ARMY SGT. 1ST CLASS JESSE B. ALBRECHT had built a house in Alaska with his new wife, hoped to hit the links when he left Iraq and planned to become an Army recruiter.
He had smart, well-laid-out plans, according to his mother, Denise Albrecht, and he’d sit around at night with his fellow soldiers chatting about golf and what courses they’d play when they returned home.
Albrecht, 31, of Hager City, Wis., was killed May 17 by a roadside bomb in Iskandariya. He was a 1994 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Richardson.
He leaves behind his wife, Crystal, whom he married last July, and an 11-year-old daughter, Salena, from his first marriage.
Albrecht was lanky and good-natured. Opponents on the wrestling mat in high school found it hard to pin him down.
He also enjoyed snowboarding, fishing, snowmobiling and riding ATVs.
Denise Albrecht said that his fellow soldiers told her he was one of the first to participate in platoon outings, including paint ball and ice hockey, and also enjoyed playing cards, even though “he couldn’t bluff a 3-year-old in a poker game.”
Teachers and students remembered ARMY CPL. MATTHEW ALEXANDER as a gregarious young man who made friends easily, ran track and was passionate about playing percussion in the band.
“My greatest memory of him is just the sheer number of friends he had at this school,” said Kirk Eledge, principal of his old high school. “When you’re a kind-spirited person, a lot of people are going to connect with you like that.”
Alexander, 21, of Gretna, Neb., was killed May 6 by a roadside bomb in Baqubah. He was a 2004 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Lewis.
“He was just a real genuine young man,” said Eledge. “When I think of Matt, I kind of think about him always having a smile on his face. He was very warm individual, very down to earth.”
Alexander got married on Valentine’s Day to a classmate, Kara, who played flute in the high school band.
“He was always the guy that wanted to get things done,” said Mark Irvin, the band’s director. “He never would say, it’s not my job.”
At a recent concert, his high school band dedicated the song “Glory,” a military march, to Alexander.
A native of Russia, ARMY SPC. ALEXANDRE A. ALEXEEV enjoyed ice hockey, relished small gifts sent from America and loved his adopted country.
“My impression was obviously he believed in the country,” said Rose Ramirez-Latham, who exchanged e-mails with Alexeev through the Soldiers Angel Network, an organization that connects people fighting overseas with concerned people back home. “He was fighting for a cause.”
Alexeev, 23, of Wilmington, Calif., was killed May 28 by a bomb blast in Abu Sayda. He was a 2002 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Hood.
“He was a good guy, really smart,” said longtime friend Dan Corbei. “He was a really sharp kid who made the most of everything.”
For fun, the two would go clubbing and listen to music. “He loved online gaming, techno music and working with computers,” Corbei said.
Ramirez-Latham would offer to send him gifts, but Alexeev was shy about accepting them. “I asked him what he needed. He said he felt awkward asking for things. I e-mailed him back saying, ‘Don’t feel bad. I’m going to send you something.”‘
Friends described ARMY PFC. JOSEPH J. ANZACK JR. Joseph J. Anzack Jr. as a “pumped up” athlete who made them laugh and comforted them when they needed it.
“You’d be sad and sitting there by yourself, and he’d come up to you and just talk to you, and say, ‘Hey, how’s your day? Are you OK?”‘ childhood friend Erika Esquivel said.
Anzack, 20, of Torrance, Calif., was captured May 12 by enemy forces in Al Taqa and his body was found May 23. He was a 2005 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Drum.
Anzack played football and was on the wrestling and swim teams.
He was “always pumped up and ready to try something new,” Esquivel said.
His school will dedicate this year’s season to Anzack, who was an all-league nose guard, and retire his number, 52.
He hoped to join the Special Forces.
“If I was sitting in a foxhole, I want Joe Anzack right next to me,” said Josh Waybright, Anzack’s football coach. “Because when things get tough, he’s not going anywhere. He’s going to be right there with you, doing everything he can to help you. He put others before himself.”
He is survived by his parents, Joseph and Theresa.
ARMY SGT. BRIAN D. ARDRON ARMY SPC. BENJAMIN J. ASHLEY told his parents he wanted to grow up and be G.I. Joe.
