Army Pfc. Clayton W Henson

Pfc. Henson

On Sept. 11, 2001, Clayton W. Henson was a fresh high school graduate looking for direction. The terrorist attacks of that day inspired him to find his path in the Army.

"Once he said, 'If somebody doesn't do something about this, who's going to?' " his stepbrother, Lex Lewis, said. "He had a strong sense of duty."

Henson, 20, of Stanton, Texas, died April 17 when his convoy was ambushed in the southern Iraqi city of Diwaniyah. He was based at Fort Polk.

Henson, an avid skier back in the U.S., told Lewis that the Army would be his way to contribute something positive to the world. "He said 'I know I'm not ready for college and I want to do something good."'

Army Chief Warrant Patrick W. Kordsmeier

Patrick W. Kordsmeier was up for retirement before war with Iraq, but asked for an extension, his family said.

"My dad ... said, in some way, he hoped to help free the Iraqi people," said his daughter, Jennifer Kordsmeier-Legate.

Kordsmeier, 49, of North Little Rock, Ark., was killed early April 24 mortar rounds hit Camp Cooke where he was stationed north of Baghdad. He was based in Hazen, Ark.

He enlisted in the National Guard at age 17 and was a full-time officer.

"He was there for a higher purpose. Unfortunately, there's evil in the world. He taught me that's just how life is," his daughter said. "He wouldn't hold a grudge because of what happened."

In Iraq as in Arkansas, Kordsmeier was in charge of keeping track of military supplies and issuing weapons and equipment to the various units.

His daughter said other soldiers' families tell her Kordsmeier saved several others from earlier rocket attacks before being hit. She said her father "died helping his friends, which was very appropriate for the type of man he was."

Army Sgt. Elmer Krause

Sgt. Krause

At Elmer Krause's memorial service, former wife Suzette Winkler talked about his favorite things -- his son, the San Francisco Giants, "whenever Jeff Gordon wins a race, sitting by the ocean, ... thick chocolate milkshakes, Bob Marley and eating at Cracker Barrel."

"Elmer would have been surprised at the number of people around the country who have shown support for his family and friends," she said. "For 13 long days, our family hoped and prayed to hear that Elmer had been found safe. But God had another plan for Elmer."

Krause was declared dead April 24, about two weeks after his convoy was attacked in Iraq. The 40-year-old Army reservist was from Greensboro, N.C.

Survivors include his 9-year-old son, Jonathan.

Krause, who worked as a truck driver, was remembered by his fellow reservists as a humble, friendly man who was dedicated to military service. He spent about seven years in the Navy before joining the reserves just over a year ago.

"His personality made us feel he'd been there for a long time," said reservist Jay Kitts, adding that Krause had repeatedly asked to serve in Iraq.

But Krause's greatest love, Kitts said, was his son.

"He loved you very much, and couldn't wait until the time he could be back with you," Kitts told the boy.

Army Spc. Michael A. McGlothin

Spc. McGlothin

Growing up, Michael A. McGlothin was the skinny kid with big glasses who always worked hard at school.

"That kid couldn't cast a shadow," his uncle, Kenneth McGlothin, said. "He's built like a shoelace."

McGlothin, 21, of Milwaukee, died April 17 when an explosive went off near his patrol in Baghdad. He was based at Fort Hood.

The skinny kid grew into an energetic teenager who loved music. He played the guitar in a garage band and was learning how to play the banjo, an instrument his grandfather played. He wanted to go to college after his military service to become a producer in the record industry.

He decided to join the Army after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and went on active duty in January 2002 after serving in the Army Reserve.

Michael McGlothin was born in Hartford and raised in Friess Lake and Milwaukee.

Army Spc. Kenneth A. Melton

Spc. Melton

Officers in Kenneth A. Melton's unit referred to him as a "grunt," but offered him the highest praise for his position: "He always did his job," said retired Sgt. Larry Engles, who served with Melton on a peacekeeping mission in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

The 30-year-old from Batesville, Ark., was killed when a roadside bomb detonated near Sadr City April 25. He was based in Fordyce, Ark.

Melton, who was raised in Thayer, Mo., worked as a truck driver for Dowell Transport Inc.

