Our Fallen Heroes

Our Fallen Heroes. . In Memory of Our Fallen Heroes Operation Enduring Freedom 10-11 Combined Task Force Strike, 2nd Brigade Combat Team 502nd Infantry Regiment, "I am a Strike soldier, fight where told and win where I fight", HHC BDE - SSG James P. Hunter, 1-502 IN - PFC Benjamin J. Park . PFC David A. Jefferson . SFC John H. Jarrell . SSG Leston M. Winters . 1LT Eric D. Yates . SPC Pedro A. Maldonado . PFC Andrew N. Meari . SPC Jonathan M. Curtis, 2-502 IN - SGT Aaron K. Kramer . SSG Adam L. Dickmyer . CPL Brett W. Land . CPL Jacob P. Carver . SSG Juan L. Rivadeneira . SPC Jacob C. Carroll . SSG Sean M. Flannery . CPL William K. Middleton . CPL Patrick D. Deans . SGT Willie A. McLawhorn Jr. . CPL Derek P. Simonetta . CPL Kenneth E. Necochea Jr. . SGT Sean M. Collins . CPL Jorge E. Villacis . CPL Brandon M. Kirton, 1-75 CAV - SPC Deangelo B. Snow . SGT Justin A. Officer . SGT Karl A. Campbell . SSG David J. Weigle . SPC David A. Hess . CPL Loren M. Buffalo, 1-320 FAR - PFC Brandon M. King . SPC Michael L. Stansbury Jr. . SGT Kyle B. Stout . SGT Patrick K. Durham . 1LT Todd W. Weaver, 52G BSB - SPC Matthew C. Powell, 2 BTSB - SPC Andrew J. Castro . SGT Michael J. Beckerman, 2-508 IN - SPC Clayton D. McGarrah . SPC Christopher J. Moon . SGT Christopher N. Karch . SSG Brian F. Piercy, 1-66 AR - CPT Dale A. Goetz . SPC Pedro A. Millet Meletiche IV, 4 BSB - SSG Jesse Infante . SPC Chad D. Clements . SSG Kevin J. Kessler . SPC Timothy L. Johnson, 3/2 SCR - PFC John E. Andrade Sr. . PFC Paul O Cuzzupe II . SOC Steven L. Dupont . SPC Joseph T. Prentler . SPC Kelly J. Mixon . SGT James A Ayube II . PFC Conrado D. Javier Jr. . 1LT Daren M. Hidalgo, 1-187 IN - SGT Justin E. Culbreath, 1 BSTB - SPC Gerald R. Jenkins, 71 EOD - SSG Matthew J. West, 212 MP - SGT Zainah C. Creamer, 723 EOD - SPC Joshua T. Lancaster, 2EN - CPL Nathan B. Carse, 8G3 EN - CPL Justin D. Ross, AWG - MSG(R) Robert W. Pittman Jr., 2nd Plaque , Memorial Description , (FRONT MAIN) At the top left of the monument face is the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Patch and to the right is the 502nd Regimental Combat Team crest during OEF 10-11. At the center of the main stone is a map that outlines the districts of Maywand, Zharay, Panjwa'i and Arghandab to include the Arghandab River which runs from the northeast to the west and is joined by the Dowery Rud which fills with water during the rainy season. These areas border the Registan Desert to the south. The waters of the Arghandab River created the life force which makes this terrain so difficult to fight in, known as the "GREEN ZONE." In the abundant "Gardens", the local farmers harvest Pomegranates, Grapes, and assorted Grains. The "GREEN ZONE" also yields much of the country's drugs in the form of Black Tar Heroin and Marijuana. The landscape contains Mountains to the north, open desert down to Highway 1, and south of Highway 1 where the Gardens begin down to the river. Irrigation canals and Kareze systems, which carry water throughout Afghanistan, bring water to the Gardens and Villages. Highway 1 is the main road around Afghanistan and runs laterally through the Combined Task Force STRIKE area of operation. It is the main life line to the country. At the beginning of CTF STRIKE's deployment, over 38% of all significant enemy activities on Highway 1 occurred in CTF STRIKE's area of operation. This map displays the area in which CTF STRIKE fought the Taliban and Insurgent forces in OEF 10-11. Moving from west to east, the units are 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment; 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment; 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment; 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, later relieved by 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment; 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment; 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, later relieved by 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment; and 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment. Included on the map is Kandahar City, the provincial seat and the District of Dand where Kandahar Air Field is located. CTF STRIKE deployed and redeployed through Kandahar Air Field. Kandahar Air Field also serves as the location of the Regional Command South (RC-S) Headquarters, and where CTF STRIKE maintained a robust liaison and logistics cell that ensured the coordination and synchronization of staff planning and movement of supplies forward into sector. The blue stars on the map represent the Forward Operating Bases, Combat Out-Posts, and Strong Points used throughout CTF STRIKE's deployment. Additionally, the red lines represent the roads and routes traveled by Soldiers of CTF STRIKE as they secured and improved the lives of the people of Maywand, Zharay, Panjwa'i, and Arghandab. Superimposed over the map is the BLACK HEART representative of the 502nd Infantry Regiment and the 2nd Brigade Combat Team. The symbol of the BLACK HEART dates back to world war two and is still worn on each STRIKE Soldier's helmet. The BLACK HEART also encompasses the Zharay District which is at the heart of the Taliban movement. The Screaming Eagle, at the top right corner of the map, represents the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and the STRIKE Soldier's accomplishments in affecting the security and stability in the land associated with the heart of the Taliban. , (FRONT BASE) Along the top of the monument base runs a river that has traditionally served as the area's source for its agricultural livelihood. As the Arghandab River runs through the CTF STRIKE area of operations, its waters yield the "Gardens" represented by the grape fields and vegetated areas depicted on the top and center of the base. The Battalions that comprised the 502nd Regimental Combat Team are listed across the bottom of the monument, along with their respective battalion crests. The patches of the two headquarters that commanded RC-S and the 502nd Regimental Combat Team are depicted on the corners of the base. On the left is the NATO flag with the CJTF 6 patch representing the first command and on the right is the 10th Mountain patch with the CJTF 10 patch representing the second command. , Symbolism , This memorial is dedicated to all of the Soldiers whose units fought under the command of Combined Task Force STRIKE, including those who deployed as members of the Brigade and those attached from the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment; 4th Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division; 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); and the 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. The monument is black representing the BLACK HEART, a symbol of the Brigade dating back to world war two that is still worn on each STRIKE Soldier's helmet. It also symbolizes mourning the loss of STRIKE Soldiers, for which this monument is a tribute, so that they will never be forgotten. The Screaming Eagle represents Old Abe, the symbol of the 101st Airborne Division, with his talons ready to STRIKE his enemies from above. At the base of the monument is the crest of the units assigned and attached to the STRIKE Brigade Combat Team over the course of the 11 month deployment.