Remembering California's war dead

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.

-- Maloy Moore

Here are some recent posts:

"Cpl. Singh, as another young Corporal and a young punjabi like yourself, this kills me inside brother. You will never be forgotten and always remembered."
-- Cpl. Singh-Sran posted Thursday on Marine Cpl. Gurpreet Singh, 21, of Antelope. Singh was killed June 22, 2011, while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.


"SFC Salcido and I were PVTs together in Germany. He was one of the best men I've ever known and still today it hits home hard. He leaves us with no sorrow, but great memories as a friend and brother. Rest in peace my friend, you will never be forgotten."
SGT. Matthew Tillett
1/160 SOAR (A)
Ft. Campbell, KY
-- Matthew Tillett posted Wednesday on Army National Guard Sgt. Rudy A. Salcido, 31, of La Puente. Salcido was killed Nov. 9, 2006, by a roadside bomb in Baghdad.

"Dear Nigel
I met you in December 2004 in California when I was only seventeen and you were nineteen and a Private in the U.S. Army. I fell in Love with you immediately and we stayed together for 5 years. I had the pleasure to be your fiance and be by your side while you served in Iraq for two years. No matter what happened, I never stopped loving you. You were my first love, my best friend and the greatest man I've ever met. I'm glad that I could make you happy for the 5 years that I was yours. I hope you know that I never forgot about you and never will. I waited for you to come back home to me. But now that I know that you will never come back, all I can hope for is that one day, I will come to you. I will always Love You Sgt. Kelly.
Yours Always..."
-- Kamila posted Thursday on Army Staff Sgt. Nigel D. Kelly, 26, of Menifee. Kelly was one of two soldiers killed, June 25, 2011, in Kunar province, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked their units with small arms fire.


"Matthew, although I never knew you, my hat goes off to you for your sacrafice, with your dedication to duty you protected us all back here in the states, thank you. Semper Fi"
Cpl. Sullivan. USMC - 91-95
-- Darren Sullivan posted Thursday on Marine Sgt. Matthew T. Abbate, 26, of Fresno. Abbate was killed in combat Dec. 2, 2010 while fighting in the Taliban stronghold of Helmand province, Afghanistan.


"Words can not even begin to explain how sad everyone is over the loss of you Jason. I still can`t believe your gone. I didn`t know you well, but you were someone who could leave an impression with anyone you met. I will always cherish the few times we did hang out. Those memories will be with me forever. R.I.P Jason.... Your spirit will live on through all those you touched. And your memories will never die. Miss you"
-- Whitney posted Wednesday Army Spc. Jason M. Weaver, 22, of Anaheim. Weaver was killed, March 3, 2011, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.

Readers are invited to share memories about soldiers on the California's War Dead database which chronicles the lives of more than 600 Californians who have died while supporting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.