Presidential tributes to the victims

Presidential tributes to the victims

President Barack Obama had personal remarks about each of the 13 people slain in the rampage:

Michael Grant Cahill

Civilian physician’s assistant, 62, of Cameron: He "had served in the National Guard and worked as a physician’s assistant for decades. A husband and father of three, he was so committed to his patients that on the day he died, he was back at work just weeks after having had a heart attack."

Libardo Eduardo Caraveo

Major, 52, of Woodbridge, Va.: He "spoke little English when he came to America as a teenager. But he put himself through college, earned a Ph.D., and was helping combat units cope with the stress of deployment. He’s survived by his wife, sons and stepdaughters."

Justin M. DeCrow

Staff sergeant, 32, of Evans, Ga.: He "joined the Army right after high school, married his high school sweetheart, and had served as a light-wheeled mechanic and satellite communications operator. He was known as an optimist, a mentor, and a loving husband and loving father."

John Gaffaney

Captain, 56, of San Diego County, Calif.: "After retiring from the Army as a major, John Gaffaney cared for society’s most vulnerable during two decades as a psychiatric nurse. He spent three years trying to return to active duty in this time of war, and he was preparing to deploy to Iraq as a captain. He leaves behind a wife and son."

Frederick Greene

Specialist, 29, of Mountain City, Tenn.: He "was a Tennessean who wanted to join the Army for a long time and did so in 2008, with the support of his family. As a combat engineer, he was a natural leader, and he is survived by his wife and two daughters."

Jason Dean Hunt

Specialist, 22, of Frederick, Okla.: He "was also recently married, with three children to care for. He joined the Army after high school. He did a tour in Iraq, and it was there that he re-enlisted for six more years on his 21st birthday so that he could continue to serve."

Amy Krueger

Sergeant, 29, of Kiel, Wis.: She "was an athlete in high school, joined the Army shortly after 9-11, and had since returned home to speak to students about her experience. When her mother told her she couldn’t take on Osama bin Laden by herself, Amy replied: 'Watch me.’ "

Aaron Thomas Nemelka

Private first class, 19, of the Salt Lake City suburb of West Jordan, Utah: He "was an Eagle Scout who just recently signed up to do one of the most dangerous jobs in the service — defuse bombs — so that he could help save lives. He was proudly carrying on a tradition of military service that runs deep within his family."

Michael Pearson

Private first class, 22, of the Chicago suburb of Bolingbrook, Ill.: He "loved his family and loved his music, and his goal was to be a music teacher. He excelled at playing the guitar and could create songs on the spot and show others how to play. He joined the military a year ago and was preparing for his first deployment."

Russell Seager

Captain, 51, of Racine, Wis.: He "worked as a nurse for the VA, helping veterans with post-traumatic stress. He had extraordinary respect for the military and signed up to serve so that he could help soldiers cope with the stress of combat and return to civilian life. He leaves behind a wife and son."

Francheska Velez

Private, 21, of Chicago: The "daughter of a father from Colombia and a Puerto Rican mother, [she] had recently served in Korea and in Iraq and was pursuing a career in the Army. When she was killed, she was pregnant with her first child and was excited about becoming a mother."

Juanita Warman

Lieutenant colonel, 55, of Havre de Grace, Md.: She "was the daughter and granddaughter of Army veterans. She was a single mom who put herself through college and graduate school and served as a nurse practitioner while raising her two daughters. She also left behind a loving husband."

Kham Xiong

Private first class, 23, of St. Paul, Minn.: He "came to America from Thailand as a small child. He was a husband and father who followed his brother into the military because his family had a strong history of service. He was preparing for his first deployment to Afghanistan."

Source: The White House

— Compiled by staff writer Anna M. Tinsley

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