DEDICATED TO OUR FALLEN PATHFINDERS KILLED IN ACTION AND MISSING IN ACTION
Korean War
MSG Joseph T. Bass 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team Pfdrs. Also was a WWII Normandy Pathfinder with 501st PIR 101st Plane 7. KIA 9 Sept 1950 Korea while serving with the 27th Inf Regt 25th Inf Division. Awarded Silver Star, Bronze Star (2), Purple Heart (3) KIA 9 September 1950.
World War II
The men below all served as Pathfinders during WWII. Some were killed while performing their Pathfinder duties and others after they returned to their parent unit. All of the 82nd Airborne Pathfinders were awarded the Bronze Star for heroism for the D-Day Pathfinder jump.
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101st Airborne Division - 35 known
PVT John H. Funk H Co 502nd PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 11 June, 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Purple Heart
PVT John D. Kleinfelder 502nd PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 31 Dec 1944 Holland. Awarded Bronze Star (2), Purple Heart
CPL George C. Dagres C Co 1st Bn 502nd PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 31 Dec 1944 Bastogne Belgium. Awarded Purple Heart
2LT Lawrence G. Hensley Jr HQ Btry 377th PFAB, 101st Pfdrs 24 June 1944 Normandy France Died of wounds. Awarded Purple Heart
PFC Robert R. Blankenship D Co 2nd Bn 506th PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 16 Jan 1945 Bastogne Belgium. Awarded Purple Heart (2)
CPL Jack E. Mattz D Co 2nd Bn 506th PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 23 or 24 Sep 1944 Holland. Awarded Purple Heart
PFC John Sherbon D Co 2nd Bn 506th PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA16 Jan 1945 Belgium. Awarded Purple Heart
PFC Terrence C. Harris B Co 1st Bn 506th PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 18 June 1944 Carentan, Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
CPT Roy M. Kessler A Co 1st Bn 506th PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 15 Jan 1945 Bastogne Belgium. Awarded Bronze Star (2), Purple Heart
PFC Donald W. Carter B Co 1st Bn 506th PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 7 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
1LT John W. Ell Co H and Co I 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA18 Sep 1944 Holland. Awarded Bronze Star
SSG Chester Garretson Co I 3rd Bn 501st PIR, 101st 27 Dec 1944 Died of Wounds in POW Camp. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
Tech 5 Kendell C. Lewis Co I 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs Belgium KIA 20 Dec 1944 Bastogne Belgium. Awarded Purple Heart
PFC Donald J. McDougall Co I 3rd Bn 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 6 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Purple Heart
PVT George L. Sarlas C Co 1st Bn 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 17 Sept 1944 Holland. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PVT Stanley S. Suwarsky HQ 3rd Bn 501st PIR 101st Pfdrs KIA 6 June, 1944 Normandy, France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
1LT Joseph G. McGregor E Co 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 9 Jan 1945 Belgium. Awarded Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart
CPL Russell G. Waller 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 18 Sep 1944 Holland. Awarded Purple Heart
PFC Ralph A. Newton F Co 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs 23 Dec 1944 Bastogne Belgium Died of wounds. Awarded Purple Heart
PVT Walter V. Olender E Co 2nd Bn 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 18 Sept 1944 Holland. Awarded Purple Heart
PFC Harold E. Sellers F Co 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 6 June, 1944 Normandy, France. Awarded Bronze Star. Awarded Purple Heart
CPL Delbert S. Brazzle A Co 1st Bn 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 17 Sept 1944 Holland. Awarded Purple Heart
