Marine Cpl. Stephen P. Johnson

Stephen P. Johnson took his military duty seriously, but he took everything else lightly.

"He was a ham. He loved doing impressions and making people laugh," said his sister, Kari Williams. "He didn't like things to get too serious. If it did, he'll crack a joke."

Johnson, 24, of Covina, Calif., was killed Jan. 26 when his helicopter crash near Rutbah. He was based at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

Johnson was sent to Iraq in the fall and had served about four years in the Marine Corps, where he completed his requirements for a high school degree.

Williams remembered her younger brother as someone who loved doing impressions. He did Jim Carrey and characters made famous by Mike Myers such as Austin Powers.

"He was entertaining. He was very comical," she said.

Perhaps his greatest love was his 1-year-old son, Tyler. He would rush home from work to be with him.

"I know his whole world evolved around his son," Williams said. "When he was stationed in Hawaii, he couldn't wait to finish work to go home to his son. That was his whole world."

Johnson also is survived by his wife, Kelsey.

Army Spc. Alain L. Kamolvathin

Spc. Kamolvathin

Shortly after the death of his father, Alain L. Kamolvathin made a promise to his little sister, Sidney. They were now orphans, but Alain told her he'd earn the money to buy them a house.

"He loved his sister. I can't even explain in words how much he loved her," said a cousin, Frank Kamolvathin. "He was saving everything he had so he could buy the house for her."

Kamolvathin, 21, of Blairstown, N.J., died Jan. 16 when his Humvee rolled over into a drainage trench in Baghdad. He was stationed in New York City.

He was remembered as a fireplug of a man, short and barrel-chested, who liked to re-enact the moves he saw in martial arts films. He enlisted after receiving his GED at age 19.

His mother died in 2000 of cancer and their father died of a heart attack in 2003. A friend of the family took care of Sidney, while Alain lived with his uncle's family in New York.

Kamolvathin planned to leave the National Guard after his current commitment was up. "He wanted to take care of his sister," said Nazarin Kamolvathin, his uncle. "I told them that their mother and father would have wanted them to be together."

Marine Cpl. Sean P. Kelly

Cpl. Kelly

Sean Kelly fulfilled his childhood dreams early in life. In his high school yearbook, he wrote, "In the future, I plan on being a United States Marine."

Kelly, 23, of Gloucester, N.J., was among the 31 killed Jan. 26 when a helicopter crashed in bad weather in Iraq. He was stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

Kelly played football and wrestled in high school and loved fast cars and motorcycles. He was remembered by teachers as kind, popular and focused.

His father and two grandfathers were in the military, and he joined the Marines right out of high school, like his older brother.

His parents said Sean intended to be a career Marine, and when he was home on leave he talked to students at his old elementary school -- where his mother is a secretary -- about life in the military.

"He always wanted to be a U.S. Marine. He died a U.S. Marine and was fulfilling his life choice," his mother Lynn said. Kelly is also survived by his father, Alexander.

Marine Staff Sgt. Dexter S. Kimble

Sgt. Kimble

On active duty for 13 years, Dexter S. Kimble used his travel opportunities to shower his family with exotic gifts.

Wooden masks from Japan dot the walls of their home and it wasn't unusual for a package to arrive filled with artsy jewelry and local handicrafts from abroad.

"Dexter is the kind of husband you want your daughter to marry," said Ruby Jenkins, his mother-in-law. "He was so sweet to her."

Kimble, 30, of Houston, died Jan. 26 when his helicopter crashed in western Iraq. He was based at Miramar.

Kimble, who had a passion for his Suzuki racing motorcycle, had hoped to retire from the Marines and become a private pilot, said his wife, Dawanna. "That's why he joined the Marines," she said. "He wanted to fly."

Kimble would insist that his five children not be on base before his deployment, but this past August, before leaving for Iraq, he asked Dawanna to bring their newborn daughter.

"Not too long ago, he sent her a postcard that said, 'Baby, I know you don't know me, and I want you to remember me,"' she said. "Maybe he knew something would happen."

Army Sgt. William S. Kinzer Jr.

The memories of William S. Kinzer Jr. came easily among his fellow high school graduates. There was the time he helped win a relay race, and the time he collected sand dollars in the Bahamas.

"He was a wonderful, kind person," said Erin Teague, who graduated with Kinzer in 1996. "If he was given a job to do, he always did it to the best of his abilities."

