Army Sgt. Michael T. Crockett

Sgt. Crockett

Michael T. Crockett's mother sent him off to war in December with a hug and a kiss.

"He told me he was too old for that, but he kissed me," Maxine Crockett said. "I told him we weren't going to say goodbye, we're going to say, 'See you later.'

"So he said, 'See you later."'

Crockett, 27, of Soperton, Ga., died July 14 in Iraq when his unit was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades. He was stationed at Fort Stewart.

His wife, Tracey, learned of her husband's death just hours after she had received a dozen red roses he had sent from overseas.

"He loved to spoil me, and after his son was born, he spoiled him, too," she said. The 3-year-old son is named after his dad: Michael Tyrone Crockett Jr.

Army Spc. Jon P. Fettig

Jon and Cody Fettig

Jon Fettig knew the risks of being a soldier, and he was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice. There simply was no way to keep him away from the military.

"That was a part of Jon," said his wife, Cody Fettig. "It's a horrible, horrible thing that has happened. But he died a hero; he died doing what he loved."

Fettig, 30, an Army National Guard specialist from Dickinson, N.D., died July 22 when attackers fired rocket-propelled grenades at his unit.

Fettig had been a Guard member for about 11 years and re-enlisted a few years ago. His colleagues said he was excited to wear a uniform once again.

His father thinks of him differently.

"I hadn't really noticed that my little boy had grown up to be a man," said his father, Larry. "I guess he'll always be a little boy to me."

Army Sgt. Juan Manual Serrano

Juan Manual Serrano's father -- who has the same name and Army rank as his son -- doesn't regret that his son joined the U.S. military.

"It was a good decision by him and all the other young people who put on this uniform," the elder Serrano said as the son was buried at the Puerto Rico National Cemetery.

But Serrano's mother, Marta Concepcion, said she doubted anything positive was coming out of the war, "only deaths." Her son, she said, "called me and said the Iraqi people did not want U.S. soldiers there."

Serrano, 31, of Manati, Puerto Rico, was changing a tire on a military Humvee July 24 in Iraq when the vehicle fell, striking his head and killing him.

Serrano's wife, Evelyn, said she would allow their two sons -- ages 3 and 8 months -- to decide whether they want to follow in their father's footsteps and join the military.

"I am proud to say he died there...that he was doing something, and did not die in vain," she said.

Sgt. Mason Douglas Whetstone

Mason Douglas Whetstone, 30, died July 17 in Baghdad from non-combat injuries.

Whetstone, who was born at Hill Air Force Base, was stationed in Germany. He served in the Army from 1990 to 1994 and re-enlisted in August 1999.

Whetstone graduated from Dimond High School in Anchorage in 1990 and his mother lives in Anchorage.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Dan Henry Gabrielson

Sgt. 1st Class Gabrielson

As a sergeant in the Army Reserves, Dan Henry Gabrielson served with a unit that specializes in building bridges. His good qualities as a son, husband, father and worker were what led him to Iraq, the Rev. Will Mowchan said.

"In all these places, from his own home, to his job and all the way to Iraq, Dan tried to do the right things simply because they are the right things," Mowchan said. "It was not ever mainly about him. It was about his family, his friends, his community and his country."

Gabrielson, 40, of Frederic, Wis., was killed July 9 when his convoy came under attack north of Baghdad.

"It is comforting to know there are so many people we have never met before who care and are grateful for the sacrifices of women and men like my father, so we can live in a country where we can proclaim liberty and justice for all," said his oldest daughter, Vanessa Gabrielson, 20.

Army Sgt. Justin W. Garvey

Sgt. Garvey

Justin W. Garvey was married last year to Katie, his high school sweetheart -- literally the girl next door when he was growing up in Vermont.

"He was proud to serve and was never afraid of going over to fight," Katie Garvey said. "He is, and always will be, my best friend, soul mate and now my guardian angel."

Garvey, 23, from Townsend, Mass., and stationed at Fort Campbell, died July 20 in an attack in Iraq.

Garvey joined the Army National Guard in 1996, when he was a junior in high school, and signed up for regular basic training a year later.

As a soldier in the 101st Airborne, Garvey was sent to Pakistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He also served in Afghanistan, and returned home on his 22nd birthday. A year later -- again, on his birthday -- he was sent to Iraq.

"Any person that I know would be proud to call him their son," said his father, Greg Garvey of Keystone, Fla.

Marine Lance Cpl. Cory Ryan Geurin

Ever since terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Cory Ryan Geurin wanted to be a Marine.

"He said, 'Mom, they're messin' with my country and I won't let it happen,"' said his mother, Darlene Geurin of Santee, Calif.

Geurin, 18, died July 15 when he fell about 60 feet from the roof of a palace in Iraq where he had been standing guard. He was stationed at Twentynine Palms.

He signed his enlistment papers two months after the terrorist attacks, even before finishing high school, where he was captain and Most Valuable Player on the wrestling team during his senior year.

Geurin had called home the morning of his death to say he planned to stay in the Marines after his tour in Iraq.

"He was so proud of himself," his mother said. "He believed in what he was doing. He was a leader."

Army Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter

Raheen Tyson Heighter recently wrote to his mother from Iraq, urging his family not to worry.