“He would say, ‘I want to be a G.I. Joe. I want drive a tank. I want to run the bad guys over,” said his mother, Donna Ashley.
Ashley, 22, of Independence, Mo., was killed May 24 by a roadside bomb in Balad. He was a 2002 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Riley.
In high school, Ashley was known as “Benjamin Saxophone” from the band jacket he would always wear, said his band teacher, Todd Reinhardt. Ashley played the baritone saxophone and participated in concert, jazz and marching band at the school.
“He eventually made it to the highest band ensemble,” he said. “He really worked hard to do that.”
Donna Ashley said his family was in contact with him throughout his deployment. They would send him baseballs and baseball bats and treats from home.
“He called a lot,” she said. “He had friends, and they would call themselves ‘the three stooges of Iraq,”‘ she said.
He is survived by a 2-year-old-son, Alex, and his wife, Kassandra. The couple met while she was tutoring the math class her grandmother taught.
ARMY 1ST LT. ANDREW J. BACEVICH joined ROTC in college, but was taken out because he had asthma. He didn’t let that slow him down.
After graduating from Boston University in 2003 with a degree in communications, Bacevich worked in politics, first as an intern for the late Republican Sen. Strom Thurmond, and later as a legislative aide to then-Gov. Mitt Romney.
When the asthma restriction was relaxed by the military, Bacevich attended officer training in 2005.
“He was driven by a desire to serve, first as part of our team and then as a member of the military. His loss is a deep personal loss for me and for all of those who knew him,” Romney said.
Bacevich, 27, of Walpole, Mass., was killed by a roadside bomb May 13 while on combat patrol in Salah Ad Din province. He was assigned to Fort Hood.
A soccer player and a runner, he ran marathons in Boston, Philadelphia and Miami. During his first Boston Marathon, he ran the race in 3:35 without doing any heavy training.
His father, BU professor Andrew J. Bacevich, has been a persistent critic of the Iraq war.
“They loved each other very much,” said a sister, Jennifer Bacevich.
He also is survived by his mother, Nancy.
When he became a volunteer firefighter five years ago, ARMY PVT. WILLIAM L. BAILEY III wanted to make sure of one thing: That it would be OK to bring his kids by the station to see the fire trucks.
“He just loved his family and worked hard for them,” said Paul Prewitt, a member of the Fire Department. “He had a lot of integrity and was a real stand-up guy. He would go out of his way for his friends. He will be missed.”
Bailey, 29, Bellevue, Neb., died May 26 in Taji of wounds suffered from a roadside bomb. He was assigned to O’Neill.
The firefighters recalled times during training when Bailey would take James Adams’ sunglasses and the two would swap seats to confuse the teacher, who thought they looked similar. And they smiled every time someone mentioned Bailey’s two hobbies: hunting and motorcycle riding.
Pete Lenagh enjoyed every minute he and Bailey were together, maybe because of Bailey’s daily approach to life. “He was always there for you,” Lenagh said. “It was his calling to come out and help everybody, and that is why he went to Iraq.”
Bailey is survived by his wife, Deanna, and five children.
ARMY SGT. RYAN J. BAUM’s wife described her husband as the typical “Colorado man.”
“I’d never met anybody from Colorado, and he was the definition of a Colorado man,” said Amber Baum. “He loved camping, he loved climbing, he loved kayaking, boating and fishing.”
Baum, 27, of Aurora, Colo., was killed May 18 by small-arms fire in Karmah. He was assigned to Fort Richardson and was a 1997 high school graduate.
He graduated from Ranger school with high marks and was accepted into the Special Operations Combat Medic School at Fort Bragg. He was selected to be senior instructor of the Alaska branch of pre-Ranger school.
“He was always an honor graduate, which was someone who exceeds above everybody else,” Amber said. “He was extremely strong, very physically fit.”
He was scheduled to fly home from Iraq to be with his wife for the birth of their first child, whom they decided to name Leia. She was given the middle name of Ryan in honor of her father.
“He just flipped when he found out he was going to be a father,” said his wife. “He would have been the best father that God could have placed on this earth. His spirit is going to live through his daughter.”
