Army Sgt. Joseph D. Hunt

During a visit home in July, Joseph D. Hunt told stories about the Iraqi people and showed his family photographs of children who he was working with.

"He was proud of what he was doing," said uncle Brian Cantrell. "He felt like he was accomplishing something."

Hunt, 27, of Sweetwater, Tenn., was killed Aug. 22 by a roadside bomb in Samarra. He was based at Sparta.

Cantrell described his nephew as a "country boy" whose biggest joys in life were his two young sons, 5-year-old Caleb and 3-year-old Joshua.

"Sweetwater is a small town, and around here being a country boy isn't a bad thing to be," Cantrell said. "The No. 1 thing on his mind was to be a great father."

Even in their grief, Hunt's family asked to send a message to his team members in Iraq:

"We know that you mourn our loss of Joey as much as we do. There was not much that surpassed Joey's bond and commitment to you guys," it said. "We pray that you hold true, stay safe, be strong. You have not and will not be forgotten."

Cantrell said his nephew's children offered hope through the tears: "As we watch these little boys grow up, they are the very image of their father."

Army Sgt. Brahim J. Jeffcoat

Sgt. Jeffcoat

Annie Thompson remembers Brahim J. Jeffcoat as a neighbor always willing to lend a helping hand.

If the 76-year-old was doing work in her front yard, she said, he'd walk up to her and say, "Mrs. Thompson, can I help you?"

Jeffcoat, 25, of Philadelphia, died Aug. 6 near Balad when a bomb detonated near his vehicle. He was based in Philadelphia.

Jeffcoat, a youth counselor in civilian life, had been a member of the Guard since 1998 and a student at Temple University. At 25, he had been promoted four times.

"I think he had big plans to come back and go to school and get his degree," said Capt. Anthony Callum, the company commander. "Things were going good. He was a good guy."

Sgt. First Class Rich Cassey said Jeffcoat had used hiking to provide other views of the world to those he mentored. Other soldiers "said the youth council thing really showed who he was," Cassey added.

After a leave earlier this year, Jeffcoat spoke of how much he missed his wife and daughter.

"His family was very important to him," Callum said. "He was the kind of guy who was very friendly and enjoyed life."

Army Staff Sgt. David R. Jones Sr.

David R. Jones Sr. could talk about every ship and every battle in every war going back to biblical times.

"He was a master of facts and trivia. He loved the history of the world, the history of this country and military history," the Rev. Mike Klaus said.

Jones, 45, of Augusta, Ga., died in a July 30 bomb blast in Baghdad. He was based Albany.

Fellow soldiers said they smile at his memory. When he was injured in an earlier bomb attack, other soldiers teased him about not being able to chew tobacco with a busted lip.

"He's kind of like a big Santa Claus," said 2nd Lt. Joseph Latella.

Before deploying for training, Jones worked as jailer with the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, where he had been for almost eight years.

"He was one of the guys in the jail who would train new employees because he was so good at what he did," said Sheriff Ronnie Strength.

In his last letter to his wife, Karen, he reminded her that serving his country was a choice he was willing to make.

"This is a part of who I am," he wrote.

He also is survived by his son, David, and daughter, Kristi.

Army Spc. Anthony N. Kalladeen

Spc. Kalladeen

Anthony N. Kalladeen and his older brother, Chad Pillai, were put up for foster care when they were just 9 and 10 after their mother suffered a nervous breakdown.

But Kalladeen, at age 17, came looking for her and his brother to reunite the family.

"He showed us what true love was," said his cousin Ana Rodriguez, 46. "He showed no animosity toward his mother."

Kalladeen, 26, of Purchase, N.Y., died Aug. 8 when his vehicle was ambushed. He was assigned to New York City and was on his second tour.

Kalladeen, a former Marine with four years of service, was attending Purchase College before he was sent to Iraq.

"He was like a big teddy bear," said Krystina Orellano, 19, a junior. "When he gave us a hug, he took all the air out of you."

Pillai, himself a captain in the Army, flew in from Germany for the funeral.

"There's been a lot of heartache over the years, but finding each other again was the best part of my life," said Pillai.

He then tucked his own dog tags into Kalladeen's hands just before the coffin was closed.

"He'll always have my tags," Pillai said. "He always can find me."

Army Spc. Hatim S. Kathiria

Hatim S. Kathiria's dreams of one day becoming a software guru brought him from India to Dallas.

Already armed with a bachelor's degree in software engineering, Kathiria worked as a gas station clerk for a few months before enlisting in the Army in 2003 so he could finance his studies.

"He was such a smart kid, he looked forward to coming back and finishing his education," his uncle Nuruddin Kathiria. "He came to me in Dallas after doing a bachelor's degree in software in India and he had done all the homework about joining the Army and getting a scholarship to earn a master's degree after serving."

Kathiria, 23, born in Dahod, Gujarat, and living in Fort Worth, Texas, was killed Aug. 22 when a rocket landed near him in Baghdad. He was based at Fort Stewart and had a bachelor's degree from Madurai Kamraj University.

