BY
VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA
BENNINGTON CHAPTER 601
CWO ERIC A. HALVORSEN
BENNINGTON , VERMONT
AGE: 40
KIA: 2 APRIL 2003
2ND, BN, 3RD ARMY AVN REGT
KILLED WHEN A UH-60 BLACK HAWK
HELICOPTER CRASHED IN KARBALA, CENTRAL IRAQ
CPL MARK A. EVNIN
SOUTH BURLINGTON, VERMONT
AGE: 21
KIA: 03 APRIL 2003
3RD, BN, 4TH MARINE REGT, 1ST MARINE DIV.
KILLED IN A FIREFIGHT NEAR KUT IN CENTRAL IRAQ
SGT JUSTIN W. GARVEY
TOWNSEND, MA
LIVED IN VERMONT BEFORE ENTERING THE SERVICE. ONE PARENT LIVES IN VT.
AGE: 23
KIA: 20 JULY 2003
HQ & HQ CO. 1ST BN, 187TH INF REGT
KILLED BY A ROCKET PROPELLED GRENADE IN AN AMBUSH WHILE ON PATROL NEAR TAL AFAR
PFC KYLE C. GILBERT
BRATTLEBORO, VERMONT
AGE: 20
KIA: 6 AUG 2003
C CO., 2ND BN, 325TH PIR 82ND, A/B DIV.,
KILLED WHEN HIS UNIT WAS AMBUSHED IN BAGHDAD
CAPT PIERRE E. PICHE
STARKSBORO, VERMONT
AGE: 29
KIA: 15 NOV 2003
626TH FORWARD SUPPORT BN., 101ST A/B DIV (AIR ASSAULT)
KILLED WHEN TWO UH-60 BLACK HAWK HELICOPTERS CRASHED IN MOSUL
SPC SOLOMON C. BANGAYAN
JAY, VERMONT
AGE: 24
KIA: 2 JAN 2004
2ND BN., 325TH AIR, 82ND A/B DIV
KILLED IN AN AMBUSH IN BAGHDAD
SGT WILLIAM J. NORMANDY
BARRE, VERMONT
AGE: 42
DIED 15 MAR 2004
1ST BN, 86TH FA, VTARNG
DIED OF A HEART ATTACK WHILE TRAINING AT CAMP VIRGINIA, KUWAIT
SPC CHRISTOPHER D. GELINEAU
PORTLAND, MAINE
AGE: 23
KIA: 20 APRIL 2004
GREW UP IN BRISTOL VERMONT LIVING IN MAINE WHILE ATTENDING SCHOOL
133RD ENGINEER BN., MAINE ARNG
KILLED WHEN A MAKESHIFT BOMB HIT HIS VEHICLE NEAR MOSUL
SGT KEVIN F. SHEEHAN
MILTON, VERMONT
AGE: 36
KIA: 25 MAY 2004
1ST BN., 86TH FA REGT, VTARNG
KILLED DURING A ROCKET ATTACK AT FORWARD OPERATION BASE KALSU AT
ISKANDARIYAH, SOUTH OF BAGHDAD
SGT ALAN N. BEAN, JR
BRIDPORT, VERMONT
AGE: 22
KIA: 25 MAY 2004
1ST BN, 86TH FLD ART'Y REGT, VTARNG
KILLED DURING A ROCKET ATTACK AT FORWARD OPERATION BASE KALSU AT
ISKANDARIYAH SOUTH OF BAGHDAD
SGT JAMIE GRAY
EAST MONTPELIER, VERMONT
AGE: 29
KIA: 7 JUNE 2004
1ST BN, 86TH FIELD ART'Y REGT, VTARNG
KILLED WHEN A BURIED EXPLOSIVE BLEW UP AND DESTROYED THE ARMORED
HUMVEE WHICH HE WAS DRIVING ON A SUPPLY ROUTE SOUTH OF BAGHDAD
LT. COL DAVID S. GREENE
VERGENNES, VERMONT
AGE: 39
KIA: 28 JULY 2004
HE WAS A MARINE RESERVIST ASSIGNED TO MARINE LIGHT ATTACK HELICOPTER SQUADRON 775,
MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 16, 3D MARINE AIR WING, MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, CALIF
HE WAS THE PILOT OF AN AH-1 COBRA HELICOPTER , WHICH TOOK GROUND FIRE WHILE FLYING IN
AL ANBAR PROVINCE
LANCE CPL. JEFFERY SCOTT HOLMES
HARTFORD, VERMONT
AGE: 20
KIA: NOV 25, 2004
WHILE CONDUCTING HOUSE-CLEARING OPERATIONS IN FALLUJAH WAS AMBUSHED
1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary
Force
SGT JESSE STRONG
IRASBURG, VERMONT
AGE : 24
KIA : JANUARY 26, 2005
DIED AS A RESULT OF HOSTILE ACTION IN AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ
4TH COMBAT ENGINEER BATTALION, 4TH MARINE DIVISON, MARINE FORCES RESERVE
SGT. 1ST CLASS CHRIS S. CHAPIN
PROCTOR, VERMONT
AGE: 39
KIA: AUGUST 23, 2005
WAS KILLED BY SNIPER FIRE IN TAMMIN, IRAG WHILE ON A CIVIL AFFAIRS MISSION
1ST LT MARK H. DOOLEY
WILMINGTON, VERMONT
AGE: 27
KIA: SEPT 19, 2005
HE DIED IN AR RAMADI IRAQ, WHEN AN IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE DETONATED NEAR HIS VEHICLE DURING PATROL OPERATIONS
SPC. SCOTT P. MCLAUGHIN
HARDWICK, VERMONT
AGE: 29
