Marine Lance Cpl. Blake A. Magaoay

Blake Magaoay was a tough, selfless Marine whose first love was surfing the famous breaks of Oahu's North Shore.

"When he was home last summer, as soon as he got home, he grabbed his board and headed to the North Shore," said his father, Tony Magaoay.

Magaoay, 20, of Pearl City, died Nov. 29, in a gun battle in Fallujah, Iraq. He was based at Camp Pendleton.

Magaoay played football in high school and joined the Marines a few months after graduation in 2002.

"He wanted to be in the military since he was 10 years old," said his mother, Gina Ellis-Williams. Magaoay was on his second tour of duty in Iraq, she said.

Ellis-Williams said she had already bought her son's Christmas presents -- pants, shoe polish and other gifts and items he needed in Iraq.

"He was very active," said his father, "He was very physical and had wanted to use the GI bill to get a college degree to become a police officer or join the FBI."

Marine Cpl. Jarrod L. Maher

During his last visit home, Jarrod L. Maher savored the time he spent with his friends and family, including three younger brothers.

"He spent as much time with his family as he could ... and his friends," said his father, Kevin Maher. "He helped me finish planting my beans."

Maher, 21, of Imogene, Iowa, died of a non-hostile gunshot wound on Nov. 12 and his death is under investigation. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton.

When Maher returned home on leave in May, he looked forward to his mother's cooking, his father said. "He loved anything his Mom would make," he said.

Mayer was active in high school sports and enjoyed being outdoors hunting and fishing, said Kevin Maher. He said his son had always had an interest in the military and enlisted in the Marines right out of high school.

Marine 1st Lt. Dan T. Malcom Jr.

Dan T. Malcom Jr. was fulfilling a lifelong desire to fill the shoes of a man he never knew -- his father.

The late Dan Malcom Sr. also was a Marine who served in Vietnam, said his cousin, Patrick Cofty. "He wanted to follow in his daddy's footsteps even though he never knew him."

Malcom, 25, of Brinson, Ga., died Nov. 10 from gunshot wounds during the assault on Fallujah. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune.

Malcom graduated from The Citadel in 2001 with a degree in business administration. He was a Dean's List student and was an executive officer his senior year.

"He was always the calm-headed one of us," said classmate Kevin Bates. "He kind of pulled everyone together. He was always true to his beliefs, and he appreciated the little things in life more than most of us do."

Lt. Col. Robert Sberna, a faculty mentor at The Citadel, added: "This is a military school, so there's a lot of bravado, a lot of machismo around here, but he was a young man who cared about his classmates and was loyal to them."

Malcom is survived by his mother, Cherry.

Marine Cpl. Gentian Marku

Cpl. Marku

Gentian Marku's immigration to the U.S. at the age of 14 transformed him. In Albania, the teenager had been a troublemaker. In Warren, Mich., he quickly grew into a diligent and responsible young man.

"Everything changed when I got to the United States," he said in a profile posted on the Pentagon's Web site in 2003. "I started studying. I stayed out of trouble, and I got my first job as a busboy."

The 22-year-old was killed on Thanksgiving in Iraq's Anbar province. He was assigned to Camp Lejeune.

Marku joined the Marines because he thought it would improve his chances of becoming a police officer. As a student, he befriended Dale Malesh, a police resource officer at the school.

"His character was that he loved people and always seemed to be there to want to help," Malesh said. "I feel proud to have been so close to him. He was a great kid and fine American."

He is survived by his parents.

Army Spc. Daniel James McConnell

Spc. McConnell

Daniel McConnell was working odd jobs and trying to be a good father to his two young girls when he joined the Army.

"I think he did it out of his love for his whole family," said his sister, Becky. "He wanted us to be proud of him. And all he ever talked about was how much he loved his daughters."

McConnell, 27, of Duluth, Minn., died Nov. 16 in a vehicle accident in Kirkuk. He was stationed at Schofield Barracks.

