Marine Lance Cpl. Michael S. Probst

As a boy, Michael S. Probst and some friends built a multistory tree house in a eucalyptus near the family home. His older brother, Matthew, feared Michael would fall from his tall perch, which is just what happened one day.

But a pile of leaves broke his 40-foot tumble, and Michael emerged from the pile laughing.

Probst, 26, of Irvine, Calif., was killed Feb. 14 by an explosive near Abu Ghraib. A 1998 high school graduate, he was assigned to Twentynine Palms.

Probst finished three years at California State University at Chico but in his mother's telling, spent too much time partying and not enough time studying. He left school and cast about to refocus his life.

When he joined the Marines in 2004, he had been working as a fitness instructor at a health club, often walking the five miles each way to work.

His parents said Michael had talked about finishing college when he completed his military service, in which he served as a tank gunner and driver.

"There was not a thing Michael could not have accomplished if he had set his mind to it," said his mother, Judy.

He also survived by his father, Roger.

Army Spc. Roberto L. Martinez Salazar

Roberto L. Martinez Salazar liked to use the 14th Combat Engineer Battalion motto -- "Rugged!" -- as an all-purpose answer.

If Capt. Regan Campbell asked Salazar how he was doing, he'd always say, "Rugged, sir!" About the weather: "Rugged, sir!" Or about his plans to marry on his next trip home: "Rugged, sir!"

And the chow?

"Extra rugged, sir!"

"I would give anything just to hear him give me one more Rugged, sir!' Campbell said.

Salazar, 21, of Long Beach, Calif., was killed Feb. 4 by a roadside bomb in Mosul. He was assigned to Fort Lewis and was on his second tour.

Born in Mexico, Salazar moved to Long Beach as a child. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Army in March 2003. He had been a member of the wrestling team and a bassist in his church band.

"He was just a kid, a kid, a lovely kid," said Isabel Enciso, Salazar's aunt. "I don't know why God decided to take him but now he has an angel to sing and praise him."

Salazar was granted posthumous American citizenship.

He is survived by his father, Roberto Martinez, who lives in Mexico, and his mother, Manuela Salazar. He hoped to marry his sweetheart when he returned.

Army Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Schornak

Christopher J. Schornak tried to shake the military. After his first tour, he tried working for a heavy equipment firm.

"He hated it," said his wife, Robyn. "He was miserable, and that made me miserable, and that made everybody else miserable. We discussed it, and he said he wanted to go back."

Schornak, 28, of Hoover, Ala., was killed Feb. 26 in Baghdad by small-arms fire. He was assigned to Fort Hood and was on his second tour.

"As a person in general, he was a wonderful person. Kind guy. Loving. Amazing. There's no other word for it. He was amazing, and I loved him," said Susan Milner, his sister.

He and his wife last spoke a few days before he died. "He was Chris, just Chris. He was upbeat and in great spirits. He was joking with me," Robyn said.

He was scheduled to come home for two weeks of relaxation, and planned to be with his son Tristan when the youngster turned 3.

"He loved being a dad," Robyn said of her husband. "When Chris heard the baby's heartbeat, he cried. When he found out it was a boy, he just about fell out of his seat."

Marine Cpl. Brandon S. Schuck

Basketball season brought Brandon S. Schuck a slam-dunk in love.

A cute girl called Megan also played B-ball and the two met at a dance after a game. "That was the first time we talked, but we were pretty much inseparable after that," she said.

Cpl. Schuck

Though Megan said she was initially drawn to Schuck's good looks, it was his love for life and the ease with which they could talk to each other that kept them close.

"At first, he told me he had never said 'I love you' to anyone and didn't think he ever would," Megan said. "Nine months into our relationship, he told me he loved me."

Schuck, 21, of Safford, Ariz., was killed Feb. 6 by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. He graduated high school in 2004 and was assigned to Camp Lejeune.

He loved to cook, and he worked as an aide to the school's culinary arts instructor. He won the Ironman Award in his boot camp class, which goes to the strongest Marine.

"I think one of the things he loved so much about me was that I got all of his jokes," Megan said. "Not everyone got his jokes, so they would just be looking at him, but I would busting up laughing."

He also is survived by a son, Gavin, 1.

