Okla-homey
5/26/2008, 09:49 AM
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/315/tomboftheunknownsbi1.jpg
Here's a listing of 16 Oklahomans who gave their "last full measure of devotion" since last Memorial Day. Take a moment today to remember their loved ones who are no doubt feeling their loss today with a bittersweet mixture of sadness and pride.
Marine Cpl. Jeremy Allbaugh, 21, Luther. Killed July 5, 2007. "I just talked to him Tuesday before this happened. I asked him how the Iraqi people treated them, and he said, 'They treat us great. They appreciate what we do.' "
Army Spc. William Elliott Allmon, 25, Ardmore. Killed April 12, 2008. "He loved to play outdoors with his son and stepson, and in his spare time he enjoyed computer games, Internet and watching movies."
Staff Sgt. Jason L. Brown, 29, Cartwright. Killed April 17, 2008. "His Baby Girl will surely miss her Daddy. Now when she sleeps at night he will be her 'Dream Angel.' " (Legacy.com)
Army Staff Sgt. Kevin Brown, 38, Harrah. Killed Sept. 25, 2007. A career Army man, he was one year away from retirement. He was looking forward to it, "so he could be with his family forever."
Army Spc. Derek A. Calhoun, 23, Oklahoma City. Killed June 23, 2007. He was to have come home in May. It was changed to June, and the last word his family had was that the soldier was to have returned home in July.
Pvt. Cody Montana Carver, 19, Haskell. Killed Oct. 30, 2007. Carver's family has said he was killed a little more than a month after deployment.
Army Staff Sgt. Chris Hake, 26, Enid. Killed March 23, 2008. "He fought in life, ... but he won in death."
Army Pfc. Jaron D. Holliday, 21, Broken Arrow. Killed Aug. 4, 2007. Looking down on the flag-draped coffin, John Holliday said, "Son, you did a good thing. You did good."
Army Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey D. Kettle, 31, Madill. Killed Aug. 12, 2007. Jeffrey Kettle loved the outdoors and would hunt squirrels when he visited his uncle. "He was a fun-loving kid growing up."
Army Pfc. Thomas R. Leemhuis, 23, Binger. Killed June 21, 2007. Photos depicted him as a brown-eyed boy who peered out to the crowd clutching a Christmas present. A young boy poses in a basketball uniform. A high school graduate sports a grin.
Army Capt. Torre R. Mallard, 27, Oklahoma. Killed March 10, 2008. His grandfather described him as the "finest young man in the world." He graduated from West Point.
Army Spc. Michael E. Phillips, 19, Ardmore. Killed Feb. 24, 2008. "I'm doing this for my family, for you, for everyone, for America, to protect it from the bad guys."
Army Staff Sgt. William D. Scates, 31, Oklahoma City. Killed Aug. 11, 2007. It was his third tour in Iraq and his fourth tour in the Army. "When he was a little boy, he was always drawing pictures of soldiers. That's all he ever wanted to be."
Marine Cpl. Bryan J. Scripsick, 22, Wayne. Killed Sept. 6, 2007. Bryan apparently didn't let himself dwell on thoughts of death. His mantra: "Have Fun, Stay Young."
Army Pfc. Jerimiah J. Veitch, 21, Dibble. Killed June 21, 2007. "He was always the clown. He loved to laugh and wanted everyone else around him to laugh."
Army Sgt. Ryan M. Wood, 22, Oklahoma City. Killed June 21, 2007. "Josh ... is so proud to have you as a friend, brother and angel looking down over him." (Legacy.com.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manny Gamallo, Rhett Morgan, Barbara Hoberock and Jeff Billington contributed to this story.
By RUSTY LANG World Staff Writer
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/1829/memorialday2mz6.jpg
Here's a listing of 16 Oklahomans who gave their "last full measure of devotion" since last Memorial Day. Take a moment today to remember their loved ones who are no doubt feeling their loss today with a bittersweet mixture of sadness and pride.
Marine Cpl. Jeremy Allbaugh, 21, Luther. Killed July 5, 2007. "I just talked to him Tuesday before this happened. I asked him how the Iraqi people treated them, and he said, 'They treat us great. They appreciate what we do.' "
Army Spc. William Elliott Allmon, 25, Ardmore. Killed April 12, 2008. "He loved to play outdoors with his son and stepson, and in his spare time he enjoyed computer games, Internet and watching movies."
Staff Sgt. Jason L. Brown, 29, Cartwright. Killed April 17, 2008. "His Baby Girl will surely miss her Daddy. Now when she sleeps at night he will be her 'Dream Angel.' " (Legacy.com)
Army Staff Sgt. Kevin Brown, 38, Harrah. Killed Sept. 25, 2007. A career Army man, he was one year away from retirement. He was looking forward to it, "so he could be with his family forever."
Army Spc. Derek A. Calhoun, 23, Oklahoma City. Killed June 23, 2007. He was to have come home in May. It was changed to June, and the last word his family had was that the soldier was to have returned home in July.
Pvt. Cody Montana Carver, 19, Haskell. Killed Oct. 30, 2007. Carver's family has said he was killed a little more than a month after deployment.
Army Staff Sgt. Chris Hake, 26, Enid. Killed March 23, 2008. "He fought in life, ... but he won in death."
Army Pfc. Jaron D. Holliday, 21, Broken Arrow. Killed Aug. 4, 2007. Looking down on the flag-draped coffin, John Holliday said, "Son, you did a good thing. You did good."
Army Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey D. Kettle, 31, Madill. Killed Aug. 12, 2007. Jeffrey Kettle loved the outdoors and would hunt squirrels when he visited his uncle. "He was a fun-loving kid growing up."
Army Pfc. Thomas R. Leemhuis, 23, Binger. Killed June 21, 2007. Photos depicted him as a brown-eyed boy who peered out to the crowd clutching a Christmas present. A young boy poses in a basketball uniform. A high school graduate sports a grin.
Army Capt. Torre R. Mallard, 27, Oklahoma. Killed March 10, 2008. His grandfather described him as the "finest young man in the world." He graduated from West Point.
Army Spc. Michael E. Phillips, 19, Ardmore. Killed Feb. 24, 2008. "I'm doing this for my family, for you, for everyone, for America, to protect it from the bad guys."
Army Staff Sgt. William D. Scates, 31, Oklahoma City. Killed Aug. 11, 2007. It was his third tour in Iraq and his fourth tour in the Army. "When he was a little boy, he was always drawing pictures of soldiers. That's all he ever wanted to be."
Marine Cpl. Bryan J. Scripsick, 22, Wayne. Killed Sept. 6, 2007. Bryan apparently didn't let himself dwell on thoughts of death. His mantra: "Have Fun, Stay Young."
Army Pfc. Jerimiah J. Veitch, 21, Dibble. Killed June 21, 2007. "He was always the clown. He loved to laugh and wanted everyone else around him to laugh."
Army Sgt. Ryan M. Wood, 22, Oklahoma City. Killed June 21, 2007. "Josh ... is so proud to have you as a friend, brother and angel looking down over him." (Legacy.com.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manny Gamallo, Rhett Morgan, Barbara Hoberock and Jeff Billington contributed to this story.
By RUSTY LANG World Staff Writer
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/1829/memorialday2mz6.jpg