ARMY PFC. MATTHEW E. BAYLIS’ older brother, Marc, said his family tried to talk Matthew out of joining the Army two years ago, knowing that he would be sent to Iraq.
“My reaction was: Why? What are you doing?” Marc Baylis said. “But Matthew was the type of kid that, once he made up his mind, he has to do it.”
Baylis, 20, of Oakdale, N.Y., was killed May 31 by small-arms fire in Baghdad. He was a 2005 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Carson.
He watched the Military Channel and the History Channel. He was fascinated by swords.
On the Web site Facebook, he described himself, with apparent pride, as a “grunt.” “Even when he was a little boy, he always played Army,” said his mother, Laurie Baylis. “We couldn’t convince him to do anything else.”
His girlfriend, Lisa Laura, shared a birthday with the man she had been dating for more than three years.
Baylis had sent her a ring for their birthday on May 21. “It was a promise ring,” she said.
“He was not only gorgeous, he was a heartthrob with the girls,” said his aunt, Wendy Farrell Mele.
He also is survived by his father, Richard Baylis.
ARMY PFC. MATTHEW A. BEAN loved the outdoors and a multitude of sports.
Snowboarding, wakeboarding, judo, soccer and football still left him time to play the guitar.
“He was a pretty funny guy, he’d always crack jokes, lighten the mood,” said his brother, Timothy. “I was looking forward to him coming home and being able to spend time just hanging out and getting back to normal.”
Bean, 22, of Pembroke, Mass., died May 31 at the National Naval Medical Center of wounds suffered on May 19 in Lutifiyah when he was hit by a sniper. He was assigned to Fort Drum.
He spent a semester in college studying agriculture and worked in landscaping. He got his first job when he was a sophomore in high school to save money for a pickup truck. He worked for the Pembroke landscaper Down to Earth.
He graduated high school in 2003 and principal Richard Kelley said Bean had a “real gift” for horticulture, attaining straight As in the subject.
“He was a great student and an outstanding human being,” Kelley said. “A really thoughtful person.”
He is survived by his parents, Mary and Shawn Brennan, and Dana and Cheryl Bean.
ARMY SPC. DAVID W. BEHRLE was president of the Class of 2005 and gave the speech at his high school graduation two years ago.
“Everyone was wondering how he’d come up with a speech, but he did. He made everyone’s jaw drop with the speech. He just did a great job,” said Nick Yerington, a classmate.
Behrle, 20, of Tipton, Iowa, was killed May 19 by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. He was assigned to Fort Hood.
“He had the best personality, he was laid back and had such a big heart,” said Jeremy Gaunt, a friend. “He’d drop everything and do what he could for his friends and family.”
Behrle was an offensive lineman and a defensive end on the high school football team. He’d also helped coach Mike Wade with his eighth grade American history class, working on the computer and assisting with classroom projects.
“David was a kid who worked hard all the time. It was just, ‘There is a job to do and here I am,”‘ Wade said.
He is survived by his parents, Dixie Pelzer and John Behrle.
“He always had this mischievous smile, like he was about to do something that he shouldn’t do, but he never did,” school superintendent Richard Grimoskas said.
ARMY SPC. CLINTON C. BLODGETT wanted to enlist, but needed his GED first.
He took the practice exam and passed, impressing his coach.
“He was a very sincere young man, very motivated and intelligent,” said Carol Holsapple, a high school director of alternative programs.
“He had a burning desire to be successful. He had traveled down enough roads that he had hit some hard places, but he knew how to deal with them,” she said. “He told me, ‘Mrs. Holsapple, you have helped me to achieve my desire of going into the service.'”
Blodgett, 19, of Pekin, Ind., was killed May 26 by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. He was assigned to Schweinfurt, Germany.
His father, Don Blodgett, described his son as “real independent” and sometimes “rowdy,” someone who liked school less than hunting, fishing and driving four-wheelers.
He always stepped up to the plate whenever anybody needed help.
And he wasn’t scared of anything, said Charles “D.J” Blodgett, the soldier’s 16-year-old brother.
He also is survived by his mother, Tesa Jerrell.
Holsapple remembered something else: “He had a smile that was out of this world.”