Kinzer, 27, of Hendersonville, N.C., died Jan. 26 just east of Samarra when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his Humvee. He was based at Schweinfurt, Germany.

Scott Hege remembers him as guy anyone could talk to. "He was just one of the really, really nice people," Hege said.

Kinzer studied aircraft maintenance at Greenville Technical College in Greenville, S.C., and was sent to Iraq in January 2004. Kinzer was scheduled to return home and marry his fiancee, Melissa Milks, in March.

Teague recalled a conversation that she had with Kinzer the last time she saw him during an alumni weekend five years ago. "He was happy and he told me that things were going well," she said.

Kinzer also is survived by his parents, William and Debra Kinzer.

Marine Lance Cpl. Allan Klein

Allan Klein always had an interest in the military -- but he didn't decide to join until the relatively advanced age of 30, after the Sept. 11 attacks.

"He felt a calling," said his father, Manfred.

Klein, 34, of Clinton Township, Mich., was among the 31 killed Jan. 26 when a helicopter crashed in bad weather in Iraq. He was stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

Klein attended Michigan Technological University for three years and held several jobs before deciding to go into the military in October 2001.

After the helicopter crash, one of Klein's friends brought his mother, Rae Oldaugh, a letter with instructions for the disposition of his belongings. It also spoke of another, more personal letter intended for his parents that was being kept with his personal effects.

"He said his buddies would know where it is and know when to send it," Oldaugh said.

"The fact is," she said, "all of his buddies were killed with him."

Marine Cpl. Timothy A. Knight

Timothy Knight was looking forward to coming home from Iraq so he could meet his infant daughter for the first time.

"He's never seen the baby, never held her," said his father-in-law, Dean Delligatti. "He was just talking to his wife saying he can't wait to get home to see her."

Knight, 22, of Brooklyn, 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.

Knight married his high school sweetheart, Gina, in 2003, and wanted to go into law enforcement after serving in the Marines.

"He was a respectful young man, just a real good kid," said his high school principal, Gretchen Derethik.

He is survived by his wife and daughter, Chloe.

Marine Lance Cpl. Karl R. Linn

Cpl. Linn

Karl R. Linn was a tinkerer with a flair for the creative. Even while at war, friends could keep up with him through a Web site he'd rigged from Iraq.

The site shows photos of guns and helicopters. One is labeled, "Little old me with the Kalashnikov," and others offer a view of the Euphrates from his balcony.

"Welcome to my improvised website about my current adventures in Iraq," it says. "For those of you who don't know me (or for those who simply don't remember), my name's Karl, and the Marine Corps Reserve has called me into active service for the time being."

Linn, 20, of Chesterfield, Va., died Jan. 26 during an attack on his convoy near Haditha. He was based at Lynchburg.

Linn, who helped start a robotics team at high school, was a mechanical engineering student at Virginia Commonwealth University. He was so small in stature when he first went into basic training -- 5-foot-6 and 125 pounds -- that he was put on double rations.

"God, everybody that knew him loved him," said his father, Richard. "He was a little guy -- but he was a little gem."

He also is survived by his mother, Malisa.

Army Pfc. Kevin M. Luna

When Kevin M. Luna prepared to return home on visits, he would tell friends to have a list of projects that he could help them accomplish when he arrived.

"All I did was mention to him that we wanted a koi pond, and before he left, we had us a koi pond," said one family friend, Susan Gauntt. "He was just a great guy."

Luna, 26, of Oxnard, Calif., died of non-combat injuries on Jan. 17 while serving in Iraq. He was stationed at Vilseck, Germany.

Luna's parents, Teresa and Robert Luna, said they were told their son died in an accident that is still under investigation, but they had no other details.

Luna, who played football in high school, joined the Army in 1999. He decided to re-enlist for another four years while serving in Iraq, his father said.

"He felt that it was a way to help people out," Robert Luna said. "He wanted to serve his country."

Luna is survived by his wife, Stephanie, and a son.

Army Capt. Joseph "Joe" Lusk II

Joe Lusk's dream was to be an astronaut. His goal every day, however, was simply to please those around him.

"He always put everyone else first," said his friend Dustin Powell. "It was his sole goal to make everyone else happy."

Lusk, 25, of Reedley, Calif., an Army helicopter pilot based at Fort Bragg, died Jan. 21 in a training accident in Kuwait, about 10 days after he was deployed overseas.

