Army Sgt. Brandon E. Adams

When Brandon E. Adams managed to speak to few words to his family, they hoped the worst had passed.

He had been badly injured Feb. 16 in Fallujah when a grenade exploded as he was clearing a house. Doctors in Baghdad were able to remove six pieces of shrapnel from his head, but they had to leave three pieces behind and remove parts of his skull.

He spent the next several months in hospitals in Germany and the United States.

"He was improving very slowly. His mind was good and all his vital signs were fine," said Melda Bricker, Adams' grandmother. "He had started to say a few words."

Adams, 22, of Hollidaysburg, Pa., died Sept. 19 at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He was based at Fort Drum.

A 2000 high school graduate, Adams enlisted in the Army after graduation and served for more than two years in Alaska. Adams wrestled during high school and liked camping and hiking.

He is survived by his parents.

Army Spc. Clarence Adams III

Clarence Adams III was the kind of guy who always made time to phone a younger sibling.

"He would tell me never to stoop to a low level, to always carry myself with respect," said his brother, Mykale Adams. "He was always looking out for me, no matter where he was."

Adams, 28, of Richmond, Va., died Sept. 7 when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb. He died the day after his birthday, which he shared with twin sister Pamela, a doctoral student.

Adams, who loved Cheese Nips and Slim Jims, was a star running back in high school. He went to Virginia Union University on a partial athletic scholarship and joined the Army to help pay for the rest of his education. He was deployed to Kosovo twice and was based at Fort Hood.

"He was a true soldier," said his father, Clarence Adams Jr. "He wanted to do right, he wanted to make a difference in the world, and that's why he went."

His oldest daughter, Indya, 8, agreed: "He always thought of others before himself. He loved you no matter what."

Adams also is survived by his wife, Tanja, and five other children, Aaron, LaShawndra, Oshea, Savannah and Asya.

Marine Lance Cpl. Michael Allred

Cpl. Allred

When Michael Allred's family went to the Salt Lake City airport to meet him after his first tour of duty in Iraq, Allred stood next to them, unnoticed, pretending to be looking for someone else.

Known as the family joker and fashion expert, he wanted to be in the military or law enforcement for as long as his family can remember. "Knowing that he believed in what he was doing, and he was where he wanted to be -- that makes it a little better," said his brother, Brad.

Michael Allred, 22, of Hyde Park, Utah, was killed in a car-bomb attack Sept. 6 near Fallujah. The Camp Pendleton-based Marine had been scheduled to leave the service in January after his four-year term expired.

"He was looking forward to coming home and being done, but he didn't regret his service," Brad Allred said. "He was happy to serve, and he knew what he was doing was right."

Family members said Michael had talked of becoming a teacher or having a career in law enforcement -- after taking a few long motorcycle rides.

He is survived by his parents, Brett and Zellene Allred.

Army Spc. Yoe M. Aneiros

One night in Iraq, pinned down in their fortifications, Yoe M. Aneiros and the other soldiers in his unit got to talking. For some reason, the conversation drifted to kites.

Their staff sergeant confessed he'd never flown one.

The next morning, when the sergeant approached his men, up high in the desert sky fluttered a kite made from some sticks, a plastic bag, and a length of string. Aneiros held it out to him.

"I taught him to be a soldier, and he taught me how to love," said Sgt. William Ruth.

Aneiros, 20, of Newark, N.J., died Sept. 7 -- his birthday -- in Sadr City when his vehicle came under attack. He was stationed at Fort Riley.

Aneiros came from Cuba along with his mother seeking a better life, said Armando Aneiros, a relative. He enlisted in the Army in September 2002 and relatives said he hoped to become a doctor. He was counting on the military to help pay the way.

"He was one of those guys who never have a 'no' for you. He always had a smile on his face," said Armando Aneiros.

He is survived by his wife, Alexandra.

Marine Cpl. Mick R. Bekowsky

Cpl. Bekowsky

A world away from his little sister, Mick R. Bekowsky sounded tired and homesick in calls home from Iraq, but he always asked Haley, 12, how her softball team was doing.

"They were eight years apart and had two different lives," Brian Bekowsky said of his children. "They both thought they'd have plenty of time to be brother and sister."

The 21-year-old assaultman from Concord, Calif., was killed Sept. 6 by a car bomb in Iraq's Anbar province. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton.

