Army Spc. Alyssa R. Peterson

Spc. Peterson

Alyssa R. Peterson was a woman of faith who had a gift for learning foreign languages.

"She was a quiet, very intelligent woman who asked a lot of good questions about life and religion," said Terry Leisek, who taught Peterson at a theological training center for members of the Mormon faith.

Peterson, 27, of Flagstaff, Ariz., died Sept. 15 from a non-combat weapons discharge in Iraq. She was stationed at Fort Campbell before being deployed to conduct interrogations and translate enemy documents.

Peterson graduated from Northern Arizona University in May 2001 with a degree in psychology. She was fluent in Dutch and easily mastered Arabic at the military's Defense Language Institute after enlisting in July 2001.

During her time at NAU, Peterson also attended the Flagstaff Institute of Religion, the theological training center.

"She was a very, very good lady who will be missed by a large number of friends," Leisek said.

Army Staff Sgt. Joseph E. Robsky Jr.

Sgt. Robsky

Joseph E. Robsky Jr. became a specialist in defusing bombs to help save civilians from the horrors of war.

"He was in Bosnia," said his mother, Bonnie Robsky. "He saw children with their arms and legs off, and he said that if he could prevent any of that from happening, he would."

Robsky, 31, who grew up in Elizaville, N.Y., died Sept. 10 when a bomb he was trying to disable exploded. He went to Iraq a year ago after spending two years at Fort Irwin.

Robsky served with the Marines for four years after graduating from high school. He was in the Reserves before joining the Army.

"I'm proud of him and loved him very much," his mother said. "I knew that he was happy with what he did. He always loved life and always wanted to help."

Army Staff Sgt. Cameron B. Sarno

Sgt. Sarno

Cameron B. Sarno was full of energy. After driving a truck all day, he would drop by to see his aunt and the two would talk late into the night. And his enthusiasm for the Reserves was boundless.

"He was gung-ho," said his aunt, Nancy Gurdison. "He really believed he should do something for his country."

Sarno, 43, of Las Vegas, was killed Sept. 1 while changing a flat tire on a heavy transport truck in Kuwait City, Kuwait. He had 19 years of combined active and Reserve duty in the Army.

Sarno, a native of Hawaii, joined the military soon after graduating from high school, following in the footsteps of his late father, James Sarno Sr. Sarno's son, Cameron Bryan "B.J." Takeuchi, served in Afghanistan.

"He always had a smile on his face," said Spc. Anthony Grimando. "There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for anybody. He was selfless."

Lt. Col. Anthony L. Sherman

Anthony L. Sherman had been in the military for more than 20 years. He was eligible for retirement before he was deployed to Kuwait City in February, but his wife said he probably would never have left the military.

"He loved it," Lisa Ann Sherman said. "He was very good at what he did."

Sherman, 43, of Pottstown, Pa., died Aug. 27 of a non-combat injury. He is also survived by his 8-year-old son, Anthony Grant.

Sherman, a member of the Pottstown Pacers Running Club, had been deployed with the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade, based in Philadelphia. Family friend Monica Weister said a part of Sherman's job was to make sure hospitals and other public buildings were being taken care of correctly.

Army Pfc. Christopher A. Sisson

Christopher A. Sisson loved to fly and planned to become a pilot when he returned from his stint overseas as a paratrooper. Upbeat and confident, he was known as a professional soldier who always did his duty.

Sisson, 20, of Oak Park, Ill., died Sept. 2 in Iraq when the helicopter he was riding in flipped and crashed on takeoff. He was stationed at Fort Bragg.

"He died doing something that he loved to do and wanted to be a part of," said Pfc. Jeremy Brown, one of his friends from the squad.

Brown said he and Sisson did everything together. In North Carolina, they hung out when they weren't working. In Iraq, they kept each other company on guard duty.

"He kept me going," Brown said. "He was motivated, determined and loyal. You could not ask any more from this guy. He did it all."

