Since late 2001, The Times has chronicled the lives of military personnel who have died while serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their stories, photos, personal websites and additional material have been collected in the California's War Dead database. Readers are invited to leave memories of their loved ones and colleagues.
--Megan Garvey
Here are some recent posts:
“As a neighbor two doors away, I enjoyed hearing him practice playing his trumpet. I told my son that he could be as good of a trumpet player as Leroy if he would just dedicate himself to practice as much as he did. My heart goes out to his family to this day. They really seemed to be very close-knit and I am sure family life will never be the same without him.”
—Sandy,
posted Wednesday on Army Pfc. Leroy Harris-Kelly III, 20, of Azusa, who was killed April 20, 2004, when his convoy vehicle overturned in a sandstorm north of Tallil, Iraq, south of Baghdad
“I first met Michael back in 2005 in [Advanced Individual Training]. He always found a way to make me laugh. I saw him again in 2006 at a Chinese restaurant in Fayetteville, N.C. We were very glad to see each other. He met my husband and children. Crutch, you will be so missed. I think of you all the time. I am in Iraq right now and you came across my mind. R.I.P. my friend. You are always in my heart.”
—Sherrella Nixon,
posted Tuesday on Army Spc. Michael J. Crutchfield, 21, of Stockton, who shot and killed himself Dec. 23, 2006, in Balad, Iraq, north of Baghdad
“I never met you in person, but the way that your cousin Stephanie would describe you made you seem like a hero in my eyes. I really value your [bravery] to protect our country out there on the battlefield. I’ve seen your little girl in some pictures. She lost a great father I’m sure.
Hopefully one day I’ll meet you up there so I can meet the great hero that gave his life for this country.”
—Andres Gonzalez,
posted Monday on Army Sgt. Andres J. Contreras, 23, of Huntington Park, who was killed July 15, 2006, when a roadside bomb exploded near his Humvee in Baghdad
“I’m ... proud to have known you and your family since you were a teenager working with your dad and brothers in the construction field. I know how committed you were in everything you did. I just wanted everyone know what a wonderful man you have turned into; sounds like you were a great soldier also. I still think about you whenever I look out my bedroom window, and look at the fence [with] lattice that you and Julio built about nine years ago.
I’m going to think about you every time I look at this beautiful fence and the love and hard work you put into it. To Raul’s family, Mom, Dad, brothers and sisters, I’m so sorry for your loss. I know you were so proud of Raul.”
—Jeff Dixon,
posted Monday on Army Sgt. Raul Moncada, 29, of Madera, who was killed April 13 when a roadside bomb exploded near his Humvee near Baghdad
“I am thankful that I had the opportunity to know Ronnie and serve with him. I will always remember sitting on the roof of our barracks at Falcon, watching tracers arch through the night sky over Baghdad like some kind of fireworks show and talking about what we were going to do when we got home. To this day I can’t believe Ronnie was the one who did not to make it back.”
—Sgt. Kristian M. Lewis,
posted April 26 on Army National Guard Sgt. Marcelino Corniel, 23, of La Puente, who was killed Dec. 31, 2005, in a mortar attack in Baghdad that wounded three others in his Fullerton-based unit
