Army Spc. Jose A. Velez

Spc. Velez

Jose A. Velez joined the Army to pay for college and hoped to attend medical school one day.

"He was always lovable and caring and he never gave up on anything," said his stepsister, Melissa Ancira. "If someone told him he couldn't do something, he'd find a way to do it. He was a fighter."

Velez, 23, of Lubbock, Texas, was killed by enemy fire Nov. 12. He was stationed at Fort Hood.

Velez joined the Army shortly after graduating from high school, where he played football and was an honor student, said his father, Roy Velez.

In his last e-mail to family, Velez asked them to pray for him "because where we're going there's nothing but death."

"He told his dad, 'I've never shot anyone but this time it's either going to be them or me,"' Ancira recalled Velez as saying in the e-mail. "And then this happened."

Velez' brother, Army Pfc. Andrew Velez, also is serving in Iraq.

Marine Cpl. Robert P. Warns II

Cpl. Warns

Robert Warns once helped a bunch of friends into a sold-out rock concert by using his artistic skills to scrawl fake passes on their hands.

"Such a rascal," said his sister, Katie Riesch.

Warns, 23, of Waukesha, Wisc., was killed in an attack on Nov. 8. His unit was based in Madison.

There was never any doubt that he would join the military, and he enlisted in the Marine reserves with a year still to go in high school.

He was entering his senior year as a business student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee when he was called to active duty in June.

His girlfriend, Erin Nielsen, is pregnant and said she is certain he will watch over his son or daughter from beyond.

"He was so excited," Nielsen said. "He had something to look forward to when he came home."

Army Sgt. Charles J. Webb

Vanessa Foreman remembers the day she first met her brother-in-law, Charles J. Webb. He was introduced to her as "Charles," but Webb was too relaxed and fun-loving to use that name.

"He said, 'Call me Chucky,"' Foreman said. "I told him, 'I'm not calling you Chucky."'

She would soon understand why he never stood on formality. "He was the kind of friend that didn't see color or gender," Foreman said. "He was such a good person."

Webb, 22, a Texas transplant whose family moved to Hamilton, Ohio, died Nov. 3 when a roadside bomb exploded near his patrol near Baghdad. He was stationed at Bamberg, Germany.

Webb joined the Army shortly after graduating from high school in 2000. He married his wife, Stephanie, with a broken foot that he suffered during boot camp. His tuxedo had to be altered in order to fit over his cast.

Webb wanted to go to college to become a history teacher, a passion he had since high school. He came back to his old school in uniform and talked to the staff. Mike Pavloff, associate principal, said he "was obviously very proud."

Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Welke

Cpl. Welke

Joseph Welke played high school football and loved to camp, hunt, fish and backpack with friends.

One chum, Kyle McNabb, often accompanied him on those outdoors excursions. He said Welke had a good sense of humor.

"He was more like a brother," McNabb said. "I was closer to him than I was to my older brothers."

Welke, 20, of Rapid City, S.D., died in a military hospital in Germany on Nov. 20 from wounds he suffered in an explosion in Iraq a day earlier. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton.

"He was a hardworking kid and a very intense competitor," said Welke's football coach, Joel Hybertson. "He wanted to be good, and he worked at being good."

Hybertson said Welke had always talked about becoming part of the military and joined the Marines right after graduation.

"If we need somebody for our country, I want somebody like Joe Welke," he said.

Welke is survived by his mother, Betty.

Marine Sgt. Lonny D. Wells

Lonny Wells was a father of five who loved taking his children to the movies or on walks. But his family says he was still a kid at heart himself.

The last time his mother, Yvonne Lynn Wells, heard from him in a letter in September, he included a special request for Kool-Aid. She sent him a dozen packages.

Wells, 29, of Vandergrift, Pa., was killed Nov. 9 in an explosion in Fallujah. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune.

Wells' mother said it was a her son's dream to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who were veterans of Vietnam and World War II, respectively.

"Ever since he was 8 years old in karate, he wanted to go into the Marine Corps," Yvonne Wells said.

She wanted him to be a male model instead, but he just said, "Oh, mother," and joined the Marines after graduating high school.

His brother, Larry, remembered his brother as a Dallas Cowboys fan who used to sing Kenny Rogers songs.

"We never fought," he said, "except for when the Steelers and the Cowboys played."

Wells is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and five children and stepchildren: Marissa, 10, Dominique, 10, Lonny Jr., 8, Daylon, 5 and Jade, 9 months.

Army Spc. Cody L. Wentz

Spc. Wentz

When Cody L. Wentz headed for Iraq, he made sure he didn't have to leave his love for sports behind. The soldier had videotapes of games mailed to him weekly.