The family's grief is compounded by the fact that Kathiria had gotten married just weeks before he left for Iraq. His wife, Esther Perez, also serves with U.S forces in Iraq.

His hope for U.S. citizenship came through in January 5, 2005. He was asked to leave for Baghdad on January 26.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Obediah J. Kolath

Sgt. Kolath

Obediah J. Kolath's best friend remembers him wanting nothing more than to become a special forces soldier.

"He made that decision when he was about 16 years old," Brian Hudson said. "He could not wait to get in there and start. He never second-guessed himself on it."

Kolath, 32, of Louisburg, Mo., died Aug. 25 when a bomb exploded near his patrol in Husaybah. A 1991 high school graduate, he was based at Fort Bragg and had been stationed in Hawaii, Japan and Thailand.

"Obie was the type of person you would be around and he would make you feel great about yourself," said nephew, Jesse Brewer, a police officer. "He believed in me where I sometimes doubted myself."

Older brother Lloyd said he and his eight siblings were raised in a trailer and Kolath grew up riding four-wheelers and dirt bikes. When the family was temporarily without running water, Lloyd and Obie went out to fetch the necessity.

"I always felt like we were the dynamic duo when we were together," said Lloyd.

He also is survived by his children, Vivian Schondelmeyer, Autumn and Mariah Kolath, and mother, Mary Kolath.

Marine Cpl. David Kenneth J. Kreuter

Cpl. Kreuter

Long before the military ever sent David Kenneth J. Kreuter overseas, there was Boy Scout in love with the outdoors.

"The first time we went away to camp, he was all fired up because his parents had given him a hammock," said Greg Kluener, a friend. "He slept outside in the hammock all week instead of in the tent."

Kreuter, 26, of Cincinnati, was killed Aug. 3 by a roadside bomb south of Haditha. He was assigned to Columbus.

Another friend, Eric Wiete, remembers Kreuter as a skinny kid with hair full of gel. He was "the goofball, always the funny guy," Wiete said.

"That's how David would want people to remember him," he said. "You couldn't help but think he was hilarious."

The 1997 high school graduate joined the reserves in 1998. He attended Ohio University and earned his bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 2004 from the University of Cincinnati.

He is survived by his wife, Chrystina, and newborn son, Christian.

"Some never find what they love; David loved being a U.S. Marine," said Kreuter's godfather, Norm Clarke.

Army Spc. Kurt E. Krout

Spc. Krout

When friends recalled Kurt E. Krout, they used the words "hardheaded" -- but also "fun-loving."

"When Kurt was around, you always knew you were going to have a good time," said Spc. Kyle Leishear, a friend.

Krout, 43, of Spinnerstown, Pa., died Aug. 6 near Balad when a bomb detonated near his vehicle. A 1981 high school graduate, he was based at West Chester.

He was a food department manager at the Wal-Mart in Quakertown, where a memorial now stands in the front lobby.

A former Marine, Krout was called to service by a strong sense of duty, said Denise Duke, a former Wal-Mart personnel manager who hired Krout four years ago.

"He would do whatever you needed him to do and even things you didn't ask him to do," she said. "He did what he thought was right."

Chaplain Maj. Gary L. Taylor called Krout a hard worker and leader who was "bullheaded" at times but quick to see the humor in situations. A lover of video games and a reader of science-fiction novels, Krout especially liked watching war movies with his son, Kurt Jr., 19.

Divorced, he was the father of four children aged 14 to 21 and was engaged to Barbara Kissel.

Army Spc. John N. Kulick

Spc. Kulick

As a boy, John N. Kulick became enamored of firefighters.

"He was in the firehouses all the time when he was younger," said Bob Kulick, his uncle. "He was fascinated by fire engines. He went to the local firehouses when they had the open houses and sat in the trucks."

Little wonder, then, that he joined them when he was only 16.

Kulick, 35, of Harleysville, Pa., died Aug. 9 in Bayji during an ambush. He was based in Philadelphia.

He joined Enterprise Fire Co. of Hatboro at age 16 and worked his way up to deputy chief. He had served as a firefighter at Centre Square Fire Co. in Whitpain for eight years.

He was remembered as a man who liked Lebanon bologna on Wonder bread with lots of mustard. He loved to dance and play the drums, and could be seen on his back porch break dancing with children, Army Chaplain Gary Taylor said.

He was such an avid fisherman that the tackle department at Sears Roebuck won't be the same without his business, Taylor joked.

"John spent his life saving others and he gave his life serving in a foreign land" Taylor said.

He is survived by his parents, Tavy and James.

Army Staff Sgt. Victoir P. Lieurance

Sgt. Lieurance

Victoir P. Lieurance didn't enjoy having his picture taken, but his wife is happy she finally managed to convince him last year to sit for some professional photos with his family.

Looking at those pictures a day after learning her husband had been killed in Iraq, Penny Lieurance's voice broke as she recalled telling him, "I want the boys to have pictures of their daddy."