"A friend told me she thought he was so sweet, and when I thought about it, that's what he was, just so sweet," said Lusk's mother, Sue Lusk, an English teacher at the high school where her son graduated a straight-A student and football player.

Lusk graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. His uncles are both in the military. One of them, Maj. Joseph Lusk of Massachusetts, escorted his nephew's body from Dover Air Force Base.

"It gave me comfort to know I was doing it for my brother," Joseph Lusk said. "It really helped them to know that I was with Joe all along."

Marine Lance Cpl. Fred L. Maciel

Cpl. Maciel

When Fred L. Maciel last phoned his mom, there was plenty of laughing. That was normal.

"She was giggling a lot -- he was probably making her laugh. He always made her laugh," said Richard Garza, his stepfather. "They were very, very close. In fact, they had never been apart till he went to the Marines."

Maciel, 20, of Spring, Texas, died Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash near Rutbah. He graduated high school in 2003 and was based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

In that last phone call, Maciel sounded upbeat, maybe because he was almost finished with his tour. He was to head to Japan on Jan. 30 before returning to Hawaii and then home. Maybe it was because he and his fiancee, Jamie Hommel, were going to get married when he got back. The rings and the wedding dress were ready.

Katrina Matthews, Maciels stepsister, said Maciel loved children, and her children loved him. "They just idolized him," Matthews said. "He was a kind, caring, loving person."

He also is survived by his father, Fred Copenhaver; and mother, Patsy Maciel.

"He was a kind son," Copenhaver said. "He'd basically do anything for anybody."

Army Staff Sgt. William F. Manuel

Days before leaving for Iraq, Bill Manuel told his wife he didn't think he'd make a safe return.

"It was like he knew," Nicole Manuel said. "But he was the kind of man, even if he knew it was dangerous, he did what he had to do. He was going to get the job done."

Manuel, 34, of Kinder, La., was killed Jan. 10 when an explosive hit his vehicle in Baghdad. He was based in Lake Charles, La.

Manuel graduated from McNeese State University, where he majored in criminal justice. In civilian life, he was a manager at a casino.

He had divorced his wife before marrying her again a year ago, and is also survived by a stepson.

Anthony Manuel said his younger brother was "kind of quiet, but he made a good impression on you. ... He loved the outdoors, loved hunting and fishing."

"He was very much a leader, and he took people in," said friend and co-worker Michelle Vidrine. "He took care of people."

Younger soldiers jokingly referred to him as "the old man," said his friend, Beth Cook, adding that Manuel "proudly flew his LSU flag on his Bradley."

Army Spc. Joshua S. Marcum

Spc. Marcum

A father of five, Joshua Marcum had an easygoing disposition that made him popular among the troops.

"Marcum always had a joke, he kept morale up," Lt. Chris Lawless said.

Marcum, 33, of Evening Shade, Ark., was killed Jan. 4 in a roadside explosion. He was based in Camden, Ark.

The truck driver and his wife had five children, ages 8-15. His mother-in-law, Linda LeJeune, described him as a quiet man who didn't swear and disliked arguing.

He "liked to get out there and play with the kids," LeJeune said. "I wish he was my son."

In Iraq, Marcum was quiet and kept in touch with his family.

"He was always talking to his wife back home on the computer," Spc. Christian Kerlen said.

Army Sgt. Javier Marin Jr.

Javier Marin Jr. was the son of a Mexican immigrant, and used his Army sign-up bonus to make improvements to his family's home.

His father "was very proud of him," always talking about his son and showing pictures, said cousin Roel Chapa. He felt as if his son had accomplished the "American Dream," Chapa said.

Marin Jr., 29, of Mission Texas, was among five soldiers killed Jan. 24 when their Bradley Fighting Vehicle overturned in a canal. He was stationed in Vilseck, Germany.

Marin used to hang out at a local park playing basketball, and friends called him "Javi." He graduated from high school in 1996 and joined the Army two years later, serving in Bosnia.

His second tour of duty in Iraq was scheduled to end Feb. 17, and he hoped to eventually join the U.S. Border Patrol and start a family.

"He was one of my best friends -- someone you could trust," said friend Carlos Lopez. "He was quiet and reserved, but always had a smile on his face and he was just a likable guy."

Marin is also survived by his mother, Leslie.