"He wanted to play in the NFL. That was his most important (goal) in his whole life," Joyce Wentz said of her son. If that didn't work out, he planned to become a registered nurse and, eventually, an anesthesiologist, she said.

The 21-year-old from Williston, N.D., was killed Nov. 4 when an explosive detonated near his vehicle.

The soldier had an unusual knack for developing relationships with those he met, his family said.

"He was just loved by people, he got along with people, he respected people, which you don't see nowadays," said his father, Kenneth Wentz.

Marine Lance Cpl. Phillip G. West

Cpl. West

Before joining the Marines, Phillip G. West was an outgoing high school student who worked as a lifeguard and taught children how to swim at a community pool.

His friends described him as a jokester. And a former teacher said he was seeking a place to be heard and to make a difference.

"He burned so brightly, he was just on fire," said English teacher Sushanna Ellington. "You could not miss him in a crowd."

West, 19, of American Canyon, Calif., was killed Nov. 19 by an improvised explosive device. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton.

Edward West said his son died fighting for a cause he believed in: Phillip had decided to join the military after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks when he was just 16 years old.

"He understood that if we fight the terrorists over there, it's harder for them to come over here," Edward West said.

Army Spc. Raymond L. White

Spc. White

Raymond L. White's last moments illustrated the way he lived.

When White's convoy was ambushed Nov. 12 by a group of insurgents, he held them off with gunfire until other convoy vehicles arrived. Instead of ducking down into his Humvee, his fire helped others get to safety.

"He fought to the bitter end," said his mother Sharon White. "Only five people in the entire convoy were hurt. Had he not been so brave, everyone in that convoy would have died."

White, 22, of Elwood, Ind., died during the ambush. He was based at Fort Hood.

White graduated from high school in 2001 and studied two years at the New Mexico Military Institute. He left before graduating to enlist in the Army.

"He always put others first," said his father, Henry White.

That was as true for his friends as it was in his unit.

Don Cox, a neighbor, recalled several years ago when calves escaped from a nearby farm and rambled along a highway. Two were injured in accidents with vehicles, but White led the third calf home -- running a mile through soft snow.

"He grew up to be a very fine young man," Cox said.

Marine Lance Cpl. Jordan D. Winkler

Cpl. Winkler

High school teacher Paul Todd said he saw the makings of a Marine almost as soon as he met Jordan D. Winkler.

"He led quite well, and people followed him," Todd said. "He thought well on his feet and was a good organizer."

Winkler, 19, of Tulsa, Okla., died Nov. 26 died while stationed at a hospital in Fallujah. He was based at Camp Pendleton.

Winkler, a student in Todd's 20th century wars class, felt comfortable opening up and visited with him several times after Winkler graduated in 2003 to follow in his footsteps in the 1st Marine Division.

Mindy McCreary knew him from his time on the wrestling team, where he won the most improved award for 2003. She said Winkler was never brash or arrogant. "He was quiet and really sweet," McCreary said. "He was very respectful."

Todd said he was struck by Winkler's motivation for joining the Marines. He wasn't concerned about the compensation, the military hardware or even his day-to-day duties.

"He was more intrigued about the humanistic side," Todd said. "He said he was going over there to help people out."

He is survived by his parents, Steven and Lenora.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Lee Wisdom

Sgt. Wisdom

It was no surprise that Clinton Lee Wisdom died placing himself between the convoy he was assigned to protect and a vehicle driven by insurgents, his wife said.

"Clint's blood ran green," Janet Wisdom said. "He loved the military. He loved the Army. He loved his men. He was a fabulous father and husband. He was just awesome."

The 39-year-old veteran from Atchison, Kan., was killed Nov. 8 along with Sgt. Don Clary when they tried to protect their convoy from an insurgent car that exploded. They were based in Horton, Kan.

"Clinton Wisdom couldn't dance," said Lt. Col. Larry Parrish, the battalion's chaplain. "He couldn't sing, either. (But) he was honest. He was brave, very brave. He was smart, very smart. Above all else, he was a soldier."

The soldier had spent almost 20 years in the military, participating in the invasion of Grenada in the 1980s and the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

The soldiers of his outfit "knew he had their back," Janet Wisdom said. "No woman on the face of this earth could be more proud than I am."

Before he died, Wisdom asked his wife to have churches send clothing and toys to the Iraqi children. Those packages will still be sent, she said.

Marine Lance Cpl. Nathan Raymond Wood

Nathan Raymond Wood joined the Marines with some friends after finishing high school, hoping to obtain college benefits and to challenge himself.

In his last e-mail to family, Wood urged relatives to pay attention to the news and mentioned a railroad station. He said he could not say much more for security reasons.

Then the family heard that the Fallujah railroad station was secured by U.S. and Iraqi forces. "We thought he was safe," said Bill Olson, an uncle.