Gordon Bolar got a call from his son the day of the mass shootings at Virginia Tech.
Having only heard that there was a shooting at a campus in the United States, ARMY SPC. MATTHEW T. BOLAR called him at his WMUK-FM office on the Western Michigan University campus to make sure he was OK.
“He was always concerned about someone else even though he was in the midst of bloodshed and chaos,” Gordon Bolar said.
Bolar, 24, of Montgomery, Ala., was killed by an explosion May 3 in Baghdad. He was a 2002 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Richardson.
He had volunteered for a second tour. “We knew it would be a more dangerous mission,” said his father. “He said, ‘Dad, if I don’t go, someone else with a wife and child, they’re going to have to go.’ That’s what he did, that’s the kind of character he displayed and I’m very proud of his service to his country.”
Bolar and his dad often spent time together fishing and camping.
Matthew, an avid outdoorsman, almost always came away from those trips with the biggest fish.
He also is survived by his mother, Anne Adkins, and stepfather Vernon Adkins.
ARMY CPL. ANTHONY M. BRADSHAW was a big fan of martial arts star Chuck Norris. On his MySpace page, when asked to identify his fears and weaknesses, he wrote: “Unlike Chuck Norris, I have none.”
“He was a true friend, he never has let me down. All his intentions throughout his life were good,” said Felipe Ochoa, a friend.
Bradshaw, 21, of San Antonio, Texas, was killed by a roadside bomb May 6 in Baqubah. He earned a GED and was assigned to Fort Lewis.
“He loved ‘Jeopardy’ and ‘Wheel of Fortune,”‘ said his sister, Anna Bradshaw. “The only time he got one wrong was when he forgot to say ‘What is?”‘ Tony prided himself on being sure he was right.
“He wasn’t a person you wanted to argue with,” said his twin brother, Sgt. Samuel Bradshaw. “Chances are you were wrong.”
The twins thought about enlisting since childhood, when a grandfather, a retired chief warrant officer, took them to a Fort Bliss museum and showed them the Army’s tanks and howitzers.
“He had this aura about him that drew everybody to him,” Staff Sgt. William Rose said.
He is survived by his mother, Ingrid Lee, and father, Jimmy Bradshaw.
ARMY SGT. 1ST CLASS SCOTT J. BROWN took it upon himself to create his own outreach project in Iraq, with family members sending him stuffed animals, toys and games that he could hand out to Iraqi youngsters.
“Scott would do anything for anybody, especially when it had to do with kids,” his family said in a statement. “His heart was as big as his dedication to his country.”
Brown, 33, of Windsor, Colo., was killed May 18 by an explosive and small-arms fire in Baghdad. He was assigned to Fort Bragg.
“He lived everyday like it was his last day here,” Brown’s former girlfriend Kristen Leedom said. “He lived his life to the fullest.”
Brown was on his third tour of duty in Iraq and had done tours in Afghanistan, Kuwait and Kosovo.
“Scott loved the Army,” said his wife, Delilah. “He was just unbelievable.”
“He was just so humble about it all,” said Debbi Hood, his sister. “We’d ask him about his medals, and he’d just say ‘Yeah, I got this and that,’ and that would be about it.”
Brown, who had been in the Army since 1998, also is survived by a son, Taylor, and stepdaughters, Vicki and Cassie.
Family members described ARMY STAFF SGT. STEVE BUTCHER JR. as a loyal, loving and caring man who led by example.
“My son often told me about his concern for his men,” said his father, Steve Butcher Sr. “He told me he’d do anything to keep them safe – that he’d bend the rules to protect them.”
Butcher, 27, of Penfield, N.Y., was killed May 23 in Ramadi. He was a 1997 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Stewart.
He was on his third tour.
Fellow soldiers described him as the “go-to guy” to settle debates, diffuse arguments and repair just about any broken item.
Liza Voos said her big brother took her to his senior ball instead of his girlfriend. As a child, she often sneaked into her brother’s room and begged him to read her a bedtime story and he’d always make one up especially for her.
“Steve was more than my brother, he was my best friend,” said Angela Butcher, another sister. “He wasn’t perfect, but he tried harder than any man I know.” He also is survived by his mother, Dianna.