Army Spc. Dennis Morgan

Spc. Morgan

Dennis Morgan loved cars and motorcycles. His 1975 Ford pickup was a great source of pride.

He and his wife, Cassie Morgan, planned to move to South Dakota so he could attend mechanic school and she could pursue a nursing degree.

Morgan, 22, of Valentine, Neb., was killed April 17 when a roadside bomb exploded south of Baghdad. He had been a member of the South Dakota National Guard for four years.

"He was a wonderful man, a hero, very loving and always happy," his wife said.

Cassie Morgan said her husband was in good spirits the last time she talked with him on April 8. He even mentioned coming home in July or August for a two-week leave, she said.

"I know where he's at now," she said. "I know he's safe and he's looking down at me."

Army Staff Sgt. Billy J. Orton

Billy J. Orton was known for constantly chewing tobacco, having his glasses slip down his nose and being able to find supplies no matter how disorganized they were. His mother, Dorothy, said her son used to visit her and work on her cabinets.

"What I'm going to miss the most is him coming in the house," she said.

Orton, 41, of Carlisle, Ark., was killed early April 24 when mortar rounds hit Camp Cooke where he was stationed north of Baghdad. He was based in Hazen, Ark.

Navy Petty Officer Michael Pernaselli

Petty Officer Pernaselli

Although they hadn't seen each other for almost three years, Michael Pernaselli, a Navy petty officer, and his elder brother, John, an Army captain, never passed up a chance to rib each other about their military career choices.

"It was a big joke between the two of them as to who was the better, the Navy or the Army," said their father, John, his voice wavering with emotion.

Michael Pernaselli, 27, was one of three Navy and Coast Guard servicemen killed April 24 in a waterborne suicide attack on an Iraqi oil terminal.

Pernaselli grew up in Brighton, N.Y., and joined the military after high school. He had previously toured the Persian Gulf and Kosovo and, in January, was sent back to the Gulf to serve on the USS Firebolt.

He once excelled at splatball and was a devoted pro wrestling fan: "That was kind of like his release," his father said with a laugh.

Pernaselli, who was divorced, had custody of his daughters, ages 3 and 4, who are living with their grandparents. When he called home a few days before his death, "he just wanted to talk to his two girls and see how they're doing," his father said.

Army Sgt. Lawrence Roukey

Sgt. Roukey

Lawrence Roukey served three years in the Army after high school, then moved on to other work. After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, he signed up with the Army Reserve.

"It was a cause he believed in," said his sister, Dotty Roukey. "I told him, 'Make sure you're ducking and bobbing."'

Roukey, 33, of Westbrook, Maine, died April 26 in an explosion in Iraq, where he had arrived six weeks earlier.

Military service was a tradition for Roukey's family. His father was a Korean War veteran and his grandfather was a career military man.

Roukey served as a corrections officer in Maine and Vermont, then joined the U.S. Postal Service.

"The pride he felt in the military, he showed it at work," said Lance Farago, a co-worker at the main post office in Portland.

Survivors include his wife, Ryann, 2-year-old son, Nicholas, and 15-year-old stepdaughter, Sonya.

Marine Lance Cpl. Michael J. Smith Jr.

Cpl. Smith

Michael J. Smith Jr.'s six-month break between his two tours in Iraq was a busy time. He married Alicia Matias, whom he'd known since high school, and he became close with her 2-year-old daughter, Elizabeth. After he returned to Iraq in February, Alicia discovered she was pregnant.

"He changed diapers and everything. I couldn't believe it," Alice Minto said of her grandson. He was looking forward to parenting, she said.

The 21-year-old from Wintersville, Ohio, was killed April 17 in hostile action in Iraq's Anbar province. He was stationed at Twentynine Palms.

In high school, Smith played football and volunteered at the local fire department. When he was old enough, he became a volunteer firefighter.

Smith was a "solid citizen, the person who you'd want to be your next-door neighbor," said Ernestine Gorby, a guidance counselor at his Wellsburg, W.Va., high school. "He was reliable. He was serious about school," she said.

"He was like a son to us," said Tom DeGarmo Jr., former Bethany Pike Fire Department Chief.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Watts

Petty Officer Watts

Christopher Watts followed his father and grandfather into the Navy when he joined at age 18.