The Marine liked to race cars, hunt and fish. His father said he wanted to be "the life of the party."

"He was a macho 21-year-old boy who thought he was immortal," said his mother, Joan Bekowsky.

Bekowsky enlisted a month after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, shortly after graduating from high school. He was killed weeks before he was due to return home.

"He was the boy next door, the boy you went to high school with, the guy who works at McDonald's," the Marine's father said. "We picture them as soldiers carrying M-16s, but they're boys."

Air Force Capt. John J. Boria

Capt. Boria

In death, John J. Boria offered life to others.

Boria, 29, of Broken Arrow, Okla., died Sept. 6 of injuries he suffered when a recreational all-terrain vehicle he was driving over sand dunes crashed near Doha, Qatar. He was based at Grand Forks.

Boria was an organ donor and several of his organs were made available for others. "He was filled with valor and kindness. He was always doing something for somebody else," said family friend Marcia Allison.

Boria graduated in 1993 from high school and his dreams of one day flying began to materialize when he joined the Air Force, graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs in 1998.

While at the academy, he and other classmates had a special inscription put inside their graduation rings: "A friend that sticks closer than a brother."

At his funeral, the song "I Believe I can Fly" was played and old photos were shown capturing him as a schoolboy in a flight uniform that was much too big.

He is survived by his parents, John and Wanda Boria.

Marine Lance Cpl. Aaron Boyles

Cpl. Boylves

Soon before he was scheduled to come home from Iraq, Aaron Boyles asked his wife to hold the phone to her pregnant belly so he could send kisses to their unborn child.

"He was going to teach him how to play football. He was going to spoil him," said Boyles' wife, Prabha. She said her husband wanted to name the baby Brendon.

Aaron Boyles, 24, of Alameda, Calif., was killed Sept. 24 by enemy fire in Anbar Province. He was based at Twentynine Palms, Calif.

He was born and raised in Oregon, and moved the Bay Area his senior year of high school to live with his mother. He was earlier awarded a Purple Heart but wouldn't tell his family what the medal was for because he didn't want to worry them.

The young window said she knew what she was getting into as the wife of a Marine. Boyles had already enlisted when they met at a Wal-Mart where they both worked about two years ago.

They got married in Reno, Nev., on July 4, 2003. Boyles, who was in boot camp, picked the patriotic date. He was deployed to Iraq on Feb. 6.

Boyles also is survived by Prabha's 5-year-old son, Derek.

Marine Lance Cpl. Dominic C. Brown

Cpl. Brown

Dominic C. Brown's last care package was to have included his favorites: John Grisham books, red licorice, Goldfish crackers and pictures from home.

"I just never got it sent," said Brigette Brown, his mother.

Brown, 19, of Austin, Texas, died Sept. 13 from noncombat injuries near Anbar Province. He graduated high school last year and was stationed at Camp Pendleton.

"He was loving, friendly, hard-working, energetic," his mother said. "Anything he ever did, he did 100 percent. He was a great artist. He loved art. He was great at drawing. He felt things from the heart."

Christina Srisen, 19, knew Brown since sixth grade.

"There were plenty of girls who had crushes on him," she said. "He flirted all the time with all the girls. He was just a goofy person. He always made you laugh."

Staff Sgt. Jose Cansino, who attended Brown's funeral also saw another side: "He stood out from other Marines. He was unique. He could've done something with his life."

Brown also is survived by his father, Ken, and brother Stewart.

Army 1st Lt. Tyler H. Brown

Brent Brown said his kid brother Tyler "fell in love with politics and our political system" on a trip to Washington while the older brother worked as a summer intern for the late Sen. Paul Coverdell.

High school classmates considered Tyler H. Brown a "politician in the making."

"He was patriotic, red, white and blue to the core, and we figured he could be president someday," said Jonathan Cooper, a friend.

Brown, of Atlanta, was killed Sept. 14 when his unit came under attack in Ramadi, west of Baghdad, Iraq. He was 26.

"He died for the country he loved, doing what he wanted to do," Brent Brown said. "He became a role model to me."

Tyler Brown became student body president at Georgia Tech, where he joined the ROTC and graduated with dual degrees in management and in history, society and technology. Commissioned from the ROTC program, he was stationed in Tongduchon City, Korea.

He is survived by his parents, Carey and Sally Brown. His family has established a scholarship fund in his name at Georgia Tech.

