Hero Stories for Illinois

Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian M. Patton, 37, of Freeport, Illinois, died November 19, 2009, in Kuwait in a non-combat accident. Petty Officer 2nd Class Patton was an individual augmentee assigned to the Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom Law and Order Detachment. </d

Spc. Jared D. Stanker, 22, of Evergreen Park, Illinois, died October 27, 2009, in Arghandab Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Spc. Stanker was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington. </d

Sgt. Christopher M. Rudzinski, 28, of Rantoul, Illinois, died October 16, 2009, near Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Sgt. Rudzinski was assigned to 293rd Military Police Company, 385th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne), Fort Stewart, Georgia. </d

Sgt. 1st Class Christopher D. Shaw, 37, of Markham, Illinois, died September 29, 2009, in Jolo Island, the Philippines, from the detonation of an improvised-explosive device. Sgt. 1st Class Shaw was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Fort Lewis, Washington. </d

Pfc. Matthew M. Martinek, 20, of DeKalb, Illinois, died September 11, 2009, at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds suffered in Paktika province, Afghanistan, on September 4, when enemy attacked his vehicle with an improvised-explosive device followed by a rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire. Pfc. Martinek was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Al...

Sgt. Gerrick D. Smith, 19, of Sullivan, Illinois, died July 29, 2009, in Herat, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. Sgt. Smith was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry, Illinois Army National Guard, Marion, Illinois. </d

Spc. Christopher M. Talbert, 24, of Galesburg, Illinois, died July 7, 2009, in Shindad, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Spc. Talbert was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, Marion, Illinois. </d

2nd Lt. Derwin I. Williams, 41, of Glenwood, Illinois, died July 6, 2009, in Konduz, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. 2nd Lt. Williams was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 106th Cavalry Regiment, Dixon, Illinois. </d

Spc. Casey L. Hills, 23, of Salem, Illinois, died June 24, 2009, in Iraq of injuries sustained in a vehicle roll-over. Spc. Hills was assigned to the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment, Pago Pago, American Samoa. </d

Staff Sgt. Paul G. Smith, 43, of East Peoria, Illinois, died June 19, 2009, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device. Staff Sgt. Smith was an Illinois Army National Guardsman assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry, Aurora, Ilinois. </d