My brave son, PFC David J. Bentz III
KIA Baghdad, Iraq
June 20 2007
and I would like to have his name if you would on your wall of
remembrance...God bless all that you do
Proud Soldier Mommadukes
Kimberly Geonnotti
We thank you for submitting you son's information to us. Your son's service and sacrifice well always be remember by family, friends, fellow
soldiers and veterans. He did not die in vain he stood tall like so many before him and those to come
guarding our door to freedom. Please accept our condolences. We are truly sorry for your loss
and may God lighten your heart.
Staff Sargeant Jeffery Hartley
Staff Sergeant Jeffery Hartley was killed in Kharguliah, Iraq on April 8, 2008
when vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was on his 5th tour
of duty for the Army and was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom when he was
killed.
PFC Jason Edward Whitcomb
October 5, 1972 -September 24, 1999
Airborne, Combat Engineer, Demolitions
C Company, Desert Shield/ Desert Storm
January 1990 - March 1990
Major Michael D. Stover
1963 - June 3, 2006
Major U.S. Marine Corp 374th Marine Support Squadron from Twenty Nine Palms, California
Staff Sgt. Raymond J. Plouhar
1976 - June 26, 2006
Staff Sgt., 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force
Sgt. Merideth Howard
1954-September 2006
Sgt. Army Reserves 364th Civil Affairs Brigade
Marine Sgt. Nathaniel S. Rock
Sgt Rock was a 26 years old marine from Toronto, Ohio; assigned to 3rd Battalion,
25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, Brook Park,
Ohio; attached to Regimental Combat Team 2, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force (Forward); killed Aug. 1"(Submitted by Kris Grimm Mar.07)
Csmgt John E. Coats,
USAF, 85,
Bryan, TX,
Monday 22 October 07
Chief Senior Master Sergeant John E. Coats, retired in 1964 from the USAF after serving in WWII and Korea.
He retired just as the Vietnam War was ramping up. John Coats lost his wife in 2004 and has been in
declining health since. John is the son of long time PGR members Tommy and Anna Coats from the
Bryan/College Station area. Tommy and Anna took care of his father in their home until his death.
This commitment to ones parents is something we remember from years past, not often performed today.
I thank God for their standing by Tommy's dad watching the progression to this time. It is our honor
as his PGR family to now stand with him with the same commitment as he has exemplified.
John E. Coats was among the first 100 to attain the rank of Chief Senior Master Sergeant, E-9, USAF.
Remains Identified as Navy Captain Michael Scott Speicher
The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) has positively identified remains recovered in Iraq as those of Captain Michael Scott Speicher. Captain Speicher was shot down flying a combat mission in an F/A-18 Hornet over west-central Iraq on January 17th, 1991 during Operation Desert Storm.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Captain Speicher's family for the ultimate sacrifice he made for his country," said Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy. "I am also extremely grateful to all those who have worked so tirelessly over the last 18 years to bring Captain Speicher home."
"Our Navy will never give up looking for a shipmate, regardless of how long or how difficult that search may be," said Admiral Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations. "We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Captain Speicher and his family for the sacrifice they have made for our nation and the example of strength they have set for all of us."
Acting on information provided by an Iraqi citizen in early July, US Marines stationed in Al Anbar Province went to a location in the desert which was believed to be the crash site of Captain Speicher's jet. The Iraqi citizen stated he knew of two Iraqi citizens who recalled an American jet impacting the desert and the remains of the pilot being buried in the desert. One of these Iraqi citizens stated that they were present when Captain Speicher was found dead at the crash site by Bedouins and his remains buried. The Iraqi citizens led US Marines to the site who searched the area. Remains were recovered over several days during the past week and flown to Dover Air Force Base for scientific identification by the AFIP's Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner.
The recovered remains include bones and multiple skeletal fragments. Positive identification was made by comparing Captain Speicher's dental records with the jawbone recovered at the site. The teeth are a match, both visually and radiographically.
While dental records have confirmed the remains to be those of Captain Speicher, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology DNA Lab in Rockville, Maryland is running DNA tests on the remains recovered in Iraq and comparing them to DNA reference samples previously provided by family members. Results will take approximately 24 hours.
