Spc. Bangayan

Solomon C. Bangayan made his parents proud by joining the service shortly after moving to the United States from his native Philippines.

Bangayan, 24, lived briefly in the town of Jay, Vt., with his mother, Helen, stepfather, Victor Therrien, and younger sister, Hilda. He obtained a permanent residency visa, then joined the Army.

"We were just so proud of him coming from the Philippines for just a short time and wanting to serve the United States," Therrien said. "Coming from another country, he appreciated what we have here."

Bangayan, based at Fort Bragg, was killed Jan. 2 when his convoy was ambushed.

Friends and family said Bangayan wanted to go to nursing school and was weeks away from finishing his military service.

Army Sgt. Dennis A. Corral

Dennis A. Corral was not scheduled for deployment to Iraq until January, but he volunteered to go earlier in place of another soldier who was married and had children.

"He'll step forward if they need help," said his mother, Yolanda Corral. "He's always been like that."

Corral, 33, of Kearney, Neb., was killed Jan. 1 when his vehicle went out of control as it traveled in a convoy to Baghdad International Airport. He was deployed to Iraq in December.

Born in San Diego, Corral entered the Army in 1989 and later left the service to pursue other interests. He moved to Kearney in 1994, re-entered the Army in 1997 and had been stationed at Fort Riley since October.

After his death, his mother gathered with relatives to share memories.

"It's hard to believe he's gone," said Corral's brother, Peter. "But he did die doing what he loved to do."

Staff Sgt. Ricky L. Crockett

Staff Sgt. Crockett

After 20 years in the Army, Ricky L. Crockett was looking forward to serving out his remaining time in Iraq so he could retire from the military this summer. And one activity was definitely on his plate.

"He liked to cook for us -- he liked to cook greens and mostly everything, he loved to cook hog chitlins," said his sister, Catherine Brockington. "He liked to make pecan pies."

Crockett, 38, of Broxton, Ga., was killed Jan. 11 in Baghdad by an improvised explosive device. He was was stationed at Fort Bragg.

Samantha Crockett, another sister, said he had many friends.

"He was all smiles," she said. "Everybody got along with him. I don't think he had an enemy."

His survivors include his wife, Megan Crockett of Fayetteville, N.C., and his 14-year-old daughter, Marvise.

"I'm going to remember him with his big smile ... he always had an uplifting spirit," Brockington said.

Army Sgt. Craig Davis

Sgt. Davis

Two decades after joining the Army right out of high school, Craig Davis had been planning to retire in 2004.

He was on his way to Baghdad for a medical examination because of arm numbness when the Black Hawk helicopter he was in was shot down on Jan. 8, killing all nine on board.

Davis, 37, of Opelousas, La., was stationed at Fort Polk.

Survivors include his wife, Rosalind, and their two children.

Army Spc. Michael Diraimondo

Spc. Diraimondo

Michael A. Diraimondo had aspirations to work as a paramedic after his tour of duty in Iraq, where he served as an Army medic.

"He was at the peak of his life," said his father, Anthony Diraimondo. "He was like a sponge with knowledge. He had such a great, great attitude and felt so good about himself. I take some comfort that he died with the highest self-confidence in himself."

Diraimondo, 22, of Simi Valley, Calif., died Jan. 8 when the Black Hawk helicopter he was on was shot down near near Fallujah, Iraq. Eight others on board were killed.

Diraimondo was stationed at Fort Carson.

The elder Diraimondo, a veteran of the Vietnam War, said his son had recently sent an e-mail to one of his two older sisters.

"He thought a lot about the families back home and how he was helping to save lives," his father said.

Army Spc. Luke Frist

Spc. Frist

Luke Frist planned to enroll at Purdue University next fall to study landscape design.

"He loved to draw, and working outside with his hands. That's something he had a passion for and wanted to pursue as a career," said his sister Johanna Frist.

Frist, 20, of Brookston, Ind., died Jan. 5 from burns he suffered over 95 percent of his body when his fuel truck drove over a land mine near the city of Ar Ramadi, Iraq. He was with an Army Reserve unit in Lafayette, Ind.

Frist worked as a petroleum specialist, refueling Humvees and other military vehicles.

While he was interested in landscape design, he joined the Reserves out of a love for the military and a family tradition, his sister said. Their paternal grandfather served in World War II, and they have two cousins in the military.

"He died doing what he loved. He knew the sacrifices when he signed up, and he loved fighting for our freedom," Johanna Frist said.

Other survivors include his parents, Dennis and Patti Frist, and sister Erin.

Army Spc. Christopher A. Golby

Spc. Golby

Four days before he died in Iraq, Christopher A. Golby talked with his parents via Web camera.

"He was laughing. He was joking. It was great," said his father, Ronald Golby of Johnstown, Pa. "He loved his job. He loved to fly. I'm proud of him."

Ronald and Dawn Golby had gotten to see their son for a week in November, and were looking forward to his return home in March.

Golby, 26, was killed Jan. 8 when a Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopter went down near Fallujah, Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Carson.

Christopher Golby planned to become a pilot when he left the military, although his father said he thought of fostering his interest in computers and persuading him to work at his business in nearby Richland.

"He was always there to help me," Ronald Golby said.

Survivors also include his wife, Sonya, and sons Dylan and Sean.

Army Capt. Kimberly Hampton

Capt. Hampton

Back in third grade, Kimberly Hampton wrote a paper that described how she had always wanted to fly.

"We gave that to her as part of her graduation gift from Army flight school, and I think it pretty much blew her away that she had written such things as that as far back as the third grade," said her father, Dale Hampton.

Hampton, 27, of Easley, S.C., was killed Jan. 2 when the helicopter she was piloting was shot down near Fallujah, Iraq. Hampton, based at Fort Bragg, was the first female pilot killed in Iraq.

An honors graduate from Presbyterian College, she was the battalion commander of the ROTC unit there. Her leadership was clear even before then: In high school, she was president of the student body and captain of the tennis team.

Hampton was in her second term of military service, having earlier served in Korea and Afghanistan. She had planned to marry Army Capt. Will Braman when they both returned from Iraq.

"She was doing what she enjoyed doing. She was trained well, and she felt it an honor to serve her country," said her mother, Ann.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Gregory B. Hicks

Sgt. Hicks

Gregory B. Hicks enlisted in the Army less than a month after high school graduation, an adventurous 17-year-old who longed to see the world. He got his wish, serving for almost 19 years, traveling the globe and participating in both Iraq wars.

"He always talked about wanting to go and fly and going places that he'd never been to before," said his mother, Flora Hicks. "He said there wasn't anything out here for him."

Hicks, 35, of Duff, Tenn., was killed Jan. 8, one of nine soldiers killed when a medical transport helicopter was shot down south of Fallujah, Iraq. Hicks was on his way home to the United States for surgery after suffering shrapnel wounds and knee damage.

Hicks, based at Fort Hood, had decided to retire from the Army before he was wounded so he could spend more time with his wife, Melinda, and their children, Chris, 13, and Jennifer, 18.