Marine Cpl. Ross A. Smith

One day Ross A. Smith bought his girlfriend a CD player for her car and tried to install it. But his wiring job led to the unit smoking.

Cpl. Smith

He told her that it was fine -- he had in fact hooked it up right and the wires were just hot, and would cool down soon.

"You can't be mad at him because he's joking around," said Samantha Legg. "Ross was one of the funniest guys I ever met."

Smith, 21, of Wyoming, Mich., was killed Feb. 9 by an explosive near Fallujah. He graduated high school in 2002, was assigned to Camp Pendleton and was on his third tour.

"Ross was one of those guys in your life that you're privileged to know," schoolmate Ryan Vasquez said. "I told his dad that no one could think anything negative or bad about Ross. He was as good as it gets."

Smith had fought in the Battle of Baghdad and in Fallujah. Mark Smith said his son told him that he was fighting for the children of Iraq -- the ones that would run out to him in the streets and ask for his signature.

"Ross Smith believed in everything he did -- or he wouldn't have done it," Mark Smith said.

He also is survived by his wife, Sue.

Marine Pfc. Jacob D. Spann

More than a year ago, without much warning, Jacob D. Spann announced that he'd decided to join the Marines. Though he had no family military history, he hoped the Corps would help him find himself.

Pfc. Spann

"I was worried at first, but he had really thought things out," said Derek Spann, his oldest brother. "I told him, 'Semper fi."'

Spann, 21, of Columbus, Ohio, was killed Feb. 6 by an explosion in Hit. He was assigned to Camp Lejeune.

In high school, Spann wrestled, ran track and played football. He took courses at Columbus State Community College after graduating in 2003, and worked at an auto-body shop.

"He was an extremely hardworking, dedicated football player," said Chad Williams, a former coach. "He was a kid who knew he was going to do everything he could for the team."

Spann drew and painted a lot as a child, and his auto-body work was an expression of that, his family said. If he didn't make the Marines a career, he was thinking of opening his own shop.

He is survived by parents and stepparents, Deborah and Dennis Nealon, and Larry and Libby Spann, as well as high-school sweetheart, Abby.

Marine Lance Cpl. Adam J. Van Alstine

In December, when Adam J. Van Alstine's sister told her brother she was expecting a baby, he wrote her and her husband a card.

"He or she is the reason why I do what I do without thinking twice about it," the card noted. "So he or she can enjoy the greatest country in the world."

Van Alstine, 21, of Superior, Wis., was killed Feb. 25 in Ramadi by a roadside bomb. He was assigned to Twentynine Palms.

He graduated high school in 2003. He loved to hunt, fish and spend time in the outdoors, and his skills with a hunting rifle helped him earn marksmanship honors in the Marines. He also was an active boxer.

Gym owner Chuck Horton remembered a skinny boy with biceps the size of pingpong balls showing up one day wanting to learn how to box. He worked himself up to 150 pounds -- but often got sick to his stomach before bouts.

Horton recalled one fight in which Van Alstine accidentally vomited on his coach, then rinsed out his mouth, went into the ring and won the fight.

"That was Adam. Rinse out my mouth, and I'm good to go," said Horton.

He is survived by his sisters, Jennifer Van Alstine and Dawn Meyers, and brother Michael Garrity.

Army Pfc. Caesar S. Viglienzone

In Caesar S. Viglienzone's last e-mail to a cousin, the soldier struck an optimistic note.

"Iraq is definitely going to be OK. The Iraqis don't hate us, they almost all wave at us and seem to like us. The vast majority of Iraqis want us here; not to keep occupying their country forever but want us to stay, finish the job, and pass the torch on to them."

Viglienzone, 21, of Santa Rosa, Calif., was killed Feb. 1 by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. He graduated high school in 2003 and was assigned to Fort Campbell.

"He was a great boy, a man, somebody you would have liked to know," said his father, Dennis Viglienzone. "If you're in a difficult situation, he was somebody you'd want to be with."

Viglienzone liked playing drums and guitar and diving for abalone, which he learned to do at age 13, his parents said. He also enjoyed camping with his family and playing cards

"He was a good kid who decided he was going to do something with his life," said his uncle, Ray Viglienzone. "He felt this was the right thing to do at this point in history."

