Army Pvt. Michael J. Deutsch, 21, Dubuque, Iowa, action
Pvt. Michael J. Deutsch, 21, of Dubuque, Iowa, graduated from Dubuque High School in 2000 and joined the Army in 2002, completing basic training at Fort Benning in Georgia and was stationed in Germany before being sent to Iraq.

Deutsch was killed July 31 when his vehicle was hit by an explosive round. His father, Wayne Deutsch, said he "was our hero." But, until they received news of his death, his father said, the family did not know he had been sent to Iraq.

"We thought he was in Germany," Wayne Deutsch said.

His business teacher at Dubuque Senior High, Pat Murphy, said, "He was a good kid to have in class. He had a good personality. He seemed to get along with everyone. "You hear about all of the families who lose loved ones. This one brings it home; the reality hits home for us."

Army Spc. James I. Lambert II, 22, Raleigh, N.C., non-combat related shooting
Finally, Jacqueline Lambert got the news she'd been waiting months to hear: Her husband, Spc. James I. Lambert, was coming home from Iraq. The couple – she is an Army sergeant – had been deployed to the Middle East in February. She returned in May to their home in Fayetteville, N.C., outside Fort Bragg.

But on July 31, less than two weeks before he was due to join her, her 22-year-old husband was killed in Baghdad when he was struck by a stray bullet that the Pentagon said may have been fired in some kind of celebration. Lambert, a Virginia native who graduated from a Raleigh high school, "was happy he was coming home," Jacqueline Lambert said. "He was excited."

JULY 30:

Army 1st Lt. Leif E. Nott, 24, Cheyenne, Wyo., action
Growing up with an Army dad, 1st Lt. Leif E. Nott was born in Italy, raised in Europe and graduated from high school in Germany – and he spoke at least five languages. When it was time for college, he came back to the United States to continue the family's military tradition, enrolling at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

Nott, 24, based at Fort Hood, died July 30 of wounds received from hostile fire in Belaruz, Iraq. Family members said Nott was known for his "can-do" attitude, and his latest assignment was troop executive officer, the right-hand man for the troop commander. Nott had met his wife, Melanie, in a Bible study class while at his previous post, the Army's tanker training headquarters at Fort Knox.

JULY 28:

Army Sgt. Nathaniel Hart Jr., 29, Valdosta, Ga., accident
The Army was a family tradition for Nathaniel Hart Jr., whose father and grandfather both served, but his loved ones remember him as much more than a soldier.

To them, Hart was a family man who loved to take his two sons fishing and camping. He was a devout Christian who served as a youth pastor, sang in the choir and played drums in the church band.

"I believe he was as big a hero in life as he is in death," said Hart's sister, Valarie Lowry. "He was a good example for everybody. His love and kindness were what he was known for. He was sweet in spirit."

Hart, 29, died July 28 in a vehicle accident in Iraq. He was from Valdosta, Ga., and stationed at Hunter Army Airfield.

Lowry said her brother's wife, Erica, was in shock over his death and the realization that she would be raising their sons, 7-year-old Nathaniel III and 5-year-old Gabriel, without him.

"He had a big role in his family's life and his sons' lives," Lowry said.

Army Spc. William J. Maher III, 29, Valdosta, Ga., action
After drifting in and out of several fields, Spc. William J. Maher III joined the military at age 30 to "find himself," said his father, William Maher Jr.

"He thanked the Army for that." In letters home, Maher expressed pride in the mission but also said he was anxious to be closer to friends and family. He was to be discharged from the military in January. "I don't regret being in the Army," he wrote. "Seeing all the people, places and cultures made me realize that I'm a strong person and that nothing is too difficult. The experience is like no other."

Maher, 35, of Yardley, Pa., was killed by an explosive device July 28 as he traveled in a convoy in Iraq. Stationed in Germany, he was deployed to Iraq on May 11 and told his father he was "shot at constantly."

"Like any red-blooded American, he wanted to be home, but he knew he had to be there and he wanted to do his job," his father said.

JULY 27:

Army Sgt. Heath A. McMillin, 29, Canandaigua, N.Y., action
Sgt. Heath A. McMillin was an accomplished athlete who loved the outdoors and poured his energy into whatever pursuit caught his imagination.

"In athletics he was very competitive, wanted to win, wanted to achieve in things he was interested in," said his former basketball coach, Richard Jones. "If he felt strongly about something, he would really go above and beyond in his effort in that area."

