Honoring Lives Lost to Conflict

Corporal Xhacob Latorre, a 21-year-old U.S. Marine from Waterbury, Connecticut, died on December 8, 2009, in San Antonio, Texas. The Department of Defense confirmed his death as hostile.

At 23, SGT Freitas, Ralph Anthony Webb of DETROIT, MI was serving with the MARINE CORPS, MWSS-172, MWSG, 1ST MAW, (A CO, TF COURAGE, MNC-I FWD) OKINAWA, JA, when he died in BAGHDAD, IRAQ on December 8, 2009.

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Dennis Joe Hansen, 31, of Panama City, Florida, died on December 5, 2009, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany from wounds sustained in Afghanistan.

U.S. Army Sergeant Elijah John Miles Rao, 26, of Lake Oswego, Oregon, was killed in action on December 5, 2009, in the Alin Gar District of western Nuristan, Afghanistan.

U.S. Army Sergeant Kenneth Ray Nichols Jr., 28, of Chrisman, Illinois, died on December 1, 2009, at Forward Operating Base Michigan in Afghanistan.

LCPL Jonathan Andrew Taylor, an American Marine from Jacksonville, FL, died on December 1, 2009, in Garmsir District, Afghanistan, during Operation Enduring Freedom.

U.S. Army Sergeant Brandon Taylor Islip, 23, of Richmond, Virginia, died on November 29, 2009, in Bala Murghab, Afghanistan, from hostile enemy action.

From CAPE CORAL, FL, PFC Gwaltney, Derrick Daniel served with the ARMY, 606TH COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 377TH ARMOR, FORT LEWIS, WASHINGTON, and died on November 29, 2009 in PB WESSAM, IRAQ. He was 21.

David Michael Mudge, 22, was a Petty Officer Third Class from Sutherlin, Oregon, serving aboard the USS Rentz (FFG 46). He died in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on November 28, 2009.

From WHITE SULPHUR, MT, PFC Rogers, Michael Anthony served with the ARMY, COMPANY A, 210TH BRIGADE SUPPORT BATTALION, 2 BCT, FORT DRUM, NY, and died on November 27, 2009 in FOB HAMMER, IRAQ. He was 23.

U.S. Army Sergeant Jason Adam Mcleod, 22, of Crystal Lake, Illinois, died on November 23, 2009, at Forward Operating Base Wilson in Afghanistan.

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Matthew Albert Pucino, 34, of Barnstable, Massachusetts, was killed in action on November 23, 2009, in Pashay Kala, Afghanistan.

Gina dela Cruz was a Filipino journalist, working as a reporter for UNTV and as a freelance correspondent. She was killed on November 23, 2009, in Maguindanao, Philippines.

Henry Araneta was a Filipino journalist for Periodico Ini. He was killed on November 23, 2009, in Maguindanao, Philippines.

Santos Sopelario was a Filipino journalist for the Midland Review. He was killed in Maguindanao, Philippines, on November 23, 2009.

Ronnie Perante was a Filipino journalist for News Focus. He was killed on November 23, 2009, in Maguindanao, Philippines.

Bienvenido Legarte Jr. was a Filipino journalist for News Focus. He was among 58 people killed in the Maguindanao massacre on November 23, 2009.

Lance Corporal Nicholas Joel Hand, 20, of Kansas City, Missouri, was a U.S. Marine killed in hostile action on November 22, 2009, in Garmsir, Afghanistan.