Army Sgt. Michael D. Acklin II

Sgt. Acklin

Michael D. Acklin II was a man of "quiet peace" who dreamed of joining the ministry and hoped to attend Bible college after the Army, said Bishop Michael Ford Sr., his pastor. He "fought the good fight of a soldier and he fought the good fight of faith," Ford said.

"He fought and died trusting in Jesus," Michael Acklin Sr. said of his son. "That was what motivated his life."

Acklin, 25, of Louisville, Ky., died Nov. 15 when two Black Hawk helicopters collided in Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Campbell.

When he'd come home from Army training, it was clear he had matured.

"My husband would always tell his grandson, 'You're not a man until you go in the service. The service will make a man out of you,"' Barbara Acklin said. "And when Michael entered and when he did come back home, we saw that change."

Acklin is also survived by his mother.

Army Spc. Genaro Acosta

The twin explosions that killed Genaro Acosta on Veterans Day destroyed even his wedding ring, but they left his gold cross intact.

"Everywhere he went, he would not take that cross off," his brother Fernando Acosta said. "He was a very strong believer in God."

Acosta, 26, of Fair Oaks, Calif., was killed Nov. 11 when his vehicle hit two explosives in Taji, Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Hood.

The avid Los Angeles Lakers fan with a fondness for the cartoon character Scooby Doo "felt very strongly about helping other people out," Fernando Acosta said. He reenlisted this year despite his concern over the dangers because "he figured it was the right thing to do," his brother said.

"I know that he did not die in vain," said his widow, Roxanne Longoria Acosta. "He was proud of what he did."

Army Staff Sgt. Nathan J. Bailey

Sgt. Bailey

As an associate minister, Nathan J. Bailey hoped to rid the neighborhood around his church of drugs. As a maintenance worker for public housing projects in Nashville, Tenn., he was always on-call.

"Whenever he was needed, he was always the one they would call," said his friend Sherrell Batey. "Nathan would always go, no matter the hour and no matter the weather."

Bailey, 46, died Nov. 12 while on guard duty at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait from a non-hostile gunshot wound." The Army is investigating. His National Guard company was based in Tullahoma, Tenn.

Bailey sang with the Tennessee chapter of Gospel Music Worship of America, but his family teased him for not always having the best rhythm when clapping, said Robbie Snapp, his sister.

The anti-drug program Bailey planned to work on will likely be named for him, said his pastor, Freeman Jeter.

"One of the last times one of the members spoke to him, he let them know he was in a safe area and that he had gotten stronger in the Lord," Jeter said.

Survivors include his wife, Pat.

Even before Scott Matthew Tyrrell's first day of boot camp, family members could see he believed his decision to join the Army was the right one.

He "really felt like he found his niche when he enlisted in the Army," said his aunt, Mary Beth Mitchell of Elgin, Ill. "After he decided to enlist, we saw such a transformation in him."

Arnold Tyrrell of Polo, Ill., said that before his son enlisted the boy would blow off his schoolwork. After he decided to enlist, "all of a sudden he buckled down, did what was necessary."

"It just seemed like he needed something to focus on," the elder Tyrrell said.

Tyrrell, 21, of Sterling, Ill., was mortally wounded Nov. 14 in Tikrit, Iraq, while operating an armored earth mover, his father said. He died Nov. 20 at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Tyrrell had been in the Army since the summer after he graduated from high school. He was stationed at Fort Hood.

Survivors include his father and his stepmother, Kathleen Tyrrell of Polo; his mother, Susan Tyrrell of Forreston, Ill.

Army Spc. Ryan Travis Baker

Spc. Baker

Ryan Travis Baker was so passionate about the helicopters he served on as crew chief and gunner that he would talk to his mother in great detail about the vehicles.

"I can tell you anything you want to know about them," Victoria Baker said.

The 24-year-old from Browns Mills, N.J., died Nov. 15 when two Black Hawk helicopters collided in Iraq. He was based at Fort Campbell.

When Baker's father died of a heart attack in October, he returned from Iraq to be with his family. His last words to his mother before he left were to not worry about him.

"He was my best friend in the whole world," his mother said.

Baker was itching to return to Iraq and to his crew members, his uncle Michael Ewing said. "He told us when he left, 'We will get Saddam,"' Ewing said.

Army Spc. Robert T. Benson

Spc. Benson

Robert T. Benson enjoyed playing sports and spending time with his family.