McMillin, 29, a National Guardsman from Canandaigua, N.Y., was killed July 27 in an attack south of Baghdad. McMillin joined the armed forces out of high school in 1993 and was stationed at Camp Pendleton in the late 1990s. He was married and had three children, ages 7, 3 and 11 months. McMillin had one weekend left in his National Guard duty when he was informed he would be heading to Iraq, his sister said.

"He was proud to do it and he knew that is what he had to do," said Kasandra McMillin.

JULY 26:

Army Spc. Jonathan P. Barnes, 21, Anderson, Mo., action
Spc. Jonathan P. Barnes wanted what was best for his family, and figured the military was the best way to accomplish that. He took law enforcement classes in the service and hoped to eventually become a state trooper.

"He wanted to find a way to better his education and also support his family better," said his sister, Kim Riley. "He chose to join the military. He thought that way, not only would he have housing for them but that he would be a better provider."

Barnes, 21, died July 26 in a grenade attack while guarding a hospital in Iraq. He was based at Fort Hood, and is survived by his wife, Amanda, and 2-year-old daughter.

"He wrote several letters and always said there was nothing to worry about," Riley said. "He asked every time about his house because we were to take care of the grass and the bills. And he always asked about family."

Army Pfc. John Marshall Cheatham, 19, Camden, Ark., action
When Pfc. John Marshall Cheatham's father died in an accident three years ago, the teenager took on responsibilities as head of the family.

"He cared for his sister deeply, always taking care of her," said his mother, Dr. Barbara Porchia of Camden, Ark. The added obligations, she said, prompted her son to join the Army Reserves. "He was a Cheatham man, and through God, he could do anything possible. That was his motto," his mother said. "And he lived by it."

Cheatham, 19, died July 26 in a rocket-propelled grenade attack in Iraq. In high school, Cheatham played trumpet in the marching band and played soccer. He also loved animals, and Porchia said he enrolled in college with an interest in veterinarian medicine and computers. He had completed just two weeks of classes before the military activated him.

Army Sgt. Daniel K. Methvin, 22, Belton, Texas, action
Daniel K. Methvin wanted to help guard a hospital in Iraq because of his love of children, and the troops sometimes played with the young children, throwing a football around.

Methvin, 22, of Belton, Texas, and two other Fort Hood soldiers were killed July 26 when a grenade was thrown from the window of the hospital.

Michelle Methvin says she fell in love with her husband in the 7th grade. She got up the nerve to call him when she was 16.

"It's been Daniel nonstop since then," she said.

The couple have a 2-year-old son, Elijah Scott.

"He was proud to be a Ranger. But he was first and foremost a family man," said his father, George Methvin.

Army Pfc. Wilfredo Perez Jr., 24, Norwalk, Conn., action
Months before deploying to Iraq, Pfc. Wilfredo Perez Jr. returned to his hometown high school beaming with pride in his Army uniform. Perez, who did not graduate from the school but passed a GED exam, spoke with students about overcoming mistakes they make.

"He was looking very sharp and very proud, very pleased with himself," said Robin Beavers, head of security at the school. "You could see it all over his face when he came here – the chest was sticking out, he'd look you straight in the eye when he was talking to you. He had that confidence."

Perez, 24, of Norwalk, Conn., was among three soldiers killed July 26 in a grenade attack as they guarded a hospital in Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Hood. Perez's 25-year-old sister, Lisa Perez, said her brother went into the military seeking a positive direction in his life. But he was looking forward to coming home from Iraq.

"He said he missed everybody. It was crazy. People were just coming out of nowhere. You don't know who's trying to hurt you," she said, recounting her brother's descriptions.

JULY 24:

Army Cpl. Evan Ashcraft, 24, West Hills, Calif., action
Considering himself a protector, Cpl. Evan Ashcraft believed in his mission in Iraq and hoped to become a police officer when he returned home.

The 24-year-old infantryman was one of three soldiers killed July 24 when the convoy they were traveling in fell under attack from gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades. The attack at about 2:30 a.m. came in the middle of the desert as the convoy traveled toward Qayyarah, 185 miles north of Baghdad. Ashcraft's division led the fiery assault in northern Iraq that killed Odai and Qusai Hussein.

"He absolutely wanted to be there," said his father, Asa Ashcraft. "In his last letter, he said, 'Dad, I've seen an awful lot of stuff. We'll talk about it when I get back.'"

