Remember Our Heroes

Thousands of men and women from Arkansas are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan as soldiers, hospital workers, police, technical specialists, or government contractors. We remain forever indebted for their contribution to the war effort. Sadly, some of our state's finest will not return home to Arkansas once their mission is complete. They were ordinary and extraordinary all at once, and must never be forgotten for their sacrifice.

I have a memorial outside my Washington, DC office with the names and photos of every Arkansan who lost his life in Iraq and Afghanistan. The memorial stands as a reminder of Arkansas' sacrifice in the current war effort.

Anthony Lynn Woodham, 37, of Rogers, Ark., died July 5, at Camp Adder, Tallil, Iraq, from non-combat related injuries resulting from contact with an electrified piece of metal in the vehicle maintenance area. Woodham, was assigned to Delta Company, 39th Brigade Support Battalion, 39th Brigade Combat Team of Heber Springs, Ark.

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Michael Vann Johnson Jr., 25, Little Rock, Arkansas. Naval Medical Center San Diego, 3rd Marine Division Detachment. Killed in action in Iraq on March 25, 2003.

Pfc. Jonathan M. Cheatham, 19, Camden, Arkansas. 489th Engineer Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve. Killed when the convoy he was riding in was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades in Baghdad, Iraq, on July 26, 2003.

Master Sgt. Kevin N. Morehead, 33, Little Rock, Arkansas. Company B, 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Died of wounds received when his unit conducted a raid on September 12, 2003, in Ramadi, Iraq, on September 12, 2003.

Spc. Dustin K. McGaugh, 20, Springdale, Arkansas. Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 17th Field Artillery Brigade. Died from a non-hostile wound in Balad, Iraq, on September 30, 2003.

Sgt. Keelan L. Moss, 23, Little Rock, Arkansas. 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment. Killed when insurgents fired a surface-to-air missile at the CH-47 Chinook helicopter he was in near Fallujah, Iraq, on November 2, 2003.

Pfc. Brandon C. Smith, 20, Fayetteville, Arkansas. 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. Killed in action while conducting security and stability operations in Al Anbar province in northern Iraq on March 18, 2004.

Sgt. 1st Class William W. Labadie Jr., 45, Bauxite, Arkansas. E Troop, 151st Cavalry Squadron, 39th Infantry Brigade, Arkansas Army National Guard. Killed when his camp was attacked with rockets and small-arms fire in Baghdad, Iraq, on April 7, 2004.

Staff Sgt. Stacey C. Brandon, 35, Hazen, Arkansas. 39th Support Battalion, 39th Brigade Combat Team, Arkansas Army National Guard, 1st Cavalry Division. Killed when mortar rounds hit his camp in Taji, Iraq, on April 24, 2004.

Capt. Arthur L. Felder, 36, Lewisville, Arkansas. 39th Support Battalion, 39th Brigade Combat Team, Arkansas Army National Guard, 1st Cavalry Division. Killed when mortar rounds hit his camp in Taji, Iraq, on April 24, 2004.

Chief Warrant Officer Patrick W. Kordsmeier, 49, North Little Rock, Arkansas. 39th Support Battalion, 39th Brigade Combat Team, Arkansas Army National Guard, 1st Cavalry Division. Killed when mortar rounds hit his camp in Taji, Iraq, on April 24, 2004.

Staff Sgt. Billy J. Orton, 41, Humnoke, Arkansas. 39th Support Battalion, 39th Brigade Combat Team, Arkansas Army National Guard, 1st Cavalry Division. Killed when mortar rounds hit his camp in Taji, Iraq, on April 24, 2004.

Spc. Kenneth A. Melton, 30, Batesville, Arkansas. Company B, 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, 39th Brigade Combat Team, Army National Guard. Killed when an improvised explosive device and small-arms fire struck his vehicle while traveling in a convoy from Baghdad, Iraq, on April 25, 2004.