Marine Pfc. David P. Burridge

Pfc. Burridge

When David P. Burridge was a high school freshman, a fellow student was diagnosed with leukemia and a fund-raising drive was held. What happened next shocked even Burridge's friends.

"David brought his entire pay check, and endorsed it over to us," said Debbie Hargrave, an English teacher at Lafayette High School. "That was on Friday. The next Monday, he brought us his entire allowance for the month."

Burridge, 19, of Lafayette, La., died Sept. 6 when his vehicle was attacked north of Fallujah. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton.

Burridge graduated in 2003 and joined the Marines in January.

Janine Neck, a teacher in the gifted program at the school, remembers Burridge approaching her with a mission. "He came to me, because his goal was to learn how to read better," she said. "He set the goal and he achieved it. That's the kind of person David was."

He is survived by his parents, George and Yvette.

"They only make a few special kids and he was one," said his father. "He was always a good kid, the kind you wish, in the world, that he would be here a long, long time."

Marine Lance Cpl. Steven C.T. Cates

Lance Cpl. Cates

High school band director Tony Cox instantly knew there was something special about Steven C.T. Cates. He was one of those kids who would say "yes, sir" or "no sir" and never forget to keep in touch.

"He was very dedicated and kind. He was unique in that he'd come back and visit," said Cox. "He'd check in and let me know what was going on."

Cates, 22, of Mount Juliet, Tenn., died Sept. 20 during fighting in Anbar Province. He was based at Twentynine Palms.

"He was a true Boy Scout," said Phillip Shaw, Cates' stepfather. "He was trustworthy; he'd go an extra mile for his friends."

Cates, known as Tyler, graduated high school in 2001, was an Eagle Scout and played baritone horn in the band. He joined the Marines eight days after the 2001 terrorist attacks.

"He was the light of my life. He was my son, my pal, my friend. He loved America. He wanted to defend his country and wanted to go over there and give them what we have," said his father, Steve Cates.

Cates also is survived by his wife, Lisa.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class David A. Cedergren

Petty Officer Cedergren

David A. Cedergren was the kind of guy who would share his care packages from home if he noticed a fellow sailor without one.

"Dave would have given anything he would have owned to anybody at any time," brother Brad Cedergren said. "And he has a smile that would cheer anybody up, no matter what they were going through."

Cedergren, 25, of South St. Paul, Minn., died Sept. 11 after being found unconscious in a shower. The cause of his collapse was under investigation.

Cedergren, based at Camp Lejeune, liked cars, motorcycles, rebuilding motors and tae kwan do. He planned to go back to school to become a nurse anesthetist.

"This guy was amazing. He was absolutely everything that anybody would want as a friend," said brother Barry Cedergren. "He didn't go over there as someone to kill. He went over there because he wanted to help people."

In March, Cedergren went to Iraq, a place he joked was the land of "long, never-ending sandy beaches," said his sister Jodi Jensen.

He also is survived by his father and stepmother, Bart and Pam Cedergren, and mother Deb Cedergren.

Army Spc. Edgar Daclan Jr.

Spc. Edgar Daclan Jr., an immigrant from the Philippines, surprised his family by joining the Army when he was just one semester away from graduating from college with a degree in electrical engineering.

Daclan, a 24-year-old medic, was killed by an explosive in Balad, Iraq on Sept. 10. He was based in Schweinfurt, Germany.

"Wherever the troops were, that's where he was," said Iris Daclan, 26, his older sister. "He knew it was dangerous. I told him we were in a war, but he wanted to join. And his platoon commander told us that he never saw fear in his eyes."

Daclan, the only boy of five siblings, moved to the United States in 1993. His tight-knit extended family lived in the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance.

In 2002, he and three cousins moved to Cypress, Calif. where Edgar took on the role of the head of the household.

"He decided to live with us so he could take care of us," Rashel Daclan, 23, recalls. "We had just moved here from the Philippines, and he cooked for us, picked us up from school and showed us around Orange County. He was really proud because he loved this country."

Army Spc. Lauro G. DeLeon Jr.

Spc. DeLeon

The Independence Day weekend was winding down and Grace Lopez was driving near her home when she spotted a young man in uniform. She waved, he waved back.

Then she recognized that it was her son, Lauro G. DeLeon Jr., who was supposed to be in Iraq.

"Thank God no one was behind me," said Lopez, who was so shocked that she hit the brakes.

