Marine Lance Cpl. Julio C. Cisneros Alvarez

Cpl. Cisneros Alvarez

The oldest son of Mexican immigrants, Julio C. Cisneros Alvarez was an intense young man with plans to become a doctor.

But he needed money for college first, and he'd always wanted to be a Marine. So after a couple of years as a nurse's assistant, he enlisted.

Cisneros, 22, of Pharr, Texas, died Jan. 6 in a hostile attack in Iraq's Al Anbar province. He was based at Twentynine Palms.

Cisneros was an honors student, hard-driven and serious.

"For me, he was a model young man," family friend Rosario Garcia said. "He worked hard, studied hard. He went because he wanted to do something better with his life."

He is survived by his parents, Senobia Alvarez and Cesar Cisneros.

When he called home, he was eager to hear about his brothers' lives. But he said it was "ugly" in Iraq, and told his brothers not to join the military.

His younger brother Santos opened a small photo album to a picture of Julio walking toward a line of buses to go to war. "This is the last picture I ever took," he said. "The last memory."

Army Sgt. 1st Class Kurt Comeaux

Sgt. Comeaux

Kurt Comeaux did everything he could for his wife Tiffiny and their three children.

"He was like Mr. Dad who also worked a full-time job," said his mother-in-law, Karen Gunn.

Comeaux, 34, of Raceland, La., died Jan. 6 when a roadside bomb exploded in northwest Baghdad. He was based in Lafayette, La.

Tiffiny and Kurt Comeaux were high school sweethearts and had been married for 12 years. He worked as a probation and parole officer and the couple had three sons, Bryce, 9, and twins Brandon and Brody, 7.

The day he left for training before leaving for Iraq, Comeaux's father died. He was able to attend the funeral, but soon after was diagnosed with cancer himself.

"He had the surgery and the military took care of him," Gunn said. "He's had so many tragedies during his military service, but he stayed focused."

Kurt Comeaux was due to come home on leave on Feb. 14, Valentines Day. Karen Gunn said her son-in-law had told his sons that he would have a special surprise for them in 2005. "That surprise was that he was going to come home," she said.

Marine Sgt. Zachariah S. Davis

Zachariah S. Davis turned cartwheels when his wife became pregnant for the first time.

When he received orders to return to Iraq last summer, he had just witnessed the birth of his second son and was worried about leaving.

"We talked about it and he said he had a bad feeling," said his father, Terry Davis. "But he's a Marine and he knew he had to go. He understood."

Davis, 25, of Twentynine Palms, Calif., was killed Jan. 6 in Iraq's Anbar province. His family was told the cause was a roadside bomb.

The son of a career Marine, Davis went to high school on the military base where he was later stationed. He worked for the San Bernardino County Fire Department and enjoyed the outdoors and Tom Clancy novels.

But much of his time was reserved for his family. He sang lullabies to his sons and took time to be a good dad. "You couldn't ask for better," said his wife, Angela.

A few days before his death, he e-mailed his wife an electronic card. It read: "No matter what, I'll be falling in love with you over and over again, every day."

Army Pvt. Cory R. Depew

In his last days before heading to war, Cory Depew helped build a church peace garden.

"It had trees and bushes and benches where people can sit," said his mother, Ann May. "He worked so hard on that garden, and it is such a nice place to relax now."

Depew, 21, of Beech Grove, Ind., was killed Jan. 4 when his vehicle was struck by a grenade in Mosul.

Depew knew he wanted to be a soldier since eighth grade, his mother said. He enlisted in 2003 and was stationed at Fort Lewis. He is survived by an 18-month-old son.

While last at home, Depew talked about his Army training to a class at his younger brothers' grade school and spent time with his son.

"He was one of those different people that were friends with everybody," said high school classmate Sarah Smith. "It doesn't matter what type of music you listened to, how you looked, what you dressed like, where you came from -- he was friends with you."

Marine Lance Cpl. Jonathan E. Etterling

From the time he was a little boy, Jonathan E. Etterling wanted to be in the military. He enlisted in the Marines while still in high school.

"Some people have a higher calling. John's was his country," said Cathy Sizemore, his Sunday school teacher.

Etterling, 22, of Wheelersburg, Ohio, was among the 31 killed Jan. 26 when a helicopter crashed in bad weather in Iraq. He was stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

Etterling was a good student in high school who played football, ran track and participated in his school's class plays.

He was an easygoing young man "who didn't make any enemies," said his father, William. "If he was your friend, he was your friend. He could not abide a bully."

