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British Fallen Heroes:

"There were two incidents near Al Amarah on 24 June resulting in British casualties.

Troops from 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, patrolling in the town of Al Majar Al Kabir came under fire. The patrol took one casualty and two vehicles were destroyed. In responding to the incident, an RAF Chinook helicopter carrying a Quick Reaction Force came under fire as it landed. Seven personnel aboard the helicopter were wounded, three of them seriously. All were extracted by helicopter and are receiving treatment.The MOD very much regret to confirm that the bodies of six soldiers from the Royal Military Police were recovered from the police station in the town. They are believed to have been killed in a separate incident.

The six Royal Military Policemen killed were:

Sergeant Simon Alexander Hamilton-Jewell, from Chessington

Corporal Russell Aston, from Swadlincote

Corporal Paul Graham Long, from Colchester

Corporal Simon Miller, from Washington, Tyne & Wear

Lance-Corporal Benjamin John McGowan Hyde, from Northallerton

Lance-Corporal Thomas Richard Keys, from Bala

The commanding officer of 156 Provost Company, Major Bryn Parry-Jones, said:

The loss of six soldiers from such a small, tight-knit unit as 156 Provost Company clearly comes as a dreadful shock to us all, not only the friends and families of those killed, but also all those in the Royal Military Police who knew and worked with them.

All these men were highly professional Soldiers and Policemen. Their deaths in action underlines the challenging and difficult operations that the RMP are asked to undertake both in peace and times of conflict.

From the oldest, aged 41, to the youngest, aged 20, these soldiers had between them a wealth of operational experience and distinguished service. You will understand that the circumstances surrounding this dreadful incident are still being investigated. At this time, our priority is giving all the support we can to the familes and friends who are having to cope with the loss of loved ones.

We ask our men and women to risk the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country, and it is the sad truth that sometimes that sacrifice comes to pass.

All six soldiers were extremely popular and well liked within the unit and they will be sadly missed by all of us.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A civilian member of the Defence Fire Service died in hospital in the UK on 22 May, having fallen ill in the Gulf.

Mr Leonard Harvey

Army Pfc. Jeremiah D. Smith

http://www.examiner.net/stories/061003/new_061003004.shtml

Local soldier laid to rest
By KARA CHILDERS
The Examiner

Sniffling back tears, Meloney Terrell of Lee's Summit shared the story of a young man who loved his wife, his two daughters and the country he died serving.

"He was a wonderful man," she said.

Terrell's nephew, Jeremiah "Jerry" Smith, died on Memorial Day in Iraq, when his Humvee hit an unexploded ordnance.

The soldier from Independence was 25 years old, a newlywed and the father of two young daughters.

Services were held Monday afternoon at the Veteran's Cemetery in Higginsville. Windshields and car windows read in brightly colored paint: "Always in our hearts and thoughts, we love you Jerry."

"It's been two weeks we've been waiting to do this," Terrell said. "It's been a hard two weeks."

Wind ripped through American flags at the cemetery, as Terrell wiped her swollen eyes.

"But knowing Jerry the way I know him, he wouldn't want us to cry," she said. "He would want us to be happy."

"And enjoy life," added his grandmother, Flora May Teetamble of Kansas City.

The two women joined family and friends in the overflowing stone chapel at the cemetery Monday afternoon. His wife, in-laws and parents sat in the front pew. His four brothers Carl, Jason, Will and Wally, all of Independence huddled behind them.

Smith's oldest daughter, Trisha, 4, lives in Independence. His wife, Jessica, and their daughter, 4-year-old Chelsea, live in Junction City, Kan.

"He loved them both," said Jerry's oldest brother Carl. "They were a part of his everyday life."

A small smile pulled at Terrell's mouth.

"He loved his kids, he loved his wife," she said, letting the smile pull through.

Holding a hand up, Smith's grandmother interjected: "And he never failed to say he loved me."

Smith's brothers smile, too, when they explain that Smith was a soldier, a hometown hero.

"The man died serving his country," Carl said. "He died protecting our rights."

Smith brought Carl along when he joined the Army in February 2002.

"The day he went in he was the happiest man in the world," Carl said. "He sure picked up the Army real good. He liked the Army, and it liked him."

In and out of foster homes most of his childhood, Smith grew up in Independence, where he attended William Chrisman High School his freshman year.

Smith's parents, Doug and Elizabeth Smith, live in Higginsville.

But because of Smith's strong ties to Independence, family and friends are pushing for a memorial service at the Truman Memorial Building. A date has not been set.

A memorial fund has been set up for Jessica and Smith's two daughters. Contributions can be sent to the Pfc. Jeremiah Smith Memorial Fund, Blue Ridge Bank, 4240 Blue Ridge Blvd., Suite 100, Kansas City, Mo., 64133, account number 743666. Or call the bank at (816) 358-5000, ext. 126 for more information.

Smith had been stationed Fort Riley, Kan., since August. A cavalry scout, Smith was part of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 34th Armor, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division.