Staff Sgt. Hesley Box Jr., 24, Nashville, Arkansas. 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, 39th Brigade Combat Team, Army National Guard. Killed when a car bomb detonated near his guard post in Baghdad, Iraq, on May 6, 2004.

Sgt. 1st Class Troy L. Miranda, 44, DeQueen, Arkansas. Company C, 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, 39th Brigade Combat Team, Arkansas Army National Guard. Killed when a grenade was thrown near his foot patrol on Hipha Street in Baghdad, Iraq, on May 20, 2004.

Cpl. Tommy J. Parker Jr., 21, Heber Springs, Arkansas. 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. Died from hostile fire in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, on June 21, 2004.

Staff Sgt. Dustin W. Peters, 25, Shirley, Arkansas. 314th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Little Rock Air Force Base. Killed when the convey in which he was traveling was hit by a homemade bomb near Forward Operating Base Summerall, Iraq, on July 11, 2004.

2nd Lt. James Michael Goins, 23, Green Forest, Arkansas. 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. Killed by hostile fire in Najaf, Iraq, on August 15, 2004.

Sgt. Thomas C. Rosenbaum, 25, Hope, Arkansas. Battery B, 4th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. Killed when an improvised explosive device hit his convoy vehicle in Baghdad, Iraq, on September 18, 2004.

Sgt. Russell L. Collier, 48, Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery Regiment, Arkansas Army National Guard Harrison, Arkansas Collier's unit was conducting traffic control operations in Taji, Iraq, when enemy forces attacked them using small-arms fire on October 3, 2004

Sgt. Ronald W. Baker, 34, Cabot, Arkansas. Company C, 39th Support Battalion, Arkansas Army National Guard Baker died October 13, 2004, in Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries sustained on October 7 when a car bomb detonated near his patrol vehicle in Taji, Iraq.

Airman 1st Class Jesse M. Samek, 21, of Rogers, Arkansas. 66th Rescue Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Died Oct. 21, 2004, from injuries he received when an Air Force HH-60 helicopter aircraft crashed during a medical evacuation mission in Afghanistan.

Sgt. Michael A. Smith, 24, Camden, Arkansas. 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, Arkansas Army National Guard. Died on November 26, 2004, at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C., from injuries sustained when he was attacked by enemy forces using small-arms fire in Baghdad, Iraq, on November 7, 2004.

Cpl. Jason S. Clairday, 21, Camp, Arkansas. Company K, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. Died due to enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, on December 12, 2004.

Spc. Jimmy D. Buie, 44, Floral, Arkansas. Company B, 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Arkansas Army National Guard. Killed when a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle in Taji, Iraq, on January 4, 2005.

Spc. Joshua S. Marcum, 33, Evening Shade, Arkansas. Company B, 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Arkansas Army National Guard. Killed when a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle in Taji, Iraq, on January 4, 2005.

Spc. Jeremy W. McHalffey, 28, Mabelvale, Arkansas. Headquarters Company, 39th Infantry Brigade, Arkansas Army National Guard. Killed when a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle in Taji, Iraq, on January 4, 2005.

Lance Cpl. Brian C. Hopper, 21, Wynne, Arkansas. Company C, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Unit. Died when the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter he was in crashed near Ar Rutba in western Iraq on January 26, 2005.

Spc. Lyle W. Rymer II, 24, Fort Smith, Arkansas. 239th Engineer Company, 39th Infantry Brigade, Arkansas Army National Guard. Died when he was shot by enemy forces in Baghdad, Iraq, on January 28, 2005.

Staff Sgt. William T. Robbins, 31, North Little Rock, Arkansas. Headquarters Company, 39th Infantry Brigade, Arkansas Army National Guard. Died of non-combat related injuries in Taji, Iraq, on February 10, 2005.

Pvt. Landon S. Giles, 19, Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Headquarters Troop, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. Killed when an improvised explosive device detonated while his unit was on patrol in northern Baghdad, Iraq, on February 26, 2005.

