 and 19, he carried responsibility like many adults don't carry responsibility."

Willhoite, who heard the news about Graham from his wife, said Graham was a hard worker and a good person.

"He was very gentle and a great father, a little on the quiet side," Willhoite said. "I've never heard him raise his voice."

Graham is survived by his wife, Melissa, and two sons, ages 9 and 6.

Army Spc. Toccara R. Green

Spc. Green

Toccara Green's desire to be in the military was evident early: for four years in high school she got up early and stayed late to participate in her campus ROTC.

Family and friends say her devotion to her country is what inspired her.

"The only thing that puts my mind at ease is that she died for what she believed in," said Garry Green Jr., her brother. "She said her ideal situation: go out fighting for our country."

Green, 23, of Rosedale, Md., died Aug. 14 when several bombs detonated near her unit in Al Asad. She was assigned to Fort Drum and is believed to be Maryland's first woman soldier killed in combat in Iraq.

Spc. Nicole Coleman met Green during basic training in 2003 and became fast friends. They referred to themselves as "Batman and Robin" or "Pinky and the Brain."

Green graduated from high school in 2000 and attended Norfolk State University in Virginia, where she studied telecommunications and broadcasting. She loved roller skating and working on cars.

She is survived by her father Garry Green Sr. and mother, Yvonne.

Army Sgt. Jonathon C. Haggin

Sgt. Haggin

Jonathon C. Haggin was a gung-ho former Marine who couldn't wait to rejoin his Army unit in Iraq despite suffering two broken ribs in a bomb blast.

"He was so ready to get out there and fight, the leader of his troop had to hide his guns and ammunition so he could wait for orders," said Ted Martinez, Haggin's father-in-law.

Haggin, 26, of Kingsland, Ga., was killed July 30 by a roadside bomb blast in Baghdad. He was based at Albany.

After deploying to Iraq in 2003, he worked as a security guard at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base. He helped teach his fellow guards to fire M-16s and how to bulls-eye their targets before they graduated from their training course.

"He was a very nice, friendly guy and he was always willing to step in and help whenever it was necessary," said Jack Mercer, director of the Chaffey Community Show Band, where his father played trumpet.

He is survived by his ex-wife, Anna, and their 2-year-old daughter, Leaundra. The two had recently reconciled, and Anna was pregnant with their second child.

"I'm praying to God its a boy. If its a girl, she will have to be named Jonathon," she said.

Marine Sgt. Bradley J. Harper

Sgt. Harper

Bradley J. Harper traded his patrols of Virginia Beach in police blues for patrols in Iraq in camouflage gear.

"It's two different worlds," Harper said before he left. "This is my chance to go, to do my part. The sooner you get over there, the sooner you get back."

Harper, 25, of Dresden, Ohio, was killed Aug. 3 by a roadside bomb south of Haditha. He was based at Norfolk.

He studied criminal justice at Ohio University, then moved to Virginia Beach, Va., to become a police officer in January 2004.

"He was exactly what we wanted in an officer and a citizen," said Harry McBrien, the recruiter for the Virginia Beach Police Department. "He was an all-around awesome guy and a real go-getter."

When the academy staff "tried to stress him out a little bit," he "just smiled" and kept going, McBrien said.

"What can I tell you about him?" asked Master Police Officer Rene Ball. "He was a stellar candidate" for the 750-member department, and he showed himself to be "an even better recruit."

Harper is survived by his wife, Kendra.

Army Staff Sgt. Asbury F. Hawn II

Staff Sgt. Hawn

Until his death, relatives of Asbury F. Hawn II knew nothing of the honors he had earned previously for bravery and dedication to duty. The Rev. Steve Marcum suggested another.

"If I could suggest one more medal for this brave man and dedicated husband, father, son and brother, it would be for humility," Marcum said during Hawn's funeral.

Hawn, 35, of Lebanon, Tenn., died Aug. 14 of wounds from an attack the previous day in Tuz. A 1988 high school graduate, he was based at McMinnville.

"He was always asking us to send crayons, coloring books and supplies for the Iraqi children who have never seen a crayon and most of whom live in huts," said sister Faith Brownlow. "He was a patriot in the truest sense."

Hawn joined the Army in 1993 and was deployed to Haiti on a peacekeeping mission before enlisting in the Army Guard in 1996. He had worked at Nissan for about five years when called to active duty last June.

"As a little boy, he wanted to be a soldier. As the baby brother of three older sisters, we spoiled him rotten," said Brownlow.

He is survived by his wife, Angie, and sons Jonathan, 12, and Spencer, 4.

Marine Lance Cpl. Evenor C. Herrera

Lance Cpl. Herrera

The stories about Evenor C. Herrera came easily. How he was shy around girls and sought advice from his older sister. How he was fearless and once drove a four-wheel drive truck down a muddy hill, nearly flipping it over.

How he stayed up all night watching World Cup soccer matches a few years ago and then showed up for classes the next day bleary-eyed.

Herrera, 22, of Gypsum, Colo., died Aug. 10 from a bomb blast near Ramadi. He graduated high school in 2001 and was assigned to Camp Pendleton.

"He was quiet if you didn't know him, but to people who knew him, he was really outgoing," said his brother, Balmore Herrera.

His family immigrated from Honduras in 1992. He began talking about joining the Army when he was only 10.

"He was always interested in that," said Balmore. "G.I. Joe was a big thing back then."

He also enjoyed typical mountain activities like fishing and snowboarding, and the brothers often camped together.

"My son, I promised to be with you and I'm here," his mother, Blanca Herrera, said at his funeral. "God bless you, and you'll be in my heart all of the time."

Marine Sgt. Justin F. Hoffman

Justin F. Hoffman's mom chuckled at his quirks: the playful voicemail messages left on her cell phone, the endless AOL Instant Messenger chats, his curious ability to eat mealworms at pet shops.

"Justin was more or less a reality show," Carole Hoffman said.

Hoffman, 27, of Delaware, Ohio, died Aug. 3 during combat operations south of Haditha. He was based in Columbus.

His father, Robert Hoffman, said Justin was bright -- an Ohio State University graduate who worked in information systems at Cardinal Health -- but was big and strong and needed an outlet for his energy.

After six years, his time in the Marine Reserves was up last year, but when he learned his unit was to be activated, he signed up again.

"He wanted to be there for his men," Carole said. "He wanted to lead his men."

Lately, he had enlisted family members to scout for a diamond ring.

"He teased about proposing as soon as he got off the plane," said his girlfriend, Teri Price. "I can't imagine my future without him. I loved him more than anything."

Justin's younger brother, Tyler, said, "He was a great brother and more than that he was a great friend."

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas C. Hull

Thomas C. Hull wanted to be a sailor from the time he first mentioned it to his mother in the fifth grade.

"He told me when he was pretty young that he was going to join the Navy," said his mother, Mary Hull. "He told me he was going to go to college and join the Navy. He talked about it all of the time."

Hull, 41, of Princeton, Ill., died Aug. 2 from what appears to be a heart attack while serving aboard the USS Princeton in the Arabian Gulf.

Mary Hull said her son had just finished three years of land duty and had been based in San Diego with his family before he went abroad.

Before he left, his family moved to South Carolina, where Hull and his wife recently bought their retirement home. "He'd be retiring next year after 20 years of service," his mother said.

It was Hull's second time serving in the gulf area. He joined the Navy in 1986.

He is survived by his wife, Christine, and three sons, ages 14, 12 and 11.

"He was a family man," his mother said. "He loved the outdoors and was a big hiker. He loved animals, too. They have all kinds of them. He liked doing all those things with his boys."