KIA: SEPT 22, 2005
DIED IN AR RAMADI, IRAG AS A RESULT OF ENEMY SMALL ARMS FIRE. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARDS' 1ST BATTALTION, 172ND ARMOR REGIMENT, 42ND ARMOR DIVISION, ST. ALBANS, VERMONT
2ND LT. MARK J. PROCOPIO
BURLINGTON, VERMONT
AGE: 28
KIA: NOV 2, 2005
DIED WHEN AN IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE DETONATED NEAR HIS HMMWV DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS IN AR RAMADI, IRAG. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD'S 3RD BATTALION, 172ND INFANTRY REGIMENT, JERICHO, VERMONT
SGT JOSHUA A. JOHNSON
RICHFORD, VERMONT
AGE: 24
KIA: JAN 25, 2006
DIED IN RAMADI, IRAQ, WHEN A ROCKET PROPELLED GRENADE STRUCK HIS VEHICLE DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD'S 3RD BATTALION, 172ND INFANTRY REGIMENT ((MOUNTAIN) , JERICO, VERMONT
SPC. CHRISTOPHER MERCHANT
HARDWICK, VERMONT
AGE: 32
KIA: MARCH 1, 2006
DIED IN AR RAMADI, IRAG, WHEN HIS HMMWV CAME UNDER ATTACK BY ENEMY FORCES USING A VEHICLE-BORNE IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE AND ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADE. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD'S 3RD BATTALION, 172ND INFANTRY REGIMENT, JERICHO, VERMONT. HE IS THE SECOND ONE THAT HAS DIED FROM HARWICK, VERMONT
SGT 1ST CLASS JOHN T. STONE
NORWICH , VERMONT
AGE: 52
KIA: MARCH 28, 2006
SGT 1ST CLASS JOHN T. STONE BECAME THE FIRST VERMONT KILLED IN SUPPORTING ENDURING FREEDOM. DIED IN LASHKAGAR, AFGHANISTAN AS A RESULT OF ENEMY MORTAR AND SMALL ARMS ATTACKS DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD'S 15TH CIVIL SUPPORT TEAM, SOUTH BURLINGTON, VERMONT
LANCE CPL. KURT E. DECHEN
SPRINGFIELD, VERMONT
AGE: 24
KIA: AUGUST 3, 2006
LANCE CPL. KURT E. DECHEN 24, DIED OF WOUNDS RECEIVED WHILE CONDUCTING COMBAT OPERATIONS IN AL ANBAR PROVINCE, IRAQ. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO 1ST BATTALION, 25TH MARINE REGIMENT, 4TH MARINE DIVISION, WHILE ATTACHED TO REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM 5, IST MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, CAMP PENDLETON, CALIF.
SGT. CARLTON A. CLARK
SOUTH ROYALTON, VERMONT
AGE: 22
KIA: AUGUST 6, 2006
HE DIED IN BAGHDAD, IRAQ WHEN AN IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE DETONATED NEAR HIS HMMWV WHILE CONDUCTING A COMBAT OPERATIONS. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE ARMY'S 2ND BRIGADE TROOP BATTALION, 2ND BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM, 101ST AIRBORNE AIRBORNE DIVISION (AIR ASSAULT). FORT CAMPBELL, KY
CPL. CHRISTOPHER DeGIOVINE
ESSEX JUNCTION, VERMONT
AGE: 25
KIA: APRIL 26, 2007
Degiovine died April 26 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
PFC ADAM J. MULLER
UNDERHILL, VERMONT
AGE: 21
KIA: NOV 5, 2007
Adam was killed while on combat operations in Tal Al-Dahab, Iraq when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee. He was assigned to the 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st brigade combat team, 10th Mountain Division (light infantry) Fort Drum, NY
We also salute SSGT Scott C. Rose of Fayetville NC who was 30 old,
KIA 7 Nov 035th Bn, 101st Avn Regt, 101st A/B Div (Air Assault) (crewchief) was killed
when his UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that was shot down in Tikrit. His ties to Vermont is
his wife who has moved back to Vermont.