Spc. Tyler L. Creamean, 21, Jacksonville, Arkansas. Company A, 73rd Engineer, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Died of injuries sustained when a roadside bomb detonated near his Humvee in Mosul, Iraq, on May 22, 2005.

Spc. Dustin C. Fisher, 22, Fort Smith, Arkansas. Battery B, 1st Battalion, 76th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. One of three soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their Humvee in Baghdad, Iraq, on May 24, 2005.

Spc. Phillip N. Sayles, 26, Jacksonville, Arkansas. Company B, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Killed when an improvised explosive device detonated near his security position in Mosul, Iraq, on May 28, 2005.

Sgt. Arthur R. McGill, 25, of Gravette, Ark., died July 19, 2005, in Baghdad, Iraq, where an improvised explosive device detonated while he was on mounted patrol in a HMMWV. McGill was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Spc. Rusty W. Bell, 21, of Pocahontas, Ark., died on Aug. 12, 2005, in Taji, Iraq, of non-combat related injuries. Bell was assigned to the Army's 603rd Aviation Support Battalion, Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.

Lance Cpl. Steven A. Valdez, 20, of McRea, Ark., died on September 26, 2005, from enemy mortar fire at Camp Blessing, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

Army Spc. Dustin L. Kendall, 21, of Bryant, AR, died on January 15, 2006 when his Humvee accidentally struck an M1A2 Abrams tank and rolled over in Baqubah, Iraq. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Heavy Bridage Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Army Staff Sgt. Kevin P. Jessen, 28, of Paragould, Ark., assigned to the 22nd Chemical Battalion (Technical Escort), Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.; killed March 5 when an improvised explosive device detonated during combat operations in Rawah, Iraq.

Specialist Bobby R. West, 23, of Beebe, Ark., assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, Ft. Hood, Texas; killed May 30, 2006 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his dismounted patrol, Baghdad, Iraq.

Pfc. Derek J. Plowman, 20, of Everton, Ark., assigned to Army National Guard, 1st Battalion, 142nd Fires Brigade, Army National Guard, Rogers, Ark.; killed July 19, 2006, from a gunshot wound, Baghdad, Iraq.

Pfc. Jeffrey P. Shaffer, 21, of Harrison, Ark., assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division of Bamberg, Germany; killed September 13, 2006, when a roadside bomb detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle during a combat operation.

Spc. Raymond Neal Mitchell, III, 21, of West Memphis, Ark., died Jan. 6, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained during route security operations. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

Sfc. John Gary Brown, 43, of Little Rock, Ark., died Jan. 20, 2007, when a U.S. Forces UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter went down northeast of Baghdad. He was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation (Air Assault) Regiment, 77th Aviation Brigade, Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas.

Maj. Michael Vernon Taylor, 40, of North Little Rock, Ark., died Jan. 20, 2007, when a U.S. Forces UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter went down northeast of Baghdad. He was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation (Air Assault) Regiment, 77th Aviation Brigade, Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas.

1st Sgt. William T. Warren, 48, of North Little Rock, Ark., died Jan. 20, 2007, when a U.S. Forces UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter went down northeast of Baghdad. He was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation (Air Assault) Regiment, 77th Aviation Brigade, Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas.

Sgt. Freeman L. Gardner Jr., 26, of Little Rock, Ark., died Mar. 22, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit while on combat patrol. He was assigned to the 18th Engineer Company, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.

Sgt. William W. Bushnell, 24, of Jasper, Ark., died Apr. 21, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle was struck by a rocket propelled grenade during combat operations. Bushnell was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.

All of the individuals in Arkansas' National Guard, Reserves, and active duty military serve with distinction. While we pray for the safe return of our men and women in Iraq, we must keep the legacy alive of those who died fighting for this country. I hope every person who takes the time to read these names reflects on the bravery and sacrifice of Arkansas' finest.