Ashcraft, a San Fernando Valley native, planned to join the Los Angeles Police Department upon his scheduled January discharge from the Army, said his wife, 23-year-old Ashley Ashcraft.

"He was a person who really wanted to help other people, to protect them," she said. Asa Ashcraft said his son was excited about joining the SWAT team, "And he would have made it, too. He set goals and achieved them."

Army Pfc. Rahseen Tyson Heighter, 22, Bay Shore, N.Y., action
Pfc. Rahseen Tyson Heighter recently wrote to his mother from Iraq, saying he was fine and urging his family not to worry.

"Time goes by like a continuous Groundhog Day over here," he wrote in a letter dated June 20. "In the beginning, there was a lot of bloodshed, but now it's all over ... The good news is I will be coming home in September, October at the latest."

Heighter, 22, from Bay Shore, N.Y., was one of three soldiers killed July 24 when their convoy was ambushed. He was stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky.

"He was a good boy and a phenomenal talent," his uncle Ron Adams said. "He would display his work at arts festivals. No matter what he was doing, he aspired to be best."

Army Staff Sgt. Hector R. Perez, 40, Corpus Christi, Texas, action
When Staff Sgt. Hector R. Perez was sent to Iraq in March at the start of the war, his family would anxiously gather around the television hoping to catch a glimpse of him on the news. As the months went on and soldiers kept dying, the only person still watching was Perez's father. Esequial Perez, a World War II veteran, would sit quietly in his wheelchair and hold out hope that his son would return home.

Hector Perez, 40, of Corpus Christi, Texas, was killed July 24, when his convoy was ambushed.

"I was always proud, ever since he was a little boy," said Esequial Perez, 77, as he cried softly. "He was always a good boy, always joking and playing around."

Hector Perez, who had been married to Elisa Perez for nearly 17 years, is survived by daughters Marla, 14, Elisa, 13, and Lily, 4.

"Men like him, men like my dad, are the reason for the freedoms that we all share. Remember that he was a hero," said Perez's sister, Rosa Anna Garza.

Army Sgt. Juan Manual Serrano, 31, Manati, Puerto Rico, accident
Juan Manual Serrano's father – who has the same name and Army rank as his sergeant son – doesn't regret that his son joined the U.S. military.

"It was a good decision by him and all the other young people who put on this uniform," the elder Serrano said as the son was buried at the Puerto Rico National Cemetery.

But Serrano's mother, Marta Concepcion, said she doubted anything positive was coming out of the war, "only deaths." Her son, she said, "called me and said the Iraqi people did not want U.S. soldiers there."

Serrano, 31, of Manati, Puerto Rico, was changing a tire on a military Humvee July 24 in Iraq when the vehicle fell, striking his head and killing him. Serrano's wife, Evelyn, said she would allow their two sons – ages 3 and 8 months – to decide whether they want to follow in their father's footsteps and join the military.

"I am proud to say he died there ... that he was doing something, and did not die in vain," she said.

JULY 23:

Army Capt. Josh Byers, 29, Anderson, S.C., action
Capt. Josh Byers, an Army Ranger and paratrooper, was a company commander in the 3rd Cavalry Regiment and was deployed to Iraq in April. Byers, 29, was killed July 23 when the convoy he was riding in hit an explosive device near the town of Ramadi, about 60 miles from Baghdad. A native of Anderson, S.C., Byers moved with his family to Sparks, Nev., in 1989, in time to start the second semester of his freshman year at Reed High School. Byers' father, a minister, started a church in Sparks. The family moved back to South Carolina in 1995, when Josh Byers was at West Point. The death of the U.S. Military Academy graduate came on his mother's birthday. When Josh Byers left for Iraq, he told his mother, Mary Byers, not to worry.

"He kept saying, 'Mom, the worst will be over when I get there,'" she said. But she said she knew from his subsequent letters that her son was in danger. "He'd done a lot of night missions," she said. "Him being a Ranger, he got used to doing a lot of things."

Mary and her husband, Lloyd Byers, are church missionaries in Guam. Reed counselor Bob White said that as a senior, Josh Byers was accepted at all three major military academies – Army, Navy and Air Force. White said he chose West Point because he thought its rules of conduct were the strictest.