Army Spc. Jose Amancio Perez III

http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=180&xlc=1008502

San Diego buries its post-war hero

By Mariano Castillo
San Antonio Express-News

Web Posted : 06/07/2003 12:00 AM

SAN DIEGO — Spc. Alve Jones stood at attention at the end of the aisle with a stern face and all the bearing of a soldier.

His feet hit the ground with the precision of a metronome as he marched down the aisle to look inside the silver casket that rested next to a photograph of a young soldier with a boyish face — his friend, Spc. Jose Amancio Perez III.

Jones stopped before the casket and raised his arm in one precise, slow, final salute.

When he turned around, he had tears streaming down his face.

"It was hard to believe that that was the final time I would get to see him and the last chance to pay respect to one of the greatest men I've known, who paid the ultimate sacrifice," said Jones, who was stationed with Perez at Fort Sill, Okla.

Hundreds of local residents crowded the Mauro P. Garcia Funeral Home and then the San Francesco di Paola Catholic Church on Friday to pay their final respects to Perez, a 22-year-old Army medic who was killed in action last week in Iraq — well after the president declared combat there officially over.

Jones is a graduate of the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, so he and Perez "had a Valley connection."

In this traditional town of 5,000 in the ranch country of Duval County, the loss of Perez rekindled people's feeling of connection to the slain soldier.

He was remembered by friends and family as a sharply dressed, competitive young man who worked hard but who knew how to enjoy himself.

"He also loved the Army," Perez's best friend, Rene Salaiz, told the audience at the service. "He spoke of it proudly, just like when he caught an interception in a (high school) football game. He flashed his dog tags around."

The soldier's parents, Elsa Perez and Joe Perez, and 9-year-old brother, Joshua, sat surrounded by family, as Salaiz let out a last cry for his friend:

"Amancio, if you can hear me, I love you. May you rest in peace; we will never forget you."

Bishop Edmond Carmody of Corpus Christi officiated at the Mass and burial.

Carmody praised Perez's commitment to his work, and the sacrifices he made as a medic and a soldier.

"You have to appreciate the hours of training and running with those heavy boots, the endless push-ups and sit-ups, the moving and traveling," Carmody said. "And he did all that to serve his country."

Perez was buried with full military honors. His mother was presented with a Bronze Star for her son. The Texas Blue Star Mothers of America presented the family with a special flag.

U.S. Congressman Ciro Rodriguez, whose 28th District includes San Diego, brought with him from Washington a flag for Elsa Perez.

"We're here to express the condolences of a grateful nation to a fallen soldier," he said. "It's great to see that San Diego opened its arms to a soldier who had fallen in battle."

One of San Diego's best-known traditions, the Pan de Campo Festival, kicked off Friday, but potential revelers instead withstood the searing midday heat to witness the burial of the town's first war casualty in more than 25 years.

"Almost everybody knows everybody. We're going to miss him," said local resident San Juanita Hughes, who recalled that Perez used to play baseball with her boys.

Hundreds of residents also lined Texas 44 when Perez's body was returned to this South Texas town Wednesday. Many of them waved flags or held candles as a memorial.

Army Spc. Zachariah Long

http://216.239.51.100/search?q=cache:120H_0n6PLIJ:www.dailyitem.com/archive/2003/0610/local/stories/05local.htm+long+iraq+%22zachariah%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

Fallen soldier remembered

By Marcia Moore
The Daily Item

SUNBURY — More than 300 people grieving the death of Army Spc. Zachariah Long gathered Monday to honor the fallen soldier.
The 20-year-old Milton resident was killed in a vehicle accident on May 30 while serving in the U.S. Army in Iraq.

He is among 180 U.S. soldiers who have died in Iraq since the war began on March 20.

At Long’s funeral, held Monday morning at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Sunbury, the Rev. Jeffrey Swanger recalled how Long’s mother, Karen, explained the significance of her only son’s name.

"Zachariah means ‘A gift from God,’ " she said.

Swanger added that among his Army colleagues, Long was referred to as "The Entertain-er."

"Even in harm’s way, he gave them a smile, he brought joy, he was a special gift from God," Swanger said.

Long was also a young soldier who understood the danger he faced in the combat zone a world away from home.

"He knew it could mean his death," Swanger told the congregation.

In the event of his death, Swanger said, Long had given his parents, Ricky and Karen, instructions on planning a funeral, including the music he wanted played.

Citing the bitter irony of war, Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt compared Long to Gen. George S. Patton, the decorated soldier who also "risked his life in combat only to die in a traffic accident."

Prior to the tragic accident that claimed his life, Kimmitt said, Long had served his country in one of the "most dangerous" of combat jobs, going behind enemy lines to pinpoint their location.

Kimmitt urged Long’s family and friends to take pride in his decision to enlist and participate in the war, which ended with the toppling of Saddam Hussein’s government.

"Zach helped make these historic events possible," he said.

There was apparent pride in Long’s decision to serve his country displayed at the church.