SGT George Adomitis B Co 1st Bn 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs 2 Feb 1945 Bastogne Belgium Died of wounds. Awarded Purple Heart
PFC Stephen Via Jr. B Co 1st Bn 501st PIR 101st Pfdrs KIA 6 or 7 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Purple Heart
PVT Alvin Daley B Co 1st Bn 501st PIR 101st Pfdrs 5 Oct 1944 Holland Died of wounds. Awarded Purple Heart
Tech SGT Thayer U. Carlton HQ Co 3rd Bn 506th PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 10 June 1944 Caen, Normandy France. Awarded Purple Heart
PFC Wilbur D. Croteau G Co 506th PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 9 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC George E. Kenfield I Co 506th PIR 101st Pfdrs KIA 10 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Purple Heart
SGT John J. Houk 506th PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 6 June, 1944 Com Du Mont, Normandy France. Awarded Purple Heart
SGT Louis DiGaetano C Co 326th Airborne Engineer Bn 101st Pfdrs 6 Jan 1945 Bastogne Belgium Died of wounds. Awarded Purple Heart
PVT Domenick Chirico E Co 2nd Bn 502nd PIR 101st Pfdrs KIA 18 or 22 Sept 1944 Holland. Awarded Purple Heart
PVT Michael Rofar I Co 3rd Bn 501st PIR 101st Pfdrs KIA 17 Sept 1944 Holland. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PVT John D. Kleinfelder RHQ and A Co 502nd PIR 101st Pfdrs. KIA 31 Dec 1944 Bastogne Belgium. Awarded Bronze Star (2), Purple Heart
2LT Napoleon T. Lavallee F Co 2nd Bn 502nd PIR 101st Pfdrs KIA 3 Jan 1945 Belgium. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PVT Roy L. Stephens RHQ 502nd PIR 101st Pfdrs KIA 17 Sept 1944 Holland. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
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82nd Airborne Division - 30 known
SSG Thomas L. Rodgers C Co 1st Bn 504th PIR, 82nd Pfdrs KIA 15 June, 1944 Normandy France. Distinguished Service Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC William L. Gray B Co 1st Bn 504th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 6 June, 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PVT James M. McCormick HQ 3rd Bn 507th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 10 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
1LT Lloyd L. Polette Jr. F Co 2nd Bn 508th PIR, 82nd Pfdrs KIA 22 Jan 1945 Belgium. Awarded Distinguished Service Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC Carl W. Jones E Co 2nd Bn 508th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 4 July 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC Murray E. Daly D Co 2nd Bn 508th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 12 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
CPL Earnest J. King F Co 2nd Bn 508th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 9 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
2LT Elbert F. Hamilton D Co 2nd Bn 82nd Pfdrs 4 July 1944 Normandy France Died of wounds. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
2LT Gene H. Williams HQ 3rd Bn 508th PIR, 82nd Pfdrs KIA 20 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC Arnold H. Martin H Co 3rd Bn 508th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 6 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC Walter W. Harrelson 508th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 23 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC Charles H. Rogers HQ 3rd Bn 508th PIR 82nd Pfdrs1 Oct 1944 Holland. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
2LT Edward J. Czepinski 508th PIR, 82nd Pfdrs KIA 12 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PVT Henry S. Pawlings G Co 3rd Bn 504th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 6 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PVT Ralph W. Nicholson G Co 3rd Bn 508th PIR, 82nd Pfdrs 6 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC John R. Bergendahl HQ 1st Bn 507th PIR 82nd Pfdrs. KIA 6 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star. Purple Heart
1LT Claude V. Crooks Jr. Co I 3rd Bn 507th PIR 82nd Pfdrs. KIA 23 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star. Purple Heart