"He said, 'Even though I want to go into the Navy, I'm going into the Army. Their honor code is better,'" White said. "He was the nicest, politest kid you'd ever want to meet."

Army Spc. Brett T. Christian, 27, North Royalton, Ohio, action
In letters from Iraq, Spc. Brett T. Christian praised the Kurdish and Iraqi people and talked about the tough battle conditions. His last letter was to his grandparents, Thomas and Eileen Christian of Sun City, Fla.

"I should be returning in September when I look forward to my first real hamburger in six months," he wrote. "Please give my love and I hope to see you some day soon."

Christian, 27, of North Royalton, Ohio, and stationed at Fort Campbell, was killed early on July 23 when his convoy came under attack by rocket-propelled grenades. In Ohio, it was still July 22 – his mother's 47th birthday. Tess Christian said her son always wanted to be a soldier and enlisted before finishing high school. In the Army, he was trained as a sniper and served a year in Korea. "My son was such an angel," said Christian, a single mother of three sons.

"They say the eyes are the windows of the soul. His eyes swelled with emotion. They were bright and welcoming."

JULY 22:

Army Spc. Jon Fettig, 30, Dickinson, N.D., action
Spc. Jon Fettig, 30, of Dickinson, N.D., had been a member of the North Dakota Army National Guard about 11 years. Fettig was killed July 22 when attackers using rocket-propelled grenades hit his truck along the road between Balad and Ramadi, Iraq. His unit builds and maintains bridges and helps transport cargo. Fettig was married.

JULY 21:

Army Cpl. Mark A. Bibby, 25, Watha, N.C., action
Cpl. Mark A. Bibby was an Army Reservist whose civil affairs battalion was helping to restore order in Iraq. He called his parents from Baghdad recently to talk about a fishing trip he and his dad planned for his return in October.

"He kept telling me, 'Dad, I'm not in harm's way; we're just out there helping civilians,'" Eustace Bibby said.

Bibby, 25, of Watha, N.C., was killed July 21 when a roadside bomb exploded as his convoy passed through en route to a water treatment facility. Bibby served four years of active duty in the Army, then left to go to college but stayed in the reserves. He was a sophomore transportation major at North Carolina A&T State University. Cathy Cornelius, an administrative assistant at the university, said she had talked with Bibby about his deployment to Iraq.

"He said to me, 'Mrs. Cornelius, don't worry about me. I would rather go because I have the experience,'" she said.

JULY 20:

Army Sgt. Justin W. Garvey, 23, Townsend, Mass., action
Sgt. Justin W. Garvey was married last year to his high school sweetheart, who was literally the girl next door when he was growing up in Vermont.

"He was proud to serve and was never afraid of going over to fight," Katie Garvey said. "He is, and always will be, my best friend, soul mate and now my guardian angel."

Garvey, 23, from Townsend, Mass., died July 20 in an attack in Iraq. Garvey joined the Army National Guard in 1996, when he was a junior in high school, and signed up for regular basic training a year later. As a soldier in the 101st Airborne, Garvey was sent to Pakistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He also served in Afghanistan, and returned home on his 22nd birthday. A year later – again, on his birthday – he was sent to Iraq.

"Any person that I know would be proud to call him their son," said his father, Greg Garvey.

Army Sgt. Jason D. Jordan, 24, Elba, Ala., action
Sgt. Jason D. Jordan made sure there was no doubt: He was proud of his Southern roots.

"Everywhere Jason went – when people asked him where he was from – he never just said he was from the south; he said 'I am from Dixie,' because he was so proud of his hometown, and so proud of being raised here," the Rev. Mack King said while delivering Jordan's eulogy. Jordan, 24, of Elba, Ala., died July 20 when his infantry patrol came under a rocket-propelled grenade attack in Iraq.

"I watched Jason grow up, and I watched him help his grandparents with their cattle farm next door," said Frank Chirico, a close family friend. "And he was just a good, hardworking, Christian boy who was raised right."

Jordan joined the military after high school, where he was an honor student and member of the Beta Club and the Math Club.

"Jason strongly believed in what he was doing, by serving in the armed forces to keep America safe and strong," his family said in a statement.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher R. Willoughby, 29, Phenix City, Ala., vehicle accident
Before being called to active duty with the National Guard, Sgt. 1st Class Christopher R. Willoughby was preparing for a bright future as an accountant. He graduated from Auburn University in 2002 with an accounting degree, and one of his professors said he excelled in her rigorous class on advanced accounting topics. He was a quiet student, but a favorite with classmates.

