Army 2nd Lt. Todd J. Bryant, 23, Riverside, Calif., explosion

• Fort Riley soldier from California killed in Iraq

"We knew it was not going to be a good situation," Linda Bryant said.

Todd Bryant, 23, of Riverside, Calif., was killed by an explosive device Oct. 31 as his Humvee traveled between Fallujah and Baghdad. A 2002 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, he was stationed at Fort Riley.

His two siblings are Marine Maj. Timothy R. Bryant, a veteran of the Iraq war, and Army Capt. Tiffany Bryant, who returned in June from a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Linda Bryant said her son's Aug. 30 marriage was a bittersweet affair _ joy mixed with worry about his deployment.

"I kind of figured it was going to be the last time we would see him," Bryant said.

Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., appointed Todd and Tiffany Bryant to West Point, and Todd had interned in his office in 2001.

"It's a real tragedy," Calvert said. "He was a wonderful soldier doing his responsibility."

OCTOBER 28:

Army Pvt. Algernon Adams, 36, Aiken, S.C., non-combat related
Algernon Adams earned a Purple Heart in Iraq in August when he was one of four engineers wounded when they were hit by shrapnel.

Adams, 36, a member of the South Carolina National Guard, died Oct. 28 at a base near Fallujah of a gunshot wound. His death is under investigation.

"He was just a good son," his mother, Ann Brown, said. "He went and did his duty and he was there for his country."

Adams graduated from high school in Augusta, Ga., and had served in the Guard for about 17 years, his mother said. He lived in North Augusta, S.C.

Adams is also survived by his wife, Lisa.

Army Sgt. Michael Paul Barrera, 26; Von Ormy, Texas; explosion
Michael Paul Barrera had a matter-of-fact outlook on military life: "He always told me he was just doing his job. That's just the way my son was," said his mother, Hilda Guardiola.

"He would say he was my No. 1 tanker and my No. 1 son. Well, No. 1 son, first, tanker second, he would add," she said. "He loved being a tanker."

Barrera, 26, of Von Ormy, Texas, died Oct. 28 when the Abrams tank he was in struck an explosive north of Baghdad. He was stationed at Fort Hood.

Barrera enlisted in the Army after his 1995 high school graduation, and was deployed to Iraq on April 9, his mother said.

"It makes me very angry because there was no need for us to be there, but it makes me very proud because he believed in what he was doing," his mother said. "He loved his job and he died for his country."

Army Spc. Isaac Campoy, 21, of Douglas, Ariz.; explosion
Isaac Campoy made it a goal to serve in the military, and he joined the Army a month after graduating from high school in 2001.

"He loved everything about the Army. He wanted to go to war and he served with all his heart," said his older brother, Victor Campoy.

Campoy, 21, of Douglas, Ariz., was killed Oct. 28 when the Abrams tank in which he and another soldier were riding struck an explosive device about 40 miles northeast of Baghdad. He was stationed at Fort Hood.

Victor Campoy described his brother as an honest man who was always there for people and looked out for Victor, a third brother and their parents. After military service, he said, Isaac wanted to go to college and then work for the U.S. Customs Service.

"He was a straight person. He had no greed," Victor Campoy said. "He loved his family and he would worry about us."

OCTOBER 27:

Army Sgt. Aubrey D. Bell, 33; Tuskegee, Ala.; action
Aubrey D. Bell was a father figure to his longtime girlfriend's four children, and talked with her about them when he called home the day before he died.

"They're trying to hold on. It's hard," Philandria Ezell said of the children.

Bell's grandmother, Estella Walker Bell, tried to talk about him between tearful pauses.

"He was a quiet child," she said. "And ... anything I asked of him to do, he would do it."

Bell, 33, of Tuskegee, Ala., was killed Oct. 27 when his unit came under small arms fire at a police station in Baghdad.

One of three brothers, Bell worked at Russell Corp. in Montgomery, Ala. He was a veteran of the first Gulf War and had been in the National Guard about 14 years.

Army Pvt. Jonathan I. Falaniko, 20, Pago Pago, American Samoa; explosion
Jonathan Falaniko had been in the Army for only a few months. His father had served 26 years. Both were assigned to Iraq, and in October they spent two nights together and spoke to other family members by video conferencing.

"It was one of the proudest moments for my family. My son was pretty proud of his tour of duty," said Command Sergeant Major Ioakimo Falaniko.

The elder Falaniko spoke to his wife and two daughters in Germany again by video teleconference to tell them Jonathan died.

The 20-year-old Falaniko was killed Oct. 25 when a bomb-laden vehicle blew up near him at a police station in downtown Baghdad. He was based at Fort Riley.

Although Falaniko was born in Germany, he claimed his parents' home of American Samoa as his home. He had a tattoo on his arm with the word Samoan, his father said.

"My son and I talked about the war. He and I understood the danger in our chosen profession," Falaniko said.

OCTOBER 26:

Army Pfc. Steven Acosta, 19, Calexico, Calif.; non-hostile gunshot
As Steven Acosta was preparing to serve in Iraq, his older brother Gerardo was just returning from the same war.

"I just wish I could see him again, and just be with him like we used to be before," said Gerardo Acosta, a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton.

Steven Acosta, a 19-year-old supply clerk from Calexico, Calif., died Oct. 26 from a gunshot wound in a non-hostile incident in Baqubah, Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Hood.

Acosta enlisted in the Army after graduating from high school last year, before his older brother had a chance to talk to him about becoming a Marine. Gerardo Acosta last saw his brother over Christmas when he returned from boot camp.

The second-youngest of five brothers, Steven was sentimental and outgoing. His friends would regularly gather at the Acosta home, bringing their guitars to play punk rock while Steven kept the beat on the drums.

Army Pfc. Rachel K. Bosveld, 19; Waupun, Wis.; action
Rachel K. Bosveld enlisted in the Army when she graduated from high school in June 2002, following in the footsteps of her father and brother. Her mother said she desperately tried to talk her daughter out of it.

"She said, 'I know, Mom, but I have to do this ... I want to keep up the family tradition. Except, Mom, I'm going to be the first girl in our entire family,'" Mary Bosveld said.

Bosveld, 19, of Waupun, Wis., died Oct. 26 in an attack at a Baghdad police station. She was stationed with the Military Police in Germany.

When she first got to Iraq, she was ready to "kick butt," said her father, Marvin Bosveld. But after eight months in the sands of Iraq, barely surviving a roadside ambush and patrolling anti-American riots, she had had enough.

"More and more people want us to go home," she wrote to her father. "Believe me, we want to go home."

Marvin Bosveld and his former wife, Mary, were serving as foster parents when Rachel came to them as a neglected baby. The couple adopted her.

Craig Bosveld described his sister as an artist who loved to draw forest scenes, play her violin and act in her high school drama club – playing Frieda in the school rendition of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." She hoped one day to become a graphic artist.

Army Lt. Col. Charles H. Buehring, 40, Winter Springs, Fla.; action
Charles H. Buehring directly advised civilian administrator L. Paul Bremer on how the occupation was being received by Iraqis and how to encourage their cooperation.

The 40-year-old Buehring was killed Oct. 26 when a rocket barrage hit a U.S. headquarters hotel in Baghdad.

Buehring was in charge of psychological operations for Army Forces Central Command, said his commanding officer, Lt. Col. Bo Merchant.

"He was just a great American," Merchant said. "An awesome officer."

Buehring, who lived in Winter Springs, Fla., had served in the Army for 18 years and is survived by a wife and two boys, ages 12 and 9. He was active in the Boy Scouts and his church.

"He had the unique ability to balance the needs of the military profession, the needs of his family and the needs of his community simultaneously," Merchant said.

After graduating from The Citadel in 1985, Buehring was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He later earned master's degrees in international relations and in military arts and strategic studies.

Army Pvt. Joseph R. Guerrera, 20, Dunn, N.C.; explosion
Joseph R. Guerrera seemed destined for the Army.

The 20-year-old North Carolina native grew up about 25 miles from Fort Bragg, and always told family and friends he wanted to be in the Army. His biological father, a soldier in the Army as well, died in a helicopter crash when Guerrera was 4.

Guerrera, who enlisted in February and was stationed at Fort Bragg, died Oct. 26 in Baghdad when his vehicle was hit with an improvised explosive device.

"Ever since he was 5 or 6 years old he talked the Army talk," said his aunt, Debbie Dunn. "We were just so proud of him because he was anxious to serve his country. He was just so proud of it."

Dunn said the family is grieving, but is coping because Guerrera was fighting for freedom.

"We are thankful to God that we we were able to know him for 20 years," Dunn said.

Army Staff Sgt. Jamie L. Huggins, 26; Hume, Mo.; explosion
Jamie Huggins left for Iraq the same week his first child – a daughter named Mallory – was born in March.

"Part of him wanted to go over to Iraq to help, but part of him didn't want to leave me and his daughter," said his wife, Marissa Danielle Huggins. "I could not have asked for a better husband."

The 26-year-old soldier was one of two paratroopers killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad on Oct. 26. A native of Hume, Mo., he was stationed at Fort Bragg.

Huggins joined the Army in May 1997. His wife said he joined to earn money for college and see the world.

"He wanted to better himself," she said.

OCTOBER 24:

Army Spc. Artimus D. Brassfield, 22, of Flint, Mich.; action
Artimus D. Brassfield struggled to make it through school, but always kept his focus on two main ambitions: to play basketball and join the military.

"He made it through high school," said Brassfield's father, Cary, of Flint, Mich. "He got himself together."

Brassfield, 22, who was based at Fort Hood, died Oct. 24 in a mortar attack as he played basketball at his Iraq military base.

"He was just a sitting duck," Cary Brassfield said, but added that his son "died doing what he loved. He loved basketball, and he loved the Army."

Born in Mississippi, Brassfield grew up in Dayton, Ohio, and moved to Flint to live with his father when he was 14. He joined the Army in March 2001 after his high school graduation, and married his wife, Andrea, the following August.

Army Sgt. Michael S. Hancock, 29; Yreka, Calif.; action
Michael S. Hancock was an avid bicylist who loved children – but cars were something of a problem.

"He could ride a bicycle 100 miles and come back by lunchtime," said his father, Michael R. Hancock. "But he could never pass his driver's test."

The 29-year-old soldier, a native of Yreka, Calif., died during a gunbattle in Mosul on Oct. 24 when armed men attacked a grain storage facility.

He joined the Army in 1993 after high school graduation and planned to make his career in the military, his wife, Jeannie Hancock said. The couple met when she was driving and almost struck his bike. They met by chance later that night at a coffee shop.

"He was a very loving father and husband," Jeannie Hancock said. "He was so funny that he'd make you laugh all the time."

He was based at Fort Campbell and lived in Clarksville, Tenn. In addition to his wife, survivors include two children and two stepchildren.

Army Spc. Jose L. Mora, 26; Bell Gardens, Calif.; action
Jose Mora knew he'd have to go back to high school, lose weight and get in shape if he wanted to join the Army. Soon after his brother was killed in an auto accident, he made good on his promises.

"He knew he had to make something of himself, please his parents and provide for his wife and family," said Lt. Col. John Powledge of the Fort Carson soldier from Bell Gardens, Calif.

The 26-year-old father of three was killed Oct. 23 in a mortar attack in Samarra, 70 miles north of Bagdad.

Mora, who worked his way up from a rifleman to a Bradley Fighting Vehicle driver to a Bradley gunner, had what it took to be an Army leader, said his first sergeant, Glenn Robinson.

"Toward the end of every month he always had two questions for me," Robinson said. "He'd ask me how I was doing, then with a smile on his face, he'd ask me when he was getting promoted."

Mora's younger sister, Yesenia, remembered her brother as extremely protective: "He and my other brother would interrogate my dates," she said.

Survivors include his wife, Biana, and three children: Malory, 6, Damion, 4 and 9-month-old Briana.

OCTOBER 23:

Army Capt. John R. Teal, 31; Mechanicsville, Va.; explosion
John R. Teal loved traveling, swimming, the Dave Matthews Band and Frank Sinatra.

"He was the kind of guy that no one could say anything bad about," said Frank Boehling, who graduated with Teal from high school in Virginia and in 1994 from Virginia Military Institute.

Teal, 31, who was based at Fort Hood and worked as a medical officer with the 4th Infantry Division, was killed Oct. 23, when a mine exploded outside Baqouba, Iraq.

His mother, Emmie Teal, of Montpelier, Va., said her son spent his final days helping sick children and meeting with Iraqi citizens.

Even with all his interests, "the military was his life," said his father, Joseph Teal.

When Army officials arrived at the family's home to break the news of Teal's death, "I knew what it was," his father said. "But are you ever prepared for this?"

OCTOBER 22:

Army Spc. John P. Johnson, 24, of Houston, Texas; non-combat injuries
Johnson died of non-combat-related injuries in Baghdad. He assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, out of Baumholder, Germany.

Army Pvt. Jason M. Ward, 25, Tulsa, Okla.; non-combat causes
As a teenager, Jason M. Ward talked about joining the Army, but the responsibilities of fatherhood took precedence.

Shortly after graduation in 1997, Ward and his wife Jordan welcomed the first of two sons.

"He had talked about the Army off and on since high school, but he didn't want to be away from the boys all the time," said Jordan Ward. "Then we started talking about it again, and we thought it would be a good thing for us."

Ward, who enlisted in April 2002 and was stationed at Fort Riley, died Oct. 21 in Baghdad of a non-combat cause. His wife said he had been ill for several weeks and was scheduled to return home for medical treatment.

"It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, telling our son that he wasn't going to see his father again after all," Jordan Ward said. The couple also have a 2-year-old son.

"I just want people to know he was a great husband, a great guy," Jordan Ward said. "And this is going to be a very different place without him."

OCTOBER 21:

Army Pfc. Paul J. Bueche, 19; Daphne, Ala.; accident
Paul J. Bueche joined the National Guard four days before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and served in Kuwait and Iraq. But it was his youthful energy that those who knew him remember best.

"He was a grand old kid, fun-loving and mischievous," the Rev. Tim Deasy said of the young man who attended his church and parish elementary school. "He lived more in 19 years than many of us live in a lifetime."

Bueche, 19, of Daphne, Ala., was killed Oct. 21 in Balad, Iraq, when a helicopter tire he was working on exploded. He was in the 131st Aviation Regiment based in Birmingham, Ala.

"Paul strongly believed in what he was doing, serving in the National Guard to assist the people of the state of Alabama and to keep America safe and strong," his family said in a statement.

He is survived by his parents, Paul and Marie, and older sisters Jessica and Melissa.

OCTOBER 20:

Army Staff Sgt. Paul J. Johnson, 29, Calumet, Mich.; action
As a child, Paul J. Johnson would disappear for hours to play Army around his Calumet, Mich., neighborhood. As a man, he became a respected and decorated soldier.

"He said, 'I've got some responsibilities. I need to be back with my men,'" the Rev. David Holloway of Fayettville, N.C., recalled Johnson saying a year ago after service in Afghanistan. "He wanted to get the job done because it was his calling."

Johnson, 29, was killed Oct. 20 in a roadside ambush 40 miles west of Baghdad. He was stationed at Fort Bragg.

Known as P.J., Johnson joined the Army in 1993, two years after high school graduation. He earned more than 30 awards and decorations, including two Bronze Stars, two NATO medals, three humanitarian service medals, two National Defense Service medals, three good conduct medals, French and Russian parachutist badges and a Purple Heart.

He is survived by his wife, Mary "Missy" Johnson, and 4-year-old son Bryan.

OCTOBER 18:

Army 1st Lt. David R. Bernstein, 24, Phoenixville, Pa.; action
Valedictorian at his suburban Philadelphia high school and fifth in his class at the U.S. Military Academy, David R. Bernstein had the intelligence and ambition to do anything he wanted.

"What he wanted was to do something for his country," said his father, Richard Bernstein of Knoxville, Tenn.

Bernstein, 24, assigned to the 173rd Infantry Brigade based in Italy, was killed Oct. 18 when his patrol came under fire 160 miles north of Baghdad.

Bernstein, who grew up in Austin, Texas, and moved to Phoenixville, Pa., was "an athlete and a scholar," his father said. He was a swim team member at West Point and enjoyed running, bicycling and competing in triathlons.

"David was a soldier," his father said. "If the leadership made decisions, then he tried to follow them. He appreciated serving his country."

Army Pfc. John D. Hart, 20, Bedford, Mass.; action
John D. Hart was as loving as he was lovable, sure to one day become a teacher or a counselor.

But Hart wanted to be in the military, a resolve strengthened after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, said his father, Brian Hart.

Hart, 20, who enlisted in the Army after high school and was based at Fort Hood, was killed Oct. 18 when his patrol came under fire 160 miles north of Baghdad.

"I know you had a warrior's heart. You dreamed of being a soldier and you lived your dream," the elder Hart said at a memorial service for his son in their hometown of Bedford, Mass.

"I presumed you'd come back and become a teacher or a counselor. You already were a counselor to many."

Brian Hart said he wished his son knew how his death had brought an entire town together in grief – "a town united now in sorrow."

He is also survived by his mother, Alma, and two sisters.

OCTOBER 16:

Army Staff Sgt. Joseph P. Bellavia, 28, Wakefield, Mass.; action
The three Bellavia brothers all ended up in public service jobs. Joseph was a military policeman while his twin brother, Jonathan, was a police officer. Their brother Chris is a paramedic and volunteer firefighter.

"We were like the Three Stooges. There was never a dull moment," Jonathan Bellavia said.

Joseph Bellavia, 28, was one of three Fort Campbell soldiers killed Oct. 16 in a clash with gunmen guarding the headquarters of a Shiite cleric in Karbala in southern Iraq.

Bellavia and his wife, Christine, lived in Hendersonville, Ky., where his twin brother is a policeman. Bellavia entered the Army in 1995 after graduating from high school in Wakefield, Mass.

Jonathan and Chris Bellavia now view their public service as something they do in their brother's honor.

"Joe had the world depending on him. He would not want us to let anyone down," Jonathan Bellavia said. "I have the citizens of Hendersonville depending on me, and Chris has the citizens of Portland (Ky.) depending on him."

Army Cpl. Sean R. Grilley, 24, San Bernardino, Calif.; action
Sean R. Grilley started getting interested in police work while helping to rehabilitate buildings in a downtrodden neighborhood of San Bernardino, Calif. His father-in-law said he stood up to criminals on the streets, including a time when he was approached by would-be carjackers.

"We were trying to clean up the streets, and Sean was a part of that," Jeff Jacobson said. "He only lived in San Bernardino for a few months, but he really liked the idea of going after crime. That's when he began talking about federal police work, and the military was the easiest way to do that."

Grilley, 24, joined the Army in 2001 and was stationed at Fort Campbell. He was one of three soldiers killed Oct. 16 in a clash with gunmen guarding the headquarters of a Shiite cleric in Karbala in southern Iraq.

He is survived by his wife, Lucy.

Army Lt. Col. Kim S. Orlando, 43, of Tennessee, action
Despite his high rank, Kim S. Orlando never hesitated to lead his soldiers personally, whether on a three-mile run in below-freezing temperatures or on patrol in the streets of Karbala.

Chaplain Maj. Steve Turner recalled one particular run on a frigid January morning. Shorts only – no warmup pants; jackets were optional.

"We got to the line; the whistle blew. And Col. Orlando led the pack," Turner said. "He led by example."

Orlando, 43, was one of three Fort Campbell soldiers killed Oct. 16 in a clash with gunmen guarding the headquarters of a Shiite cleric in Karbala in southern Iraq.

Maj. Darryl Johnson, of the 716th Military Police Battalion, said Orlando, the battalion commander, was "constantly moving to the front and disregarding his own safety."

Orlando, a native of Nashville, Tenn., enlisted in the Army as a military policeman in 1982 and was commissioned in 1986. Survivors include his wife, Sherry, who works in the public affairs office at Fort Campbell, and two sons.

Spc. Michael Williams, 46, Buffalo, N.Y.; explosion
Michael Williams re-enlisted in the National Guard, over some family member's objections, after the Sept. 11 attacks– which occurred on his 44th birthday.

"You could not change his mind," said his cousin James Robbins. "He felt strongly about fighting for his country."

The 46-year-old Williams was killed Oct. 16 when his vehicle ran over an explosive while returning to a camp near Baghdad. The Buffalo, N.Y., resident was deployed in February.

Williams, described as deeply religious and an avid biker, worked for the Inspector General's Office of the New York state Department of Correctional Services, investigating sex crime allegations against inmates and staff, corrections officials said.

"He was always looking out for the good of everybody," said John Lempke, deputy superintendent for security at the state's Gowanda prison where Williams once worked. "He always had the biggest smile on his face that you ever saw on anybody."

Survivors include his wife, two daughters and two stepdaughters and three grandchildren.

OCTOBER 13:

Army Pfc. Jose Casanova, 23; El Monte, Calif.; accident
Jose Casanova grew up in a big family of nine brothers and sisters and had several nieces and nephews. His devotion to that family was well known.

"He took his time helping kids," said his brother-in-law, Ray Castellanos. "He didn't mind staying home with newborns. He was the guy that didn't mind skipping fun to be with his nieces and nephews."

Casanova, 23, of El Monte, Calif., was killed in Baghdad on Oct. 12 when an Iraqi trash truck rolled over and landed on top of his vehicle. He was based at Fort Bragg and had been serving in Iraq since January.

Army Pvt. Benjamin L. Freeman, 19; Valdosta, Ga.; drowning
Three days before he left for Iraq, Benjamin L. Freeman was married in Colorado.

"He looked forward to being a wonderful husband to his wife, April, and having children of his own," said his mother, Vicki Freeman.

Freeman, 19, of Valdosta, Ga., drowned on Oct. 13 in the Euphrates River northwest of Baghdad. He had joined the Army earlier this year and was based at Fort Carson.

"He was only 19, but he was no longer just a teenager. He had become a determined young man, clear thinking and motivated, " said his uncle, Lee Freeman. "He knew that we all recognized this, and he knew how proud we all were of him."

Freeman was an accomplished guitarist who wrote his own music. A recording of one of his songs was played at the funeral.

Army Spc. Douglas J. Weismantle, 28; Pittsburgh, Pa.; accident
Douglas J. Weismantle and his wife, Christine, had been married for four years and they planned to start a family when he returned from Iraq. She said his biggest concern about his assignment in Iraq involved her.

"He was worried about me. That was the way he is," she said. "He was a great guy. Everybody in my family loved him."

They met in high school and were together for 10 years.

The 28-year-old soldier from Fort Bragg was killed Oct. 13 when an Iraqi dump truck rolled on top of his vehicle in Baghdad. He was a native of Pittsburgh.

Weismantle joined the Army to earn money for college.

"He wanted to earn his engineering degree," his wife said.

Army Spc. Donald L. Wheeler, 22, Concord, Mich.; action
Donald Laverne Wheeler was affectionately known as "DJ" to his family, which included three sisters and eight brothers. In the military, he picked up the nickname "Sunshine."

"They called him Sunshine at Fort Hood in Texas because he was so tall he stood out from everyone else and he was always smiling," said one of his sisters, Andrea Barrett.

Wheeler, 22, of Concord, Mich., died Oct. 13 in an attack in Tikrit.

His mother, Mary Cay Wheeler, said he decided to enlist after the Sept. 11 attacks. He loved the Army but at the same time he missed his family, she said. They had a photo of Wheeler blown up to near life size and brought it to his sister's wedding reception because he couldn't attend.

In Tikrit, a memorial service was held for Wheeler and another soldier.

"I shall always remember him, a big kid who gave everything he had on that dusty day," said Lt. Jason Price. "It's difficult to say goodbye."

Army Pfc. Stephen E. Wyatt, 19, Kilgore, Texas; action
Stephen E. Wyatt celebrated his 18th birthday by enlisting in the military.

"He was dedicated to what he was doing," said his stepmother, Lilmah Wyatt.

Wyatt, 19, of Kilgore, Texas, died Oct. 13 when his convoy was hit by an explosive and small arms fire in Balad, Iraq.

Wyatt joined the military after graduating from high school last year.

He met his wife, Kelly, while they were stationed together at Fort Sills, and they married nine months ago.

He is also survived by his father, a sister, a brother and a stepbrother.

OCTOBER 12:

Spc. James Powell, 26, of Mark Center, Ohio; explosion
James E. Powell had called his wife, Ruby, in early October to say he'd be home in six days. Ruby Powell says it was the only promise he ever broke.

"When I found out he died, I died," she said. "I'll never tell another man 'I love you' and be able to mean it."

Fellow soldiers said Powell had volunteered for a combat mission even though he was due for home leave. The 26-year-old soldier based at Fort Hood died Oct. 12 when his Bradley armored vehicle struck a land mine north of Tikrit.

Powell enlisted in the Navy in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, and served from 1997 to 2000 as a seaman apprentice on the USS Arctic. He joined the Army in 2001 in Radcliff, Ky. He hoped to join the state police in Kentucky after his current tour ended.

Despite her grief, Ruby Powell was proud because her husband knew what it meant to be a soldier.

"She mentioned to me that even if he had known what would happen, he still would have went," said Capt. Matt Weber.

OCTOBER 9:

Army Spc. Joseph C. Norquist, 26, San Antonio; action
Joseph Carl Norquist liked to work out with weights at the base and try out wrestling moves on his Army buddies. Mostly, though, he was known for his commitment.

"He was a great guy, a hard-charging soldier, very reliable and dedicated, " said Michael Sadler, his friend and former sergeant at Fort Hood. "If you gave him a mission, you never had to go back and double-check, to see if he'd done it. You just knew he had."

The 26-year-old Norquist, a native of Martinez, Calif., was killed in Iraq on Oct. 9 when his convoy was attacked.

"Joe believed in the job he was doing in Iraq. He thought it was worth it for the children, who would have better opportunities for a better life," his parents, Sue and Carl Norquist, said of their only child.

Army Pvt. Sean A. Silva, 23, Roseville, Calif.; action
Before he joined the Army, Sean Silva researched the job options and signed up with a description in hand of the work he wanted to do. Silva was a cavalry scout, going on reconnaissance missions.

"He wanted to be out doing things. He told us he didn't want to be sitting behind a desk," said Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Sloan of the Army's Roseville, Calif., recruiting office.

The 23-year-old Silva, who grew up in El Sobrante, Calif., and lived in Roseville, was one of two soldiers killed in Baghdad on Oct. 9 in what the military said was an ambush. He was based at Fort Polk.

Silva's father, Richard, said he tried to talk his son out of enlisting, and his mother, Shirley Cowan, said she worried that he was dispatched to Iraq within weeks of boot camp.

"But as far as he was concerned, he said, 'Mom, I'm ready," she said.

Army Staff Sgt. Christopher W. Swisher, 26, Lincoln, Neb.; action
Christopher Swisher's favorite place to shop was the Army surplus store. His mother said he admired the military so much, he dressed in camouflage clothing almost his entire senior year.

He joined the Army a year after he graduated from high school in Lincoln, Neb., in 1995.

"He tried really hard to get into the Army. That's what he wanted to do," she said. "He told me over and over again, 'Mom, remember I love you and remember if anything happens to me I'm doing what I want to be doing; I'm protecting my family and my home.'"

Swisher, 26, and another soldier were killed Oct. 9 in Baghdad, in what the military said was an ambush. He was stationed at Fort Polk.

Swisher and his wife, Kristen, celebrated their second wedding anniversary Sept. 29.

OCTOBER 6:

Army Spc. Spencer T. Karol, 20; Woodruff, Ariz., explosion
Just months after enlisting in the Army, Spencer Karol went back to Holbrook High School in Arizona to visit, 40 or 50 pounds of new muscle on his frame.

"He had bought this cute little red sports car, and all the girls were like, 'Oh wow!' " said Teri White, a career counselor at the school. "He had been picked on by bullies when he was in high school, but they wouldn't have wanted any part of him then."

Karol, 20, of Woodruff, Ariz., was killed Oct. 6 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, when the force of an explosion overturned his vehicle. He was station in Darmstadt, Germany.

In the weeks before his death, Karol had been calling home more often.

"He just kept calling and saying, 'I love you, I love you,'" said his mother, Bridget Madison. "I think he knew that he was going to be put into dangerous territory. His last words to me were, 'I'll be back in November.'"

Army Pfc. Kerry D. Scott, 21, Mount Vernon, Wash.; explosion
Kerry D. Scott loved to climb and hike in the Cascades near his home in northwest Washington. He liked to load his backpack and pockets with rocks when he hiked, to test his strength and endurance, and he hoped to one day hike the Pacific Crest Trail.

"He called to tell me how strong he was after the last few weeks of Army training," said his father, David Scott. "He was packing some muscle."

The 21-year-old soldier was killed Oct. 6 in Iskandariyah, Iraq, when a homemade bomb struck his convoy. He was based at Fort Drum.

Scott enlisted in the Army before he even finished high school in Concrete, Wash. He was mostly home-schooled, attending classes part-time at the high school and then an alternative school.

"He was a nontraditional, free-thinking kid," said school counselor Bill Krause.

Family members said the young soldier hoped one day to be a radiologist.

Army 2nd Lt. Richard Torres, 25; Clarksville, Tenn., explosion
Richard Torres enlisted in the Army after he graduated from high school in Passaic, N.J., in 1996, saying it was a way for him to be the first person in his family to graduate from college.

He eventually attended Austin Peay State University in Tennessee, where he held a double major in political science and history and graduated in 2002. He also was involved in the university's ROTC program, where he won several awards.

Torres, 25, died Oct. 6 when his convoy was hit by a homemade explosive. He was based at Fort Drum.

"He was truly an all-around outstanding young man, (possessing) all the attributes and qualities of a junior leader in the Army," Lt. Col. Pat O'Hara, professor of Military Science at Austin Peay, said in an e-mail to Torres' friends.

Torres is survived by his wife, Linda.

OCTOBER 4:

Army Spc. James H. Pirtle, 27; La Mesa, N.M., action
While stationed in Iraq, James H. Pirtle wrote letters to family and friends in New Mexico, telling them of warming relations with farmers, his love for the Iraqis and his hopes for the U.S. mission.

In a letter to his mother, he called his work in Iraq "the experience of a lifetime, and the reason I joined the Army."

Pirtle, 27, died Oct. 4 when his Bradley fighting vehicle was attacked about 60 miles north of Baghdad. He had been in the Army for more than two years and was stationed at Fort Hood.

Pirtle – who went by the name Heath – had planned to come home in January and join his wife, two stepsons and a new baby girl in the family's new home.

"He was a beautiful person, inside and out," said his wife, Ursula Pirtle.

Pirtle graduated from high school in 1994 and attended Dona Ana Branch Community College in Las Cruces before joining the Army in 2001. He was featured in a photo in Time magazine before heading off to the Middle East.

"My son was my hero before he went in – now he's the world's hero," said his mother, Kay Beeman.

OCTOBER 3:

Army Pfc. Charles M. Sims, 18; Miami, Fla., drowning
Charles M. Sims set his sights on the Army in the ninth grade, enrolling in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.

He enlisted after high school in Miami and was sent to Fort Stewart, where he served as a military police officer.

Sims, 18, drowned in a Baghdad swimming pool Oct. 3, said his mother, Andreta Horne-Hester. She said he was in the pool when he choked on a piece of candy.

"He was in a pool, and he panicked and went under, and he was choking. When they cleared his airway, it was too late," Horne-Hester said.

He would have turned 19 on Oct. 20.

"My baby was a sweet, brilliant child. Everybody loved him," Horne-Hester said.

OCTOBER 1:

Army Command Sgt. Maj. James D. Blankenbecler, 40; Alexandria, Va., action
In a letter mailed to families of his battalion, James Blankenbecler wrote that his top priority in Iraq "is to safeguard your loved ones and ensuring that every soldier returns back."

Four days later, the 40-year-old Blankenbecler was killed Oct. 1 when his convoy was attacked in Samara, Iraq. He was the highest-ranking enlisted soldier to date to be killed by hostile fire.

Blankenbecler, who grew up in Arlington, Va., joined the Army in 1983. His career included service in Operation Desert Storm.

"It was always his dream to be a command sergeant major, and he reached his dream," said his mother, Joanne Blankenbecler. "He was just a terrific son."

He had completed a college degree this year and was looking forward to starting work on a master's degree, his mother said.

Blankenbecler, his wife and three children lived in Texas where he was stationed at Fort Hood.

Army Pvt. Analaura Gutierrez Esparza, 21, Houston, Texas, action

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"I was about to cry when he proposed," Esparza wrote to Sharon Garcia. "He was so nervous. He could barely get the words out."

Esparza planned to get married next year after she returned from Iraq. "She never thought something bad was going to happen to her," Garcia said.

Esparza, 21, of Houston was killed in a roadside bombing Oct. 1 near the U.S. base in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit. She was the second female soldier killed in combat in Iraq.

Esparza joined the Army in 2002 so she could eventually attend college. She arrived at Fort Hood nearly a year ago and was sent to Iraq in April for a one-year tour.

"I want people to remember my daughter for what she was – a hero," said her father, Agustin Velazco Esparza. "I feel sad because she was killed but I feel proud also because she gave her life for this country. She was very brave."

Army Spc. Simeon Hunte, 23, Essex, N.J., action
Simeon Hunte had never held his son, Simeon Jr., who was born while he was in Iraq.

"He couldn't wait to get home to that boy," said Hunte's grandmother, Shirley Vigilance.

Hunte, 23, a Newark, N.J. native, was on patrol in Al Khadra on Oct. 1 when an Iraqi approached and shot him, the military said. He was stationed at Fort Riley.

Hunte had attended Montclair State University and family members said he enlisted to get the financial assistance to graduate.

"Since he was this high," Vigilance said, holding her hand at her waist, "he always wanted to be a doctor. He said it didn't matter how many years it took him."

Hunte is survived by his wife, Tara, and an 18-month-old daughter, Anaya.