Along with dozens of photographs, a framed certificate of Long’s enlistment in the U.S. Army dated July 27, 2000, was also exhibited.

Several members of the U.S. Army Reserves, National Guardsmen, and veterans showed their appreciation for Long’s sacrifice by standing at attention on Veterans Memorial Bridge and along the route to Orchard Hills Cemetery in Shamokin Dam.

At the burial site, Kimmitt presented the Bronze Star and a folded flag to Long’s mother as more than 100 mourners looked on.

A few feet way, looming high above the cemetery plot, a large U.S. flag flew at half-staff.

Some of those gathered at the site cried as soldiers fired rifles as a salute, and two buglers played in honor of the fallen soldier.

Army Spc. Kyle A. Griffin

http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3JmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2Mzg4NDUzJnlyaXJ5N2Y3MTdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Mw==

Police give soldier's body an escort home

By EVONNE COUTROS
STAFF WRITER

EMERSON - The family of Kyle Griffin quietly arrived in front of the Becker Funeral Home in Westwood on Friday evening, bearing a flag-draped coffin carrying the body of their son, who died in an accident in Iraq last week.

Fifteen police cars from Emerson, Westwood, and other departments escorted the family and the body during the 3½-hour trip from Dover, Del.

"He was treated the same as if he were a slain brother officer," said Emerson Police Chief Michael Saudino.

With the motorcade were several motorcycles from the Nam-Knights, a biker group of off-duty patrolmen and Vietnam veterans. A state police vehicle led the way up the fast lane of the New Jersey Turnpike.

The police officers stood and saluted at the funeral home.

Griffin was in training to be a Ranger when he was sent to Kuwait in February, then to Iraq. He was a passenger in a three-vehicle convoy to Tikrit from Mosul last week, when a civilian car swerved to avoid a pothole during a storm.

Two Humvees in the convoy safely avoided it, but the truck in which Griffin was riding rolled and crashed, killing Griffin and his best friend, Spec. Zachariah W. Long of Milton, Pa. A third soldier, Spec. Michael T. Gleason, 25, of Warren, Pa., also died. All three were with the 519th Military Intelligence Battalion based at Fort Bragg, N.C.

An hour before the Griffin family drove to Dover to receive their son's body, Ronald Griffin sat outside the family home.

He said his son would have cringed at the attention in his hometown.

"He'd be embarrassed right now," Griffin said. "This is not him at all. He wasn't an accolades person."

Griffin choked back tears as he praised the borough, neighbors, and the strangers who continue to express their condolences and offer to help the family.

"This town has done more for us in big and small ways than you could ever count," Griffin said.

For example, Saudino drove the Griffin family to Delaware in his 43-foot motor home.

"I figured we'd just drive there in my van," Griffin said. "But Mike Saudino said he'd drive us."

Outside the family's home on Ackerman Avenue, Griffin told of his son's attraction to the armed forces, even if he was an average athlete.

"From the time he was a kid, Kyle loved to be outside," Griffin said. "He played commando all the time."

He was fascinated by the intricacies of firearms. He became well-versed in gunnery. But he bucked a structured education.

"He was third in his class of 2000," at Emerson Junior-Senior High School, Ronald Griffin said. "Third from the bottom."

But he said he never threw in the towel on his son, knowing the young man would find his way.

"I've always said Kyle is the poster boy for never giving up on a child," his father said.

Ronald Griffin, a Vietnam veteran who was drafted into the war in the late 1960s, said Kyle joined the Army in May 2001. At the time of his death he was on a routine patrol and was not driving the truck, his father said.

For Kyle - who would have been 21 on Sept. 11 - graduation from infantry school in November 2001 followed by airborne school was the right path.

"He marveled at what he did in the Army," Ronald Griffin said of his son's accomplishments.

Griffin said he hadn't seen Kyle since his last leave in January.

"In the Army he was just doing his job," Griffin added. "He didn't want the adulation. It didn't mean anything to him except to be with his buddies, the guys that he loved and respected."

Visiting will be 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood. A service is planned at 11 a.m. Monday at First Congregational Church of River Edge, Continental Avenue, with burial to follow at George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus.

Army Spc. Michael T. Gleason

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/6236199.htm

Despite being a world away, Michael T. Gleason thought often of his northwest Pennsylvania home. The last time he spoke with his parents, Gleason hungered for news from Warren, the small town near the Allegheny National Forest where he grew up.

His father, Timothy Gleason Sr., said Michael was almost finished with his four-year stint in the Army.

"His goal was to come home to Warren," the elder Gleason said. "He was toying with college. He was toying with re-enlisting. He was going to come home and take the summer off."

Gleason, 25, was one of three soldiers killed in a vehicle accident May 30 in Iraq. He was stationed at Fort Bragg.

Timothy and Laurie Gleason have another son in Iraq - Timothy Jr., 28, serving in the Air Force.

"My two sons went into the military," the father said. "They took an oath."