"The students all liked him. They loved working with him on group projects," professor Arlette Wilson said. "He was just a good guy."

Willoughby, 29, of Phenix City, Ala., died July 20 when the vehicle he was traveling in overturned in Baghdad. He was with a military intelligence battalion in the Army National Guard.

"It's a shame," Wilson said. "We're losing our best and our brightest."

JULY 19:

Army 2nd Lt. Jonathan Rozier, 25, Katy, Texas, action
2nd Lt. Jonathan Rozier, of Katy, Texas, graduated from Texas A&M University in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in economics and also married that year. He and his wife, Jessica, have a 9-month-old baby, Justin. Rozier was killed July 19, just three days after his 25th birthday, when his unit was hit by rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire in Baghdad while they were providing security at a municipal building. Rozier had earned a Bronze Star for valor during fighting at Hillah, Iraq.

"There were no limits to his aspirations," said his father, David Rozier. "He wanted to have a career in the military, clear through to retirement."

JULY 18:

Army Spc. Joel Bertoldie, 20, Independence, Mo, action
Spc. Joel Bertoldie, a 20-year-old from Independence, Mo., graduated from Truman High School in 2001 and joined the Army to help pay for college. He wanted to become a marine biologist. Bertoldie was killed July 18 when a bomb was set off beneath his vehicle in Fallujah, Iraq. His convoy was going through a traffic circle near a key bridge over the Euphrates River. Bertoldie had a 10-month-old son, Jesse.

"He was just a pretty happy-go-lucky, you know," said his mother, Debi. "If he wanted to do something, he did it. He didn't hold back."

JULY 17:

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class David J. Moreno, 26, Gering, Neb., non-hostile gun accident
Petty Officer 3rd Class David J. Moreno was getting some medical training in the Navy, but planned to leave the service next year to attend medical school.

"D.J. was a very gentle, very mild-mannered, soft spoken young man," said an aunt, Barbara Lopez. "His goal was to eventually was to finish his medical training and go into pediatrics."

Moreno, 26, of Gering, Neb., died July 17 in a non-hostile gun accident in Iraq. Moreno was assigned to the Naval Medical Center in San Diego as a corpsman. Moreno joined the Navy in 1998 and was stationed for three years at naval hospital in Guam. He had been presented a Navy-Marine Corps Achievement medal for individual valor, said Lt. Commander Brauna Carl, a Navy spokeswoman.

"He was a funny person and always respectful," said an uncle, Alex Moreno.

Army Sgt. Mason Douglas Whetstone, 30, Anchorage, Alaska, non-combat injuries
Sgt. Mason Douglas Whetstone, 30, died July 17 in Baghdad from non-combat injuries. Whetstone, who was born at Hill Air Force Base, was stationed in Germany. He served in the Army from 1990 to 1994 and re-enlisted in August 1999. Whetstone graduated in 1990 from Dimond High School in Anchorage, where his mother lives.

JULY 16:

Army Spc. Ramon Reyes Torres, Caguas, Puerto Rico, action
Spc. Ramon Reyes Torres was the pride of his grandfather, who was a soldier for 24 years.

"His military career was very important to him," said Ramon's brother, Carlos Reyes. "He was the only military grandson that Carmelo Reyes had."

Reyes, 29, of Caguas, Puerto Rico, died July 16 in a rocket-propelled grenade attack in Iraq. He was buried in the family tomb, next to his grandfather. Carlos Reyes described his brother as a "tremendous person, a humble man, hardworking, very dedicated to his work." Reyes, who enlisted when he was 18 and was based at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, is survived by a wife and three children.

JULY 15:

Marine Lance Cpl. Cory Ryan Geurin, 18, Santee, Calif., accident

• Marine from Santee dies after fall at Iraqi palace

"He said, 'Mom, they're messin' with my country and I won't let it happen,'" said his mother, Darlene Geurin of Santee, Calif.

Geurin, 18, died July 15 when he fell about 60 feet from the roof of a palace in Babylon, Iraq, where he had been standing guard. He signed his enlistment papers two months after the terrorist attacks and before he even finished high school, where he was captain and most valuable player of the wrestling team during his senior year. Geurin had called home the morning of his death to say he planned to stay in the Marines after his tour in Iraq.

"He was so proud of himself," his mother said. "He believed in what he was doing. He was a leader."