Her son's surprise visit has even more meaning now. DeLeon, 20, of Floresville, Texas, died Sept. 8 when his vehicle drove over a bomb. He graduated high school in 2003 and was based in Beaumont.

"It brings a lot of comfort that the Lord allowed us to have those two weeks," Lopez said.

DeLeon loved seafood, movies and his '67 Mustang, which he had partly refurbished. "We had talked about going to college together and sharing gas and lunch costs," she said.

DeLeon also is survived by his father, Lauro, and a stepfather, Jimmy Lopez.

When DeLeon requested his furlough, his was the last name of more than 100 drawn. "He said he prayed to have his name picked, and his prayer was answered," said a cousin, Christine Luna.

Army Sgt. Jacob H. Demand

Sgt. Demand

Jacob H. Demand never seemed to pull away from his parents during the Terrible Teens.

"He always talked to us about everything. Teenagers go through being rebellious and don't talk; his phase was mild," said Demand's mother, Charlene Baldwin. "He always talked to us openly. In the Army, he called from all over the world, wherever he was."

Demand, 29, of Palouse, Wash., died Sept. 14 when his patrol came under attack by small-arms fire west of Mosul. He was based at Fort Lewis.

Demand joined the Army two weeks after graduating high school in 1995. He was a fixture on school teams -- football, basketball, baseball -- and loved hunting and fishing.

When her son joined the Army, Baldwin noted "the world was a little safer at that point in time. His goals in life were to be in the Army a little while and then to be in the U.S. Forest Service."

But Demand grew to enjoy the people of Iraq. "He talked of their support of the troops, about how little children would wave and smile."

He also is survived by a daughter, Reanne, 8; sons Josh, 6, and Seth, 5; and an ex-wife.

Army Spc. Chad H. Drake

Spc. Drake

Even though he was shipping out to war, Chad H. Drake told his family not to worry.

"He said, 'You have your job, and this is mine,"' said his wife, Randi Drake. He was more concerned about "his girls" -- his wife, daughter, sister and mother.

Drake, 23, of Garland, Texas, died Sept. 7 when his patrol vehicle was hit by small arms fire in Baghdad. He was based at Fort Hood and left for Iraq on March 13, his 23rd birthday.

A 1999 high school graduate, his future plans included possibly becoming a teacher and coaching middle school football.

He was to receive a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for an earlier act of valor: helping rescue two pilots when his Humvee was ambushed. He got out of the vehicle and returned twice to free the driver and hatch gunner.

Drake didn't realize that he had been wounded in the leg and neck until later. He thought at the time of the ambush that the cold sensation on his neck was from the cold air of the Humvee.

"He was well-respected," his wife said. "People looked up to him."

He also is survived by his daughter, Kaylee.

Marine Cpl. Christopher S. Ebert

Cpl. Ebert

Aside from Brian's trips to band camp during high school, Christopher Ebert and his twin brother spent little time separated from each other in their 21 years.

Both enlisted in the Marines immediately after graduating from high school, months before Sept. 11. After boot camp, the brothers were first assigned to Camp Lejeune, then sent to Iraq, where they were given separate assignments.

Brian Ebert recently left Iraq for a new assignment in Hawaii. It was there he received word his brother had been killed on Sept. 17 in an insurgent attack in Anbar province. Brian arrived at his father's Forest City, N.C. home the next evening.

"I am not good. We were close," Brian Ebert said.

Christopher Ebert, of Mooresboro, N.C., was based in Camp Pendleton, Calif. Like his brother, he was supposed to leave Iraq in two weeks.

The twins were encouraged to join by their mother, Shirley Ebert.

"I thought this was something they really needed to do. I never one time thought they'd be going to war," she said in April.

Ebert is also survived by his father, Gail Ebert.

Army Sgt. James D. Faulkner

Sgt. Faulkner

Since joining the Army, James D. Faulkner changed. Family members said he overcame his shyness, and he built both his character and his body.

"He went from being a young man out of high school not knowing what he wanted to be, to being a man who was proud of himself. He walked with an air of confidence and surety about himself," said his mother, Pam Gilkey.

Faulkner, 23, of Clarksville, Ind., died Sept. 8 in Baghdad when his military vehicle hit an explosive. He was stationed at Fort Hood.