Becky McConnell described her brother as "a handful" in his youth, but said he later thrived in a foster home. He had wanted to be a social worker, but set those hopes aside when his high school girlfriend became pregnant and they had a daughter, she said.

Three years later, McConnell had another daughter. But he never married and floundered in finding work, Becky McConnell said. Then he joined the Army.

"He was a changed man," she said. "He was doing something he felt we could be proud of."

Marine Lance Cpl. Justin D. McLeese

Cpl. McLeese

Justin D. McLeese was the kind of guy who hauled friends' cars out of ditches, helped get their keys out of locked cars and drove them home if they got drunk.

"The last time I talked to him, he told me to take care of myself. ... There he was, getting ready to go into Fallujah, and he was more worried about me than he was himself," said his sister, Tara.

McLeese, 19, of Covington, La., was killed Nov. 13 when he walked into a booby-trapped building in Fallujah. He was based at Camp Pendleton.

Childhood friend and fellow Marine Pfc. Phil Demaire IV said that when they decided to join up together, McLeese wanted to serve in what he believed was the best branch of the military -- the Marine Corps.

"When he put this uniform on, it meant the world to him," Demaire said, "He'd stand 10 inches taller, it seemed like, when he wore the uniform."

An All-District football player in high school, McLeese could have played college football. He joined the Marine Corps instead because of his respect for the Corps and because he wanted to be "someone special," his sister said.

Survivors include his parents, Daniel and Sharon McLeese.

Marine Lance Cpl. Brian A. Medina

Lance Cpl. Medina

Before Brian A. Medina took part in the attack on Fallujah, he got all the Marines in his unit to autograph an Iraqi flag and then sent it home to his family.

"He said they belong there," said his father, Gregory Medina, who retired from a career in the Navy. "He called home as much as he could."

Brian Medina's grandfather served in the U.S. Army. His uncle, Cecil Medina, is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force.

"The only branch we don't have covered is the Coast Guard," his father said.

Brian Medina, 20, of Woodbridge, Va., died Nov. 12 during the assault on Fallujah. He was based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

Medina, a 2002 high school graduate, wanted to be a U.S. Embassy bodyguard and saw service in the Marines as an avenue toward that goal. Gregory Medina said his son believed he would return home soon.

"He said, 'As soon as Fallujah falls, we can come home.' That was pretty much the take," Gregory Medina said.

He also is survived by his mother, Lolita Converse.

Army Pfc. Harrison J. Meyer

Pfc. Meyer

In high school, Harrison J. Meyer was such a team player that he brought in pizza and made cheesecake for pals on the track team.

"He was the kid who was trying to make all the other kids relax, feel good about competing," said Andy Cox, Meyer's coach.

Meyer, 20, of Worthington, Ohio, died Nov. 26 when his unit was attacked in Ramadi. A 2003 high school graduate, he was stationed at Camp Howze, South Korea.

"He said he wanted to help people," said Brandon Brevard, a friend. "He was a lifeguard at the pool and he wanted to be a medic."

Friends said their high school years were filled with laughs, most thanks to Meyer. "He always had scams to try and make money, but they never worked," said Steve Brown.

Meyer recently called Brevard and said he had already survived several close calls in Iraq. "He said, 'Brandon, I don't know if I'm going to make it,"' Brevard said.

Meyer's parents, William and Debra Meyer, said their son's kindness and humor touched many. "He exemplifies the true spirit of patriotism and sacrifice by his courageous actions as a combat medic," Debra Meyer said in a statement.

Army Pfc. Dennis J. Miller Jr.

Pfc. Miller

Kimberly Miller met her husband-to-be, Dennis J. Miller Jr., when she was 15 and he was 18. The age difference riled her parents at first. That they'd met on the Internet didn't help.

"They were a little leery at first," she said.

Eventually, her parents came around. "He treated her great," said Sue Baltrip, Kimberly Miller's mother. "He loved her more than anything in this world."

Miller, 21, of La Salle, Mich., died Nov. 10 when a grenade struck his tank in Ramadi. He was based at Camp Casey, South Korea. His family was notified of Miller's death on Veterans Day.