JULY 14:

Army Sgt. Michael T. Crockett, 27, Soperton, Ga., action
Sgt. Michael T. Crockett's mother sent him off to war in December with a hug and a kiss.

"He told me he was too old for that, but he kissed me," Maxine Crockett said. "I told him we weren't going to say goodbye, we're going to say, 'See you later.' So he said, 'See you later.'"

Crockett, 27, of Soperton, Ga., died July 14 in Iraq when his unit was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades. His wife, Tracey, learned of her husband's death just hours after she had received a dozen red roses he had sent from overseas.

"He loved to spoil me, and after his son was born, he spoiled him, too," she said.

The 3-year-old son is named after his dad: Michael Tyrone Crockett Jr.

JULY 13:

Army Capt. Paul J. Cassidy, 36, Laingsburg, Mich., non-combat related injuries
Capt. Paul J. Cassidy had made a life out of helping people in troubled regions. His mission to Iraq with the Army Reserves was similar to previous duties in Kosovo, Bosnia and Kuwait, where he distributed food and blankets, and helped reconstruct power grids, improve phone lines, re-establish farms, provide water and repair houses.

"He was basically in there to help people, doing humanitarian deeds, the nice things," Meridian Township clerk Mary Helmbrecht said.

Cassidy, 36, of Laingsburg, Mich., died July 13 as a result of non-combat injuries in Iraq. Helmbrecht said Cassidy's involvement with the humanitarian aspects of war and his dedication to his work reflected his personality.

"He had an outstanding dry wit," she said. "He was just an incredibly dedicated, detail-oriented, phenomenal employee."

Army Sgt. Jaror C. Puello-Coronado, 36, Pocono Summit, Pa., vehicle accident
Sgt. Jaror C. Puello-Coronado died a hero, according to his widow. The military policeman was hit July 13 by a speeding, out-of-control dump truck after he pushed another soldier out of its path, Sandra Puello said.

"He saved someone else's life," she said.

Puello-Coronado, 36, of Pocono Summit, Pa., was assigned to the 310th Military Police Battalion in Uniondale, N.Y., and was sent to Iraq in April. The couple and their three children moved to the Poconos from Jersey City, N.J., following the Sept. 11 attacks.

"We saw the World Trade Center burning from our bedroom window," Sandra Puello said. "We decided it was time to get out of there."

Puello-Coronado, who worked as a security officer for TSA, a private security company, was born in the Dominican Republic and moved with his family to Brooklyn, N.Y., as a young boy. He served in the Army, either on active duty or in the reserves, for more than half his life.

"He loved being a soldier," said Ana Puello, his older sister. "The only consolation we have is that he died doing something he loved, something he enjoyed."

JULY 12:

Army Cpl. Class Joshua M. Neushe, 20, Montreal, Mo., non-combat related injuries
For Spc. Joshua M. Neusche's family, there was at least some comfort in being able to see him just before he died. Neusche, 20, of Montreal, Mo., died July 12 at a hospital in Germany from what was diagnosed as pneumonia contracted earlier in Iraq. He was an Army Reservist based in Joplin, Mo. Monique Willcut, Neusche's cousin, said Neusche's parents arrived in Germany a few days before his death, as doctors were trying stabilize him so he could be flown to a hospital in the United States.

"He never made it there," Willcut said. "But at least my aunt, uncle and cousin Jacob made it in time and were able to be with him before he died."

Willcut said 650 soldiers in Neusche's unit each gave $10 to pay for the family's airfare and expenses in Germany.

"It was so nice of them to do that," Willcut said. "If they hadn't, my cousin would have died all alone."

JULY 11:

Army Spc. Christian C. Schulz, 20, Colleyville, Texas, non-combat injuries
Spc. Christian C. Schulz, 20, of Colleyville, Texas, died July 11 in Baqubah, Iraq, as a result of non-combat injuries. Schulz was assigned to the 3rd Troop, 67th Armor Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas. The incident is under investigation.

JULY 09:

Army Sgt. 1st Class Dan H. Gabrielson, 39, of Spooner, Wis., action
"It is comforting to know there are so many people we have never met before who care and are grateful for the sacrifices of women and men like my father, so we can live in a country where we can proclaim liberty and justice for all," Vanessa Gabrielson, the oldest daughter of Sgt. Dan Gabrielson, said at his funeral.