To his mother, Brenda Rainwater, it was pretty clear why he chose the path he did: "I think probably because his dad and his grandfather, they talked a lot about the Navy," she said.

Watts, 28, of Knoxville, Tenn., was killed April 24 when a small boat he was boarding exploded near an Iraqi oil terminal. He and another sailor killed in the attack were assigned to the USS Firebolt out of Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in Virginia Beach.

Watts, who had talked about pursuing a career as a visual artist, liked to write science fiction stories and filled several notebooks, his mother said.

Survivors include a 5-year-old son.

Army Pfc. Marquis A. Whitaker

Pfc. Whitaker

Marquis A. Whitaker wasn't afraid of serving in Iraq. He had his religious faith to help him through, and took a Bible with him when he left for Iraq from Columbus, Ga.

"It showed you where to look for verses when you're worried or scared," said his father, Anthony Whitaker.

Whitaker, 20, died April 27 in a vehicle accident in Scania, Iraq. A motor transport operator, he was stationed at Fort Polk.

Whitaker had planned to be home April 14, but had his tour extended for 90 to 100 days.

Father and son had chatted for about 30 minutes the day before Whitaker was killed.

"He sounded in good spirits," the father said. "He was happy. He had just talked to his girlfriend."

Marine Lance Cpl. Ruben Valdez Jr.

Cpl. Valdez

When Ruben Valdez Jr. returned to his hometown last fall to marry a childhood playmate, the residents of San Diego, Texas, gave him a parade, cheering him as he rode in the back of a convertible.

"He was always behaved, had a lot of friends -- just a pleasant boy to be around," said Luis Pizzini, the principal of San Diego High School, where Valdez graduated in 2001. He remembered the Marine as a "respectful young man" and "an excellent son."

The 21-year-old was killed April 17 in a hostile attack in Iraq's Anbar province. He was stationed at Twentynine Palms.

School secretary Connie Perez remembered how, as a first-grader, Valdez was too shy to step off the school bus unless she held his hand.

"Ruben was just a sweet, goodhearted boy," said Lala Perez, whose daughter went to school with the Marine.

Valdez grew up on the same block as Army Spc. Jose Amancio Perez III, killed May 28 in a convoy ambush. The childhood friends were buried steps apart.

Marine Lance Cpl. Gary F. Van Leuven

When Gary F. Van Leuven called his mother after being injured in March, he didn't want her to worry.

"He said, 'I got a Purple Heart today. It's just a little scratch,"' Christine Dybevik recalled. It was only later that Dybevik learned her son had been 10 feet from a mortar round.

The 20-year-old from Klamath Falls, Ore., was killed April 17 in a hostile attack in Iraq's Anbar province. He was stationed at Twentynine Palms.

The Marine was a star athlete in his Klamath Falls high school. He earned his football varsity letter as a freshman and won 90 percent of his wrestling matches, his mother said.

"He was the stud of his school," said Capt. Fay Hutchison, executive officer of the Marines recruiting division in Portland, Ore.

Attending the Marine Corps Ball after his first six-month deployment to Iraq in 2003, Van Leuven met Jaqueline Trujillo, 18. The two planned to marry, and Van Leuven hoped to become a teacher, his mother said.

"He came home, met a girl -- fell in love," Dybevik said. "He didn't want to go back. But when the Marines call, you go."

Army Sgt. Brian M. Wood

Sgt. Wood

Brian M. Wood was a quiet and sensitive history buff, friends and family said. When his family's cat was sick, he stayed with the animal for hours, comforting it before it died.

"He was someone who would always be there," said Kevin McDonald, a friend since childhood. "He was just a genuinely great person. I couldn't have asked for a better friend."

The 21-year-old combat engineer from Torrance, Calif., was killed April 16 in Tikrit, Iraq, apparently by a land mine. He was stationed in Schweinfurt, Germany.

The soldier "believed in what he was doing," said his father, Greg Wood. "He was so sure of that. He was so sure he was doing good."

In a letter to his uncle the week of his death, Wood wrote of his satisfaction with his work. "The large majority of the Iraqi people, they want us here, and they want us to help them rebuild," he wrote. "That always makes me feel good about being here."