Fort Worth Star Telegram Logo

Honoring the brave: North Texans who died in Afghanistan | Fort Worth Star-Telegram

×
  • E-edition
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Newsletters

    • Local
    • Fort Worth
    • Arlington
    • Northeast Tarrant
    • Texas
    • Crime & Courts
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • Bud Kennedy
    • Databases
    • Nation and World
    • Cowboys
    • Rangers
    • TCU
    • Mac Engel
    • Colleges
    • Mavericks
    • Motorsports
    • Stars
    • High School Sports
    • Scores & Schedules
    • All Sports
    • Football
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Boys Basketball
    • Girls Basketball
    • Editorials
    • Letters
    • Submit a letter
    • Cheers and Jeers
    • Submit a Cheer or Jeer
    • Bud Kennedy
    • Michael Ryan
    • Cynthia M. Allen
    • Other Voices
    • Business
    • Growth
    • Restaurants
    • Arts & Culture
    • Movies
    • Things To Do
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Party Pics
    • Horoscopes
    • Comics
    • Contests
    • Puzzles and Games
    • Food & Drink
    • Arts
    • Health & Fitness
    • Indulge
    • The Keller Magazine
    • Neil Sperry
    • Social Eyes
    • Dear Abby
    • Weddings
    • Arlington Citizen-Journal
    • Keller Citizen
    • Star-Telegram Northeast
    • Mansfield News-Mirror
    • Weatherford Star-Telegram
    • La Estrella
    • Locales
    • Noticias
    • Deportes
    • Entretenimiento
    • Contáctenos
    • Media Kit
    • Today's Obituaries
    • Obituaries in the News
    • Submit an Obituary

    • All Weddings
    • Announcements
    • Bridal Show
    • Contact Us
    • Inspiration
    • News & Advice
    • Vendors
    • Hispanic Heritage
    • Cancer Awareness
    • Healthy Lifestyle
    • Dining, Entertaining
    • Breast Cancer Awareness
    • Think Green
    • Money Matters
    • All About Pets
    • Careers and Business
    • Health and Wellness
    • How To...
    • Women Today
    • Family and Parenting
    • Easy Living Tips
    • Lawn and Garden
    • Giving Back
    • Men Today
    • On the Road 1
    • On the Road 2
  • Public Notices
  • Local Deals
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Homes
  • Classifieds
  • Mobile & Apps

Moms

Mom2MomDFW.com

Honoring the brave: North Texans who died in Afghanistan

By Chris Vaughn - cvaughn@star-telegram.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

October 05, 2011 06:02 PM

A decade of U.S. combat in Afghanistan, officially marked today, will bring a great deal of attention and further debate about what lasting impact the military has had since October 2001, whether the blood and treasure have been worth it, when the pullout should happen and what exactly would victory look like.

That is as it should be in a democratic society.

It's worth remembering, though, that underneath all the national strategy objectives and debates are the lives of young men and women.

Most Americans cannot fathom what these soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines experience in the remote corners of Kandahar and Kunduz, Lashkar Gah and Ghazni. Most of us cannot grasp why they would volunteer for months and years in such danger and hardship, many serving two or three deployments -- or more.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Star-Telegram

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

More than 1,700 of those Americans took their last breaths in Afghanistan.

Sixteen of them called our area home.

Army Pfc. Steven C. Tucker was the first, on May 21, 2005. The 19-year-old, fun-loving kid from Grapevine was killed by a bomb buried in the road.

The latest, on Aug. 27, was 23-year-old Army Spc. Michael C. Roberts of Watauga. The former wrestler's last act stopped a suicide vehicle from hitting a police station.

They should not be forgotten.

Here are the 16 among the dead who had direct ties to the Fort Worth-Arlington area.

Army Pfc. Steven C. Tucker

Died May 21, 2005

19, of Grapevine; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, Vicenza, Italy; died May 21 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained near Shinkay, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee. | Read Pfc. Tucker's obituary

Army Staff Sgt. Eric Caban

Died July 19, 2006

28, of Fort Worth; assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.; died July 19 of injuries sustained July 18 when his combat reconnaissance patrol came in contact with enemy forces using small-arms fire during combat operations in southern Afghanistan. | Read Staff Sgt. Caban's obituary

Army Sgt. 1st Class William R. Brown

Died Nov. 6, 2006

30, of Fort Worth; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Nov. 6 of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his convoy vehicle in Sperwan-Gar, Afghanistan. | Read Sgt. Brown's obituary

Army Pfc. Peter K. Cross

Died June 26, 2009

20, of Saginaw; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died June 26 at FOB Shank, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained during a vehicle rollover. | Read Pfc. Cross' obituary

Marine Lance Cpl. Shawn P. Hefner

Died Nov. 13, 2009

22, of Hico; assigned to 2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Nov. 13 while supporting combat operations in Nawa, Afghanistan. | Read Cpl. Hefner's obituary

Army Spc. Joseph M. Lewis

Died Nov. 17, 2009

26, of Terrell; assigned to the 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Nov. 17 in Ezqabad, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. | Read Spc. Lewis' obituary