Sgt. Gabrielson was killed July 9 when his convoy came under attack north of Baghdad. Gabrielson, a sergeant in the Army Reserves, was a member of the 652nd Engineer Co., which specializes in building bridges. Garbrielson repaired construction equipment and was riding in the last vehicle in the convoy during the attack.

Army Sgt. Roger D. Rowe, 54, Bon Aqua, Tenn., action
Sgt. Roger Rowe, of Bon Aqua, Tenn., was known as "Papa" to his seven grandchildren. At 54, he was the oldest American casualty since the start of the war in Iraq. He was killed by a sniper July 9 as he drove a tanker fuel truck.

"He lived for his grandchildren," said Mart Rowe, one of Rowe's four children. "Sometimes we had to tell him to quit running around the pool and chasing them with a bucket of water."

A native of Nashville, Rowe met his wife Shirley when they were neighbors at age 10. They attended Glencliff High School together and married at 21 before he shipped out to Vietnam where he served as an Army surgical technician. He spent the last 17 years in the Tennessee Army National Guard.

Marine Lance Cpl. Jason Andrew Tetrault, 20, Moreno Valley, Calif., vehicle accident

• SoCal Marine killed in Kuwait car accident

"Jason was the type of person that didn't make long-term plans," said Mary Carriere, of Moreno Valley, Calif. "His theory was: You never know what life is going to throw at you."

Tetrault, 20, died July 9 in a car accident in Kuwait. Seeking new challenges, Tetrault decided he would join the Marines the summer before his senior year in high school, his mother said. She and her husband, Raymond, come from military families and supported his decision to enlist.

"We've always left that up to the kids, but we've also let them know that, as an American, you should serve your country if you're able to."

Tetrault had been looking forward to coming home on leave and was already planning out his month of leave back in Moreno Valley. He wanted to go bungee jumping and skydiving and couldn't wait to see the Pacific Ocean again, his mother said.

"He didn't like having to sit; he liked to go, liked to play," Carriere said. "He was just always on the move."

Army Sgt. Melissa Valles, 26, Eagle Pass, Texas, non-combat related
Sgt. Melissa Valles was a soldier through and through. When she reported to superiors at work, she always stood at parade rest shoulders back, hands clasped behind her back, feet spread slightly apart. "When she came in, she was squared-away. Total soldier. She always showed proper respect and always was pushing the troops," said Sgt. 1st Class Cathy Mihm, who worked down the hall from Valles at Fort Carson. Valles, 26, of Eagle Pass, Texas, died July 9 of non-combat injuries in Iraq. Growing up south of San Antonio on the Mexico border, younger sister Maribel Valles said, the 5-foot-3 Melissa Valles assumed the role of head of the household even though she had two older brothers.

"She was petite, but she was a really tough lady," Maribel Valles said. "She really put people in their place. She did that since she was a girl. She would put little boys who were bullies in their place."

She is the second U.S. servicewoman to die in the war.

JULY 8:

Army Sgt. 1st Class Craig A. Boling, 38, Elkhart, Ind., non-combat related
Before he was deployed to the Middle East, Sgt. 1st Class Craig A. Boling paid a florist to send his wife a bouquet of flowers every month he was gone. Family and friends said he had always been that way.

"There's not a selfish bone in his body," said Tony Lubarsky, Boling's brother-in-law. "He was an awesome guy."

Boling, 38, of Elkhart, Ind., collapsed and died June 8 while eating with his unit in Kuwait. A platoon sergeant with no history of health problems, Boling had been sent to Iraq from Kuwait to be part of security operations while U.S. forces worked to rebuild the country. He completed 20 years in the reserves in February and expected to retire from the military. But all military retirements were put on hold until after the war in Iraq. Family members had hoped Boling would be home in November and had already bought fireworks and American flags to line the streets when he returned – one flag for every day he was gone.

"He said to plan a vacation – two weeks, even if we had to take the kids out of school," said his wife, Tania. "He was looking forward to a break and really missed us."

Army Pvt. Robert L. McKinley, 23, Kokomo, Ind., non-combat related
Pvt. Robert McKinley, 23, was a 1998 graduate of Peru (Ind.) High School and had been in the Army for eight months. "When he joined the military, he grew up in a very short time," said McKinley's grandfather, Robert Feller. "He told me, 'If there's anything I can do for our country to make it better, I want to do it.'"