"He was a good man and an excellent soldier," said Sean Sorin, a fellow soldier who flew from Iraq for the funeral. "He will never be forgotten."

Benson, 20, died Nov. 4 of a non-hostile gunshot wound sustained at a checkpoint in Iraq. He was based at Smith Barracks, Germany.

He was born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and attended schools in Spokane, Wash. Benson joined the Army in July 2001, shortly after graduating from high school. He married a high school classmate, Aimee Hiatt, last December.

"I wish Bobby could have had children," his stepsister, Alexandra, said. "I wish he could have seen his brothers and sisters get married."

Army Staff Sgt. Stephen A. Bertolino

Stephen A. Bertolino was a man who would do anything to help others -- from fellow soldiers to strangers.

"He could never drive past anyone stopped on the road without stopping to help them," said his wife, Susan Bertolino. His fellow soldiers told his wife how Bertolino worked to get them hot water, a luxury not all platoons had.

Bertolino, 40, was killed Nov. 29 when his cargo truck was ambushed in Haditha, Iraq. He grew up in El Cajon, Calif., and was stationed at Fort Carson.

Bertolino, who followed in the footsteps of his father and his grandfather by joining the military, volunteered as a reserve deputy sheriff while stationed at Hunter Army Airfield.

"He wanted to give service to the community in which he lived," said fellow officer Judy Tyree.

Bertolino deployed to Iraq in March, days after burying his mother, who had died of cancer.

He is survived by his wife and four children: Stephen Anthony Jr., 13; Daniel, 12; Karina, 7; and Jason, 6.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Kelly Bolor

Kelly Bolor's family and friends were planning for a November visit from the supply specialist when they learned he had died in Iraq.

He "was the kind of person who the first time you met him you felt like you knew him all his life," said Alena Bolor, his sister-in-law. "He was the friendliest person you could meet."

Bolor, 37, died Nov. 15 when two Black Hawk helicopters collided in Iraq. The Lahaina, Hawaii, native was stationed at Fort Campbell.

"He was really grateful to be able to fight for his country," Maxie Bolor said of his twin. "He felt it was the right thing to do."

Bolor lived in Whittier, Calif., with his wife -- also Kelly -- and their 3-year-old son, Kyle.

"He always had a smile on his face. I'll never forget the smile," family friend Anna Kaahunui Dizon said.

Army Pfc. Damian S. Bushart

Damian S. Bushart came from a family of proud military men. His father served in Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm, his grandfather and an uncle in World War II and Korea. So nobody was too suprised when Bushart enlisted in August 2002.

"We are warriors. We took an oath to follow our orders from the commander in chief and that's what we do," said his father, John "Skip" Bushart.

Bushart, 22, was killed Nov. 22 when a tank collided with his vehicle in Baghdad.

He grew up in Waterford Township, Mich., playing football in high school and serving in the Civil Air Patrol. He was a personable young man, family say, with friends who loved him dearly.

He "was an outstanding person," said longtime friend Chip Taylor." I loved this guy. I'd do anything for him, and he'd do anything for me."

Survivors include his wife and young son.

Army Spc. James A. Chance III

James A. Chance III didn't want his counterparts with spouses or children to risk themselves driving through dangerous territory in Iraq, family pastor Jimmy Jones said. So the Mississippi National Guardsman volunteered to lead his convoy.

"He would do without so that someone could have. That's the way he was raised," older brother Allen Chance said.

The 25-year-old from Kokomo, Miss., was killed Nov. 6 when his truck hit a land mine near the Syrian border.

Chance usually stayed close to his parents' home, helping to care for his wheelchair-bound father, who had served in Vietnam. The last conversation Allen Chance had with his brother was about their ailing grandmother.

"He was worried about her and he was trying to get it where he could come home for a few days to see her," he said. "He never could get around to it."

He is survived by his father, James Jr., and his mother, Patricia Ann.

Army Cpl. Gary Brent Coleman

Gary Brent Coleman didn't tell his family he was getting married. He just did it. He joined the military the same way.

"Nothing surprised me about Brent, because he was always doing things that surprised me," said his mother, Janie Johnson.

The 24-year-old tank driver died Nov. 21 near Balad, Iraq, when his Humvee flipped into a canal during a vehicle chase. He was from Pikeville, Ky., and was stationed at Fort Carson.