He was a 1999 graduate of Clarksville High School, where he starred on the track and cross-country teams and was a member of the National Honor Society, according to Pat Hunt, the school's director of counseling.

Faulkner couldn't wait for the next chapter of his life. He planned to return to the United States next spring, marry his Texas fiancee and start a new Army assignment in Hawaii.

"He was a perfect role model," said younger brother Jason Faulkner. "He set the example for me."

He also is survived by his father, James Faulkner, and his stepfather, Greg Gilkey.

Marine Sgt. Timothy Shane Folmar

Sgt. Folmar

A pen-pal of Timothy Shane Folmar's received a letter from him on the day he was killed. In the letter, the young soldier told the woman that he had not seen a lot of fighting yet in Iraq.

Folmar, 21, of Sonora, Texas, died Sept. 24 during a battle in Anbar Province. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton.

"I hope he died knowing he did serve a purpose for the good of the country," said his father, Wendell. "I'm sorry people are going to miss being blessed by knowing him as a person with the good-spirited nature he had."

Folmar was a popular football player and 2002 high school graduate.

"He was a great kid," football coach Jason Herring said. "He didn't have everything given to him on a silver platter. He had some struggles in life, but he was really popular and upbeat."

Herring said Folmar told him he was ready to go and fight for his country.

"I told our kids after the game that what I remember most about him -- if this had to happen -- he was doing something he wanted to do," Herring said.

He also is survived by his mother, Ann Folmar.

Army Spc. Tomas Garces

Spc. Garces

When 17-year-old Ruben Garces considered dropping out of high school last year, his older brother Tomas pulled him aside for a talk.

"He motivated me not to give up on my studies," Ruben Garces said. "He told me that he wanted to see me graduate from whatever university I went to."

Tomas Garces, 19, of Weslaco, Texas, died Sept. 6 when his convoy was attacked south of Baghdad. Ruben promised to complete high school, even though his brother won't get to see him walk across the stage.

"I owe that to him," he said.

Tomas, who graduated high school in 2003, loved wrestling and planned to become a coach. He was based at Fort Bliss but made sure he caught up with his former wrestling coach during his leave, sharing a barbecue lunch.

"Next time I'll get you," he told John Galapa when the coach picked up the tab.

"If you wanted to think about the perfect image of a wrestler, he was it," Galapa said. "He said he had a couple of close calls and always had to keep his guard up. When you came down to it, he was a soldier."

Garces' survivors include his parents, Rafael and Sonia Garces.

Marine Lance Cpl. Derek L. Gardner

Cpl. Gardner

In the year before his deployment to Iraq, Derek L. Gardner moved in with his girlfriend, April Ornelas. On Christmas Eve, he asked her to marry him when he returned from overseas.

"One of the things he said before he left was, 'This isn't goodbye sweetheart, this is hello to our new beginning,"' said Ornelas, 18.

The 20-year-old motor vehicle operator from San Juan Capistrano, Calif., was killed Sept. 6 by a car bomb in Iraq's Anbar province. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton.

A pro wrestling fan, Gardner came from a military family. A great-grandfather fought in World War I, his grandfathers served in Korea and World War II, and his father was a Marine in Vietnam.

"He was a proud Marine," Vickey De Lacour said of her son. "He walked like a Marine, he talked like a Marine. He was just doing his job."

Other survivors include his father, Ken.

Army Reserve Pfc. Devin Grella

Pfc. Grella

Devin Grella joined his high school lacrosse team as a senior, but made for an agreeable rookie -- willing to handle any assignment, including playing at the junior varsity level when needed.

His coach, Pat O'Brien, said the feeling he had toward the Grella as a latecomer to the team was the same as when he heard of his death: "Gee, I wish we had more time with him."

Grella, 21, of Medina, Ohio, was killed by a roadside bomb while riding in a convoy in Iraq on Sept. 6.

The son of Donna and Dennis Grella, he joined the Army Reserve in December and was sent to Iraq within weeks of completing his basic training in June, his father said. He was based in Mansfield, Ohio.

Devin Grella joined the military as a patriot with a goal of becoming an officer and earning money for college, his family said.

"He was a great person. He loved his church, he loved his family," Dennis Grella said by phone in between calls and visits from Devin's friends and former classmates. "He had a love for his country."

Army Staff Sgt. Guy Stanley Hagy Jr.

Guy Stanley Hagy Jr. wanted nothing more than to play video games, dine out and relax with his family when he returned from Iraq last month on a two-week leave.

