Hero Stories for July 2009

Sgt. 1st Class Jared Monti, who was killed in Afghanistan June 21, 2006, will receive the Medal of Honor for his valor in combat, the White House has announced.

Cpl. Nicholas G. Xiarhos, 21, of Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, died July 23, 2009, of wounds suffered while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Cpl. Xiarhos was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. </d

Lance Cpl. Jeremy S. Lasher, 27, of Oneida, New York, died July 23, 2009, of wounds suffered while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Lance Cpl. Lasher was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. </d

Sgt. Ryan H. Lane, 25, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, died July 23, 2009, of wounds suffered while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Sgt. Lane was assigned to the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. </d

Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Andrew Scott Charpentier, 21, of Great Falls, Montana, died July 23, 2009, at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida, from a non-combat related illness incurred while assigned to the Navy Expeditionary Guard Battalion, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. </d

U.S. forces aided Afghan farmers and villagers recently in operations aimed at cultivating a brighter future in Afghanist

"It's important to get Soldiers to understand that the Army really cares. We're in the people business. And, for a first sergeant, the most important thing is taking care of their Soldiers and the families that support the

Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Andrew S. Charpent

Sgt. Joshua J. Rimer, 24, of Rochester, Pennsylvania, died July 22, 2009, in Zabul Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Sgt. Rimer was assigned to the 4th Engineer Battalion, Fort Carson, Colorado. </d

Spc. Randy L.J. Neff, Jr., 22, of Blackfoot, Idaho, died July 22, 2009, in Zabul Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Spc. Neff was assigned to the 4th Engineer Battalion, Fort Carson, Colorado. </d