He had dreamed of becoming a Marine since he was a young boy.

"He was very mature," said track coach Carol Bialkowski. "He always knew what he wanted to do. One of the reasons he ran track was to get in shape. He was a good, all-around kid. He was an all-American boy."

Army Sgt. Michael S. Evans II

After a long day of training, you could find Michael S. Evans II writing the alphabet over and over again to try to improve his dyslexia.

"I was impressed by the fact that he was always trying to get better, he never quit," said his friend, Sgt. David Ratcliff.

Evans, 22, of Marrero, La., died Jan. 28 while on patrol in western Baghdad. He was based at New Roads.

Evans II joined the guard as a teenager and volunteered to go to Afghanistan and then Iraq. "When 9/11 happened, he knew what his calling was," said his mother, Wynette Evans.

Several months ago, he wrote a farewell letter to loved ones -- just in case.

"I will start by stating that I am proud of what I've done with my life, and that none of it would have been possible without your support, love, and care," he wrote. "Please keep on going with your lives. My death will mean nothing if you stop now. I know it will be hard, but I gave my life so you could live. Not just live, but live free."

His wife, Melissa, who is 5-months pregnant, remembered their last conversation: "He talked to the baby and he said he was going to be home soon and take care of us."

Marine Sgt. Andrew K. Farrar Jr.

Sgt. Farrar

Andrew K. Farrar Jr. nearly left the Marines for civilian life in 2001, even taking a police civil service exam to prepare for a career in law enforcement.

Then came Sept. 11: "He re-enlisted after 9-11 to serve because he knew others wouldn't be able to serve," said his father, Andrew Farrar Sr. "His whole approach was selfless."

Farrar Jr., 31, of Weymouth, Mass., was electrocuted by a high-voltage wire while he was on patrol in Iraq on Jan. 28. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune.

Farrar was scheduled to return home to his wife and two young sons in three weeks when he died on his birthday.

Farrar leaves behind a wife, Melissa, who was his high school sweetheart. They married in 1996 and Farrar Jr. joined the Marines a year later. He is also survived by two sons, Tyler, 6, and Liam, 2.

"He was profoundly patriotic," his father said. "We're proud of him and we're proud of all service men and women."

Army Spc. Huey Fassbender III

Spc. Fassbender

Huey Fassbender III had recently "found peace" through his faith, his father said.

"He was a model son, a model soldier, my best buddy," Huey Fassbender Jr. said.

The younger Fassbender, 24, of LaPlace, La., died Jan. 6 when a roadside bomb exploded in northwest Baghdad. He was based in Lafayette, La.

Fassbender graduated from a Christian high school, where he was a wrestler.

"He was just a real personable person. He was just a giving person," his father said.

He enlisted in the Army after high school and served in Afghanistan before leaving in 2003. He enlisted the National Guard the following year. While not on duty he worked as a waiter and split time between his father's home and that of his mother, Sandra Norra.

Fassbender said his son looked at Iraq almost as if it was his calling. His son told him that finally being able to use his training in Iraq was like playing "in the Super Bowl."

Marine Sgt. Michael W. Finke Jr.

Sgt. Finke

On the day his family completed arrangements for his funeral, a letter from Michael Finke Jr. arrived from Iraq at the home of his wife, Heather.

"He was real upbeat," said his brother, Tim. "He just talked a lot about how he couldn't wait to get home to start a family."

Finke, 28, of Huron, Ohio, was among the 31 killed Jan. 26 when a helicopter crashed in bad weather in Iraq. He was stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

Finke had been a Marine for nine years and had dreamed of it before then. He enlisted when he was a senior in high school.

"We had to sign the papers because he was under age," said Michael Finke Sr. "Once he graduated, he went right out to basic training."

He married his wife in 2002.

"I know it sounds corny, but everybody loved Michael," his father said.

Marine Cpl. Joseph E. Fite

Cpl. Fite

Two days before Joseph E. Fite died in Iraq, his father told him he was proud of his military service.

"I told him more than once that I was very proud of what he was doing over there, that he would be seen by very young Iraqis ... and that they would draw their more true impressions of what Americans are like from their experience," said his father Olin Fite, a Vietnam veteran.

Fite, 23, of Round Rock, Texas, died Jan. 9 when a driver crashed through a checkpoint barricade in the Al Anbar Province and struck him. He was based in Austin, Texas.

The Marine had played the trombone in his high school band and enrolled in the school's Reserve Officers' Training Corps program. He wanted to wear the Marine uniform.