SSGT Michael Voss 35 years old, native vermont who graduated from Enosburg
Falls high School was KIA on Oct 8th 2004. When his conveoy vehicle encountered am
improvised explosive device and small arms fire near Tikrit. He was a member of the
1st Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment, North Carolina Army National Guard. He leaves
behind his wife and two children and his parents.
Major Charles Robert Soltes 36 years old an Army
reservist from Irving CA who graduated from Norwich University 1990 was killed Oct 13,
2004 in Iraq when his Humvee convoy was ambushed.
Lance
Cpl. Adam J. Strain 20, of Smartsville, Calif, Died Aug 3, 2005 as result of enemy small
arms fire while conducting combat operations in Ar Ramadi, Irag. Strain was assigned to
1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force,
Camp Pendleton, Calif. His Mother and Father and other family relatives live in the North
HERO, VERMONT AREA
Sgt. 1st Class Michael A. Benson, 40
of Winona, Minn, died on Aug 10, 2005 at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesa, Md.,
of injuries sustained on Aug 2, 2005 in Baghdad, Irag, where a vehicle-borne improvised
explosive device struck his convoy. Benson was assigned to the 11st Battalion, 314th
Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 78th Division, Fort Drum, NY. His wife of eight years is
from Colchester, Vermont and is living there.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF GOVERNOR JAMES H. DOUGLAS
THE VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA, BENNINGTON CHAPTER 601 IS TO BE COMMENDED FOR TAKING THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES IN IRAQ. THESE BRAVE SOLDIERS WERE WILLING TO SACRIFICE THEIR LIVES TO GUARANTEE THE FREEDOM AND PROSPERITY THAT TOO MANY OF US NOW TAKE FOR GRANTED. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THEY DESERVE THE HIGHEST HONORS AND OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDEi
OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF LT. GOVERNOR BRIAN DUBIE
AS THE BENNINGTON CHAPTER 601 OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA KNOWS ALL TO WELL, "MANY GAVE SOME, BUT A FEW GAVE ALL." WE AMERICANS ARE GRATFUL FOR THE SACRIFICE MADE BY OUR FELLOW VERMONTERS, THAT WE MAY BE FREE. WE WILL NEVER FORGOT THEIR SERVICE FOR OUR NATION IN THE NAME OF PEACE.
CLICK HERE FOR A SPECIAL SALUTE TO THOSE WOUNDED IN ACTION
FOR COMMENTS
E-MAIL malibu1@comcast.net
I can hardly hold back the tears, and well, heck with it, there they go. Thanks for having this wonderful tribute to those who have given their lives in the defense of freedom. May this terrible war please come to an end soon. I am also a veteran from the Viet Nam conflict. The current war doesn't make any more sense to me than that one did. ------Richard Dotter of Stayton, Oregon
Thank you for Honoring Justin & all of his
Fallen Brothers; Justin actually joined the Vt. Nat. Guard as a Jr. in high school in
1997. He graduated from Proctor High in 1998, & actually was still active in the Vt.
guard although he had moved to Mass. He stayed w/ Vt. because his executive officer had
told him that he would release Justin to join the Army after one year of active guard duty
& that he couldn't promise what would happen if he transferred the Mass. Nat. Guard.
True to his word; Justin purchased his own airplane ticket & flew the Pentagon to
enlist in the 101st Airborne; after his 1 year of active guard service was up.
Gregg Garvey Gwgsunsetbay@aol.com
Hi,
It is wonderful that SSG Scott Rose, my late husband is being included on this website,
however, one piece of information for him is incorrect. Scott was a crewchief on a UH-60
Black Hawk helicopter that was shot down over Tikrit, Iraq. This happened the week before
the two helicopters collided over Mosul, as is stated on the web page.
Thank You for this tribute,
Michele Rose
Thank you for remembering my son Solomon Bangayan and the other fallen
heroes for their ultimate sacrifice to give us a peaceful country to
live in. I salute you all Veterans too for all your support as what we
family feel you feel too. You are all heroes. Kelly will never be
forgotten. It's been 3 years but seems just yesterday. He calls me nearly
every night while he was in Iraq how proud of him that they are making a
big deference in Iraq that children are coming out playing outside when
they know that Americans keep them safe from enemy. Kelly you are always
being remembered. Victor & Helen (mom) of Jay VT.
My name appears on your web as do many of my soldiers. I am SSG Gary M.
Jackson (Ret). I was the squad leader responsible for SGT Sheehan, SPC Bean,
and many of the names on the list of Vermont soldiers who received Purple
Hearts. Thank you for reminding people. Not a day goes by that I don't
think of Kevin (SGT Sheehan), Alan (SPC Bean), and the rest of a group of
soldiers who I had the pleasure and honor of leading. Sometimes people
forget about those men and that day when so many live were touch, and
changed. People stop remembering what it felt like when news of the story
and was released. I don't, and won't, and can't forget that days or those
people. So thank you for keeping their memories.
Sincerely,
Mr. Gary M. Jackson