"He was just thrilled to be home with his wife to enjoy the mundane things," said his aunt Denise Grady.

Hagy, 31, was killed on Sept. 13 when a bomb exploded near his unit's observation post in Baghdad. A former resident of Lodi, Calif., he was a mortar specialist based at Fort Hood.

Family recalled Hagy as generous and kind.

"Stan was the kind of man who couldn't see anyone in need of help and not assist them," Grady said. "Because of his helpful nature, people were drawn to him wherever he went."

Hagy, one of six siblings, was born and raised in the small Virginia farming community of Thompson Valley.

"He loved hunting and fishing, particularly with his father," said Goldie Kiser, another aunt. "The family is devastated."

He is survived by his wife, Elysia, 33; her son, Robert Fulton; and his daughter, Elizabeth, 13.

Marine Lance Cpl. Michael J. Halal

Lance Cpl. Halal

Encouraged by his parents to join the Marine Corps, Michael J. Halal grew from a troubled teenager into a determined man, his family said.

Even after his April 2001 enlistment, Halal went AWOL for several months, but the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks motivated him to return. He faced a court martial, took a pay cut and spent time confined to the brig, said his mother, Jacqueline Mikkelson.

"He said, 'I came back because I want to finish.' It can be demoralizing, but it took courage," said Mikkelson, 42.

Halal, 22, of Glendale, Ariz., was killed Sept. 13 in a vehicle accident in Anbar province. It was his second tour in Iraq.

Halal was stationed at Camp Lejeune. His father, Ken, said he knew the military would have taught his son discipline.

"At that time, of course, we were at peace time. I really didn't understand the risk involved," Ken Halal said.

Halal is survived by his wife, Tina.

Marine Sgt. Foster L. Harrington

Sgt. Harrington

Foster L. Harrington was more worried about his fiancee and others in Alabama threatened by Hurricane Ivan than the dangers he was facing in Iraq.

"I said, 'Foster, you're in worse circumstances than I am, so why are you worried about me?"' said his fiancee, Fran Poston. "He said, 'Because I want to make sure you're taken care of. I'm OK where I'm at."'

Harrington, 31, of Fort Worth, Texas, was fatally shot Sept. 20 in Anbar Province. He was based in Mobile, Ala.

A 1991 high school graduate, he participated in track and cross country. He joined the Marines in 1992 and was a water combat instructor and assigned to the Marines' version of a special-forces unit.

"The last words he talked about, he said, 'I'll be back,"' said Paul Newton, chief of the Seven Hills Volunteer Fire Department, near Mobile, where Harrington was a firefighter and medic.

"I said, 'Buddy, your gear is in the closet, it's yours and no one else is going take it,"' Newton said. Harrington said he'd be back for it, but "'This is something I got to do, I want to go."'

Army Pfc. Adam Harris

Pfc. Harris

Before Adam Harris left for Iraq, his mother, Denise Bush, gave him a cross her husband had given her before they married. She told her son: "You keep this on. You keep praying. You keep God in your heart."

Now, along with Harris' dog tags, she wears the cross again.

"He knew how proud we were of him," Denise Bush said.

Harris, 21, of Abilene, Texas, was killed Sept. 22, when he was shot by a sniper in Mosul. He was based at Fort Lewis.

Harris loved sports and cars, and had always wanted to join the military. Born and raised in Florida, he continued to love the Miami Dolphins.

He celebrated his 21st birthday in Iraq the weekend before he died, and was scheduled to return from duty next month.

"He was a great young American with a great heart," said Dyess Air Force Base Commander Col. Garret Harencak. "He always wanted to serve, but he wanted to make his parents proud. He certainly did that."

He also is survived by his stepfather, Stephen Bush.

Army Spc. Joshua J. Henry

Jake Nulph said he started worrying about his friend, Joshua J. Henry, when he got an e-mail from the soldier describing Iraq as "hell on Earth."

"I knew then that things weren't good," Nulph said. "He talked about coming home for Christmas. The last thing he told me was, 'I love you, man."'

Henry, 21, of Avonmore, Pa., died Sept. 20 in Tikrit of injuries he sustained when his convoy was attacked in Sharqa. He was based in Schweinfurt, Germany.

"Our family and friends are mourning a great loss in our lives," said his sister, Jasmine Henry. "Joshua was a wonderful young man and loved by all. He will be missed greatly."