PVT James J. Currin A Co 1st Bn 505th PIR 82nd Pfdrs. KIA 6 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
CPL Russell B. Dillard HQ 2nd Bn 507th PIR 82nd Pfdrs. KIA 23 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star (2), Purple Heart
PFC Walter A. Heinemann B Co 1st Bn 505th PIR 82nd Pfdrs. KIA 23 June 1944 Normandy. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PVT Dale C. Hudson F Co 2nd Bn 505th PIR 82nd Pfdrs. KIA 16 June 1944 Normandy Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
SGT Jerome Shapiro HQ 2nd Bn 507th PIR 82nd Pfdrs. KIA 5 July, 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
2LT Elmer R. Stull 508th PIR 82nd Pfdrs. KIA 23 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC Louis C. Waldorf E Co 2nd Bn 507th PIR, 82nd Pfdrs KIA 12 June 1944 Normandy France Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC John Rigapoulos (Rigopoulos) H Co 3rd Bn 504th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 20 Sept 1944 Holland. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
SGT Charles L. Burghduff A Co 1st Bn 505th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 21 Sept 1944 Holland. Awarded Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC John J. Baldassar H Co 3rd Bn 504th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 28 Sept 1944 Holland. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PVT Joseph W. Manfredi E Co 2nd Bn 504th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 14 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PVT Joseph A. Byrne H Co 3rd Bn 504th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 17 June 1944 Normandy. Awarded Purple Heart (listed as Burns on 82nd Bronze Star orders)
PFC Leslie D. Fries A Co 1st Bn 505th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 15 Sept 1944 Holland Died of wounds. Awarded Bronze Star (2), Purple Heart
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509th Parachute Infantry Battalion - 2 known
SGT Stephen D. Justice C Co 509th PIB Pfdrs, KIA 28 Dec 1944 Belgium. Awarded Purple Heart
PVT Frank J. Sweetitz HQ Co 509th PIB Pfdrs, 1st Airborne Task Force KIA 21 Aug 1944. Southern France. Awarded Purple Heart
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517th Parachute Infantry Battalion - 4 known
PVT Carl L. Barrett C Co 1st Bn 517th PIR Pfdrs First Airborne Task Force KIA 23 Dec 1944 Ardennes Belgium. Awarded Purple Heart
PFC Henry A. Ciner RHQ 517th PIR Pfdrs, First Airborne Task Force KIA 15 Aug 1944 Le Muy Southern France. Awarded Purple Heart
PVT George J. Scecina A Co 1st Bn 517th PIR Pfdrs, First Airborne Task Force KIA 15 Aug 1944 Southern France. Awarded Purple Heart
SGT William H. Delaney C Co 1st Bn 517th PIR Pfdrs First Airborne Task Force KIA 21-26 Dec 1944 Belgium. Awarded Purple Heart
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551st Parachute Infantry Battalion - 2 known
Tech 5 Wendell E. Morrison HQ Co 551st PIB Pfdrs, 1st Airborne Task Force KIA 14 or 15 Aug 1944 Southern France. Awarded Purple Heart
PVT Gerna W. Sizemore 551st PIB KIA 3 Jan 1945 Belgium. Awarded Purple Heart
IXth (9th) Troop Carrier Command Provisional Pathfinder Group 8 - known
2LT Eugene P. Shauvin MIA/KIA 17 Sept 1944 Holland Pilot. Awarded Purple Heart
2LT John F. Richards KIA 17 Sept 1944 Holland Navigator Awarded Purple Heart
2LT Walter I. Green KIA 17 Sept 1944 Holland Co-Pilot Awarded Purple Heart
2LT Matthew Bloomfield KIA 17 Sept 1944 Holland Radio Operator Awarded Purple Heart
SSG Stanley Fischer KIA 17 Sept 1944 Holland Crew Chief Awarded Purple Heart
SSG Raymond G. Sievert KIA 12 Nov 44 He was a Normandy Radio Operator Plane 2 Awarded Purple Heart
2LT Centers, Robert "Bob" J. KIA 12 Nov 44 He was a Normandy Pilot Plane 2 Awarded Purple Heart
2LT Branit, William B. KIA 26 Nov 44. He was a Normandy Co-Pilot Plane 3 Awarded Purple Heart
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Served in WWII 501st PIR 101st Pfdrs and 187th ARCT Pfdrs Korea