Coleman was already a hero in his hometown, where the high school football running back was the all-time leading rusher and scorer. His teammates called him "Rocket," for his speed.

"He didn't lack for confidence," said his father, Gary Coleman.

And he didn't show fear, his Army buddies said, even under fire.

Whatever he felt, he kept it to himself. "I never did see him cry," his father said. "He might break down by himself, but he never showed it."

Survivors include his wife, Kirsten.

Army Staff Sgt. Gary L. Collins

Those close to Gary L. Collins remember a man with a strong sense of honor and personal duty, a man who chose a military career because he wanted to protect the world.

"He was just a hell of a man," said his father, Don Collins.

Collins, 32, of Hardin, Texas died Nov. 8 when the vehicle he was riding in hit an explosive. He was stationed at Fort Riley.

Collins was a professional soldier with a stack of medals and commendations to show for his 12 years in the Army. When he was sent to Iraq in September, family members hoped his experience would help keep him safe.

"I figured his odds of surviving were way better than the average person that hadn't had the training he had," his father said.

Survivors inlcude his wife, Kassie, and two daughters, 8-year-old Taylor and 6-year-old Landry.

Army Chief Warrant Officer Alexander S. Coulter

Scott Coulter was "a good all-around guy -- the best of the crop," in the words of his grandmother.

Coulter, who grew up in Bristol, Tenn., and was stationed at Fort Hood, was killed Nov. 17 when his vehicle struck a homemade land mine on the way to Baqubah, Iraq.

Coulter, 35, was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. He joined the Army in 1987 after graduating from high school and had served in Somalia, Bosnia and Operation Desert Storm.

Coulter met his wife, Robin, while both were stationed in Germany. They were married 12 years. He had two daughters, Shenna and Hannah, and a stepdaughter, Cindy.

Family and friends had been hopeful that Coulter would remain safe.

"He said he was doing all right, and that he didn't have to go out real often," said his grandmother, Mrs. Stuart Coulter.

Army Capt. Nathan S. Dalley

Capt. Dalley

Nathan S. Dalley wasn't the stay-at-home type. After graduating from West Point in 1998 he backpacked through Europe and took part in the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain.

"He wanted to explore everything and see everything," recalled his sister, Alicia Schroeder. "He was full of life."

Dalley, 27, died of a non-hostile gunshot wound Nov. 17 in Baghdad.

After graduating from high school in Sandy, Utah, Dalley wanted to become a Naval officer so he could fly F-16s, but his eyesight was too poor. He chose the Army instead and hoped to become a Ranger with the Special Forces.

"He wasn't afraid to fight, he wasn't afraid to go to war," Schroeder said. "He had been trained excellently to do this job."

Survivors include his fiancee, Kristen Barnekov.

Army Spc. Jeremy DiGiovanni

Spc. DiGiovanni

Jeremy DiGiovanni loved his work with helicopters in Iraq -- both the thrill, and the meaning of his service there.

"What he was doing was very important to him," said his father, Joe DiGiovanni. "It was 250 miles an hour, pants on fire with both doors open -- he was a Black Hawk crew chief and he lived to get in that helicopter and fly."

The 21-year-old DiGiovanni, from Pricedale, Miss., died Nov. 15 when two Black Hawk helicopters collided in Iraq. He was based at Fort Campbell.

"I will remember him as a great guy," his father said. "He was always humorous and jovial. He never liked to see anybody with their feelings hurt or upset."

DiGiovanni said that when he spoke to his son in Iraq, "I got the impression he was extremely busy, working very hard. And I think he tried to keep stories and rhetoric to a minimum so not to make us worry."

Army Spc. William D. Dusenbery

William D. Dusenbery was devoted to flying and hoped to eventually become a pilot.

"It was like he lived to be around the aircraft," said his fiancee, Jessica Wheat. "The Black Hawk and other aircraft, it was like they were a part of that man like his left arm."

Dusenbery, 30, who was based at Fort Campbell, was one of 17 soldiers killed Nov. 15 in Iraq when two Black Hawk helicopters collided.

Wheat said Dusenbery, who went by his middle name Dave, hoped to make the military his career so that he could continue to fly helicopters.

She said the only thing "he put above his helicopters was his girls," referring to his 11-year-old stepdaughter and 7-year-old daughter, who live with their mother in California.

Dusenbery, who was from Fairview Heights, Ill, was literally born into the military. His father said he was in the Navy stationed in Virginia when his son was born there.