Army Pfc. Devon J. Gibbons

Devon J. Gibbons was excited to join the Army. He looked up to one of his older brothers, who also had enlisted. And he looked up to his father, who served in Vietnam.

On his Web site, Devon listed his father as his hero. "He is a great man and I have so much respect for him," he wrote.

Gibbons, 19, of Port Orchard, Wash., died June 23 at Brooke Army Medical Center of injuries received April 11 when a roadside bomb rocked his armored vehicle in Taji. He was assigned to Fort Hood.

"Devon was a strong spirit and he fought to stay with us for a while, but in the time we had with him here we were able to have some wonderful, in-depth talks. He was ready to move on and had a sense of urgency about him," his family wrote on a Web site they created.

His mom said Gibbons was willing to fight terrorism single-handedly. "We even heard from the man that pulled him out of the Bradley," Bonnie Gibbons said. "He called us from Iraq -- he just loves him like a brother. They've been together since boot camp."

Gibbons' smile broke out often, and it was contagious. "The room would kind of light up," said his father, Mel. "He was a really happy guy."

Army Sgt. Daniel R. Gionet

Sgt. Gionet

A year ago, Daniel R. Gionet proposed to his wife, Katrina, he rented a carriage and they rode around Boston. He popped the question, then they went to see a performance of "Phantom of the Opera."

This was the message on his cell phone: "If this is Katrina, you are the love of my life." He left a little space for everyone else. "If it's not Katrina, you know who you called. Leave a message."

Gionet, 23, of Pelham, N.H., was killed June 4 in Baghdad when an explosive detonated near his M1A2 tank. He was assigned to Fort Hood.

It was the second tour of duty for the 2001 high school graduate and medic. Gionet served in Afghanistan from July 2003 to May 2004 and was deployed to Iraq last December, just before Christmas.

"He was my angel," said his mother, Denise.

In high school, Gionet wrestled and played football and baseball. He was known as a hardworking athlete and he won the wrestling team's sportsmanship award as a senior. He also loved his Volkswagen Jetta and fishing.

"He was very well-liked, and we'll miss him dearly," said his grandmother, Theresa Trepanier. "We'll never be the same without him."

Marine Lance Cpl. Salvador Guerrero

Cpl. Guerrero

Intent on sparing his mother from worrying, Salvador Guerrero told her during his regular calls home from Iraq that he was really training in Japan.

"He knew his mother would worry too much if she knew he was in Iraq," said girlfriend Laura Almanza.

Guerrero, 21, of Los Angeles, died June 9 when the Humvee he was driving hit a roadside bomb in Anbar province. He was assigned to Twentynine Palms.

Guerrero dreamed of being in the military from a young age. After graduating from high school in 2003, he enrolled in animation classes at Westwood College in Anaheim, where he earned straight A's, before shifting to classes focusing on graphic design. When he wasn't in class, Guerrero earned a paycheck driving a UPS truck.

"He was very sweet. He was a complete gentleman," Almanza said. "He had very, very good morals."

When he tried to enlist, he was turned away because of his weight. At about 250 pounds, Guerrero set out to lose nearly 100 pounds. After months of working out, he reached about 170 pounds and was accepted by the Marines.

He also is survived by his mother Rosa, and his father, Salvador.

Army Staff Sgt. Darren Harmon

Sgt. Harmon

Even in elementary school, classmate Cassandra Reeves noticed that Darren Harmon stood out.

"He was always such a gentleman and carried himself well. He was always respectful and respected by others," Reeves wrote in a memorial.

Harmon, 44, of Newark Del., died of a heart attack June 3 in Haditha. He was a 1980 high school graduate and was assigned to Aberdeen Proving Ground.

Harmon, who played football in school, joined the Army shortly after graduating and was a veteran of Desert Storm. After leaving the service, he worked for Comcast as an electrical technician and cable installer, the job he held before being deployed to Iraq last year.

The soldier's father, Fisher Harmon, said his son enjoyed fishing and collecting tropical fish. "He loved the water," he said.

He is survived by his wife, Crystal, and children Darren Jr., Devon and Domonique, and a stepdaughter, Venus Holland.

"His true love was really with his kids," his father said. "Everybody that was in his life, he respected them and he gave them all he could of himself. He was never disrespectful of anybody."

