Commemorations

A 2001 graduate of ThunderRidge High School, Joe joined the Marines in his senior year. Many of his close friends joined the military after high school, including SSG Chris Falkel.

1967-1970 Vietnam Graduated from Northeastern University in Boston, CT. Applied for jobs while waiting for an answer from Jobs applied enlisted in Navy 1966 with opportunities to go to Officer

Msgt Anthony Andreas was born in Beverly, Massachusetts.  He enlisted in the Marine Corp in Salem, MA, on June 24, 1954.  He attended boot camp at Parris Island, SC and

Born August 17, 1928 to Mr. and Mrs. Otis Angell, Dwight was a graduate of Denver’s South High School and Colorado State University, where he belonged to Sigma Alpha Epsilon

Richard L. Baldwin was born during a snowstorm in Breckenridge, Michigan, in 1919, growing up in the Great Depression. After Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Navy and married his

Christopher Basquez was born on February 28, 1950 in a small mining town of Trinidad, Colorado. After graduating high school in 1968, from Holy Trinity and Trinidad Catholic High, Chris

PO1 U.S. Navy 2007 Iraq

After living in several western states, primarily Texas, the Bennett family moved to Highlands Ranch in 1996.  At Highlands Ranch High School, John “Casey”,  played varsity football , was on

CW3 Benton is a Senior Aviator in the U.S. Army who has accumulated 2,950 flight hours, including over 800 hours in combat. From 1993 to 1995, he attended the Korean

PFC U.S. Army World War II

Sgt. Nathan R. Beyers, 24, of Littleton, Colo., died July 7 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked their convoy using an improvised explosive device. They were assigned

SSG Christopher J Birdwell (1987-2012) made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his country August 27, 2012 in Kala gush, Afghanistan. He was KlA by enemy small-arms fire. Christopher was

Jim was born in Dearborn, Michigan in June of 1947.  Growing up, he resided in Michigan.  He married had two kids and raised his family in Michigan, Texas and Colorado.

Edward Ronald Brady was born in Manhattan, New York to John and Hazel Brady.   He was one of eight siblings and grew up in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood in New

Chester L. Brighton was born April 23, 1916, in Leland, Iowa, to James and Rose Brighton. Whenever farm chores permitted, he enjoyed baseball with his 12 siblings and nearby neighbors. 

Operations Specialist US Navy Active Duty:  1985-1995 Reserve Duty:  1996-2007   Ships Served On in Combat Information Center: USS LaSalle (AGF-3) USS O’Brien (DD-975) USS Bunker Hill (CG-52) USS Mobile

George A. Cady was born on December 11, 1935 in Oxford, Colorado to Jesse and Mary Cady. He joined the U.S. Army at age 16 and was stationed at Fort

Leon Carter was born on September 7, 1932, in Lancaster, South Carolina. He raised his family in Syracuse, New York, prior to relocating to Highlands Ranch, Colorado. He served a

Arno G. Casper served in the USMC on the USS Portland from 1934 to 1938. During that time the Portland was utilized by President Roosevelt for travel and was the

Ralph Parkinson Crawford, was born January 8, 1925, in Logan Utah and was a member of the Snow Basin Ski Patrol before enlisting in the Ski Troops.  In June 1943

Kenneth Dale served in the US Army Military Police during the Cold War. He served as a garrison MP at Ft. Bliss, TX and was part of MPI or Military

Wallace W. DeGroot was born in Norway, Michigan, on July 7, 1930, and earned his pilot’s license at the age of 16. A Korean War Veteran, he served in the

July 26, 1937 – January 12, 2008 Born in a modest home in Alcoa, TN, John David DeLozier excelled academically, and had big dreams for his future. Enlisting in the

4/15/1942  John Justin Dierbeck, Jr. joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was stationed in California.  In May of 1942 he boarded the U.S.S. Wharton and headed for the Samoa Islands.  He

Danny Philip Dietz Jr., (January 26, 1980 – June 28, 2005) of Littleton, Colorado was a graduate of BUD/S class 232 with 4 years of SEAL service assigned to SEAL

S/Sgt. U.S. Air Force 1948-1952 Medal of Commendation Korean Conflict

Cpl. Max Donahue was born July 14, 1987. He proudly served as with the U.S. Marine Corps for four and a half years as a part of the 3rd Battalion,