“My son frequently referred to me as being his hero,” said his father. “But the truth is known by the whole country – he is the hero.”
Described as a “wild and crazy” teenager, ARMY PFC. DANIEL P. CAGLE became mischievous in high school, attending several schools before finishing in Mexico, in a tough program for teens with behavioral issues.
“He was very, very intelligent. He always was a little bit of a challenge for the teachers,” said his mother, Gail Johnson-Roth.
So she was surprised when the freewheeling teen decided to join the Army. Soon, he decided he wanted to make it his life.
“He found his rhythm in the military,” his mother said. “He loved the Army.”
Cagle, 22, of Carson, Calif., died May 23 in a helicopter over Balad on his way to a hospital after a roadside bomb blast in Ramadi. He was assigned to Fort Stewart.
He liked surfing at 26th Street in Manhattan Beach; music by Bob Marley, Johnny Cash, Sublime and “anything with good guitar licks;” the movies, “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” and “Anchorman;” the works of historian Stephen Ambrose; and “The Simpsons.”
“He was so proud to be a soldier,” said friend Alex Avila. “He found something that he could do. He did it well. If I was in Iraq, I would love to be under his command.”
William Sweeney, MARINE SGT. WILLIAM J. CALLAHAN’s former basketball coach, met Callahan when he was in the sixth grade and saw him again last year.
He was heavier, having put on some 30 pounds since joining the Marines, but he still had the same upbeat attitude and smile that first got Sweeney’s attention.
“He had gained confidence in himself, but he also kept what was his best side, his engaging personality,” Sweeney said.
Callahan, 28, of South Easton, Mass., was killed April 27 while attempting to disarm a roadside bomb in Anbar province. The 1997 high school graduate was assigned to Camp Lejeune and was on his second tour.
Jeffrey Sullivan said his nephew would go out of his way to help anyone in need, once delaying a trip home to deliver a truck filled with toys to a family who lost their house in a fire.
He is survived by his widow, Amy, and son, Daniel Allen, who was born only a few weeks before his death. Danny is named after two members of Callahan’s unit who died during maneuvers on Nov. 1, 2005.
“I’m happy they did this for me,” said his mother, Mary Ellen Callahan.
ARMY SPC. MARK R.C. CAGUIOA’s fiancee, Megan McComms, said she never saw herself dating an enlisted man. But Caguioa was different: He gave her the gift of sunsets.
“He taught me how to appreciate the sunset at my family’s Texas home,” she said. “I took it for granted before, since I grew up seeing it every day. But he showed me how romantic it actually is. I’ll never look at the Texas sunset the same way again.”
Caguioa, 21, of Stockton, Calif., died May 24 at the National Naval Medical Center of wounds suffered May 4 by a roadside bomb in Baghdad. He was assigned to Fort Hood.
He graduated from high school in 2002 and joined the Army in 2005 while at San Joaquin Delta College. He worked as a sushi chef at Shomi before enlisting.
President Bush met with Caguioa’s grieving family at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., over the Memorial Day weekend.
Caguioa’s parents were immigrants from the Philippines. He collected comic books, liked cars and mastered the video game “Mortal Kombat.”
He is survived by his mother, Maria “Lulay” Climaco and stepfather Roger Rodrigo.
ARMY CPL. RYAN D. COLLINS was supposed to have come home on leave earlier, but gave up his time so a fellow soldier could come home to see his new baby. Jay Hanley, minister of the church where Ryan and his family attended, said that was the kind of person he was.
“Ryan loved the Army, and planned to make a career of it,” Hanley said. He remembered when Ryan joined up, he didn’t tell his parents what he was doing until he had already enlisted.
“When he decided to do something, he went full steam ahead,” Hanley said.
Collins, 20, of Vernon, Texas, died May 19 in Hamiyah after being wounded the day before by small-arms fire. He was a 2005 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Richardson.
Jameson Hanley said Ryan always put others before himself and always made others feel good about being around him. He recalled the time when Ryan was home on leave while stationed in Alaska.
“It was my birthday, and he took time to spend with me and take me out to Wal-Mart and get me a gift card,” Hanley said.