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jaime S. Jaenke

Petty Officer Jaenke

Petty Officer 3rd Class Esteban Burgoa recalled how paramedic Jaime S. Jaenke cared for him after he suffered an injury to his hand.

"I remember Jaime taking care of me. She took care of me pretty well," said Burgoa. "I said, 'Gosh, she's just like an angel.'"

Jaenke, 29, of Bay City, Wis., was killed June 5 when her vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Anbar province. She was a 1995 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort McCoy.

"Jaime was a very conscientious, wonderful person," said Bill Brookshaw, director of the Ellsworth Area Ambulance Service, where Jaenke worked as an emergency medical technician. "She gave a lot to the community -- that was her niche in life. I was heartbroken to lose such a wonderful person."

Last fall, Jaenke opened a new business called Siloam Springs Stables, outside Iowa Falls. She trained and boarded horses and taught people to ride.

"Kayla loved animals, so she was out with the horses quite a bit," said Ruth Reingardt, her former teacher. "A colt was born this spring, and I remember her being really excited about it."

She is survived by a daughter, Kayla, 9.

Army Spc. Robert L. Jones

The day before he was killed, Robert L. Jones' father received a brief letter from his son. He couldn't find a Father's Day card in Iraq, Jones explained, but he wanted to express his love.

"I couldn't ask for a better father than you," he wrote. "I just want to say thank you."

Jones, 22, of Milwaukie, Ore., died June 17 in Ramadi when an explosive detonated near his vehicle. He was on his second tour and was assigned to Baumholder, Germany.

Jones, who was called Bobby, graduated from high school in 2002. He joined the military in 2003 because he wanted to serve his country and get help paying for college.

"He was scared, but he wanted to stand up for his country," said his aunt, Gloria Rehart. "He was very proud to be a soldier. He wanted to fight for his country."

Because his father is disabled, Jones helped support the family. When he was home on leave in April, he bought his mother a computer so she could communicate with him overseas.

"No matter where Bobby went, he had a grin from ear to ear," said family friend Kathy Walker. "You just think about him, and there's always a story to make you smile."

He is survived by his parents, Jerry and Brenda Dowell.

Marine Cpl. Paul N. King

Cpl. King

For Becky King, Paul N. King was literally the boy next door.

Her family moved next door to King's in August of 1998 and the young man helped her mother move in. By November of that year, the two were a couple. They married on May 20, 2003.

King graduated high school in 2001 and wore his Marine uniform to her prom. "He wanted to do something he could be proud of," she said. "He loved being a Marine."

King, 23, of Tyngsboro, Mass., died June 25 while on patrol in Fallujah. He was assigned to Ayer.

King had volunteered for deployment. His unit had been deployed to Korea, Japan and Thailand, so unit members had an option to stay home from Iraq.

"He was a great young man who loved his country and loved his wife," said Gloria Brown, Rebecca's grandmother.

King couldn't wait to get home and get a PlayStation 3. He was also looking forward to fixing up a motorcycle the couple had bought. They have several bikes and loved to go riding together. A good cook, his pizza and ribs were "the best."

"He had a really great take on life," said his wife. "He would try anything, and he always encouraged people to try anything."

Army Spc. Brent W. Koch

Spc. Koch

Brent W. Koch loved racing motorcycles, farming and watching NASCAR. He dreamed of buying a Chevy pickup truck upon his return home. A lifelong Minnesotan, Koch also professed an affinity for the native brew.

"Before each mission we would say a prayer," said 2nd Lt. Jason Rehn, Koch's platoon leader. "And every time it was Brent's turn, he'd say, 'Dear God, please keep us safe and keep the beer cold. Amen.'"

Koch, 22, of Morton, Minn., died June 16 in Diwaniyah from a roadside bomb. He was a 2005 graduate of Southwest Technical College in Jackson and was assigned to Hutchinson.

"He was known for his pretty eyes and he had a striking smile," said Koch's platoon leader, 2nd Lt. Jason Rehn. "He was very photogenic."

In addition to playing the trumpet in the school band, Koch was very active in sports -- particularly basketball and football -- and was a member of the homecoming court as a senior.

"He was very well liked," said Bob Tews, the school superintendent. "He was one of those who, if you were on one side of the street and he was on the other, he would run over and say hi."

He is survived by his parents, Kevin and Valerie.

