Please take a moment to honor our heroes
A nation’s values are hollow unless its citizens honor and defend them. Americans’ right to disagree openly with their government (over such issues as war) has survived, thanks largely to those who serve in the nation’s armed forces, many giving their lives.
This Memorial Day, The Spokesman-Review editorial board pays tribute to the patriotic service members from Washington, Idaho and Montana who have made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq.
Washington
Army 1st Lt. Michael R. Adams
24, Seattle
March 16, 2004, Asad
Army Spc. Robert T. Benson
20, Spokane
Nov. 4, 2003, Baghdad
Marines Staff Sgt. Marvin Best
33, Prosser
June 20, 2004, Anbar province
Marines Lance Cpl.
Cedric E. Bruns
22, Vancouver
May 9, 2003, Kuwait
Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Bunda
29, Bremer
Jan. 25, 2004, Mosul
Army Staff Sgt.
Michael L. Burbank
34, Bremerton
Oct. 11, 2004, Mosul
Marines Pfc. Cody S. Calavan
19, Lake Stevens
May 29, 2004, Anbar province
Army 2nd Lt. Benjamin J. Colgan
30, Kent
Nov. 1, 2003, Baghdad
Marines Sgt. Jason Cook
25, Okanogan
Aug. 21, 2004, Anbar province
Army Sgt. Jacob H. Demand
29, Palouse
Sept. 14, 2004, Mosul
Army Spc. Blain M. Ebert
22, Washtucna
Nov. 22, 2004, Baghdad
Army Sgt. Damien T. Ficek
26, Pullman
Dec. 30, 2004, Baghdad
Marines Lance Cpl.
Kane M. Funke
20, Vancouver
Aug. 13, 2004, Anbar province
Army Spc. Justin W. Hebert
20, Arlington
Aug. 1, 2003, Kirkuk
Army Spc. Jacob R. Herring
21, Kirkland
April 28, 2004, Tal Afar
Army Sgt. Curt E. Jordan Jr.
25, Greenacres
Dec. 28, 2003, Near Beiji
Army Spc. Duane E. Longstreth
19, Tacoma
Aug. 7, 2003, Baghdad
Marines Lance Cpl.
Caleb J. Powers
21, Manfield
Aug. 17, 2004, Anbar province
Marines Capt. Gregory A. Ratzlaff
36, Olympia
Aug. 3, 2004,
Forward Operating Base Duke
Marines Sgt. Yadir G. Reynoso
27, Wapato
Aug. 5, 2004, Naja
Marines Staff Sgt. David G. Ries
29, Vancouver
Nov. 8, 2004, Anbar province
Marines Cpl. Steven A. Rintamaki
21, Lynnwood
Sept. 16, 2004, Anbar province
Army Spc. Jonathan J. Santos
22, Bellingham
Oct. 15, 2004, Karabilah
Army Spc. Jeremiah W. Schmunk
21, Richland
July 8, 2004, Baghdad
Army Pfc. Kerry D. Scott
21, Mount Vernon
Oct. 6, 2003, Iskandariyah
Army Spc. Jeffrey R. Shaver
26, Maple Valley
May 12, 2004, Baghdad
Marines Lance Cpl.Dustin L. Sides
22, Yakima
May 31, 2004, Anbar province
Army Pfc. Andrew M. Ward
25, Kirkland
Dec. 5, 2004, Ramadi
Marines Lance Cpl.
Nathan R. Wood
19, Kirkland
Nov. 9, 2004, Anbar province
Army Pfc. Curtis L. Wooten III
20, Spanaway
Jan. 4, 2005, Balad
Idaho
Army Capt. Eric L. Allton
34, Boise
Sept. 26, 2004, Ramadi
Army Cpl. Richard P. Carl
26, King Hill
May. 9, 2003, Near Samarra
Army Sgt. Kelly S. Morris
24, Boise
March 30, 2005, Baghdad
Army Pfc. Jerrick M. Petty
25, Idaho Falls
Dec. 10, 2003, Mosul
Army Pfc. Cleston C. Raney
20, Rupert
March 31, 2004, Habbaniyah
Marines Pfc. Christopher J. Reed
20, Craigmont
July 10, 2004, Anbar province
Marines Maj. Alan Rowe
35, Hagerman
Sept. 3, 2004, Anbar province
Army Capt. James A. Shull
32, Kamiah
Nov. 17, 2003, Baghdad
Air Force Maj. Gregory Stone
40, Boise
March 25, 2003, Camp Pennsylvania, Kuwait
Army Spc. Brandon T. Titus
20, Boise
Aug. 17, 2004, Baghdad
Army 1st Lt. Luke C. Wullenwaber
24, Lewiston
Nov. 16, 2004, Khalidiyah
Montana
Army Staff Sgt.
Aaron N. Holleyman
26, Glasgow
Aug. 30, 2004, Khutayiah
Army Master Sgt.
Robbie D. McNary
42, Lewistown
March 31, 2005, Hawijah
Marines Cpl. Dean P. Pratt
22, Stevensville
Aug. 2, 2004, Anbar province
Army 1st Lt. Edward M. Saltz
27, Bigfork
Dec. 22, 2003, Baghdad
Marines Cpl. Raleigh C. Smith
21, Troy
Dec. 23, 2004, Anbar province
Army Pfc. Owen D. Witt
20, Sand Springs
May 24, 2004, Dawr