JULY 7:

Army Spc. Chad L. Keith, 21, Batesville, Ind., action
When Spc. Chad L. Keith was talking with Army recruiters, friends could hardly tear him away.

"Most people join the Army because they want money for college or something, but he was really happy to be in the Army. He wanted it to be his career," said close friend Kirt Collier. "I understand why he went over there. It was something he was passionate about ... I just wish he was still here."

Keith, 21, of Batesville, Ind., was killed July 7 when a roadside bomb exploded as his unit patrolled the streets of Baghdad. Keith's death came just 26 days before he was to be promoted from specialist to sergeant – and a few days after he spoke to his mother by telephone. Kim Hitzges said her son told her he was hot and tired but willing to stay in Iraq "until the job was done."

Army Staff Sgt. Barry Sanford Sr., 46, Aurora, Colo., non-combat related
Staff Sgt. Barry Sanford, Sr., 46, of Aurora, Colo., died on July 7 near Balad, Iraq of a non-combat-related gunshot wound. Sanford was an Automated Logistical Specialist with the 101st Support Group, Fort Campbell, Ky.

JULY 6:

Army Sgt. David B. Parson, 30, Gainesville, Fla., action
Army Sgt. David B. Parson joined the Marines about a year after high school graduation, then left after four years to move closer to his mother and stepfather. He worked for a time doing maintenance work on planes owned by NASCAR drivers. But he found he preferred a more regimented life and joined the Army, said stepfather Bill Whitlow. The family shipped out to his base in Germany in February, and Parson left for Iraq on Mother's Day. Parson, 30, of Kannapolis, N.C., died July 6 under hostile fire in Iraq. Parson would have been married six years on July 17. He and his wife, Mary "Emmy," 23, have three children, ages 1 to 4.

Army Pfc. Jeffrey Wershow, 22, Gainesville, Fla., action
Since he was a boy, Spc. Jeffrey M. Wershow displayed great passion for the military. Friends said he often eschewed school work in favor of military history books, and become a self-taught military historian. After his high school graduation, Wershow joined the Army and served for three years before going to community college and serving with the Florida National Guard.

"He stood out in a crowd because of the strong beliefs he not only expressed, but also exercised," family friend John Roscow said. He was called back to active duty just after Christmas 2002 and was deployed to the Mideast in late January. On July 6, Wershow, 22, of Gainesville, Fla., was killed by enemy fire in Baghdad.

"I've known (Wershow) since he was a baby and he's always wanted to be a soldier," said Alachua County Commissioner Cynthia Chesnut, a friend of Wershow's family. "We were all looking for him to be in the state Legislature one day," Chestnut said.

JULY 3:

Army Pfc. Edward J. Herrgott, 20, Shakopee, Minn., action
Pfc. Edward James Herrgott was a quiet man who was starting to find his way in the world with the help of the military. "The Army gave him a little discipline, a little guidance in his life. He was getting on track," said Troy Schimek, a 19-year-old friend of Herrgott's family. He said Herrgott, known to family and friends as "Jim," was his role model. While he made some mistakes, he always "took it in stride and righted himself," Schimek said. Herrgott, 20, of Shakopee, Minn., died July 3 when a sniper shot him in the neck outside the national museum in Baghdad. He hoped to earn enough money in the Army to become a police officer, said his parents, Marcia and Edward Herrgott.

Army Pfc. Corey L. Small, 20, East Berlin, Pa., non-combat related
Pfc. Corey L. Small's mother had reservations when he talked about joining the Army after high school. But that didn't stop him.

"He said, 'I'm an American and my friends are joining, so I'm joining,'" said family friend Ken Morgan. Small, 20, of East Berlin, Pa., died July 3 of a non-combat-related cause in Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Polk, La., and is survived by his wife and 3-year-old son.

JULY 2:

Marine Cpl. Travis J. Bradach-Nall, 24, Multnomah County, Ore., action

• 'The Marines made him happy.'

JULY 1:

Army 1st Sgt. Christopher D. Coffin, 51, Bethlehem City, Pa., vehicle accident
1st Sgt. Christopher Coffin grew up in Somerville, N.J., and enlisted in the Army in 1971. Coffin, 51, was killed July 1 while his unit was outside Baghdad. A veteran soldier who also had served in Kosovo, Coffin and his wife, Betsy, had renewed their vows three years ago at the Bethlehem church that held his funeral service.