Hero Stories for North Carolina

Capt. Ronald G. Luce, Jr., 27, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, died from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device August 2, 2009, in Qole Gerdsar, Afghanistan. Capt. Luce was a member of the Mississippi Army National Guard, and assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Jackson, Mississippi. </d

Pfc. Richard K. Jones, 21, of Person, North Carolina, died August 1, 2009, in Mushan Village, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his patrol with improvised explosive devices and rocket-propelled grenades. Pfc. Jones was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado. </d

Lance Cpl. Roger G. Hager, 20, of Gibsonville, North Carolina, died July 8, 2009, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Lance Cpl. Hager was assigned to 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. </d

Capt. Mark A. Garner, 30, of North Carolina, died July 6, 2009, in Argandab District, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Capt. Garner was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany. </d

Sgt. 1st Class Edward C. Kramer, 39, of Wilmington, North Carolina, died on June 29, 2009, from wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad, Iraq. Sgt. 1st Class Kramer was assigned to the 120th Combined Arms Battalion, Wilmington, North Carolina. </d

Spc. Robert L. Bittiker, 39, of Jacksonville, North Carolina, died on June 29, 2009, from wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad, Iraq. Spc. Bittiker was assigned to the 120th Combined Arms Battalion, Wilmington, North Carolina. </d

Sgt. Juan C. Baldeosingh, 30, of Newport, North Carolina, died on June 29, 2009, from wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad, Iraq. Sgt. Baldeosingh was assigned to the 120th Combined Arms Battalion, Wilmington, North Carolina. </d

Sgt. Roger L. Adams, Jr., 36, of Jacksonville, North Carolina, died on June 29, 2009, from wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad, Iraq. Sgt. Adams was assigned to the 120th Combined Arms Battalion, Wilmington, North Carolina. </d

1st Lt. Leevi K. Barnard, 28, of Mount Airy, North Carolina, died May 21, 2009, near Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when their unit was attacked while on dismounted patrol by enemy forces using improvise explosive devices. 1st Lt. Barnard was a National Guardsman assigned to the 252nd Combined Arms Battalion, Fayetteville, North Carolina. </d

Commander Charles K. Springle, 52, of Wilmington, North Carolina, died May 11, 2009, in Camp Liberty, Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered in a non-combat related incident. Commander Springle was assigned as an Individual Augmentee to the Army's 55th Medical Company, Indianapolis, Indiana. </d