It was no surprise that Miller would join the Army: His late grandfather fought in Normandy during D-Day and his father served in Vietnam.

"Dennis is a hero," said his cousin and best friend, Michael Miller Jr. "He was very proud of what he did and he wanted people to be proud of him."

Miller was thinking of reenlisting, said his wife. But more importantly, they wanted to be a young, married couple -- with no plans yet for children. "We were going to wait until our high 20s," she said. "We spoiled ourselves too much."

Marine Lance Cpl. William L. Miller

Cpl. Miller

William Miller was an affectionate child. He would crawl into his mother's lap and hug and kiss her for no apparent reason.

"He cared," said his mother, Susie Miller. "He always wanted to help people."

Miller, 22, of Pearland, Texas, died Nov. 15 in fighting in Fallujah. He was based at Camp Lejeune.

Miller hoped to go to college after leaving the Marines to study psychology or psychiatry.

He decided to join the Marines when he was a high school sophomore and was scheduled to leave Iraq in March and complete his military commitment in May, said his sister, Sabrina Blankenship.

"He was proud of what the Marines stood for," his mother said. "He thought freedom was something you had to fight for."

Army Maj. Horst G. Moore

Between Iraq tours, Horst G. Moore and his wife bought a three-bedroom house in which to raise their 2-year-old daughter, Sophia. They loved it, but he never spent a night there.

"He was adamant about us getting a home," said his wife, Raquel Vallejo-Moore. "His main concern was that we were taken care of."

Moore, known as Gary, 38, of San Antonio, died Nov. 9 in a mortar attack in Mosul. He was stationed at Fort Lewis.

He served in the Army for 17 years and was considering retiring in about three years when his tour of duty ended. Raquel and Gary met in the early 1990s while attending St. Mary's University. It was "friendship at first sight," Vallejo-Moore said. It later turned into love.

Since learning of her husband's death, Vallejo-Moore has been sifting through photographs: their wedding day in 1996 and their visit to Alcatraz Island at San Francisco last Christmas.

"A lot of people have regrets that they didn't do this or that. We had a good life," Vallejo-Moore said. "Everything was about trying to enjoy the moment and live life to the fullest."

Army Sgt. Joseph M. Nolan

Sgt. Nolan

Joseph Nolan began reading books on military history when he was 10, learning about the wars fought by his father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

As an adolescent, he spent a month in Yalta, the former Soviet city where Allied leaders met as World War II neared an end.

Then, fluent in Arabic after an intensive Army language program in Monterey, Calif., Nolan, 27, went to Iraq.

"He wasn't planning on being a career military guy," said Nolan's brother, Matt, who was the last member of the Philadelphia family to speak with him. "He was doing this to get his feet wet for later in life."

Nolan's father had fought in Vietnam, his grandfather in World War II, and his great-grandfather in World War I.

He was killed Nov. 19 when his vehicle was hit by an explosive device in Fallujah, Iraq. He is also survived by his father.

Marine Sgt. Nick Nolte

You could trust Nick Nolte with your life. After all, both Bill Clinton and President Bush did.

Nolte was a member of the Presidential Helicopter Squadron HMX-1 -- better known by the call sign Marine One whenever the nation's commander in chief was onboard.

"Ever since he was little, he wanted to be in the service. He wore Army fatigues. It was something he liked," said Nolte's uncle Matt Santo. "He thought it was neat to protect his country. He was proud of it."

Nolte, 25, of Falls City, Neb., died Nov. 24 of injuries he sustained in a Nov. 8 blast near Baghdad. He was based in Cherry Point, Neb.

A 1998 high school graduate, Nolte enlisted after high school and then re-enlisted at the start of the Iraq war. In the Nov. 8 blast, Nolte injured his arm and leg, which became infected. The decision was made to amputate and he died the next day.

Nolte liked to hunt, go camping and to drive a four-wheeler. His father, Bradley, died several years ago, leaving the young Nolte his four-wheeler.