Army Pfc. Benjamen G. Chisholm

Died Aug. 17, 2010

24, of Fort Worth; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died Aug. 17 in Managai, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device caused a military vehicle rollover. | Read Pfc. Chisholm's obituary

Army Pfc. Austin G. Staggs

Died Nov. 29, 2010

19, of Senoia, Ga.; assigned to 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died Nov. 29 in Pachir Wa Agam district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when an insurgent attacked his unit with small-arms fire. | Read Pfc. Stagg's obituary

Army Staff Sgt. Bryan A. Burgess

Died March 29, 2011

29, of Cleburne, assigned to 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died March 29 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained after enemy forces attacked his unit with small-arms fire in Kunar province. | Read Sgt. Burgess' obituary

Army 1st Lt. Robert F. Welch III

Died April 3, 2011

26, of Denton; assigned to 201st Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Ky.; died April 3 in FOB Salerno, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his base with indirect fire. | Read Lt. Welch's obituary

Marine Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Smith

Died April 6, 2011

26, of Arlington; assigned to 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, based out of Houston; died April 6 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations. | Read Sgt. Smith's obituary

Army Spc. Joel A. Ramirez

Died April 16, 2011

22, of Waxahachie; assigned to 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.; died of wounds suffered April 16, in Ahmid-Khan, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. | Read Spc. Ramirez's obituary

Army Spc. Joseph B. Cemper

Died April 16, 2011

21, of Warrensburg, Mo.; assigned to the 101st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.; died April 16 at Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an Afghan National Army soldier attacked him with multiple grenades. | Read Spc. Cemper's obituary

Navy Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills

Died Aug. 6, 2011

35, of Fort Worth; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team; died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter in which he was riding was shot down. | Read Petty Officer Mills' obituary

Army Pfc. Jesse W. Dietrich

Died Aug. 25, 2011

20, of Venus; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.; died Aug. 25 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small-arms fire. | Read Pfc. Dietrich's obituary

Army Spc. Michael C. Roberts

Died Aug. 27, 2011

23, of Watauga; assigned to 561st Military Police Company, 716th Military Police Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, Fort Campbell, Ky.; died Aug. 27 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. | Read Spc. Roberts' obituary

Related stories from Fort Worth Star Telegram

HOMEPAGE

Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan memorial site

October 05, 2011 06:13 PM

HOMEPAGE

Sign the guest book for North Texas military personnel who died in Afghanistan

October 05, 2011 06:09 PM

  Comments  

Videos

After two failed pregnancies, a Fort Worth couple delivers triplets

Ramen round-up: Where to find the Japanese noodle dish in Fort Worth

View More Video

Trending Stories

Texas senator calls on GOP supporters to ‘Stop Beto’

February 20, 2019 04:03 PM

O’Rourke on hit list of 22 Democrats, journalists neo-Nazi planned to kill, FBI says

February 20, 2019 09:27 PM

Contractor warned JPS to stop repairing elevators themselves week before nurse’s injury

February 21, 2019 01:40 PM

Woman suspected of robbing three banks in Arlington and Fort Worth arrested

February 20, 2019 04:48 PM

Top Class 5A softball players in Dallas-Fort Worth to watch during the 2019 season

February 20, 2019 04:09 PM

Read Next

Mom shares story of 'miracle' at nation's first More Than Pink Walk – in Fort Worth
Video media Created with Sketch.

Fort Worth

Mom shares story of 'miracle' at nation's first More Than Pink Walk – in Fort Worth

By Nick Tarrant

    ORDER REPRINT →

April 28, 2018 01:24 PM

Roxanne Martinez, Fort Worth resident and six-year breast cancer survivor shared her story and raised funds for the More Than Pink Walk, hosted by the Susan G. Komen Greater Fort Worth, on Saturday.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Star-Telegram

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE MOMS

Planning a party for a teen? Avoid the angst with these DFW options

Mari's Moments

Planning a party for a teen? Avoid the angst with these DFW options

March 23, 2018 09:31 AM
Have doubts about McDonald's 'healthy' Happy Meals? Try these DFW dining options for kids

Mari's Moments

Have doubts about McDonald's 'healthy' Happy Meals? Try these DFW dining options for kids

March 19, 2018 11:28 AM
WalletHub isn't all that impressed with how Texas values women

Texas

WalletHub isn't all that impressed with how Texas values women

March 06, 2018 03:47 PM
Seven sets of triplets help make 2018 a year for 'multiples' at Fort Worth hospital

Fort Worth

Seven sets of triplets help make 2018 a year for 'multiples' at Fort Worth hospital

February 28, 2018 03:00 PM
Theatre Arlington's 'Shrek Jr.' makes you a believer

Mari's Moments

Theatre Arlington's 'Shrek Jr.' makes you a believer

February 27, 2018 04:56 PM
Here's what parents need to know about 'Black Panther'

Mari's Moments

Here's what parents need to know about 'Black Panther'

February 15, 2018 11:41 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
Advertising
  • Information
  • Place a Classified
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story