"Time goes by like a continuous Groundhog Day over here," he wrote in a June 20 letter. "In the beginning, there was a lot of bloodshed, but now it's all over ... The good news is I will be coming home in September, October at the latest."

Heighter, 22, from Bay Shore, N.Y., was one of three soldiers killed July 24 when their convoy was ambushed. He was stationed at Fort Campbell.

"He was a good boy and a phenomenal talent," said his uncle Ron Adams. "He would display his work at arts festivals. No matter what he was doing, he aspired to be best."

Army Sgt. Jason D. Jordan

Sgt. Jordan

Jason D. Jordan made sure there was no doubt: He was proud of his Southern roots.

"Everywhere Jason went -- when people asked him where he was from -- he never just said he was from the south; he said 'I am from Dixie,' because he was so proud of his hometown, and so proud of being raised here," the Rev. Mack King said while delivering Jordan's eulogy.

Jordan, 24, of Elba, Ala., died July 20 when his infantry patrol came under a rocket-propelled grenade attack in Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Campbell.

"I watched Jason grow up, and I watched him help his grandparents with their cattle farm next door," said Frank Chirico, a close family friend. "And he was just a good, hardworking, Christian boy who was raised right."

Jordan joined the military after high school, where he was an honor student and member of the Beta Club and the Math Club.

"Jason strongly believed in what he was doing, by serving in the armed forces to keep America safe and strong," his family said in a statement.

Army Spc. Chad L. Keith

Spc. Keith

When Chad L. Keith was talking with Army recruiters, friends could hardly tear him away.

"Most people join the Army because they want money for college or something, but he was really happy to be in the Army. He wanted it to be his career," said close friend Kirt Collier. "I understand why he went over there. It was something he was passionate about."

Keith, 21, of Batesville, Ind., was killed July 7 when a roadside bomb exploded as his unit patrolled the streets of Baghdad. He was stationed at Fort Bragg.

Keith's death came just 26 days before he was to be promoted from specialist to sergeant -- and a few days after he spoke to his mother by telephone. Kim Hitzges said her son told her he was hot and tired but willing to stay in Iraq "until the job was done."

Army Spc. William J. Maher III

Spc. Maher

After drifting in and out of several fields, William J. Maher III joined the military at age 30 to "find himself," said his father, William Maher Jr. "He thanked the Army for that."

In letters home, Maher expressed pride in the mission but also said he was anxious to be closer to friends and family. He was to be discharged from the military in January.

"I don't regret being in the Army," he wrote. "Seeing all the people, places and cultures made me realize that I'm a strong person and that nothing is too difficult. The experience is like no other."

Maher, 35, of Yardley, Pa., was killed by an explosive device July 28 as he traveled in a convoy in Iraq. Stationed in Germany, he was deployed to Iraq on May 11 and told his father he was "shot at constantly."

"Like any red-blooded American, he wanted to be home, but he knew he had to be there and he wanted to do his job," his father said.

Army Pvt. Robert L. McKinley

Robert L. McKinley was raised by his grandfather, who last saw him around Christmas. Robert Feller thought then that he might not see his grandson again -- "At that time, I had cancer," Feller said.

"I wound up beating the odds," he said.

But McKinley, 23, of Kokomo, Ind., and stationed at Fort Campbell, died July 8 in Germany. He had suffered a heat stroke in Iraq in mid-June.

"The last thing he did before he headed out (to Iraq) was that he called me and my wife and said, 'Grandma and Grandpa, I love you,"' Feller said.

McKinley had enjoyed showing hogs as a 4-H member, but lacked a career focus as a young man. After enlisting in the Army, he thrived.

"This was his third trip over there," Feller said. "They told him that when he got home this time, they would give him his green beret."

Army Sgt. Heath A. McMillin

Heath A. McMillin was an accomplished athlete who loved the outdoors and poured his energy into whatever pursuit caught his imagination.

"In athletics he was very competitive, wanted to win, wanted to achieve in things he was interested in," said his former basketball coach, Richard Jones. "If he felt strongly about something, he would really go above and beyond in his effort in that area."

McMillin, 29, a National Guardsman from Canandaigua, N.Y., was killed July 27 in an attack south of Baghdad.

McMillin joined the armed forces out of high school in 1993 and was stationed at Camp Pendleton in the late 1990s. He was married and had three children, ages 7, 3 and 11 months.

McMillin had one weekend left in his National Guard duty when he was informed he would be heading to Iraq, his sister said.

"He was proud to do it and he knew that is what he had to do," said Kasandra McMillin, 21, of Biddeford, Maine.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class David J. Moreno

Petty Officer Moreno

David J. Moreno was getting some medical training in the Navy, but planned to leave the service next year to attend medical school.

"D.J. was a very gentle, very mild-mannered, soft spoken young man," said an aunt, Barbara Lopez of Gering, Neb. "His goal was to eventually was to finish his medical training and go into pediatrics."

Moreno, 26, of Gehring died July 17 in a non-hostile gun accident in Iraq. Moreno was assigned to the Naval Medical Center in San Diego as a corpsman.

Moreno joined the Navy in 1998 and was stationed for three years at naval hospital in Guam. He had been presented a Navy-Marine Corps Achievement medal for individual valor, said Lt. Commander Brauna Carl, a Navy spokeswoman.

"He was a funny person and always respectful," said an uncle, Alex Moreno.