Alan D. Duff was commissioned a 2LT in the Infantry from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1980 and was assigned to the 197th Infantry Brigade.  Military training

Captain Armando Duque was integrated into the United States Army in the 1940’s. He participated in combat and guerrilla tactics during the Japanese occupation in the Philippines. He was eventually

LCPL Chris Gerard Duque served in the United States Marine Corps from 2007-2011. He was part of the Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) in support of the Operation Enduring

Richard Eisenberg was born in Brooklyn, New York. He enlisted in the army on March 25, 1964 and was honorably discharged on March 24, 1967. Rich completed his basic training

SPC Steven Elrod came from a military family. He graduated High School in 2005. Steven briefly attended college before enlisting in the Army as an infantryman with aspirations of becoming

Anthony J. (Tony) Fabian, a Colorado native, was raised in the mountain town of Leadville. A 1987 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD, he was commissioned as

Chris was born on 24 September 1982 in Boston, Massachusetts.  He lived in Athens, Ohio from 1984-1990, when the family moved to Littleton, Colorado.  Chris attended Northridge Elementary School, Cresthill

Vance Fleet is the 2nd of 5 sons born to Ralph James “Jim” and Patricia “Pat” Fleet.   Jim was a Navy veteran, so each of the five “Fleet” boys followed

Sergeant First Class Thomas V. Flippen served in the U.S. Army for more than 20 years during the Cold War era. Sergeant Flippen was born in Richmond, Virginia, on September 13,

Colonel U.S. Air Force 1948-79 Korea-Vietnam 2 Bronze Stars (V) 24 AM-MSM-AFCM

Lieutenant Carl Frederick Geissler served on the USS Achernar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Achernar_(AKA-53)). When Geissler first arrived at the Naval training center in Chicago, they lined up all the recruits at the deep end

In honor of Albert Glazer, born in Philadelphia PA in 1921. He was killed in action aboard the USS St Lo (formerly USS Midway) CVE 63/VC 65 on October 25,

HM2 Erica Graf recently returned from combat operations in Uruzgan Province Afghanistan. This deployment culminated her 9 years in the military, which began November 25, 2002. Upon entrance to the

LeRoy Grams was from Campbell County Wyoming. He grew up and lived on a farm outside of Gillette, Wyoming. He was drafted into the Army Air Force in October 1944

Sgt. U.S. Army 1946-52 Europe, Japan

Chauncey Hager was born in Ord, Nebraska, June 28, 1909.  He received his M.D. from the University of Nebraska in 1933.  From 1937 until his death, he practiced medicine in

Richard Hamilton was enlisted in the United States Air Force from October 1977 to January 1983. After Boot Camp in San Antonio, Texas he attended Munitions training at Lowry AFB

Major Keith M. Handy enlisted in the United States Army in 1973, during the Viet Nam war, as a Russian Linguist and worked in intelligence out of Berlin, Germany during

Earl R. Harris was born in Celeste, Texas November 22, 1918.  He lived in Texas, New Mexico and Colorado, graduated from Albuquerque HS in 1936. Earl joined the New Mexico

Born in Trinidad, Colorado, July 17, 1925. Grade and High School, York, Nebraska, Graduated 1943. Enlisted in AAF Cadet Program ; 1942 Entered Basic training in AAF on July 20,

A Denver resident, father of four, and grandfather of eleven, Carl ‘Al’ Helmstaedter served honorably in the United States Army from January 1943-February 1946. Al was in the 342nd Regiment,

Capt. Carla J. Henry U.S. Army 1968 – 1973 Nurse Corps

After graduating from West Point in 1968, the Field Artillery basic course, and Ranger School, LT Henry was assigned to B Battery, 1/77th Field Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam

Captain, U.S. Army 1967-1970 Bronze Star Vietnam John Robert Holmes came to be an officer via Junior ROTC at Staunton Military Academy, Staunton, VA. and ROTC at Purdue University, W.

There is no biography available for this commemoration.

