Army Lt. Mark H. Dooley

Lt. Dooley

When Eric McLaud began coaching high school cross-country, he relied on Mark H. Dooley to be a role model and leader for the other boys.

"He was my best runner -- he would just take off!" McLaud said. "He didn't have to switch to second gear. That's how he did things."

Dooley, 27, of Wilmington, Vt., was killed Sept. 19 by a roadside bomb in Ramadi. He was based at Jericho.

In 2002, Dooley graduated Norwich University, a private military college in Northfield, Vt. He became a police officer in Wilmington.

"He was such an outstanding young guy," said Police Chief Joseph M. Szarejko. "He was very sincere and honest and really wanted to help people."

Walt Overfield, owner of Paesane's Pizzeria in Modena, N.Y., said he instantly knew Dooley was a "good kid" when he hired him as a driver in 1996.

"He was the best person I'll ever know," he said.

He is survived by his parents, Peter and Marion Dooley.

"Deep down I think he had always thought about law enforcement or the military," said his father. "He had a strong sense of right and wrong and the police and military structure felt right to him."

Army Sgt. George R. Draughn Jr.

From a war zone, George R. Draughn Jr.'s thoughts were of others, those trying to cope with Hurricane Katrina.

"I talked to him Wednesday and he was concerned about the people in New Orleans and the flood," said his father, George Draughn Sr. "He always would help somebody."

Draughn, 29, of Decatur, Ga., was killed Sept. 1 in Baghdad by a roadside bomb. He was based at Griffin.

Draughn was a Coca-Cola Co. delivery driver and had previously been injured when the vehicle he was riding in was struck by an improvised explosive device, said his sister, Charlene Demming.

He spent eight years in the Guard and had never been deployed overseas before going to Iraq. When his unit was called up, "his first thought was it's not going to be that bad," said Demming, who is in the Air Force.

Demming described her brother as the family clown. "He is the baby of the family and he is the only boy. Basically he was always joking," she said.

She said Draughn loved to spoil his son, Akeem, a first-grader who lives in Ft. Worth, Texas, and his nieces and nephews.

Draughn also is survived by his mother, Lucy.

Marine Sgt. Brian E. Dunlap

Friends and relatives of Brian E. Dunlap recalled a gregarious, history buff and gun enthusiast who relished a good discussion. His fellow soldiers even called him "Ratchet Jaw," a nod to his love of debating.

"Regardless of where you stood, he was fighting for your right to have an opinion," said younger brother Patrick Dunlap.

Dunlap, 34, of Vista, Calif., was killed Sept. 24 by a bomb in Taqaddum. He was stationed at Los Alamitos.

"He was wild as a teenager, but who wasn't?" said Tom Adams, a childhood friend. With the help of the Marines, "he grew into one of the bravest people I've ever met." He also could re-enact entire scenes from "Scarface" as friends collapsed in laughter.

In 2002, he was discharged and became a firefighter for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, helping to extinguish 2003's deadly Cedar Fire in San Diego.

His proudest moment: Shaking George W. Bush's hand when the president went to survey the destruction and thank the firefighters.

He is survived by his father, Dexter Dunlap, and mother, Dorothy Telles.

Army Sgt. Michael Egan

Sgt. Egan

At Michael Egan's send-off in June, the young soldier packed in a lot of events and spent much of it playing with his nieces and nephews.

"We had a party, a Father's Day party, going-away party and daughter's birthday party all wrapped up in one," said John Green, father of Egan's sister-in-law. "He was great; the thing of it is he loves kids."

Egan, 36, of Philadelphia was killed Sept. 19 by a roadside bomb in Ramadi. He was assigned to Philadelphia.

"Mike was just a super, great guy," said Harold Wynn, who worked with Egan at Reliance Electric. "When he walked into a room he always had this great smile on his face. It made him stand out in any crowd."

Egan, who graduated high school in 1987, had served in the Persian Gulf War during his nine years in the Marines. He joined the Pennsylvania National Guard about four years ago.

"He was a terrific kid, fabulous personality," said Arlene B. Rubin, his former vice principal. "He was witty. He lit up a classroom. He came in the room and his personality was just golden."

He is survived by his wife, Maria, and 3-year-old daughter, Samantha.

Army Spc. William L. Evans

William L. Evans got a job at Craige's Photique photo store while still in high school, but he dazzled owner Rick Craige with his skills -- to the point where Craige viewed the young photographer as an equal and, in some aspects, superior.

"He had one of the best eyes of any photographer I have ever seen," Craige said. "With the natural talent he had, he really took to photography and was great at it."

Evans, 22, of Hallstead, Pa., was killed Sept. 19 by a roadside bomb in Ramadi. He was stationed at Williamsport.

Evans was quiet when he first joined the National Guard in 2003 -- but not for long. "Once you got to know him, you couldn't help but fall in love with him," Sgt. 1st Class James Ditchey said. "He was a great young man. This is a huge tragedy for all of us."

Evans was a popular high school student, actively involved in band, choir and track before graduating in 2002. "He was so full of life, he had such an infectious personality," said his friend Andrew Park. "He was always busy and on the move, great to be around."

Evans is survived by his parents, Bill and Judy.

Army Staff Sgt. Christopher L. Everett

For Valentine's Day, Christopher L. Everett knew the little packages and e-mails he sent from Iraq to his fiancee wouldn't be enough. So he paid for her and a friend to get a massage.

"He really was amazing and did everything a husband or boyfriend should do," Kristy Wellborn said. "He would call me when he knew I was at work and leave me a message, telling me he was thinking about me."

Everett, 23, of Huntsville, Texas, was electrocuted Sept. 7 while working with a power washer in Taqaddum. He was assigned to Arlington.