Wood, 19, a Kirkland, Wash., resident born in Montana, was killed Nov. 9 during the assault on Fallujah. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton.

"Anybody who has kids over there now, our prayers are with them," Olson said. "We're very proud of the soldiers and Marines and the sacrifices they are making, but we can't really say we support the war."

Navy Petty Officer Third Class Julian Woods

Julian Woods was a star football player in high school and his mother's "joy."

"They took my child, but I'm proud," said his mother, Carolyn. "He died for his country and other people."

Woods, 22, of Jacksonville, Fla., died Nov. 10 in hostile fire in Fallujah. He was stationed at the Marine Corps Base in Hawaii.

Woods was in the fourth year of a six-year enlistment. He had a 3-year-old daughter, Israel, who is with her mother, also in the Navy, based in Virginia.

His mother said her son knew the risks when he joined the Marines soon after graduating high school, and she gave him her blessing.

"He died a hero's death. He was doing a job he didn't mind doing," she said. "I always told him whatever job he did to give it your best."

Army 1st Lt. Luke C. Wullenwaber

Lt. Wullenwaber

It's been more than five years since Luke Wullenwaber set records as a quarterback for his high school football team, but his coach still uses video footage from those days to teach young players.

"Everything in his life was full-bore, 100 percent," said Nick Menegas, his coach. "He was the epitome of what a man should be."

Wullenwaber, 24, died Nov. 16 in Khaladiyah, about 50 miles west of Baghdad, when a suicide bomber detonated a car bomb nearby. He was stationed at Camp Greaves.

Wullenwaber, who grew up in Lewiston, Idaho and graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 2002, was driven and dedicated to his family and friends, according to those who knew him best.

"I think what he'd really love to be remembered for is his love of life and how much he respected his family," said Annie Peterson, a high school classmate who remained a close friend. "They meant the world to him."

Army Pvt. Justin R. Yoemans

Pvt. Yoemans

Justin R. Yoemans was a great shot, blessed with an aim as true as his heart.

In high school, he was a member of the Navy Junior ROTC Air Drill Team and Air Rifle Team.

"He was the best shooter we had," said Daniel Plumley, an instructor. "As a freshman he was teaching others how to shoot. He was well-liked by everybody. He always volunteered and liked to please everyone."

Yoemans' skills also paid off in fun ways. Last fall, he won his mother a 5-foot toy bear in a shooting game at the Peanut Festival.

Yoemans, 20, of Eufaula, Ala., died Nov. 6 from injuries he sustained when a car bomb blew up near his unit's Humvee in Baghdad. He was based at Fort Hood.

Serving in the military runs in his family. His grandfather served in World War II, and his great-grandfather served in World War I. Even as a little boy, Yoemans was intrigued by the military.

"He always had a fascination with the military," said his mother, Beverly Miller. "He'd always play with his little Army men, and he was fascinated with history books."

He also is survived by his stepfather, Mark Miller.

Marine Lance Cpl. Thomas J. Zapp

Thomas Zapp was a talented baseball player, his high school's "No. 1 hurler," according his local newspaper. His coach said he was equally adept as a hitter and third baseman.

But coach Robert Copley said Zapp quit his team his senior year when Marine Corps functions interfered with his game schedule.

"He decided to join the Marines and he kind of put baseball on the back burner," Copley said. "He could've gone on to play in college. He was a great kid."

Zapp, 20, of Houston, was killed Nov. 8 by an improvised explosive device while riding in a convoy. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton.

Zapp's father, Thomas F. Zapp, said his son was apprehensive about going to Iraq but he believed in doing his duty.

"He just wanted to do what was right. To do his part as a Marine and be a good person," he said. The Marine is also survived by his mother, Christine St. Michel.

Marine Cpl. Nicholas L. Ziolkowski

Cpl. Ziolkowski

By the ninth grade, Nicholas L. Ziolkowski was running several miles a day and working out constantly. He had one goal in mind: the Marines.

"Every other kid envied him his clarity," said Ab Logan, who taught him high school English. "It was his sense of purpose that just made him everybody's hero."

Ziolkowski, 22, of Towson, Md., died Nov. 14 during the assault on Fallujah. He was based at Camp Lejeune, enlisting after his 2001 graduation.

Nicknamed Ski, Ziolkowski's passion was surfing. At Lejeune, he would often organize his entire day around the tides. "All I need now is a beach with some waves," he would say.

After serving, Ziolkowski hoped to study history at Towson University, where his mother, Tracy Miller, is an adviser and English teacher.

His father, Andrew Ziolkowski, said his son's commanding officer "wanted 10 guys like Nick."

Ziolkowski often returned to his old high school in uniform to speak to students taking military history classes.

"I let him teach the whole class," said military history teacher Butch Maisel. "The kids were spellbound."