Vietnam War KIAs
11th Pathfinder Company 11th AVN GRP, 1st CAV DIV
PFC Louis J Cunningham 19 December 1965
PFC James R Taylor 28 January 1966
CPL John H Randles 17 May 1966
CPL Robert D Lajko 27 December 1966
CPL Keith V Huffstutler 1 November 1967
SGT John Brimm 3 January 1968
SGT George C Letmate 4 May 1968
SFC Charles J Moore 14 September 1968
CPL Jerry Bryant 5 September 1969
CPL James C Hensley 22 September 1969
SGT Stanley G Crockett 2 January 1971
Other Pathfinder KIAs serving in the 1st CAV DIV
1LT William K Barrett 12 October 1965 CO A 1st/12th CAV 1st CAV DIV
CPL David J Amheiser 29 August 1970 CO A 1st BN 8th CAV 1st CAV DIV
PFC Larry Batts 29 March 1972 C Co 2nd BN 8th CAV 1st CAV DIV
SP4 Oscar Aquila 10 May 1972 2nd/8th CAV 1st CAV DIV
SP4 Jamie Pacheco 25 May 1972 CO H(LRRPS) 75th Rangers 1st CAV DIV
PFC Howard E Drain 12 March 1972 1st/9th CAV 1st CAV(non-hostile, killed in helicopter crash)
101st Pathfinder Platoon 101st AVN GRP 101st ABN DIV
SSG Ronald B Reynolds 8 May 1969 while serving with L. Co. 75th Infantry, 101st ABN DIV, he had previously served with the Pathfinder Company
CPL Donald Ray Ragsdale 1 April 1970
PFC Patrick J Bohan 10 July 1970
SGT Guy V Fern 12 May 1971
CPL David R Winkle 16 May 1971
1LT Thomas Kukowski 16 May 1971
Other Pathfinder KIAs serving in the 101st Airborne Division
CPL George E Fogelman 11 May 1970 L Company L Co. (LRRPS) 75th INF 101st ABN DIV
SP4 Stephen E Feinster 8 October 1967 2nd PLT A CO 2nd BN 327th INF 101st ABN DIV (previously served with 25th PFDRs 25th INF DIV)
SGT Alfred Patrick L Coffroth 31 January 1968 A Co 2nd BN 506th INF RGT (previously served with 25th PFDRs 25th INF DIV)
4th Pathfinder Detachment 4th AVN BN 4th INF DIV
SGT Emmet F Pope 19 January 1967
9th Pathfinder Detachment 9th AVN BN 9th INF DIV
1LT Harry Alway 13 July 1967
268th Pathfinder Detachment 268th AVN BN 1st AVN BDE
PFC Douglas Noel 31 July 1967
PFC Jerry Elliot 21 January 1968(MIA until 15 Dec 1975 then changed Died while Missing, remains never recovered.)
25th Pathfinder Detachment 25th AVN BN 25th INF DIV
SGT Alfred Coffroth 31 January 1968 while serving with A Co 2nd BN 506th INF 101st ABN DIV
SP4 Stephen E Fienster 8 October 1967 while serving with 2nd PLT A CO 2nd BN 327th INF 101st ABN DIV
CPL James P Spencer 24 January 1967 while serving with D TRP 3rd SQDN 4th CAV 25th INF DIV
145th Pathfinder Detachment 145th CAB 1st AVN BDE
CPL James C Wood 11 April 1968
10th Pathfinder Detachment 10th CAB 1st AVN BDE
SP4 Robert E Jenne 8 May 1968
SGt Francis M Beverly 24 July 1969
SP4 William C Keeler 1 December 1969
52nd Pathfinder Detachment 52nd AVN BN 1st AVN BDE
CPL Heron Blivens 15 April 1970
SGT Rosendo Montana SR. 15 April 1970
14th Pathfinder Detachment 14th AVN BN 23rd Infantry Division
PFC Albert R Hankins 8 May 1971
SGT Donald B Whitlock III 4 August 1971
Global War on Terrorism, Afghanistan War KIAs
Fox Co 4-101 Avn 159th CAB 101st Airborne Pathfinders 101st ABN DIV
1LT John M Runkle Jr 26 May 2011
SSG Ergin V Osman 26 May 2011
SSG Edward D Mills 26 May 2011
SGT Thomas A Bohall 26 May 2011
SGT Louie Ramos Velazquez 26 May 2011
SPC Adam Patton 26 May 2011
Fox Co-5-101 Avn 101st CAB 101st Airborne Pathfinders 101st ABN DIV
SPC Russel S Hercules Jr. 1 October 2009
Fox Co 82nd CAB 82nd Airborne Pathfinders 82nd ABN DIV
SGT Marcos Gorra 21 February 2010
Fox Co 10th CAB 10th Airborne Pathfinders 10th Mountain DIV
1SG Billy Joe Sierras 28 September 2011
Other Pathfinders KIA in Afghanistan
SSG Christian Longsworth 19 May 2006 3rd BN 7th SFG 1st SOCOM
SFC William R Brown 6 November 2006 1st BN 3rd SFG 1st SOCOM
SFC Matthew Blaskowski 23 September 2007 2nd BN 503rd INF 173rd ABN BDE
SSG Larry L Rougle 23 October 2007 2nd BN 503rd INF 173rd ABN BDE
MSG David Hurt 20 February 2009 1st BN 3rd SFG 1st SOCOM
SFC Severin W Summers 2 August 2009 2nd BN 20th SFG 1st SOCOM
SFC Carlos Santos-Silva 22 March 2010 2nd BN 508th INF 82nd ABN DIV
MSG Jared Van Aalst 2 August 2010 1st SFOD (Delta) Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)