"He knew that the Marines were the elite -- they were the best of the best, and that's what he wanted to be and that's what he was," his father said.

"He died with his boots on and his rifle in his hands. The honor that he has done my family is immeasurable."

Army Pfc. Jesus Fonseca

Jesus Fonseca's father feared for his safety and did not want him to join the Army. But the teenager could not be deterred.

"He wanted to be somebody. That's what motivated him," said his father, who is also named Jesus. "He didn't make it. But he tried."

Fonseca, 19, of Marietta, Ga., was killed Jan. 17 in a car bomb exploded in Ar Ramadi. He was stationed at Camp Casey, South Korea.

Fonseca emigrated from Mexico with his family when he was a young boy, in 1980.

High school English teacher Sheila Evans said Fonseca often helped classmates who were struggling with the language. She recalled one phrase in a class paper he wrote about patriotism: "I think the best way I can love my new country is to serve my new country."

The soldier was married in December 2003, the same year he graduated from high school. His wife, Marlen, lives in the Mexican state of Jalisco.

Fonseca had been in Iraq for seven months and was scheduled for leave in January, but it was canceled.

Army Pfc. Armand Frickey

Pfc. Frickey

Armand Frickey had a soft spot for small children, underdogs and strays. While in Iraq, he asked his parents to send pens, notebooks and snacks for the children he met going village to village.

"He said he carried scraps in his backpack to feed the kids and stray cats," his mother Denise said.

Frickey, 20, of Houma, La., was killed Jan. 6 when a roadside bomb exploded in northwest Baghdad. He was based in Lafayette, La.

In civilian life Frickey, who went by Luke, was the assistant manager at a pizza place. He got married a month before his Iraq deployment.

Frickey enlisted in the National Guard at age 17 after earning his GED in Indiana, where the Frickeys lived before moving to Denver. His parents signed the permission slip required of early enlistees.

"He really believed in what he was doing," his mother said. "We envied him. He had a chance to do something that we never had a chance to do."

He is survived by his wife, Nikki.

Marine 1st Lt. Travis J. Fuller

Travis J. Fuller was a standout student and athlete who dazzled teachers and friends with his ability to put as much effort and dedication into physical training as he did into academics. He was as strong a leader as he was a team member, they said.

Fuller, 26, a native of Granville, Mass., and based at Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii, died Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash in western Iraq -- the military's deadliest crash of the Iraq war.

Fuller attended Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne, Mass., and earned a bachelor of science degree in marine transportation. His teachers found plenty to praise.

"Travis was very good and everyone enjoyed being around him," said Eduardo Martinez, his high school wrestling coach.

Added high school assistant principal James E. Vincent: "He was a good student with outstanding work habits again, both in the classroom and the wrestling mat."

Army Pfc. George R. Geer

From the warm Iraqi desert, George Geer wanted to hear about the snow back home. An avid skier, Geer was looking forward to his return to Colorado, where he planned to fix up a 1968 Dodge Charger with his dad.

Geer, 27, of Cortez, Colo., was killed Jan. 17 by a suicide bomber. He was stationed at Camp Casey, South Korea.

The former high school wrestler loved to ride horses, hunt elk and race cars. He joined the Army at age 25, just before the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

"He was just ready for a change," said his father, Harold Geer. "And there's been Geers in the military every generation since the Revolutionary War."

Easy going and friendly, Geer "looked out for the underdog," his father said.

"He lived in a black and white world. What was right was right. Wrong was wrong," Harold Geer said. "I'm prejudiced as hell, but he was special."

Geer is also survived by his mother, Lois.

Marine Cpl. Timothy Gibson

Cpl. Gibson

Timothy Gibson grew up in a family with a strong military background, and talked of one day training to become a state trooper.

But in a letter home, he said going to war was "a very different experience than I could ever imagine."

Gibson, 23, of Merrimack, N.H., and stationed at Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii, died Jan. 26 when his transport helicopter crashed in western Iraq.

Gibson enlisted in the Marine Corps in April 2001. He had been expected to leave Iraq on Feb. 12, and was to be discharged in April, his family said. A younger brother, also a Marine, served in Iraq and is stationed in the United States.

George McKenna, Gibson's grandfather and a World War II veteran, recalled advice he'd given his grandson about going to war.

"Make all the friends you can, learn what you can and hope to God you don't have to use it," he said.

In a letter home, the young soldier said he wanted to sit down talk to his parents someday about what he'd done in Iraq.

"Now we'll never know," said his mother, Elaine Gibson.