Friends said Henry was an exceptional center and defensive tackle for Apollo-Ridge High School before he graduated in 2001. Football coach Jerry Moore said Henry's contributions were instrumental to his team's 9-0 record in 2000 before the Vikings lost in the first round of playoffs.

"His buddies and team meant everything to him," Moore said. "Without his desire, we wouldn't have achieved what we did."

He is survived by his parents, Larry and Perri.

Marine Lance Cpl. Gregory Howman

Cpl. Howman

At the ripe old age of 28, many of the young Marines in Gregory Howman's unit referred to him as "Grandpa."

Howman told his sister he felt responsible for the young men.

Howman, of Charlotte, N.C., was killed when an explosive device went off while he was on patrol Sept. 15 in Iraq's Anbar province. He was based at Camp Pendleton.

Though he talked about joining the military while growing up, he held off until the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.

"I think like a lot of people after Sept. 11, he just felt like he had to do something," said his sister, Rebecca Lehmann.

Lehmann said her family has been stalked by tragedy in recent weeks. Their mother, Hannah Howman, died suddenly at age 64 six weeks ago.

After Hurricane Ivan tore through their neighborhood, the family gathered in Charlotte to mourn Howman's death. It was then they learned their stepmother had been diagnosed with lung cancer.

"I don't think we can get hit again," Lehmann said. "I don't think I can take it. I can't have the breath knocked out of me any more."

Army Spc. Benjamin W. Isenberg

Spc. Isenberg

In one of his last e-mails home, Benjamin W. Isenberg said the his 16-hour workdays were long and hot. "This could be a nice place, but I prefer high mountains and tall pine trees," he said.

Isenberg, 27, of Sheridan, Ore., died Sept. 13 near Taji when his vehicle was attacked. He was stationed at Corvallis.

Isenberg joined the Oregon National Guard in 1995 and graduated from Western Oregon University in 2000. An employee of the Oregon Forestry Department, he was involved in fighting forest fires and doing conservation work.

"He had an impact on more people than we will ever know," said co-worker Patrick Cliner. "He was a gentle and caring person. He enjoyed doing presentations at schools, so he could ham it up with the kids."

Pastor Darwin Grimm said Isenberg was so popular in the community, he was deluged with calls asking if any help was needed with a memorial service. "People called me by the dozens," he said. "In my 54 years with the church, I've never seen anything better than this."

Isenberg is survived by his wife, Rachel; sons Jeremiah, 4, and Kraig, 2.

Marine Lance Cpl. Quinn A. Keith

Lance Cpl. Keith

A quiet young man who loved fishing, hunting and wrestling, Quinn A. Keith was determined to fulfill his duty in Iraq, his family said.

"He was scared to be there, but he knew he had to be there," Clyde Keith said of his nephew, who enlisted one week after the Sept. 11 attacks.

The 21-year-old weapons specialist from Page, Ariz., was killed Sept. 6 by a car bomb in Iraq's Anbar province. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton.

The Marine's uncle, who became his legal guardian after the boy's parents divorced, said one of the best things about the Marine was the love he showed for his family.

"He was just one of those kids you wish you could have for a son," Clyde Keith said.

Keith, a Navajo, was scheduled to return from Iraq in three weeks and had plans to go deer hunting, his uncle said.

Survivors include the Marine's mother.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric L. Knott

Petty Officer Knott

Friends remembered Eric L. Knott as a bright spot in sometimes dark times.

"Anytime I was having a bad day, he'd give me a big hug," said friend Hope Ruzicka. "I loved him like a brother."

Knott, 21, was on the Navy's construction force and was building a gate at the time of the attack on Sept. 4, his father, Randy Knott, of Grand Island, Neb. said.

"He was there to get an education in the construction industry," his father said. "And to help people."

A 2001 graduate, Knott is the second of his high school classmates to die at war. Pvt. Noah Lee Boye was killed in April.

After the funeral, Jeremiah Goodwin-Jensen paused to think of his fallen friends.

"(Knott) had a really big smile and a laugh you just wanted to be around," Goodwin-Jensen said. "It's hard to believe we're losing another one."

Knott is survived by his father and stepmother, Randy and Teri Knott, and his mother and stepfather, Vera and Steve Thorpe. Knott was based in Port Hueneme, Calif.