SFC Charles Adkins 16 April 2011 101st Special Troops, 101st ABN DIV
SFC Kristoffer B Domeij 22 October 2011 2nd BN 75th Ranger Regiment
CPT Andrew Pedersen-Keel 11 March 2013 B Co 1st BN 3rd SFG 1st SOCOM
WO1 Sean M Mullen 2 June 2013 2nd BN 5th SFG 1st SOCOM
SFC Samuel C Hairston 12 August 2014 1st BN 504th INF 82nd ABN DIV
CSM Martin Barreras 13 May 2014 2nd BN, 5th INF, 1st Armor Division
Global War on Terrorism, Iraq War KIAs
SSG Joseph P Bellavia 16 October 2003 194th MP Co 716th MP BN 101st ABN DIV
CW3 Wesley C Fortenberry 11 April 2004 1st/227th AVN 1st CAV DIV
CPT Michael Tarkovsky 14 August 2004 1st BN 5th SFG 1st SOCOM
MSG Ivaka Jerak 25 August 2005 1st SFOD (Delta) Joint Special Operaions Command (JSOC)
SFC Trevor J Diesing 25 August 2005 1st SFOD (Delta) Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)
SFC Lance C Cornett 3 February 2006 1st SFOD (Delta) Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)
Mortar attack. Bronze Star, Purple Heart, CIB, Ranger tab, Airborne, air assault and Pathfinder qualified. Photo credit 10th Mountain Division
Killed by improvised explosive device. Awarded Purple Heart. photo credit 101st Airborne Division
Killed by improvised explosive device. Awarded Purple Heart. photo credit 101st Airborne Division
Wardak Province. Bronze Star, Purple Heart, CIB. photo credit Hercules family.
Killed by improvised explosive device. Purple Heart. photo credit 101st Airborne Division
Killed by improvised explosive device. Purple Heart. photo credit 101st Airborne Division
Killed by improvised explosive device. Purple Heart. photo credit 101st Airborne Division
Killed by improvised explosive device. Purple Heart. photo credit 101st Airborne Division
Operation Desert Storm Iraq/Kuwait KIAs
Co C 509th Pathfinders
SGT Patbouvier E Ortiz 22 August 1990
SGT Roger P Brilinski 22 August 1990
Purple Heart, CIB. Helicopter shot down while on search and rescue mission. Airborne, air assault and Pathfinder qualified.
Helicopter shot down while on search and rescue mission. Purple Heart, CIB, Airborne and air assault qualified.
268th CAB 1st Aviation Brigade Pathfinders KIA/MIA Vietnam
Missing in action. Purple Heart, CIB. Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. Photo credit Donna Elliott
Purple Heart(2), CIB, Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. Photo credit Mike Teutschman
10th CAB 1st Aviation Bde Pathfinders KIA Vietnam
Quang Duc Province. Posthumous promotion to Sergeant. Died in a Mortar Attack, Air Medal, Purple Heart, CIB, airborne badge, pathfinder torch. Photo Credit Billy Phillips
10th CAB, 1st Avn Bde. Died when helicopter shot down while attached to 281st ASHC. Body not recovered. Purple Heart, Air Medal, Airborne badge. Photo credit Joyce Jeppson.
145th CAB 1st Aviation Bde Pathfinders KIA Vietnam
Woody was killed by sniper as he was moving off LZ. Bronze Star with V, Air Medal with V(2), Purple Heart, CIB. Also served with 173rd and made a combat jump. Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. photo Credit vvmf.org
14th CAB, 23rd Inf Div Pathfinders KIA Vietnam
Quang Ngai Province, Purple Heart, CIB, Airborne Wings, Pathfinder Torch
Quang Ngai Province. Purple Heart. CIB, Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. Photo credit Jerry Sepulvado
13th CAB 1st Aviation Bde Pathfinders KIA Vietnam
Kien Tuong Province. Helicopter explosion. Attached to 114th AHC. Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal(4), CIB. Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. Photo credit vvwf.org
25th Avn Bn 25th Inf Div Pathfinders KIA Vietnam
Photo credit Roger Heilig Jr
Photo credit David Olsen
Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart, CIB. Died on 2nd tour with 506th PIR. Photo credit vvmf.org
82nd Airborne Pathfinder Platoon
KIA 11 April 2004 Baghdad Iraq. He previously was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division Pathfinder Platoon. Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal