NOVEMBER 29:

Army Staff Sgt. Stephen A. Bertolino, 40, Orange, Calif.; action

• 'Bigger than life' soldier, slain in Iraq, is laid to rest
• Services for former local man killed in Iraq set
• Former El Cajon man dies in Iraq
• Orange County soldier killed over weekend in Iraq

"He could never drive past anyone stopped on the road without stopping to help them," said his wife, Susan Bertolino. His fellow soldiers told his wife how Bertolino worked to get them hot water, a luxury not all platoons had.

Bertolino, 40, was killed Nov. 29 when his cargo truck was ambushed in Haditha, Iraq. He grew up in El Cajon, Calif., and was stationed at Fort Carson.

Bertolino, who followed in the footsteps of his father and his grandfather by joining the military, volunteered as a reserve deputy sheriff while stationed at Hunter Army Airfield.

"He wanted to give service to the community in which he lived," said fellow officer Judy Tyree.

Bertolino deployed to Iraq in March, days after burying his mother, who had died of cancer.

He is survived by his wife and four children: Stephen Anthony Jr., 13; Daniel, 12; Karina, 7; and Jason, 6.

Army Spc. Aaron J. Sissel, 22, Tipton, Iowa; action
Aaron J. Sissel had to get his mother's permission to enlist in the National Guard at age 17, just as he was beginning his senior year of high school.

"All his friends were in," his mother, Jo Sissel, said.

Sissel, 22, of Tipton, Iowa, was killed Nov. 29 when his cargo truck was ambushed in Haditha, Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Carson, and is survived by his mother and his father, Kirk Sissel.

Sissel was riding with one of his high school classmates when he died. Spc. Joe A. Gottschalk, another 1998 graduate, survived the attack.

Jo Sissel said that her son was doing what he loved and felt he had a job to do.

"He would have been upset had he not been able to go (to Iraq)," she said.

NOVEMBER 26:

Army Spc. David J. Goldberg, 20, Layton, Utah; non-combat related injury
David J. Goldberg was married for only three days before he left for Iraq.

He had met Sarah South in January while shopping at a Wal-Mart where she worked. They were married in February.

"Thank God for the telephone," said his mother, Dolly Goldberg. "They talked a lot and grew quite close. She's devastated."

Goldberg, 20, of Layton, Utah, was killed Nov. 26 in a non-combat accident in Qayyarah, Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Carson.

Goldberg entered the Army in 2001 and served in Bosnia before he was discharged this year. He joined the Reserves after his discharge.

"I asked him if he was scared, and he said, 'I can handle it.' He was very good with his weapon and was very accurate," his brother Kevin Goldberg said.

Sgt. Ariel Rico, 25, of El Paso, Texas; died of injuries
Growing up, Ariel Rico and his older brother, Jose "Bobby" Rico, were a pretty powerful combination.

Ariel "was in every sport you can think of, a great athlete just like his brother. He was always following in Jose's footsteps," said Richard Lucero, a longtime friend. "After Jose went into the Army, Ariel followed him."

Rico, 25, was killed Nov. 28 in a mortar attack in Mosul, Iraq. He was based at Fort Campbell.

Rico attended schools in El Paso, Texas, and married his high school sweetheart, Jessica. The couple had a 7-year-old daughter, Jadelyn. He was due home in March, and talked about a law enforcement career.

"I'm sad and angry because I feel like it's unfair that he was taken so soon," his wife said. "But I am very proud of him, and he was very proud of what he did."

NOVEMBER 24:

Army Spc. Thomas J. Sweet II, 23, Bismarck, N.D.; non-combat related injuries
When Thomas J. Sweet II died on Thanksgiving Day, he had just received word that he was being promoted to sergeant, his mother said.

"I was so proud of him," Liz Sweet said. "I loved him dearly for his compassion. He definitely won't be nominated for sainthood, but he was a compassionate, loving person."

The 23-year-old soldier from Bismarck, N.D., died Nov. 27 in his barracks from a gunshot wound to the head. The Army said investigators were trying to determine whether the gun went off accidentally or whether Sweet killed himself.

"He was a good guy, quiet, he worked pretty hard," said Sgt. Dennis Robinson, who served alongside Sweet in Iraq. "He would make jokes about the hard times, everyday stress. He would make it fun."

NOVEMBER 23:

Army Chief Warrant Officer Christopher G. Nason, 39, California; vehicle accident
Christopher G. Nason was a superb leader who was an expert linguist and able to accomplish any mission given him, said his battalion commander, Lt. Col. Mark Costello.

Nason, a member of the 306th Military Intelligence Battalion, excelled in highly stressful environments, Costello said.

The 39-year-old from Los Angeles was killed Nov. 23 when his vehicle was struck by a civilian tanker truck in northern Iraq. He was based at Fort Huachuca.

Nason was in charge of the unmanned aerial vehicle section of the New Systems Training and Integration Office.

He is survived by a sister.

Army Staff Sgt. Eddie E. Menyweather, 35, Los Angeles; explosion
The weekend that Eddie Menyweather was killed in Iraq, his father had a dream the Army soldier would soon be returning home from war duty.

"My dad woke up Sunday, got my brother's picture, and just stared at it all morning," Menyweather's sister, Latonya Edwards, said. "He kept saying, "'He's coming home, he's coming.'"

The 14-year Army veteran was killed that day, Nov. 23, when a truck he was driving was hit by a remote-controlled roadside bomb.

Menyweather, 35, was stationed at Fort Hood. He lived in Monroe, La., until the age of 9, when he moved with his mother to Los Angeles.

Survivors include his wife, a 12-year-old son and a 9-year-old daughter.

Army Spc. Rel A. Ravago IV, 21, Glendale, Calif.; action
Army Spc. Rel A. Ravago IV was considering studying art when he decided to enlist.

"When he was 7, he was already painting really nice watercolors," said his uncle, who shares his name. "We were so proud, we would frame them."

Ravago, 21, of Glendale, Calif., and stationed at Fort Campbell, was killed Nov. 23 when his vehicle was attacked in Mosul, Iraq. Initial reports said he and another soldier were pelted with concrete blocks, but the Army has said there was no evidence the men were beaten after their SUV was shot and crashed into a wall.

A day earlier, Ravago was online wishing his mother a happy birthday. He told her he had met a Filipina who worked in the Army mess hall.

"He was asking his mom to teach him something in Tagalog so he could impress the girl," his uncle said. "We were all teasing and laughing about it."

Army Cpl. Darrell Smith, 28, Otwell, Ind.; vehicle accident
When Darrell Smith's flight back to Iraq was moved up at the last minute, his goodbyes with his family were rushed. It made leaving behind his wife and three children even more difficult, his father said.

"He didn't want to go back but he knew he had to because it was his duty and his job." Stan Smith said.

The 28-year-old National Guardsman, from Otwell, Ind., died Nov. 23 when his Humvee overturned into a canal south of Baghdad. He was based in Washington, Ind.

Darrell Smith was "a really good soldier with good leadership skills and generally a good guy," said fellow guardsman First Sgt. Charles Selby. "He was one of those people who were always in a good mood."

Smith joined the National Guard when he was 17, and he would often be working on guard-related projects, family members said. "He was proud of it," Bruce Smith said of his brother. "I was really proud of him, too."

He is survived by his wife, Amy, and children Brieanna, 9; Hannah, 5; and Andrew, 3.

Army Command Sgt. Maj. Jerry L. Wilson, 45, Thomson, Ga.; action
Jerry L. Wilson, one of the highest-ranking enlisted soldiers in the Army, accepted the hazards of his job.

"He said to me, 'I fully realize that life is fleeting,'" said retired Lt. Gen. Burton Patrick. "But he also told me, 'I wouldn't have it any other way.'"

Wilson, 45, of Thomson, Ga., was killed Nov. 23 when his vehicle was attacked in Mosul, Iraq. Initial reports said he was beaten with concrete blocks, but the Army has said there was no evidence of such violence after his SUV was shot and crashed into a wall. He was based at Fort Campbell.

"If there's somebody in the military better at being a coach and mentor than Command Sgt. Maj. Wilson, I haven't met him," Sgt. 1st Class Julius Chambers said of his platoon sergeant.

The impact Wilson had on soldiers is "beyond comprehension," said Col. Anthony J. Tata.

Wilson touched others he worked with. Lai Ling Jew, a producer for NBC News who was embedded in Iraq with Wilson, called him "a great man, someone I see as a consummate gentleman." She said of him, "I will never forget that smile or his selflessness."

He is survived by his mother, Daisy Wilson, and two sons.

NOVEMBER 22:

Army Pfc. Damian S. Bushart, 22, Waterford, Mich.; vehicle accident
Damian S. Bushart came from a family of proud military men. His father served in Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm, his grandfather and an uncle in World War II and Korea. So nobody was too suprised when Bushart enlisted in August 2002.

"We are warriors. We took an oath to follow our orders from the commander in chief and that's what we do," said his father, John "Skip" Bushart.

Bushart, 22, was killed Nov. 22 when a tank collided with his vehicle in Baghdad.

He grew up in Waterford Township, Mich., playing football in high school and serving in the Civil Air Patrol. He was a personable young man, family say, with friends who loved him dearly.

He "was an outstanding person," said longtime friend Chip Taylor." I loved this guy. I'd do anything for him, and he'd do anything for me."

Survivors include his wife and young son.

Army Spc. Robert D. Roberts, 21, Winter Park, Fla.; vehicle accident
The same day she learned of her husband's death in Iraq, Jill Roberts receieved three cards in the mail from him – two for their 3-year-old son Jacob. In one card, Robert Roberts told his son to "take care of Mommy until Daddy gets home."

"Bobby went into the Army to be sure he could provide for his son, and he always did provide for us," Jill Roberts said.

Roberts, 21, of Winter Park, Fla., died Nov. 22 when his vehicle was crushed by a tank during a night mission in Baghdad. His unit had been based in Hanau, Germany, before being sent to Iraq earlier this year.

Roberts played high school football, and worked at an Italian restaurant and as a carpenter before enlisting. His brother returned home from serving in Iraq in August.

"We want him remembered as the hero he was," said Jill Roberts, 20. "He was very proud of the job he was doing."

NOVEMBER 21:

Army Cpl. Gary B. Coleman, 24, Pikeville, Ky.; vehicle accident

• Sgt. Coleman comes home for good

"Nothing surprised me about Brent, because he was always doing things that surprised me," said his mother, Janie Johnson.

The 24-year-old tank driver died Nov. 21 near Balad, Iraq, when his Humvee flipped into a canal during a vehicle chase. He was from Pikeville, Ky., and was stationed at Fort Carson.

Coleman was already a hero in his hometown, where the high school football running back was the all-time leading rusher and scorer. His teammates called him "Rocket," for his speed.

"He didn't lack for confidence," said his father, Gary Coleman.

And he didn't show fear, his Army buddies said, even under fire.

Whatever he felt, he kept it to himself. "I never did see him cry," his father said. "He might break down by himself, but he never showed it."

Survivors include his wife, Kirsten.

NOVEMBER 20:

Army Spc. Josph L. Lister, 22, Pleasanton, Kan.; explosion
At 22, it seemed Josph L. Lister had finally found his way. He had a wife and an infant son, and those who knew him said he'd become more mature and confident and was proud of his military service.

"Everything was really clicking for him," said the Rev. Jim Landrum, pastor at the church where Lister was baptized in 1999.

Lister, of Pleasanton, Kan., died Nov. 20 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, when the convoy in which he was traveling was hit by a homemade bomb. He was based at Fort Riley.

Lister could be headstrong as a teenager, Landrum said, but the Army helped give him direction.

"He seemed like a lost kid, and the military is a family, and you are well taken care of in the military," said John Heidrick, who taught Lister in high school.

Lister was deeply religious and had a large tattoo of a cross on his back, Landrum said. "Joe had such a strong faith, he had no question about where he would spend eternity," he said.

Army Pvt. Scott M. Tyrrell, 21, Sterling, Ill.; died from injuries in a fire

• A teen follows his dead brother's path to the Army

Army Capt. George A. Wood, 33, Marcy, N.Y.; explosion
George A. Wood was a history buff who hoped to use his experience leading troops in preparing for a doctorate.

"He'd read encyclopedias," said his stepfather, Mike Babula Sr. "He'd read everything from front to back."

The 33-year-old captain, who led four tanks in Iraq, was killed Nov. 20 when his vehicle hit an explosive. He grew up in Marcy, N.Y., and was stationed at Fort Hood.

Wood hoped to combine his interests in history and football working as a teacher and coach at West Point. He was a 1993 graduate of Cornell University and earned master's degrees from the State University at Albany and Cortland State.

From an early age, Wood was fascinated by military history. Theron Perna, a childhood friend, said he remembered constantly bickering with Wood about the tactical abilities and strategies of two generals.

"That was an ongoing argument we had since we were, gee, 6," Perna said.

He is survived by his wife, Lisa, and their daughter Maria, 3.

NOVEMBER 17:

Army Chief Warrant Officer Alexander S. Coulter, 35, Tennessee; explosion
Scott Coulter was "a good all-around guy – the best of the crop," in the words of his grandmother.

Coulter, who grew up in Bristol, Tenn., and was stationed at Fort Hood, was killed Nov. 17 when his vehicle struck a homemade land mine on the way to Baqubah, Iraq.

Coulter, 35, was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. He joined the Army in 1987 after graduating from high school and had served in Somalia, Bosnia and Operation Desert Storm.

Coulter met his wife, Robin, while both were stationed in Germany. They were married 12 years. He had two daughters, Shenna and Hannah, and a stepdaughter, Cindy.

Family and friends had been hopeful that Coulter would remain safe.

"He said he was doing all right, and that he didn't have to go out real often," said his grandmother, Mrs. Stuart Coulter.

Army Capt. Nathan S. Dalley, 27, Kaysville, Utah; non-hostile gunshot wound
Nathan S. Dalley wasn't the stay-at-home type. After graduating from West Point in 1998 he backpacked through Europe and took part in the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain.

"He wanted to explore everything and see everything," recalled his sister, Alicia Schroeder. "He was full of life."

Dalley, 27, died of a non-hostile gunshot wound Nov. 17 in Baghdad.

After graduating from high school in Sandy, Utah, Dalley wanted to become a Naval officer so he could fly F-16s, but his eyesight was too poor. He chose the Army instead and hoped to become a Ranger with the Special Forces.

"He wasn't afraid to fight, he wasn't afraid to go to war," Schroeder said. "He had been trained excellently to do this job."

Survivors include his fiancee, Kristen Barnekov.

Army Staff Sgt. Dale Panchot, 26, Northome, Minn.; action
Some people are lucky enough to know what they want to do with their lives at a very early age. Dale Panchot was one of those people.

"He wanted to be a soldier from the time he could pull on a pair of camouflage pants, from the time he was 3 years old," recalled his mother, Karen Panchot. "He wore those every day and his friends would always be out in the fields, playing Army."

Panchot, 26, was killed Nov. 17 in an ambush on his patrol near Balad, Iraq. He was based at Fort Carson and is survived by his mother and his father, Arland Panchot.

He grew up in Northome, Minn., playing baseball, football and basketball in high school. He joined the Army Reserves at 17, following his father and grandfather into the military.

Days before he died Panchot told his parents he had signed up for his last three-year tour. Having fulfilled his dreams of military service, he had new ones. "He wanted to be a history teacher and raise a family," his mother said.

Army Capt. James A. Shull, 32, California; non-hostile gunshot wound
James Shull was an unusual young man: as a teenager, he was deemed trustworthy enough to drive a borrowed Porsche on prom night.

"He was the hardest worker I've ever seen," said Ray Linford, a neighbor and the owner of the Porsche in question. "I used to tell him to take it easy, he was working so hard."

Shull, 32, died in Baghdad Nov. 17 of a non-hostile gunshot wound.

He graduated from Washington State University with a degree in criminal justice before enlisting in the Army in 1996. He served in Kuwait and Korea, and was most recently based at Fort Riley.

He was a passionate WSU Cougar fan. His wife even sent a VCR to Iraq so that he could watch taped Cougar football games, along with home movies of his kids.

"James was such a loving person," said his brother, Brad Shull. "He wanted to create good in this world and really cared about all people."

Survivors include his wife, Alice, and children: Ashley, 7, Jacob, 5, and Alisa, 1.

NOVEMBER 15:

Army Sgt. Michael D. Acklin II, 25, Louisville, Ky.; helicopter crash
Michael D. Acklin II was a man of "quiet peace" who dreamed of joining the ministry and hoped to attend Bible college after the Army, said Bishop Michael Ford Sr., his pastor. He "fought the good fight of a soldier and he fought the good fight of faith," Ford said.

"He fought and died trusting in Jesus," Michael Acklin Sr. said of his son. "That was what motivated his life."

Acklin, 25, of Louisville, Ky., died Nov. 15 when two Black Hawk helicopters collided in Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Campbell.

When he'd come home from Army training, it was clear he had matured.

"My husband would always tell his grandson, 'You're not a man until you go in the service. The service will make a man out of you,'" Barbara Acklin said. "And when Michael entered and when he did come back home, we saw that change."

Acklin is also survived by his mother.

Army Spc. Ryan T. Baker, 24, Browns Mills, N.J.; helicopter crash
Ryan Travis Baker was so passionate about the helicopters he served on as crew chief and gunner that he would talk to his mother in great detail about the vehicles.

"I can tell you anything you want to know about them," Victoria Baker said.

The 24-year-old from Browns Mills, N.J., died Nov. 15 when two Black Hawk helicopters collided in Iraq. He was based at Fort Campbell.

When Baker's father died of a heart attack in October, he returned from Iraq to be with his family. His last words to his mother before he left were to not worry about him.

"He was my best friend in the whole world," his mother said.

Baker was itching to return to Iraq and to his crew members, his uncle Michael Ewing said. "He told us when he left, 'We will get Saddam,'" Ewing said.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Kelly Bolor, 37, Whittier, Calif.; helicopter crash

• SoCal soldier killed in Iraq is returned to his native Hawaii

He "was the kind of person who the first time you met him you felt like you knew him all his life," said Alena Bolor, his sister-in-law. "He was the friendliest person you could meet."

Bolor, 37, died Nov. 15 when two Black Hawk helicopters collided in Iraq. The Lahaina, Hawaii, native was stationed at Fort Campbell.

"He was really grateful to be able to fight for his country," Maxie Bolor said of his twin. "He felt it was the right thing to do."

Bolor lived in Whittier, Calif., with his wife – also Kelly – and their 3-year-old son, Kyle.

"He always had a smile on his face. I'll never forget the smile," family friend Anna Kaahunui Dizon said.

Army Spc. Jeremy DiGiovanni, 21, Pricedale, Miss.; helicopter crash
Jeremy DiGiovanni loved his work with helicopters in Iraq – both the thrill, and the meaning of his service there.

"What he was doing was very important to him," said his father, Joe DiGiovanni. "It was 250 miles an hour, pants on fire with both doors open – he was a Black Hawk crew chief and he lived to get in that helicopter and fly."

The 21-year-old DiGiovanni, from Pricedale, Miss., died Nov. 15 when two Black Hawk helicopters collided in Iraq. He was based at Fort Campbell.

"I will remember him as a great guy," his father said. "He was always humorous and jovial. He never liked to see anybody with their feelings hurt or upset."

DiGiovanni said that when he spoke to his son in Iraq, "I got the impression he was extremely busy, working very hard. And I think he tried to keep stories and rhetoric to a minimum so not to make us worry."

Army Spc. William D. Dusenbery, 30, Fairview Heights, Ill.; helicopter crash
William D. Dusenbery was devoted to flying and hoped to eventually become a pilot.

"It was like he lived to be around the aircraft," said his fiancee, Jessica Wheat. "The Black Hawk and other aircraft, it was like they were a part of that man like his left arm."

Dusenbery, 30, who was based at Fort Campbell, was one of 17 soldiers killed Nov. 15 in Iraq when two Black Hawk helicopters collided.

Wheat said Dusenbery, who went by his middle name Dave, hoped to make the military his career so that he could continue to fly helicopters.

She said the only thing "he put above his helicopters was his girls," referring to his 11-year-old stepdaughter and 7-year-old daughter, who live with their mother in California.

Dusenbery, who was from Fairview Heights, Ill, was literally born into the military. His father said he was in the Navy stationed in Virginia when his son was born there.

Army Pfc. Rick Hafer, 21, Nitro, W.Va.; helicopter crash
Rick Hafer's love for his two half-sisters led him to join the Army, family members said

"His sisters were his whole life," said Sherry Barclay, his former stepmother, who raised him for much of his childhood. "He said when he left that he wanted to keep our home ground safe for them to live in."

The 21-year-old was killed Nov. 15 when two Black Hawk helicopters collided in Iraq. He lived in Nitro, W.Va., and was based at Fort Campbell. He is survived by his father, Richard Hafer.

At 6 feet 5 inches and 275 pounds, Hafer was known for his "commanding presence," First Sgt. Perry Bunn said.

Hafer was a star defensive lineman in his Laurel Valley, Pa., high school, but poor grades kept him from entering college to play football. He hoped joining the Army would enable him to pursue his college football dream.

"He wanted to prove to everybody that he could be somebody," Barclay said.

Army Sgt. Warren S. Hansen, 36, Clintonville, Wis.; helicopter crash
Warren S. Hansen earned a reputation for heroism even before his military service, receiving a medal for saving a man from drowning when he was just 15.

"He's very handsome and very decorated. He has numerous awards," said the Rev. Vilas Mazemke, his pastor. "He was a very good troop, one of high morale."

Hansen, 36, of Clintonville, Wis., died Nov. 15 when two Black Hawk helicopters collided in Iraq. He was assigned to Fort Campbell, and is survived by his brother.

The 17-year veteran had always wanted to serve in the military, following a family tradition. His father died while serving, and his stepfather was a Marine.

"That's what he wanted to be ever since he was a little guy," Mazemke said.

Hansen, who had served in Desert Storm and in Bosnia, wrote Mazemke an e-mail about the recent deaths of three friends in Iraq. "It's gotten personal, the one thing I hoped wouldn't happen," Mazemke recalled Hansen wrote.

Army Pfc. Sheldon R. Hawk Eagle, 21, Grand Forks, N.D.; helicopter crash
With the beat of drums, the chant of traditional songs and a march through town, members of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe paid tribute to a hometown soldier, Sheldon Hawk Eagle.

More than 1,000 people gathered in a high school gynmansium in Eagle Butte, S.D., to honor Hawk Eagle, who was killed Nov. 15 when two Army helicopters collided in Iraq. He was based at Fort Campbell.

His Lakota name was Wanbli Ohitika, or Brave Eagle.

"He's a hero," said Harold Frazier, the tribal chairman. "He defended our country and protected our freedom."

Hawk Eagle, 21, joined the Army while he visiting his sister in North Dakota and dreamed of becoming an elite Army Ranger, his cousin said.

Tom Hawk Eagle said his cousin was humble and quiet but loosened up around family and friends. "He was fun," said Tom Hawk Eagle, adding that the two men grew up calling each other brothers.

He said Hawk Eagle was a descendant of the Lakota leader Crazy Horse who helped defeat Lt. Col. George Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn.

Survivors include his sister, Frankie Hawk Eagle.

Army Sgt. Timothy L. Hayslett, 26, Newville, Pa.; explosion
At age 26, Timothy L. Hayslett had already served eight years in the Army and had just re-enlisted with the idea of spending his entire career in the military. From Iraq, he complained about the heat but otherwise seemed to be enjoying his job and was in good spirits.

"He said, 'Don't worry about me, Mom. My guys and I take care of each other. We're all going to come out of this alive. We'll be all right,'" said his mother, Mary Hayslett.

Hayslett, who was from Carlisle, Pa., and stationed in Germany, died Nov. 15 when the Humvee he was in was hit by a grenade in Baghdad. Survivors include his wife, Kori, and daughters Gracy and Kaitlyn.

"When I found out that he was going to Iraq, I was worried that he was afraid," Mary Hayslett said. "Then he called from Germany and he said, 'Mom, I'm not afraid. I'm ready to drive my tank right onto Saddam's front steps.'

Army Pfc. Damian L. Heidelberg, 21, of Shubuta, Miss.; helicopter crash
In their last conversation before Damian L. Heidelberg left for Iraq, his childhood friend Jerry Jones Jr. told him not to go and get himself killed.

"He just told me that he was trying to make something of himself," Jones said. "He was trying to make it for his family and his baby."

The 21-year-old administrative specialist from Shubuta, Miss., was killed Nov. 15 when two Black Hawk helicopters collided in Iraq. He was based at Fort Campbell.

Heidelberg, a former choir member and church usher, was "a wonderful young man, sweet and mild-mannered," said Phyllis Heidelberg, his aunt. "He was slow to speak, loved to go to church and always had a big smile."

Jones said the two were inseparable as children. "That was my boy," Jones said of his life-long friend. "If he got in trouble, I got in trouble. We were always in it together."

Heidelberg is survived by his father, Grady Jones, his mother, Deborah Heidelberg, and a 2-year-old daughter, Stacie.

Army Chief Warrant Officer Erik C. Kesterson, 29, Independence, Ore.; helicopter crash
Erik C. Kesterson had already completed an eight-year tour of duty with the Marines when the Sept. 11 attacks compelled him to sign on with the Army.

"He was very patriotic and believed in this country. He's a good man," said his father, Clayton Kesterson.

Kesterson, 29, was killed Nov. 15 when the Black Hawk helicopter he was piloting collided with another helicopter in Iraq. He grew up mostly in Vernonia, Ore., and was stationed at Fort Campbell.

M.J. Kesterson said her son inspired confidence. "This was a bright, ready-to-go young guy," she said. "I didn't have a thought this would go badly."

As a Marine, Kesterson pulled seven men from a burning helicopter that had crashed. He was awarded the Marine Corps Medal of Heroism.

One of his hobbies was building full-size replicas of World War I fighter planes. Five of the planes he built with his father have been cleared to fly by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Army 1st Lt. Pierre Piche, 28, Starksboro, Vt.; helicopter crash
Whether he was leaving love notes for his wife or saving stray dogs while serving in Iraq, Pierre Piche was intent on caring for others.

"He had a deep conviction to leave the world a better place," Lisa Johnson said of her only child.

Piche, 29, died Nov. 15 when two Black Hawk helicopters collided in Iraq. He grew up in Starksboro, Vt., and was based at Fort Campbell.

After returning from Iraq, Piche planned to give up his promising Army career so his wife could pursue her dream of becoming a school principal.

Piche's devotion extended to everyday gestures: He brought his wife flowers regularly and pasted their home with notes telling her he loved her. Three days before his death he sang the song "I just called to say I love you" into her answering machine.

Cherish Piche did not discover some of the notes her husband had left her, hidden in the sleeves of her coat, until she put on the garment to head to his funeral.

"This was not supposed to happen," Johnson said. "He was supposed to grow old with his wife _ that's what he was supposed to do."

Army Sgt. John W. Russell, 26, Portland, Texas; helicopter crash
Friends remember John W. Russell as a popular and charming jokester.

"Anyone who ever met John saw he was so full of life," said April Fielder-Clark, who had known Russell since she was 3. "I don't know too many people who have as many friends as John. No one was safe from his jokes, but it was all in good fun."

Russell, 26, of Portland, Texas, died Nov. 15 when two Black Hawk helicopters collided in Iraq. He was based at Fort Campbell.

Gen. Jack Gardner presented Russell's parents and wife with a Bronze Star during his funeral.

"He distinguished himself as a selfless soldier," Gardner said. "His company commander said he was a very talented guy, who was highly respected, and highly liked by everyone."

Army Chief Warrant Officer Scott A. Saboe, 33, Willow Lake, S.D.; helicopter crash
Scott Saboe grew up in the South Dakota town of Willow Lake, where a group of his high school friends recently sent him a card in Iraq.

"I wrote to him, said I'm very proud of him and everything that they've done," farmer Curwin Bratland said. "I said I hope he gets back, and we'll have a cold one together."

The 33-year-old Saboe was one of 17 soldiers who died when two Black Hawk helicopters collided Nov. 15 in Iraq.

Saboe joined the Army in 1989 and was based at Fort Campbell. Survivors include his wife, Franceska, and their 6-year-old son, Dustin.

Saboe "was giving his all and believing what he was doing," said Darin Michalski, a childhood friend. "That's what makes me most proud of him, I guess.

"Most of us can go through our whole lives and don't really accomplish anything, and some of us only live to be 33, and we're heroes."

Army Spc. John R. Sullivan, 26, Countryside, Ill.; helicopter crash
John R. Sullivan re-enlisted in the Army so his wife could afford to stay home with their new twins. The twins he never met.

His wife, Katrina, was busy caring for their 2-month-old twins when she got the news: Her 26-year-old husband was killed Nov. 15 when two Black Hawk helicopters crashed in Iraq.

Sullivan saw his sons briefly on a Web camera and his wife also sent him a recording of their voices. "But it's not the same," she said. "It doesn't replace holding them."

Sullivan, who was born in Countryside, Ill., and stationed at Fort Campbell, met his wife when he was stationed at Fort Lewis several years ago. She said she first fell in love with his smile.

"He never complains; he has an awesome sense of humor," she said. "He was just the kind of man you were lucky to know."

Sullivan is also survived by a 10-year-old stepdaughter, Jade Whitmer-Steele.

Army Spc. Eugene A. Uhl III, 21, Amherst, Wis.; helicopter crash
Eugene Uhl followed his father and grandfather into the military. His father fought in Vietnam, and his grandfather served in World War II and the Korean War.

"He was proud to be there (in Iraq), proud to be defending the country," his mother, Joan Uhl said.

The 21-year-old soldier from Amherst, Wis., was among 17 killed when two Black Hawk helicopters collided in Iraq on Nov. 15. He was based at Fort Campbell, and was engaged to be married in June.

"He was serious, but yet he was very outgoing," his mother said. "He was sometimes a prankster, very caring and full of life."

His mother said Uhl wrote a letter recently that only his father was allowed to read.

"It was just he had a bad feeling about what was going to happen," his mother said.

Army Pfc. Joey Whitener, 19, McDowell County, N.C.; helicopter crash
Joey Whitener made a surprise visit home to McDowell County, N.C. for the birth of his first child, Tristan. But then he had to return to Iraq. His wife emailed baby pictures to her husband, and used a Web cam to show him his son.

"I would turn on Web cam and let him see Tristan," Beth Whitener said. "He would just sit there and cry."

Whitener, 19, died Nov. 15 when two Black Hawk helicopters crashed in northern Iraq. He was based at Fort Campbell.

A member of the Navy JROTC in high school, Whitener had hoped the military could help him become a doctor, said Ruth Fortune, his foster mother. He was a kindhearted, respectful young man, she said.

Whitener came to visit Fortune and her husband after his son's birth.

"He was so proud of that baby," Fortune said. "When he started to leave, he gave me a big hug and told me he loved me."

Army 2nd Lt. Jeremy L. Wolfe, 27, Menomonie, Wis.; helicopter crash
Assigned to the 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

NOVEMBER 14:

Army Spc. Irving Medina, 22, Middletown, N.Y.; explosion
For Irving Medina, serving in Iraq wasn't just about fighting. It was also about making friends. In his time there, Medina befriended several Iraqi children. One, a 10-year-old boy, was killed in a bombing.

"I've seen some of the saddest things out here," Medina wrote in his last e-mail, sent to a friend.

Medina, 22 died Nov. 14 when his convoy was hit with an explosive. Stationed at Fort Riley, he is survived by his parents, Jorge and Ana Medina.

His family moved from Mexico City to Middletown, N.Y., when Medina was 6. He attended local schools, played varsity soccer, and went on to community college. Medina joined the Army in September 2001, and was sent to Iraq last April. His twin brother recently returned from 11 months in Iraq, and his older sister is in the Army Reserves.

"We all thought we'd see him again," his father said.

NOVEMBER 13:

Army Pfc. Jacob S. Fletcher, 28, Bay Shore, N.Y.; explosion
Growing up in Bay Shore, N.Y., Jacob S. Fletcher dreamed of serving his country.

"He always wanted to be a soldier," said his former girlfriend, Kristi Ruppert. "He always had that kind of passion in him. And he wanted to be that kind of man."

The death of a friend in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks sealed the decision. He enlisted in the Army, becoming one of the first soldiers to parachute into Iraq.

Fletcher, 28, died Nov. 13 when explosives struck a bus he was on in Iraq. He was based in Camp Ederle, Italy.

"He really believed he was making a difference in Iraq," said Jean DeBrant, a family friend. "He felt that he was helping the women and children and that meant very much to him. It sustained him."

He is survived by his mother, Dorine Kenney, and father, Marlowe Fletcher.

Army Sgt. Joseph Minucci II, 23, Richeyville, Pa.; died of injuries sustained in explosion
At 17, Joseph Minucci II knew he wasn't headed to college, and the National Guard offered him some purpose in his life.

"He told me the reason he did what he did was that he felt that he was keeping his family safe. He was not only protecting his country, but keeping us all safe," Marcella Minucci said.

The 23-year-old soldier from Richeyville, Pa., was killed by an explosive Nov. 13 in Samara, Iraq. He was based at Camp Ederle, Italy, and is survived by his parents.

Minucci was a high school varsity football player and a soccer co-captain when he joined the National Guard. About a year later, he enlisted in the Army, and he earned his paratrooper wings at Fort Campbell.

"He was a proud soldier," Marcella Minucci said. "He was proud to be serving in Iraq."

NOVEMBER 12:

Army Staff Sgt. Nathan J. Bailey, 46, Nashville, Tenn.; non-hostile gunshot wound
As an associate minister, Nathan J. Bailey hoped to rid the neighborhood around his church of drugs. As a maintenance worker for public housing projects in Nashville, Tenn., he was always on-call.

"Whenever he was needed, he was always the one they would call," said his friend Sherrell Batey. "Nathan would always go, no matter the hour and no matter the weather."

Bailey, 46, died Nov. 12 while on guard duty at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait from a non-hostile gunshot wound." The Army is investigating. His National Guard company was based in Tullahoma, Tenn.

Bailey sang with the Tennessee chapter of Gospel Music Worship of America, but his family teased him for not always having the best rhythm when clapping, said Robbie Snapp, his sister.

The anti-drug program Bailey planned to work on will likely be named for him, said his pastor, Freeman Jeter.

"One of the last times one of the members spoke to him, he let them know he was in a safe area and that he had gotten stronger in the Lord," Jeter said.

Survivors include his wife, Pat.

Army Spc. Robert A. Wise, 21, Tallahassee, Fla.; explosion
Even as an ROTC cadet in high school, Robert A. Wise stood out among his peers, becoming the student commander of his unit. "He was a remarkable young man, a go-getter," said Senior Master Sgt. Stephen Sullivan.

"He inspired other cadets," said Sullivan, who also taught Wise in an aerospace science class. "He was the person who would show up one hour early and stay three hours late to do whatever needed to be done."

Wise, 21, was killed Nov. 12 in an explosion in Baghdad. The National Guardsman was based in Tallahassee, Fla., his home town. He is survived by his parents, Tammy and David Wise.

Wise was a jokester who was always smiling, said Spc. Paulo Vinanti, who took the young soldier under his wing when Wise joined the National Guard in the summer of 2000, just after he graduated from high school.

"He always had a smile on his face. No matter how bad it got," Vinanti said. "He was a good kid."

NOVEMBER 11:

Army Spc. Genaro Acosta, 26, Fair Oaks, Calif.; explosion
The twin explosions that killed Genaro Acosta on Veterans Day destroyed even his wedding ring, but they left his gold cross intact.

"Everywhere he went, he would not take that cross off," his brother Fernando Acosta said. "He was a very strong believer in God."

Acosta, 26, of Fair Oaks, Calif., was killed Nov. 11 when his vehicle hit two explosives in Taji, Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Hood.

The avid Los Angeles Lakers fan with a fondness for the cartoon character Scooby Doo "felt very strongly about helping other people out," Fernando Acosta said. He reenlisted this year despite his concern over the dangers because "he figured it was the right thing to do," his brother said.

"I know that he did not die in vain," said his widow, Roxanne Longoria Acosta. "He was proud of what he did."

Army Spc. Marlon P. Jackson, 25, Jersey City, N.J.; died of injuries sustained in a roadway explosion
Marlon P. Jackson was a quiet young man of simple pleasures: basketball, Chinese food and Caribbean music. From Iraq, he asked family to send music magazines and sports clippings. And he never forgot to say thank you.

"He always thanked me for everything I did. He was so appreciative," said Vanessa Selby, his self-described stepmother.

Jackson, 25, of Jersey City, N.J., was killed Nov. 11 in a roadside bombing near Baghdad. He was stationed in Vilseck, Germany. He is survived by his mother, Lois La Grenade, and father, Leighton Jackson.

Before joining the Army in 1999, Jamaica-born Jackson attended community college. He had become a big brother to Selby's son Khabir, 22, and tutored him in his free time.

"He was just becoming a young man, trying to be responsible," Selby said.

NOVEMBER 9:

Sgt. Nicholas A. Tomko, 24, Pittsburgh, Pa.; died of injuries
For Nicholas A. Tomko, the Army Reserve was the ticket to a new career in law enforcement. The armored car driver joined three years ago, served six months in Bosnia, and, after two months off, went with his unit to Iraq.

Tomko, 24, of Pittsburgh, Pa., died Nov. 9 in Baghdad when the Humvee he was riding in was attacked with mortar and small-arms fire.

"He was a great kid, brave as hell, he didn't take no chances, he knew his stuff," said his father, Jack Tomko, who served in the Marine Corps from 1966 to 1970.

Father and son didn't talk about the war or conditions in Iraq. "I told him you don't tell me what is going on, you tell me when you get home," Jack Tomko said. His son was due home at the end of December.

The day before he was killed, he had spoken on the telephone with Jessica Baillie, his fiance and the mother of their 2-year-old son, Ethan.

"I'm going to make sure than Ethan knows that his dad is a hero ... that he went over there to fight for his country," Baillie said.

NOVEMBER 8:

Staff Sgt. Gary L. Collins, 32, Hardin, Texas; died of injuries
Those close to Gary L. Collins remember a man with a strong sense of honor and personal duty, a man who chose a military career because he wanted to protect the world.

"He was just a hell of a man," said his father, Don Collins.

Collins, 32, of Hardin, Texas died Nov. 8 when the vehicle he was riding in hit an explosive. He was stationed at Fort Riley.

Collins was a professional soldier with a stack of medals and commendations to show for his 12 years in the Army. When he was sent to Iraq in September, family members hoped his experience would help keep him safe.

"I figured his odds of surviving were way better than the average person that hadn't had the training he had," his father said.

Survivors inlcude his wife, Kassie, and two daughters, 8-year-old Taylor and 6-year-old Landry.

Army Staff Sgt. Mark D. Vasquez, 35, Port Huron, Mich.; explosion
A mischievous practical joker who always had a smile, Mark D. Vasquez thrived after following his father and cousin into the Army in 1993.

"This was something Mark liked," said his father, Mike Vasquez. "It was the guidance ... and the discipline he needed."

Vasquez, 35, was killed Nov. 8 near Fallujah, Iraq, by a makeshift bomb. He was stationed at Fort Riley. He is survived by wife Nicole, daughter, Breanna, 6, and son Cameron, 2.

Vasquez, who grew up in Port Huron, Mich., loved being active. He had recently taken up golf, and excelled at skateboarding and breakdancing.

He missed his unit's first deployment to Iraq while training in the U.S. Army Ranger School at Fort Benning. Those close to him say Vasquez hoped another chance would come.

Friend Jeff Parr remembered Vasquez as fearless. "If it was dangerous, he wanted to do it. ... And I'm sure he would rather it be him than anyone else in his unit. I'm proud of him."

NOVEMBER 7:

Army Pvt. Kurt Frosheiser, 22, Des Moines, Iowa; explosion
Kurt Frosheiser had a million-dollar smile, a knack with the guitar and a soft touch.

In e-mails from Iraq he took pains to reassure family in Des Moines, Iowa, that "they don't shoot at us much."

Frosheiser, 22, died Nov. 8 after the Humvee he was riding in hit a homemade bomb near Baghdad. He had only been in Iraq for two weeks. He is survived by his father, Chris Frosheiser, and mother, Jeanie Hudson-Holton.

Before joining the Army in April, Frosheiser had studied carpentry at a community college. He spoke of wanting to help the Iraqi people. Chris Frosheiser said his son knew joining the Army would be dangerous, but he wanted to so something important with his life.

"Before he left, he told us all to live our lives, to appreciate everything we have," he said. "He lived by the Army oath and values. That was Kurt. He lived that through and through."

Army Command Sgt. Maj. Cornell W. Gilmore, 45, Baltimore; helicopter crash
Cornell W. Gilmore had achieved stature as sergeant major of the JAG Corps and chief adviser to the judge advocate general for enlisted issues, but friends said his real passion was working with ordinary soldiers.

"He cared desperately about taking care of soldiers, not only soldiers in the JAG Corps, but the ability of JAG to take care of all military members," said Jack Nevin, a judge and Army Reserve colonel who had worked with Gilmore.

"He died doing what he liked doing best, which was going out in field and meeting with our young soldiers."

Gilmore, 45, was killed Nov. 7 when the Black Hawk helicopter he was riding crashed near Tikrit, Iraq. He was assigned to the Pentagon and lived in Stafford, Va., with his wife, Donna Gilmore. Their two children attend college.

"He was a dynamic leader, an inspirational leader," Nevin said.

Gilmore served in the JAG Corps, which provides judges and lawyers for the Army's military courts, throughout his 22-year career. He was also a minister of music at Shiloh Christian Church in Stafford.

Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kyran E. Kennedy, 43, Boston; helicopter crash
Kyran E. Kennedy grew up in Boston but fell in love with living in the Kentucky countryside.

He and his wife bought a farm, kept a variety of animals, managed an ambitious beekeeping operation, and tended a garden and an orchard. "He absolutely loved this place. We were going to retire in Kentucky," Kathy Kennedy said.

Kennedy, 43, was killed Nov. 7 when the Black Hawk helicopter he was riding crashed near Tikrit, Iraq. He was assigned to Fort Campbell and lived in Hopkinsville, Ky.

Kathy Kennedy said her husband made a dulcimer that he carried to Iraq and was teaching himself to play. "He was a wonderful woodworker," she said.

The instrument was important to him and provided a sense of peace in the midst of the war, she said.

Survivors include his children: Christopher, 11; Katie, 9; and Kevin, 3.

Army Staff Sgt. Morgan D. Kennon, 23, Memphis, Tenn., action
Morgan D. Kennon was tall and studious and doted on his mother.

"He was a serious-minded youngster who was devoted to fulfilling his mother's wishes," recalled his father, Morgan Kennon. "If his mother needed anything, instead of being out in a park playing basketball, it was his joy to go out and do whatever he had to do to help her."

Kennon, 23, was killed Nov. 7 when his convoy was attacked while guarding a bank in Mosul, Iraq. He was based at Fort Campbell.

Kennon grew up in Memphis and joined the Army straight out of high school to earn money for college. He hoped one day to become a lawyer.

Though his family knew young Kennon was doing a dangerous job, his death still came as a shock, his father said.

"In your mind's eye, it is not going to happen to you," he said. "You have a level of comfort, and that is how I felt about him, that no matter where he goes, he will be safe.

Army Staff Sgt. Paul M. Neff, 30, Fort Mill, S.C.; helicopter crash
As a single parent, Paul M. Neff II worried about leaving behind his 9-year-old son when he was sent to Iraq. But serving in the Army "was what he wanted to do," his mother, Judy Baker, said.

"He had the option of getting out about three years ago and he didn't. He loved it and wanted to be there," Baker said.

Neff, 30, was killed Nov. 7 when the Black Hawk helicopter he was riding crashed near Tikrit, Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Campbell and lived with his fiancee in Clarksville, Tenn.

An avid outdoorsman, Neff followed his father when he joined the Army a few months after graduating from high school in 1991. Paul Neff Sr. is a two-tour Vietnam War veteran who served in the military for 20 years.

"I don't know if it was instilled in him from family, but that was his choice. He wanted to be a pilot, but he knew he couldn't do that so he went to the helicopters," Baker said.

Army Sgt. Scott C. Rose, 30, Fayetteville, N.C.; helicopter crash
When his daughter was born on July 31, Scott C. Rose couldn't hold her. But a Web camera allowed the soldier, serving in Iraq, to watch Megan Louise fussing and cooing thousands of miles away at Fort Campbell.

Rose was looking forward to his next assignment _ teaching crew chiefs in Fort Eustis, Va., he would be able to meet Megan Louise in person and be near his wife.

Rose, 30, of Fayetteville, N.C., died Nov. 7 when the Black Hawk helicopter he was riding crashed near Tikrit, Iraq.

Michele Rose had found a perfect Southern gentleman in Scott, her mother, Paula Basso, said, describing him as friendly, thoughtful and quiet. The couple met at North Carolina State University.

"I could not be more proud of a son," said his father, retired Lt. Col. Alfred "Butch" Rose. "When I looked at what he did, I could not have done what he did. He was better than me."

Army Capt. Benedict J. Smith, 29, Monroe City, Mo.; helicopter crash
Moments before he took off in a Black Hawk helicopter, Benedict J. Smith wrote in an e-mail to his family that he was glad his day's assignment required him to fly. "That will be good for me to get out of the office for a day," he wrote.

"He once told mom that he knew he could be killed but that, if he died in the helicopter, he would be happy," said Mary Sims, his sister.

Smith, 29, a native of Monroe City, Mo., died Nov. 7 when the helicopter crashed near Tikrit, Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Campbell.

Smith married his wife, Maggie, also a military pilot serving in Iraq, last December. "He and his wife tried to see each other as often as possible while serving in Iraq," Sims said. "His faith was important to him; that has helped him during his time over there."

Smith joined the Army after graduating from high school in 1993. He later attended West Point and flight school.

"Ben has always been one to go for a challenge," Sims said.

Army Capt. Joseph B. Smith, 29, of Monroe City, Mo.; helicopter crash
Killed in Black Hawk helicopter crash near Tikrit. Assigned to the 5th Battalion, 101st Aviation Brigade, Fort Campbell, Ky.

Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Sharon T. Swartworth, 43, Virginia; helicopter crash
Sharon T. Swartworth moved out of her Pentagon office shortly before it was destroyed in the Sept. 11 attacks. She felt lucky to survive, her father said.

"She told me the nose of the plane was in her office," Bernard Mayo said.

The 43-year-old lead adviser to the Army's judge advocate general was killed Nov. 7 when the Black Hawk helicopter she was riding crashed near Tikrit, Iraq. She was assigned to the Pentagon and had recently moved her family to Mililani, Hawaii.

Swartworth was planning to retire there with her husband and 8-year-old son after her trip to Iraq. "This was going to be Sharon's last hurrah," Mayo said. "They were going to live happily ever after."

Neighbors in Alexandria, Va., remembered the 26-year Army veteran and avid runner as a friendly and giving woman who helped organize and host neighborhood events. "She was a very generous person, with her time and with her home," said friend and neighbor Eileen Houser.

NOVEMBER 6:

Army Spc. James A. Chance III, 25, Kokomo, Miss., land mine
James A. Chance III didn't want his counterparts with spouses or children to risk themselves driving through dangerous territory in Iraq, family pastor Jimmy Jones said. So the Mississippi National Guardsman volunteered to lead his convoy.

"He would do without so that someone could have. That's the way he was raised," older brother Allen Chance said.

The 25-year-old from Kokomo, Miss., was killed Nov. 6 when his truck hit a land mine near the Syrian border.

Chance usually stayed close to his parents' home, helping to care for his wheelchair-bound father, who had served in Vietnam. The last conversation Allen Chance had with his brother was about their ailing grandmother.

"He was worried about her and he was trying to get it where he could come home for a few days to see her," he said. "He never could get around to it."

He is survived by his father, James Jr., and his mother, Patricia Ann.

Army Sgt. Paul F. Fisher, 39, Marion, Iowa, died of injuries received in Nov. 2 helicopter crash
Paul Fisher was so good-natured that he didn't correct co-workers who accidentally called him by the wrong name for a year. He simply answered to "Frank" until everyone figured it out.

"We just always laughed about it and kept calling him Frank," said his supervisor, T.J. Korf. "He'd just always answer to Frank. He never took it bad."

Fisher, 39, a National Guard member from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was a flight engineer aboard the helicopter that was downed Nov. 2 while bringing soldiers home on leave. He suffered multiple injuries, which were initially considered non-life-threatening, but died Nov. 6.

"He just had complications," said friend Mickey Stuefen of Cedar Rapids. "A lot of those guys got bounced around so much coming down from the helicopter. We knew it was bad – we just didn't know how bad."

Fisher was a truck driver in the Army from 1982 to 1985 and served in the Army Reserve before joining the Guard in January 1997. He is survived by his wife of 14 years, Karen, and a stepson, Jason, 23.

"We never thought that when he went overseas he was in harm's way," Korf said, calling Fisher an excellent electrician and "a really good guy."

Army Spc. James R. Wolf, 21, Scottsbluff, Neb., explosion
When James R. Wolf returned on a 15-day leave in October, he made it a point to thank the elementary school students who had sent him letters in Iraq.

"You really knew what Jamie was about," said Bob Wolf, his father. "Most 21-year-olds might have spent all of their time partying, but he took a day and put on his desert fatigues and spent two hours talking to a classroom full of kids. I'm sure putting on those fatigues again was the last thing he wanted to do."

The engineer, raised in Scottsbluff, Neb., was killed Nov. 6 in Mosul, Iraq, when a homemade bomb exploded near his convoy. He was stationed at Fort Carson.

"He loved the U.S. Army," his mother, Chris Wolf, said. "He was so proud, and knew it was going to be a good life for him."

James Wolf had been working on schools and housing in Iraq.

"He felt safe," Chris Wolf said. "He was always the gunner on the back of the Humvee. He was so tall, we wondered why he did that."

NOVEMBER 5:

Army Sgt. 1st Class Jose A. Rivera, 34, Bayamon, Puerto Rico, hostile fire
Jose A. Rivera had a serious work ethic. As an Army recruiter, he would try to sign up new soldiers while on vacation. And Rivera always insisted that his stepson, Orlando, finish his schoolwork before the two of them played basketball.

"He really wasn't a stepdad," said Orlando, 18. "He was a dad. I learned more from him than anybody else."

Rivera, 34, was killed Nov. 5 when his patrol came under fire south of Baghdad. He was based at Fort Bragg.

Rivera was born in Barranquitas, Puerto Rico, where he lived until he was 19. He joined the Army in 1990, and had worked as a recruiter in New York City.

He is survived by his wife, Sonia, a daughter and a son.

"He was a hardworking person, a family provider," his sister Ismarie Rivera said. "We always had the hope he would come back alive."

NOVEMBER 4:

Army Spc. Robert T. Benson, 20, Spokane, Wash., non-hostile gunshot wound
Robert T. Benson enjoyed playing sports and spending time with his family.

"He was a good man and an excellent soldier," said Sean Sorin, a fellow soldier who flew from Iraq for the funeral. "He will never be forgotten."

Benson, 20, died Nov. 4 of a non-hostile gunshot wound sustained at a checkpoint in Iraq. He was based at Smith Barracks, Germany.

He was born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and attended schools in Spokane, Wash. Benson joined the Army in July 2001, shortly after graduating from high school. He married a high school classmate, Aimee Hiatt, last December.

"I wish Bobby could have had children," his stepsister, Alexandra, said. "I wish he could have seen his brothers and sisters get married."

Army Sgt. Francisco Martinez, 28, Humacao, Puerto Rico, explosion
He insisted on going to Iraq when he had the choice, and he even turned down the recent offer of a two-week furlough. Francisco Martinez was completely dedicated to being a soldier.

"He loved the military life. ... It was his life," said his father, Daniel Martinez.

Martinez, 28, was killed Nov. 4 when a roadside bomb hit the truck he was traveling in near Baghdad.

He grew up in Humacao, Puerto Rico, and joined the Army 10 years ago. Martinez completed a year of service in South Korea before transferring to Fort Bragg, where he remained until the military sent him to Iraq this spring.

Martinez was expected to complete his tour in January. He planned to bring his girlfriend home to meet his family then, his father said. He is survived by his father and his mother, Luz Jimenez.

NOVEMBER 3:

Army Pfc. Rayshawn S. Johnson, 20, New York; explosion
The military changed Rayshawn Johnson, on the inside and on the outside.

"He used dress like he was born on the street, but when he came back, he was in his uniform," said his brother, Michael Johnson, 16.

"He called once at the airport and he said the respect he got from people made him feel so good," his foster mother, Deborah Wynter, recalled. "He said they were coming up to him and saying 'God bless you,' 'Good luck,' ... 'We're proud of you.'"

Johnson, 20, was killed when his vehicle hit a land mine in Tikrit on Nov. 3. He was based at Fort Hood.

Johnson attended high school in Brooklyn, N.Y. joined the Army in February and went to Iraq in June.

"I never thought it would be like this," said Patty Johnson, his biological mother. "It makes me so proud that people love him. I always wanted him to be a good person at heart, and actually it came true for me."

NOVEMBER 2:

Staff Sgt. Daniel Bader, 28, York, Neb.; action
Daniel Bader wasn't afraid of going to war, his wife says. He had greater concerns.

"The thing that scared him most was when we had our little girl. She was so tiny and so fragile," said Tiffany Bader of Fort Carson, Colo.

Their daughter, Taryn Makenzie, is now 14 months old.

Bader was one of 16 soldiers killed in the Nov. 2 downing of a helicopter carrying troops home from Iraq on leave.

"It hasn't hit me yet, that I'm not going to have a husband. That I'm a widow at 30. That my little girl is going to be raised without a father," Tiffany Bader said.

Bader, 28, joined the National Guard shortly after high school graduation, and then joined the Army when he was 18.

"He loved it, absolutely loved the military," his wife said.

"If I could compare him to anybody, it would be Jim Carey; that was the type of humor my husband had," she said.

Army Sgt. Ernest G. Bucklew, 33, Enon Valley, Pa.; action

• Family buries soldier killed in Iraq and his mother

"Even on your worst day, he knew how to make you laugh," she said. "That had to be his best quality."

Ernie Bucklew was on his way home for his mother's funeral when he was among 16 troops killed in the Nov. 2 downing of an Army helicopter carrying troops home on leave. His mother, Mary Ellen Bucklew, died two days earlier at age 57 of a burst aneurysm.

"They say there's a reason for everything, but I just can't find a reason for this," said Bucklew's uncle, Jack Smith of Point Marion, Pa.

The son of a coal miner, the 33-year-old Bucklew had been in the Army since 1999 and was stationed at Fort Carson. He was a "happy-go-lucky kind of guy and a really good friend," said David Davis of Charles Town, W.Va., who played high school football with Bucklew.

In his last e-mail to his uncle, Bucklew wrote: "This is a letter from hell."

Besides his wife, he is survived by sons 8-year-old Joshua and 4-year-old Justin.

Sgt. Steven D. Conover, 21, Wilmington, Ohio; action
Steven D. Conover shared stories with the family about the dangers in Iraq, including one in which a Humvee blew up in front of him and killed a man Conover had trained with.

"He was the sergeant, so he had to prepare the man for sending him home to his wife and children. That affected him greatly," said his stepfather, Michael Earley.

Conover, 21, was among 16 soldiers killed in the Nov. 2 downing of an Army helicopter carrying soldiers home on leave. He was stationed at Fort Sill.

"They were ambushed quite often, and he just said he knew the hand of God was on him," Earley said. "Now, he was on his way home, but he got to go all the way home. My boy was a Christian, and I know he's in heaven right now."

Conover, of Wilmington, Ohio, graduated from high school in 2000 and attended Laurel Oaks Career Development Campus, where he studied aviation. He was a cadet officer in Laurel Oaks' Air Force Junior ROTC program.

"I saw him as a very mature, genuinely nice guy that automatically, when he spoke, other people listened," ROTC instructor Howard Vosburgh said. "His fellow students looked up to him. I admired him. He was just a cut above his peers."

He is also survived by his mother, Lorraine Earley.

Army Pfc. Anthony D. D'Agostino, 20, Waterbury, Conn.; action
In letters and e-mails from Iraq, Anthony D'Agostino asked his family for Kool-Aid to flavor his water, pictures of his cousins, crossword puzzles and books to help him learn Spanish.

"He was always looking for ways to better himself," said his aunt, Beth Santos. "He wanted to make good use of his time over there."

D'Agostino was among 16 soldiers who died in the Nov. 2 downing of an Army helicopter carrying troops from Iraq on leave. Stationed at Fort Hood, he would have turned 21 on Nov. 6.

Born at Fort Gordon, Ga., while his father was in the military, D'Agostino graduated from high school in Waterbury, Conn., with a specialty in electricity.

D'Agostino joined the military after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, looking for an education, career and a place to belong, Santos said. He hoped to go to the U.S. Military Academy.

When he wrote letters or e-mails to home from Iraq, he talked about the hot weather and how uncomfortable the situation was, Santos said. He was proud to be serving in Iraq, family members said. But his family was nervous.

"You never stop worrying," said his aunt, Beth Santos.

Spc. Darius T. Jennings, 22, Cordova, S.C.; action
Darius T. Jennings joined the Army after graduating from high school in 2000. Eventually he wanted to go to college, become a photographer and mentor young people.

"He loved kids," said his mother, Harriet Johnson. "He had two first cousins that he thought very highly of and he was always worried about them not forgetting him after he was over in Iraq. He was always worried about, 'Do they remember him?'"

The family said their son was a very well-mannered. "He had friends but then yet, he stayed to himself," his mother said.

Jennings, 22, stationed at Fort Carson, was one of 16 soldiers killed in the Nov. 2 downing of an Army helicopter carrying troops home on leave. He was from rural Orangeburg County, S.C., and was the third graduate of Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School to die in Iraq.

"We was worried about him day one, ever since he went over there," said his father, John Johnson. "He was over there a couple of months before we heard from him."

About two weeks before dying, he told his mother he was ready to come home. Before, he had often started his sentences with, "Mama, when I get home...," but in the more recent call, he was plain. "He said, 'I'm tired, I'm not used to this,'" his mother said.

Army Pfc. Karina S. Lau, 20, Livingston, Calif.; action

• Soldier slain in Iraq laid to rest in Livingston

"I prayed for her every day telling her to be careful," said her mother, Ruth Lau, of Livingston, Calif. "She said she was safe. We never expected that anything would happen to her."

Lau's father, Agustin Lau, sat on the couch and sobbed, unable to speak.

Lau, 20, was one of 16 soldiers killed in the Nov. 2 downing of a helicopter carrying troops home on leave.

Lau attended the University of Pacific on a music scholarship before joining the Army in January 2002. She received training as a radio operator at Fort Hood during boot camp before she was deployed to Iraq at the beginning of the war.

Just a few hours before boarding the helicopter, Lau sent an e-mail to her half-sister, Martha Rivera.

"Don't worry," it read. "I'll be careful."

Army Sgt. Keelan L. Moss, 23, Houston; action
Keelan Moss was so excited about his 10-day leave that he was having trouble sleeping. That's what he told his wife by phone two days before he was set to come home – and two days before he died.

"The last thing he said to me before he hung up was that the first thing he wanted to see was my beautiful smile," said Jenifer Moss.

Moss, 23, was one of 16 soldiers killed in the Nov. 2 downing of a helicopter carrying troops home on leave. He was from Houston and stationed at Fort Sill.

"I couldn't have asked for a better son," said Moss' mother, Velma Deawayne. "I know that he is really truly at home."

Deawayne said her son wrote to her often, and never expressed concern about the frequent attacks against U.S. soldiers in Iraq.

An honor student in high school, Moss entered the service soon after his 1998 graduation. He had a 4-year-old son, Keelan Daniel, and planned to adopt his wife's children, Marjani, 8, and Dakari, 7.

Spc. Brian Penisten, 28, Fort Wayne, Ind.; action

• Fiancee mourns soldier's death in helicopter attack

Then he died in the Nov. 2 downing of a helicopter carrying troops home on leave.

"It's horrible," said his fiancee's father, John Loia. "It just ruined two people's lives."

Penisten, 28, was stationed at Fort Carson.

A member of his Fort Wayne, Ind., high school wrestling team for four years, Penisten advanced to the state tournament his senior year and compiled a 35-2 record.

"He was one of the hardest workers on the mat we had," high school athletic director Andy Johns said. "He was a small guy, and he wrestled at 135 pounds his senior year. He was really a good student and a unique individual. He was fun to be around."

He occasionally returned to the school after graduation, and kept in touch with the school's principal, Fred Tone, who had coached Penisten's wrestling team.

"He was one tough cookie," Tone said. "He had an inner drive and desire to challenge himself to be the very best."

Army Sgt. Ross A. Pennanen, 36, Oklahoma; action
Richard Pennanen's experiences as a member of the Air Force led him to encourage his son, Ross Pennanen, to join the military as well.

"He had listened to his dad talk about how much he had gained from being in the military," Richard's wife, Linda Pennanen, said. "Richard had always encouraged him to do that."

"He gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country – his life," Richard Pennanen said.

Ross Pennanen, 36, of Shawnee, Okla., was among 16 troops killed in the Nov. 2 downing of a helicopter carrying troops home on leave. He was stationed at Fort Sill.

Although he joined the Army when he was 34, Pennanen "was very gung-ho" and physically fit from studying the martial arts, stepbrother Brent Shreck said. "He was always spit-and-polish and had his uniform shoes shined," Shreck said.

"He was well-liked by his comrades," said his biological mother, Erma Pennanen.

Shreck said Pennanen saw enlisting in the military as a way to invest in his future.

"He figured this would be a way to pay for school," he said. "He saw it as a way to improve his life, improve himself."

Pennanen is also survived by his 7-year-old son, Gage.

Army Sgt. Joel Perez, 25, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico; action
Joel Perez was born in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, grew up in Newark, N.J., and was stationed at Fort Sill in Oklahoma.

"Joel was a very kind, thoughtful and courageous man who loved his family, loved the Army, and loved being a soldier," his family said in a statement. "We are extremely proud of his bravery and his service to his country. He was a hero. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the other soldiers who were killed and their families."

Perez, 25, was one of 16 soldiers who died in the Nov. 2 downing of a helicopter carrying troops home on leave. He is survived by his wife, Milagros Perez, and 18-month-old daughter, Jaileen, both of Newark.

Army First Lt. Brian D. Slavenas, 30, Genoa, Ill; action
At 6-foot-5, Brian Slavenas stood out in a crowd – even though blending in was more comfortable. And Ronald Slavenas says his son probably wouldn't have been crazy about the word "hero" being used to describe his death.

"He would say, 'No big deal.' He wouldn't want any kind of adulation," the father said.

Brian Slavenas, 30, was a pilot of the Chinook helicopter shot down by insurgents Nov. 2. Fifteen others also died.

Friends and family in Genoa, Ill., described Slavenas as a "gentle giant," a nonviolent man who felt a duty to his country. "He wasn't one of those gung-ho, want-to-go-to-war type guys. He was there to do a job," said his brother Eric Slavenas, who served in Grenada with the U.S. Army.

Like his paratrooper father and two older brothers, Slavenas followed a path to the military. The Lithuanian-born Ronald Slavenas, who immigrated to the United States in his teens after fleeing to West Germany as a boy, instilled in his sons a sense of commitment to the country that had taken in his family.

"I thought as an immigrant when you come to this country, you put your shoulder to the wheel," he said.

Brian Slavenas's high school yearbook lists activities as varied as marching band, National Honor Society, chess club, intramural basketball and track. After high school, he became an Army paratrooper, then joined the National Guard, then went to officer school and decided to become a helicopter pilot. He earned an engineering degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Chief Warrant Officer Bruce A. Smith, 41, West Liberty, Iowa; action
Bruce Smith taught martial arts to youngsters and was actively involved in his son's athletics and his daughter's love for horses. He also loved to fly helicopters, especially the Chinook. His personalized license plates read: CK 47, for the CH-47 Chinook helicopter.

Each year, Smith would fly the Chinook to town and host class tours of the craft and lecture about serving in the armed forces, friends said. He has also been e-mailing elementary classes regularly about his life and duties in Iraq.

"He really loved helicopters and flying," said neighbor Jennie Thurston. "He also really touched all the kids in the schools with his love of what he did."

Smith, 41, of West Liberty, Iowa, was a pilot on the Chinook helicopter that was downed Nov. 2 while carrying troops home on leave. Fifteen others also died.

Smith joined the National Guard before graduating from high school and was a career officer in the Guard. He recently was assigned as a flight instructor in Davenport, Iowa.

He is survived by his wife, Olivia, daughter, Savannah, and son, Nathan.

Army Staff Sgt. Paul A. Velazquez, 29, San Diego; action

• S.D. native was headed home to see daughter for first time

"He was anxious to come home and see his baby and family. They were real important to him," said Velazquez's father, John D. Velazquez.

Velazquez, 29, was one of 16 soldiers killed in the Nov. 2 downing of a helicopter carrying troops home on leave.

Velazquez grew up in San Diego and joined the Army in 1992. He recently re-enlisted for four years and was stationed at Fort Sill.

The elder Velazquez said his son's death has changed his views about the war.

"Right now they are hunting us down one at a time," he said. "We should get the heck out of there. ... If they want to kill each other, why should we care? They don't want our help. I didn't feel this way before. But now it's different."

Army Spc. Frances M. Vega, 20, Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico; action

• Puerto Rican soldier killed in Chinook helicopter downing buried with full military honors

She was among 16 troops killed in the Nov. 2 downing of a helicopter carrying troops from Iraq on leave.

Army Staff Sgt. Joe N. Wilson, 30, Mississippi; action
As a high school football player, Joe N. Wilson stood out with his attitude and outlook.

"He was a nice young man, a tough young man, especially on the football field," said Robert Green, athletic director at Crystal Springs (Miss.) High School.

Wilson, 30, was one of 16 troops killed in the Nov. 2 downing of a helicopter carrying troops on their way home for leave.

Rose Ella Wilson said she had not seen her grandson since before Christmas.

"We were waiting for him to come home," she said. "He had a two-week leave and now he's gone."

Wilson joined the Army in September 1997 and was stationed at Fort Sill. He is survived by his wife, Erica, and a 1 1/2-year-old daughter.

NOVEMBER 1:

Army 2nd Lt. Benjamin J. Colgan, 30, Kent, Wash.; explosion
As a boy, Benjamin L. Colgan marched with his parents in peace rallies.

Joseph and Pat Colgan, whose activism dates from the Vietnam War, were surprised when their son enlisted in the Army but continued to support him, even as they opposed the war in Iraq.

"That was hard, but you support your children," his mother said of his decision to enlist after graduation from high school in Des Moines, Wash., in 1991.

Colgan, 36, died Nov. 1 when a roadside bomb exploded as he responded to a rocket-propelled grenade attack in Baghdad. He was stationed in Giessen, Germany.

Survivors include his wife, who is pregnant with their third child, and two young daughters.

His mother says his death has only strengthened her position against the war.

"People keep asking, 'Are the Iraqis better off?' " she said. "What we have to start asking is 'Are we better off?' and we're not. We're losing our children."

Army 1st Lt. Joshua C. Hurley, 24, of Virginia; explosion
Joshua C. Hurley joined the Army in 2001 after graduating from Virginia Military Institute. His sister said VMI was the only school he ever wanted to attend.

"He really believed in what he was doing," Amanda Hurley said. "The last letter I got from him, he was ready to come home and go hunting and fishing. He loved being an engineer officer."

Hurley, 24, of Clifton Forge, Va., was killed Nov. 1 when his vehicle was hit by an explosive. He was based at Fort Campbell with the 101st Airborne Division. His wife, Teresa, is also a soldier with the 101st in Iraq.

"We were pretty close. We're a real close family," Amanda Hurley said. "We're just pulling together and trying to get through it."

Army Spc. Maurice J. Johnson, 21, Levittown, Pa.; explosion
Maurice J. Johnson told his family he wasn't in danger.

"I got worried when he told me he was going to Iraq," said his sister, Keisha Johnson. "And he told me, 'Keisha, don't worry about it, I'm not on infantry. I sit behind a desk all day – nothing's going to happen to me.'"

The 21-year-old communications specialist from Levittown, Pa., was killed Nov. 1 when his vehicle was bombed in Mosu, Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Campbell.

At the time of his death, he was serving as a liaison to the governor of the Nineveh Province in northern Iraq.

In high school, Johnson studied auto repair, excelled at the high jump on the track team, and was fond of baking desserts, his sister said.

His late mother had encouraged him to enlist.