COL (Ret.) Steven B. Howery, Military Intelligence, U.S. Army Reserve, enlisted in 1989 and retired as a Colonel in 2019 after 30 years. During his career, he served multiple tours

Excerpt from “Their War, When The Country Called, These Men Rose To Answer” By James B. Meadow, Rocky Mountain News September 22, 2007   Twenty-five thousand feet above terrain he

Specialist U.S. Army 1966-1967 Vietnam

Sergeant U.S. Army 1996-2005 Kosovo, Iraq

Captain Andrew M. Jones is a retired Navy aviator with thirty years of active and reserve service. He was commissioned in 1984 after earning a B.S. from the University of

Tom came from a military family. His father was a WWI Army Combat Veteran, his sister, Maxine, was a nurse in the Army Air Corps, and his brothers, John and

CE2, Seabees United States Navy 1992-1997 Bahrain

2nd Lieutenant U.S. Air Force Bomber Group, KIA 1944 World War II

Lieutenant George Kirsten was recruited by the Naval Air Station, Glenview, Illinois, for the Aviation Officer Candidate Program earning his Navy Wings May 1968.  He was trained in the T-34

2nd Lieutenant U.S. Air Force Bomber Group, KIA 1944 World War II

Master Sergeant U.S. Marine Corp 1948-68 Korea, Vietnam

Col. James Clyde Lesseig was born and raised in the sooner state. He attended the University of Oklahoma, earning a Bachelor of Science degree. In 1961, he enlisted in the

Dave was born in 1948. He enlisted in the Navy, part of their 120-day delay program, in his senior year of high school. He spent basic training at the San

U.S. Helicopter Pilot 1970-71 Phu Bai, Vietnam

Sal Mansu volunteered for service in the United States Air Force at the age of 19 during the heat of the Vietnam War.  He was assigned as a Forward Air

Born in 1952, Richard grew up in a military family in Japan, Germany, and multiple western states. As a young man he served as a representative for the Church of

Stephen Clark Matthews was born in Springfield, Missouri on August 10, 1934. Steve’s passion was music and to this day he is an accomplished clarinetist. His fondest “musical” memory is

James Wm McGinnis 2LT US Army Air Corps WWII 1943 – 1945 Fighter Pilot P-38 Co-Pilot B-29 Bomber

Bob McGrew was born in Burbank Calif. on January 28, 1940, to Charles F. McGrew and Margret Vivan (Wood) McGrew. Bob graduated High School from Sewanee Military Academy in Lookout

In Memory of our Fallen Hero, Charles Junior Miller Sept. 26, 1918 – May 11, 1945 by Jeffrey S. Alvis and Family Memorial Service Obituary, September 30, 1945 Charles Junior

After serving as a Pharmacist Mate in the US Navy during World War II, James C. Miller graduated from Gannon College in 1950 and was simultaneously commissioned as a 2nd

COL, USAF 1953 – 1976 NRO, Space Ops

Captain Henry Lee Mosburg, US Army Helicopter Pilot – Vietnam – MIA September 26, 1966 Henry Lee was born on December 3, 1935 to Rachel Mosburg.  Henry Lee lost his

PFC US ARMY IRAQ 10-19-1987 12-25-2009

Corporal U.S. Army 1963-1965 Korea

Colonel Joseph Niemeyer is a 1977 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy.  In his first flying assignment at Norton AFB, he served as a planner for the Primary Nuclear

1919-2006 Daniel Joseph Nolan was born on August 10, 1919 in San Diego California and named Nolan Daniel Ausenhus by his Norwegian immigrant parents.  He was raised in Chloride Arizona

Captain Nolan was raised in Southern California.  He graduated the University of Colorado and was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy in June 1969.  Nolan was designated as

RM 2nd Class, U.S. Navy WWII S Pacific, 1943-46 Korean War, Guam 1950-52

Sean Michael O’Brien born November 12, 1982. Sean attended All Souls Elementary School and transferred to Heritage High School where he graduated from in 2001. While at Heritage High School

Gerhard Paul Olschner was born February 23, 1929, in Bayonne, NJ.  His parents emigrated from Berlin, Germany in 1923.  He spoke German until playing with kids in the neighborhood, he

Kurt J. Olschner was born April 20, 1967, in Princeton, NJ, the youngest of four children.  In 1972 his father’s employer moved the family to Colorado.  Kurt graduated from Cherry

Dennis grew up in Lynwood, California, the eldest of three children, played the accordion, attended Pius X High School and graduated in 1960.  In 1961, he enlisted in the United

William E. Paul was born in Alliance, Ohio, April 12, 1927, graduating from Youngstown (Ohio) South High School in 1945. He joined the U.S. Navy prior to graduating and served

Corporal U.S. Air Force 1946-49 Berlin Airlift

On March 24, 1970, helicopters from the 170th were sent to extract a MACV-SOG long-range reconnaissance patrol (LRRP) team which was in contact with the enemy about fourteen miles inside