Lieurance, 34, of Seymour, Tenn., was killed Aug. 22 by a roadside bomb in Samarra. He was assigned to Sparta.

Lieurance's sons are 4-year-old Chase and 23-month-old Damien. He also was a father to Penny's daughters by a previous marriage, Alina, 12, and Ciera, 9.

Lieurance joined the Army right after he got out of high school. He went on to serve seven years in the Army before joining the National Guard in 1997. His parents are both retired from the Navy.

"He was the most proud when he was in his military uniform," said his father, Andre. "When he first signed up, he wanted to go for the full 20 years, but we had to talk him into four. He knew the military, he knew what was involved with it -- the separation, the risks."

Army Spc. Joseph L. Martinez

Joseph L. Martinez didn't hesitate for a moment when he signed up for the Army before graduating high school in 2002.

"He would go to school with his Ranger shirt on," said Toni Williams, his girlfriend. "He wanted to fight. He didn't join it for the money or the benefits. He always had an American flag in his room."

Martinez, 21, of Las Vegas, died Aug. 27 in Tal Afar when his patrol was hit by small-arms fire. He was assigned to Fort Carson.

In high school, he was a member of the swim team and the Junior ROTC's color guard. He was a favorite of ROTC instructor, Lt. Col. James McEvoy.

Martinez wrote a personal note in his yearbook as follows, "Colonel Mac, please don't be mad at me, but I have enlisted in the Army because that is my choice. I'll come by when I can."

"He was a quiet individual, but I've never known anybody with so much courage and determination," said his mother, Cynthia Martinez. "He was going to do everything to protect his buddies. We all knew it was pretty much his destiny."

Said his father, Larry Martinez: "He was willing to die for his country. It just happened so quick."

Army Staff Sgt. James D. McNaughton

Sgt. McNaughton

James D. McNaughton took on two dangerous vocations -- as a cop and as a military policeman.

"Most people don't know what the word samurai means. It means to serve," said William McNaughton, his father. "He's been serving his whole life. He's been carrying a gun since he was 18."

James McNaughton, 27, of Middle Village, N.Y., was killed Aug. 2 by sniper fire in Baghdad. He was based at Uniondale.

McNaughton graduated high school in 1996 and joined the police in July 2001. He patrolled the city's subways on the midnight to 8 a.m. shift.

"In the Transit bureau he was a front-line protector of this city, patrolling stations alone, after midnight," said Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly. "He volunteered for the worst assignments, at the worst times."

Friends said he lived to serve others.

"He would take the bullet for you. He would literally stand in front of you and take that bullet," said Sgt. Berford Rivera.

McNaughton was living out a family tradition when he joined the police force. His father is a retired police officer. His stepmother, Michele, is a transit bureau officer. He also was engaged to a policewoman, Liliana Paredes.

Army Capt. Lowell T. Miller II

There was only one man who Lowell T. Miller wanted to have pin military bars to his uniform, one man he wanted to salute after being commissioned as an officer: his father.

"Dad, I serve so others don't have to," he once wrote to his father, Lowell Miller, who served 22 years in the Naval Reserves. "You taught me to be a leader, to stand up and sacrifice so others would not have to. You were in the military and served so your kids wouldn't, yet we do. You taught us well."

Miller, 35, of Flint, Mich., was killed Aug. 31 by small arms fire in Iskandariyah. He was assigned to McComb.

Miller graduated in 1993 from Virginia Military Institute and later joined the Michigan Army National Guard. Miller worked for automotive supplier Yazaki North America Inc. and was an engineering supervisor.

"He'd constantly go to bat for them for things like raises within the company," said Erin Haven, who was hired by Miller. "He'd really stick out his neck for people."

He is survived by his wife, Angela; and two stepchildren, Jessica, 13, and Jordan, 6.

"It was just wonderful to be with him," Angela Miller said.

Marine Lance Cpl. Brian Montgomery

Cpl. Montgomery

Eric Montgomery always pictured himself coming home from war arm-in-arm with his big brother, Brian. It was Brian who was Eric's idol, his boyhood protector and his bunk mate in the Iraqi desert.

The two did fly home together but it was not the way either wanted. Brian Montgomery, 26, of Willoughby, Ohio, was shot dead Aug. 1 outside Haditha. He was based at Brook Park.

"Thank you, Brian, for bringing me home," Eric said at Brian's funeral. "That's all that mattered to you."

Paul Montgomery said his son had always put others before himself. Brian was suspended in high school for fighting after he defended a girl who had been slapped by a boy. The shock of the 2001 terror attacks prompted him to join the Marine Corps Reserves.

"Brian had a deep conviction that he needed to protect his country," his father said.

A 1998 high school graduate, Brian also is survived by his wife, Pamela, and son, Alexander, who turned age 1 two days after his father's death.

To honor his brother, Eric said he will get a tattoo with a message Brian had always intended for his own body: "Never Left. Never Forgotten."