The former basketball and football player is survived by his parents, Danita and David Logsdon, and Lynn Collins.
ARMY SGT. 1ST CLASS JAMES D. CONNELL JR., known as “Tiger,” had done something special with each of his three children while he was on leave, including taking his daughter, Courtney, 14, to get a pedicure – and even getting one himself.
“That’s some kind of man,” said the Rev. Tom Byrge. “Tiger taught his children, all around him, by example.”
Connell, 40, of Lake City, Tenn., was killed May 12 in Taqa while on patrol. He was a 1984 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Drum.
Since joining the Army 17 years ago, Connell visited 42 states and 13 different countries.
“I am more proud of him than anyone could know,” said his mother, Wendy Thompson.
In addition to the pedicure, he took his oldest son, 16-year-old Nick, horseback riding in the Smokies. He took Bryan, 12, to Knoxville Center and to a movie.
Before he left on his second tour, Connell was an assistant coach for the Watertown Red and Black, a semi-pro football team. He was nicknamed “Tiger” by his grandfather because of the growling noises he made as a baby.
He also is survived by a stepdaughter, Ashley Meyer.
ARMY SGT. MAJ. BRADLY D. CONNER was a career soldier who was gung-ho about serving, yet modest about his many awards.
“I think he considered himself a warrior,” said his wife, Cynthia. “And so did the rest of us. We thought he was invincible.”
Conner, 41, of Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, was killed May 9 by a roadside bomb near Al-Hillah. He was assigned to Fort Lewis and was on his fourth deployment to Iraq.
“He’s one of those guys where I could say I was his best friend, but everybody would probably say he’s their best friend,” David Roberts said.
Conner participated in ROTC in high school, where he graduated in 1984. He briefly attended the University of Idaho, then transferred to North Idaho College.
Conner studied math and engineering and thought about becoming a teacher. But when his money ran out, he enlisted in the Army in June 1987.
His father, William Conner, said his son had been working to restore a 1969 Firebird, which was almost completed.
“All but the back seat, inside and out,” he said. “It’s an amazing thing.”
He also is survived by three children: Aaron, 14, Katherine, 12, and Rachel, 6.
ARMY SGT. RICHARD V. CORREA served as a mechanic in the Air Force for four years before leaving to join the Army in 2004.
“He just had a different calling. It was to be an Army Ranger,” said his fiancee, Corey Dell. “He had hopes of doing Delta Force, special operations.”
Correa, 25, of Honolulu, was killed May 29 by a roadside bomb in Ilbu Falris. He was assigned to Fort Drum and was on his third deployment to Iraq.
“He always had a positive outlook on everything, even in Iraq when things are bad,” Dell said.
After Correa learned that his tour in Iraq would be months longer than expected, he wrote on his MySpace Web page, “I got extended!!! I ain’t ever coming home!!!”
Correa, a Filipino immigrant who came to Honolulu in the 1990s, loved to surf and “everything about Hawaii,” Dell said.
He gained his U.S. citizenship in November.
“He was full of energy. He just keep running. He’s very active. Like you have to tell him, ‘Can you stop? Can you keep still for a while?”‘ said his cousin, Mae Correa Acosta Myhre.
He also is survived by his parents in the Philippines.
A good musician, ARMY PFC. DANIEL W. COURNEYA was playing clarinet with his elementary school band in fifth grade. He also performed at a festival during the presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C., in January 2005.
“He was the first one to show up, last one to leave,” said Dennis Van der Hoef, his former band teacher. “He’ll be remembered as a local kid who left here because he wanted to do something with his life and came back a hero.”
Courneya, 19, of Vermontville, Mich., was killed May 12 in an ambush in Al Taqa. He was a 2005 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Drum.
A sports aficionado who was shooting basketball layups “like you wouldn’t believe” at age 2, said his grandmother, Martha Petuck. Courneya also played soccer and ran track while in high school.
Courneya talked to his 16-year-old sister, Autumn Branham, three weeks before he died. He reminded her he loved her.
“He was my best friend,” Branham said. “Sometimes, my only friend.”
He also is survived by his wife, Jennifer.
“I always called him ‘my bright eyes,”‘ Martha Petuck said. “He was my hero.”