Pilot Over the Hump Elmer Propp was 19 years old when WWII began. He went into the Army Air Force hoping to be a fighter pilot. He went through 21

Msgt. Antonio M. Rangel, U.S. Army (Ret.) age 82 of San Antonio passed away on Wednesday, January 4, 2012. Antonio served in M.A.S.H. units in Korea and Vietnam. He also

1924-2009 PFC  U.S. Marines  1943-1945 Jim was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and attended high school in Sherman, Texas, where he was know as a “math whiz” and played quarterback

“Dusty” to all his friends followed his older brothers’ example, Veterans of World War 2, and joined the Navy in 1952.  After completing basic training, Dusty was assigned to VP

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Phil Ross graduated from Ottumwa High School, Ottumwa Iowa. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in May, 1989.  He deployed with the 31st MEU

Drafted. Vietnam, I and III Corps 1st Cav Div (AM) with Honorable Discharge (VSM, VCM, GCM, BSM, ARCM, AirM, NDM)  

Edward Xavier Schmid was born March 2, 1921 in Beaver Dam, WI. Son of a Swiss immigrant he learned the family trade of cheese making. At 19, he joined the

Sgt. Robert L. Schoep was born and raised in Orange City, Iowa. He attended the University of South Dakota earning a degree in Business Administration, with a Major in Accounting,

Duncan Shields attended the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After graduating in 1976, he attended pilot and combat crew training on the KC-135 Stratotanker. In 1983,

January 6, 1926 – October 23, 2006 Mr. Sinichko loved and cared for his wife of 55 years, Belletta D. Wegele.  He was a devoted father to three sons, G.

AWC (AW/NAC) Chad Michael Smith served in the Navy from April 1987 to April 2007. October 1990 to June 1991 Deployed to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert

1st Sgt. U.S. Army 1942-1945 Iwo Jima

Corporal David Michael Sonka was born in 1989 and raised in Aurora and Parker, Colorado.  David graduated from Chaparral High School in 2008 and enlisted in the Marine Corps on

PFC U.S. Army 1945-1947 World War II

Jon Stiles was born 6 July 1970 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.  He lived in Missouri, Ohio and Colorado before enlisting in the US Marine Corps in 1991.  In the US Marine

Hubert J. Syfrig, better known as Bob to his family and friends, joined the United States Air Force in 1950.  After completing his basic training at Lackland AFB,   Airmen 1st

Thompson Tate Jr. Was born in Illinois in 1933. His family moved to a farm in Missouri when he was three.  He attended Williamsburg Elementary and Fulton High School there.

Germain M. “Jerry” Thomas was born September 22, 1925 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin to Rose and Arthur Thomas. At 17 he hopped a freight train to Gulfport, enlisted in

CMSgt Torres’ last assignment was as the US Air Force Representative and Senior Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff, Military Staff Committee, United States Delegation, United Nations, NY.  This

U.S. Navy 1969-1972 Vietnam .

Uncle Wim was born in Holland in 1925. He spent his teenage years actively resisting the Nazis in the Dutch Underground during World War II. During this time, his father

Valentine Villanueva, M/Sgt, USAF (ret) joined the US Army Air Corps in June, 1943. He served in WWII as a flight engineer and top turret gunner on a B-17 with

Harold Adolf Wegner was born in 1926 and raised on a farm in a German community near Alpena, Michigan.  His family spoke only German until he and his sister attended

Douglas M. White and his family moved from Des Moines, IA to Highlands Ranch, CO in 1984. He grew up in Highlands Ranch, until he departed for the Army at

Courtland Wilson graduated from Highlands Ranch High School in May of 2005, and within 30 days of his HS graduation he was on his way to Army basic training in

Hugh Weyman Yarbrough was born in Rome, GA on March 12, 1942 to Lee and Daisy Yarbrough.  His early years were spent in Lindale, GA, where he was active in

Ferd Yosten was born 12/17/14 in Muenster, Texas. After Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Army Air Corp. He became engaged to Harriette Schoech shortly before shipping out. She would

John Albert “Horse” Yosten was born March 7, 1844 in Koblenz Germany.  He came to the United States at age 4 with his family and settled in Eire Pennsylvania.  At

106 INF DIV WWII POW STALIG IV-B 1944