Army Spc. Issac S. Lawson

Spc. Lawson

Though Issac S. Lawson's stepson was a Navy officer and a fit 24-year-old, Lawson loved challenging him one-on-one on the basketball court.

"He was quicker than me," his stepson, Curtis Goldwire, recalled. "He had a killer jump shot, too. He could hit that shot from 15 feet all the time."

Lawson, 35, of Sacramento, Calif., died June 5 in Baghdad of injuries received when a Humvee he was riding in was struck by a roadside bomb. He was assigned to Fairfield.

He enlisted in the Army in 1991 and served in the first Gulf War. Lawson left the Army and worked for two years as an insurance claims adjuster before his National Guard unit was activated in 2004.

On trips home, Lawson enjoyed sitting down in front of his computer and playing football or the battle simulation game "Ghost Recon" with Goldwire. "I couldn't touch him at that," said Goldwire. "He was always going at it, and he was really good."

He also is survived by his wife, Suzzettee; a 3-year-old daughter, Chiara; and two children from a previous marriage.

Goldwire said his stepfather "was always so lovable, so joyful and so positive. Everybody liked him."

Army Sgt. Benjamin J. Laymon

At 6 feet tall and 230 pounds, Benjamin J. Laymon's family called him "Gentle Ben." But that didn't mean he was a pushover.

His parents recall a time when Laymon was 14 or 15 and refused to stack the wood they had cut. His parents stood firm.

"Well, it took him four or five days to do a job that would have taken a few hours just because he simply didn't want to do it. We took his picture in front of the wood stack after he finished it because it had been such a big deal," said David Harstine, his stepfather.

Laymon, 22, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, was killed in an attack June 24 near Baghdad. He was a 2002 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Hood.

Ben loved pizza, chicken wings, steak and french fries. "That boy could eat pizza seven days a week but wouldn't touch a fruit or vegetable. Sometimes he would eat broccoli, but only if it was covered in cheese sauce," said his stepfather.

"He liked to laugh. He was the kind of friend who could make all of your troubles go away," said Jessica Frazee, a close friend since middle school.

He also is survived by his mother, Gale, and father, James.

Marine Cpl. Christopher D. Leon

When Christopher D. Leon broke a bone during the 40 miles and 54 hours of the Marine Corps "make-or-break" exam called "The Crucible," he kept going. He finished 10 miles of hiking and more miles of running with a broken foot.

"He had high tolerance for pain and great determination," said his mother, Kathi.

Leon, 20, of Lancaster, Calif., was killed June 20 after coming under attack while conducting combat operations in Ramadi. He was a 2004 high school graduate and was assigned to Okinawa.

"He was an approachable individual with a good head on his shoulders and wisdom beyond his years," said Capt. Adam W. Blanton. "He was our friend. He was the buddy that laughed with us, sweated with us, and walked every piece of dirt we walked, but with a heavier pack and a smile on his face."

At a PetSmart, Leon was remembered as a hardworking and dependable employee, who always helped customers carry purchases out to their cars.

He died, his mother said, "doing work that he wanted to do," which was the protection of comrades in arms and innocent Iraqis.

He also is survived by his father, James, and fiancee Aimey.

Army Sgt. Terry M. Lisk

Terry M. Lisk wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, who spent 10 years in the 82nd Airborne, and his grandfather, who served in World War II.

"I didn't want him to go, but I also followed in my father's footsteps when I joined the Army," said Ralph Lisk. "He did what he had to do so his family would be free and safe."

Lisk, 26, of Fox Lake, Ill., died June 26 when his unit came under mortar fire in Ramadi. He was assigned to Friedberg, Germany.

The day before he died, Lisk spoke to his ex-wife and told her he was fearful for his life. "He had seen a friend of his get fatally wounded the day before," said his father. "He had hard work to do."

Lisk, who is survived by his 7-year-old daughter, Kassidy, loved basketball and the Cubs, Ralph Lisk said. "He was a good-natured, warmhearted person," his father said.

"He was a good boy and you could depend on him for anything," said his grandfather, Norbert Lisk. "The family is going to miss him."

Lisk's friends recalled a man who had risen from a hard childhood to become someone whom they counted on for cheer in a grim and uncertain place.

"He was a special kid," Spc. Allan Sammons said.