He joined the National Guard while a senior in high school. He also was working for the Texas Department of Corrections at the time he was called to active duty.

Everett, who had been a Boy Scout and loved camping and the outdoors, loved to work with his hands and loved animals. He hoped to fly a Life Flight helicopter.

"I was always so proud of him, and I am proud of him beyond words that he would volunteer to risk his life when he didn't have to," said his mother, Larraine Everett.

He also is survived by his father, Patrick.

Army Spc. William V. Fernandez

Among his personal effects, William V. Fernandez left an unmailed letter addressed to his wife, Jennifer.

"I knew the dangers of my chosen profession. I went to protect you, my family, and all Americans who cherish freedom. They sleep peacefully at night because brave men stand ready to do violence on their behalf," the letter read.

Fernandez, 37, of Reading, Pa., was killed Sept. 19 by a roadside bomb in Ramadi. He was assigned to Philadelphia.

Fernandez dropped out of high school but joined the military to set his life straight. He later earned his GED and worked as a paramedic in California after leaving the Army. He then returned home to Reading and joined the National Guard to serve with his older brother.

Fernandez didn't have to be in Iraq. A member of the Fort Indiantown Gap-based Long Range Surveillance Detachment, Fernandez volunteered to be deployed with the 104th Cavalry.

Fernandez, a medic who also trained as an infantryman and went to airborne school, had impressed members of his unit with his concern for others.

"He never lost the attitude of a medic," said Sgt. Patrick Brennan.

Army Spc. David H. Ford IV

Spc. Ford

Former classmate Rebecca Dingus considered David H. Ford IV a friend and an example of human courage.

"He was wonderful, such a strong person," she said. "He had been through so much. He lost his father at a young age. His house burned down our senior year, but he kept going. He had such a big heart."

Ford, 20, of Ironton, Ohio, was killed Sept. 16 by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. A 2003 high school graduate, he was assigned to Fort Stewart.

"My son was my son. I don't like to put the 'hero' line to someone," said his mother, Violet Ford. "He was my pride and joy. We are just average people, no better or worse than anyone else."

Ford intended to go to college after his military service was completed. "He was interested in forensic science," said Ford's cousin, J.P. Harris. "He wanted to get into 'CSI'-type of investigations."

Ford and his older brother Army Cpl. Ray Ford followed their late father, David Ford III, into the military. "He was a nice young man," said his brother. "He was a typical little brother -- he liked to fight a lot. He liked to do stupid things, run around and have fun."

Army 1st Sgt. Alan N. Gifford

Melody Gifford remembers her nephew, Alan N. Gifford, as a boy who loved playing "Army guys" with his brothers.

"He was a lovely, happy kid," said Gifford. "He wanted to help his country and going into the Army was the best way he knew how."

Gifford, 39, of Tallahassee, Fla., was killed Sept. 16 by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. He was based at Fort Stewart, Ga.

Gifford, whose father taught ROTC at Florida State University, graduated high school in 1984 and was on the baseball and football teams. "He knew no strangers," said friend Dina McKain. "Everybody who knew him liked him."

Gifford, who joined the Army in 1986, rose to the highest-ranking enlisted man in his company. He was stationed in North Carolina, Alaska and Louisiana over the years and served in the first Gulf War while in the 82nd Airborne.

He is survived by his wife, Beth, and 2-year-old son Mitchell.

"Alan was a devoted husband, father and soldier," Beth wrote. "He believed in his soldiers, and, in the true spirit of his profession, gave his life protecting his men. He was a true hero."

Army Sgt. Shawn A. Graham

Sgt. Graham

When his father served in Afghanistan and then his younger brother shipped off for Iraq, Shawn A. Graham had a question: When will it be my turn?

"My brother was upset that he hadn't been able to go yet," said Marine Sgt. Nicholas Graham, his brother. "He did everything he could to go. This is what he wanted."

Graham, 34, born in Orange, Calif., and lately of Red Oak, Texas, was killed Sept 25 when his vehicle rolled over in Baghdad. He graduated high school in 1989 and was assigned to Fort Worth.

In 1988, he and his father, Thomas L. Graham, a veteran of the Marines, joined the Pennsylvania National Guard and was sent to Afghanistan. In 1990, Shawn went into active duty with the Marines and served for 10 years.

He then moved to Texas to work for MCI in Dallas. The Marines called Sgt. Graham back to active duty for a year in 2002. He then joined the Texas National Guard and was activated in August 2004.

"As hard as it is for me, I almost have no regrets," said his mother, Kathleen Graham. "I lost him, but, he was doing what he wanted to do, and believed in it."

Army Chief Warrant Officer Dennis P. Hay

Dennis P. Hay was a specialist in saving lives. He was an Army helicopter pilot trained in rescuing downed airmen. Before that, he was in the pararescue unit of the Air Force.

"Sons don't get any better than he was," said Patty Hay, his mother. "He had a servant's heart and was quick to tell you how much he loves you."

Hay, 32, of Valdosta, Ga., was killed Aug. 29 by small-arms fire in Tal Afar after his helicopter came under attack. He was assigned Fort Carson.

Hay was in the U.S. Air Force for eight years and in the Army for four years. He served as TACP Ranger, Pararescueman and an OH-58 Delta pilot.

"He was my buddy and was always a blessing in our lives for many years. He was one of the finest young men that I've ever known," wrote Larry Peterson and his wife, Shirley.

"He was a ray of sunshine in this dark world," said Jennifer Ingram, a friend. "He could make a grump smile and a sinner a saint. He turned into an honorable man and I am proud to have called him my friend."

He is survived by his wife, Rebecca; a son, 5; and a daughter, 2.