He also is survived by his mother, Norma.

Marine Cpl. Rusty L. Washam

Rusty L. Washam's mom got a chance to wish her son a happy birthday when he reached 21 while in Iraq. She remembered that their phone connection was unusually clear.

"Rusty, be careful," his mother told him.

"Oh, ma," he said. "It's pretty quiet here now."

Washam, 21, of Huntsville, Tenn., was killed Feb. 14 by a car bomb near Qaim. He was assigned to Camp Lejeune and had also completed a tour of Afghanistan.

A 2003 high school graduate, Washam was the youngest of six brothers and sisters. All grew up in the military, while their father spent 24 years in the Army.

"He was an honorable young man," said his mother, Beverly Washam.

Washam was one of three brothers serving in the military, each in a different branch. Cpl. Dustin Washam, is in the Army and was wounded last June. Another, Staff Sgt. Donny Washam, is in the Air Force. All three boys played high school football, wearing No. 84.

Washam leaves behind two sons, Ryan 4, and Andrew, 2.

His parents described him as gung-ho and mischievous. Washam even got in trouble for tossing a football in the cafeteria of his high school.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Wilson

Keith Williams taught Nicholas Wilson social studies and coached him on the track team, but it was during a church youth group trip that Wilson really made an impression.

Williams recalls that Wilson was a junior or senior during the trip and reached out to an eighth or ninth grade girl. "A lot of guys, especially guys, they wouldn't really care. Maybe it was because he had a younger sister. He went over, helped her with whatever the project was. It was no big deal to him," Williams recalled.

Wilson, 25, of Newark Valley, N.Y., was killed Feb. 12 by an explosive in Anbar province. He was a 1998 high school graduate and was assigned to San Diego.

"He was the kind of kid who would speak to all the kids in the school. He was not a part of a clique. He was like a friend to everyone, just a real nice kid," Williams said.

He is survived by his wife, Linda.

Assistant Principal Warren Harrold, who taught him global studies and participation in government, said Wilson excelled in community service and was a selfless individual.

"You always saw a smile on his face," he said. "He was a happy guy."

Army Spc. Thomas J. Wilwerth

Thomas J. Wilwerth was an avid reader who was fascinated by world conflicts and their consequences. He ultimately wanted to become a history teacher -- but first there was the military.

"He loved playing with G.I. Joe and other Army figures as a child and joined the Navy ROTC while he was in high school," said his mother, Elaine.

Wilwerth, 21, of Mastic, N.Y., was killed Feb. 22 near Balad by a roadside bomb. He was assigned to Fort Carson.

When he wasn't reading, he was rocking. Wilwerth taught himself to play both acoustic and electric guitar. Wilwerth's mom remembered him simply as "the greatest kid in the world."

Pictures of Wilwerth on the family's coffee table included one of him in dress uniform flashing a thumbs up. Another in combat gear in front of a Bradley. A third, helmeted, a mischievous smile on his face, holding an ice cream cone.

Elaine Wilwerth said the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks strengthened his determination to join the military. Her son was also very proud that the Army gave him a commendation for driving the Bradley.

He also is survived by his father, Thierry.

Army Spc. Jesse M. Zamora

Paula Gonzalez had only one question when Army officials showed up at her home: Which of her two sons had been killed in Iraq?

Spc. Zamora

"When you have two over there, it's like hurry up, say which one," she said as her family looked at pictures of the slain soldier, Jesse M. Zamora.

Zamora, 22, of Las Cruces, N.M., was killed Feb. 3 in Beiji when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb. He graduated high school in 2002 and was assigned to Fort Campbell. His brother, Tyrel Zamora, also was in Iraq.

Zamora outlined his future plans to his mother in an e-mail he sent her the day he died. He said he wanted to work for "an old couple" that has an electrical business.

His mom got the joke: She and her husband, Sergio "Nacho" Gonzalez, own an electrical business.

"He was funny. He had this huge sense of humor," said Gonzalez. She responded to his e-mail by writing, "The owner is old, but the bookkeeper is not."

Zamora enjoyed being out in the desert in his rust-colored GMC truck to practice shooting. "He was sweet. He was very sweet. He could talk to anyone. I wish I had his qualities," said his mother.