He is survived by his wife, Melina, and a 3-year-old daughter, Alanna.

Marine Sgt. Byron W. Norwood

Sgt. Norwood

Byron W. Norwood could do a hilarious Jim Carrey impression, be it as Ace Ventura or Fire Marshal Bill.

"He was a jokester, so fun," said his sister, Kristen Hullum, "It was hard to think of my baby brother as this big strong Marine."

Norwood, 25, of Pflugerville, Texas, died Nov. 13 in Fallujah after his battalion captured the train station. He was based at Camp Pendleton and was on his second deployment to Iraq.

An actor and musician, Norwood performed in high school plays and played trumpet in the jazz and marching band concerts. When his band director died, he was selected to play taps at the funeral.

With a beaming smile, Norwood was known as a man who cherished his family, relied on his faith and had exemplary courage and maturity. He told his family he would "place my life in God's hands so that I can concentrate on being the best Marine I can be."

He was looking forward to enrolling at Texas Tech University after completing his enlistment requirement. He is survived by his parents, Bill and Janet Norwood.

Marine Lance Cpl. Shane K. O'Donnell

Cpl. O'Donnell

Shane O'Donnell sang for four years in his high school choir and had a smile that could lift people's spirits when they were down.

"Nice voice and a great smile -- the type of kid you just wanted to look at 24-7 because he always made you feel better, no matter how you felt," said Linda Meier, O'Donnell's former choir teacher.

O'Donnell, 24, of DeForest, Wis., was killed in an attack Nov. 8 in Iraq. His Marine reserve unit is based in Madison.

O'Donnell, a construction worker, had recently attended a local technical college, said Sgt. Michael Reiland, who served with O'Donnell.

"He was a hard charger. He was always motivated and was always willing to do what was necessary to get the mission accomplished," Reiland said. He was "just an upbeat, happy-go-lucky guy."

Gary Andrewjeski, O'Donnell's former football coach, said O'Donnell was a likeable student .

"He just always wanted to be a part of something. You would treat him like your own son."

Marine Cpl. Brian Oliveira

Brian Oliveira was gung-ho on a military career, but kind enough to scrape together what little money he had to buy Easter bunnies for friends.

"He was a spitfire with a really good heart," said Jean Ouellette, a friend. "He was very popular. He used to get a lot of those 'most fun to be with' awards in school."

Oliveira, 22, of Raynham, Mass., died Oct. 25 during a battle near Fallujah. He was based at Camp Pendleton.

Scott Peterson, a friend, recalled how Oliveira came home on leave with a new sense of confidence.

"He'd look you in the eye, shake hands. He had a straight military posture," Peterson said. "You could tell it gave him an inner happiness."

Oliveira attended high school for two years and later got a GED. He took some courses for college credit at Bristol Community College so he could join the Marines.

The son of a former Army man, Oliveira talked constantly about the military. "I told him it was the best thing for his life," said Heather Bostrom, a friend. "He was a brave kid with a lot of dreams."

He is survived by his wife, Phoebe, and son, Nathan.

Army Staff Sgt. Michael Ottolini

Staff Sgt. Ottolini

A member of the California National Guard since 1979, Michael Ottolini spent more than half his life training for whatever task the Guard sent his way.

"His biggest satisfaction was out of doing whatever the Guard would do," his brother, Jay Ottolini said. "The other thing was just a living to get by, but whenever the Guard called, he was gone. Didn't matter what."

Ottolini, 45, of Sebastopol, Calif., was killed Nov. 10 by a roadside explosion in Balad, Iraq. He was stationed in Petaluma, Calif.

Ottolini, who leaves behind a wife and two children, sent almost daily e-mails to his family and was frustrated with the lack of supplies, a severe injury to a close friend and the large number of young Iraqi victims of the war.

"Mike had no regrets being there, because he believed in what he was doing," Jay Ottolini said. "Right or wrong he backed the American flag and took his orders."

Michael Ottolini told his brother recently that he was planning to go to Germany for a hernia operation after one more mission. That was the last time they spoke.