Army Spc. Paul J. Sturino

Spc. Sturino

For years, older brother Alonzo Sturino led and younger brother Paul Sturino followed -- from high school wrestling to joining the Army to going to Iraq.

The two were having a friendly race to see who would be the first promoted to sergeant, said their uncle, Duane Sturino of Kenosha, Wis.

Now, "Alonzo said he is even more motivated now because of Paul's death," Duane Sturino said.

Paul Sturino, 21, died Sept. 22 in Iraq after another soldier's firearm accidentally discharged. He grew up in Rice Lake, Wis., and was based at Fort Campbell.

Family members reminisced at his funeral about the happy boy who often spent summers in Kenosha, where the Sturino family is widely known and well-loved. He also spent three summers on the Barracuda Swim Team in Kenosha.

"He was a fun-loving, well-liked young man," Duane Sturino said.

Army Staff Sgt. Anthony Orlando Thompson

Sgt. Thompson

In his hometown of Orangeburg, S.C., Anthony Orlando Thompson was known as a quiet but friendly leader who always did the right thing.

"He was a fine kid in the neighborhood. He was respectful and disciplined. A loving son any mother would like to have," said neighbor Earl Fersner.

Thompson, 26, died Sept. 18 during a small arms and rocket-propelled grenade ambush five miles south of Tikrit, Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Hood.

Friend Morio Miller, 19, credited Thompson with keeping him on the "straight and narrow."

"Anthony was always on top of things. He was always trying to keep us out of trouble. He was a loving person."

Twenty-year-old Furman Mintz said Thompson was "like a big brother to me. We used to play ball together in the neighborhood; football, basketball, baseball. He was a nice guy."

Army Spc. Jarrett B. Thompson

Spc. Thompson

Jarrett B. Thompson worked hard but knew how to have fun, too. He appreciated good beer and good music, and was a guitar player himself.

"Elvis and the Grateful Dead were his favorites," said his wife, Kelly Thompson.

Thompson, 27, of Dover, Del., died Sept. 7 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center of injuries he suffered Aug. 30 in a vehicle accident in Iraq. He is also survived by two sons, ages 2 and 6.

Thompson served in the Army for two years after graduating from high school in 1993 and joined the Reserves in January 2000. Before being deployed overseas in April, he worked in computer animated design.

Neighbor Kevin Yingling recalled the first time he met Thompson.

"He came over wearing a tie-dye T-shirt and carrying two microbrews," Yingling said. "That's how he introduced himself."

A military history buff, Thompson recently had taken up brewing and golf, and was making plans to get his pilot's license.

"He was a good, wonderful husband and father," Kelly Thompson said. "He was our hero."

Army Spc. James C. Wright

Spc. Wright

James C. Wright was looking forward to becoming a father for the first time and was hoping to get home a few months after the birth of his son, expected in December.

"He was so excited about the baby," said his brother, Edward Wright II. "Now he won't ever have the chance to see him."

James Wright, 27, from suburban Cincinnati, was killed Sept. 18 during an ambush in Tikrit, Iraq. Wright, stationed at Fort Hood, had served two years in the Army after four years with the Marines.

Edward Wright II said he had been planning for his brother's return.

"I was going to let him think I couldn't get off work and then we were all going to be there in Texas when he got off the plane," he said.

Alina Wright, also based at Fort Hood, knew one thing for sure:

"I am going to tell our baby what a great dad he was," she said, "and how good of a man he was."

Army Sgt. Henry Ybarra III

Sgt. Ybarra III

Henry Ybarra III was the kind of guy who didn't let anything bother him, the kind whom people confided in.

"Everybody liked my son," said Mary Jane Hill, Ybarra's mother. "He was a kidder and a joker."

Ybarra, 32, of Austin, Texas, died Sept. 11 in Iraq when the tire he was changing on a military truck exploded. He spent the last year stationed in Germany with his wife and their three children.

Hank Ybarra learned of his son's death as he was observing a moment of silence for the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Ybarra's father said he wants his family to never forget that "he died protecting our country."

Said Hill: "My son made me very proud. ....He died defending the freedom (he) believed in."