Memorial Day...

So I'm sitting there backing up my dissertation data when over the radio they begin to read the names of Arizona men and women who have died fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. I went to listen, standing by my dining room table. There were over seventy names and it took ten minutes to read them all, followed by taps. I don't usually tear up, but this got to me. Some of the names were familiar from the news, Piestewa and Tillman – the rest were not, but without a doubt many others did know them. These are the names and rank of those Arizonans who served and died in Iraq. To their families, our thanks and gratitude.

I've added one name after the list, my grandfather, because his service meant so much to him and he meant so much to me.

Allen, Howard P. Sergeant
Byrd, Thomas H. Specialist
Campoy, Isaac Specialist
Cataudella, Sean K. Sergeant
Cooke, Eric F. Command Sergeant Major
Downey, Michael A. Lance Corporal
Duenas, Joseph J. Private 1st Class
Eckhardt, Christopher M. Private 1st Class
Ehrlich, Andrew C. Specialist
Fresques, Jeremy Captain
Halal, Michael J. Lance Corporal
Hernandez, Frank B. Sergeant
Holmason, John M. Lance Corporal
Huff, Sam W. Private 1st Class
Hunt Jr., Kenneth E. Master Sergeant
Karol, Spencer Timothy Specialist
Keith, Quinn A. Lance Corporal
Knott, Joseph L. Private
Lapka, Christopher J. Corporal
Laskowski, Matthew C. Chief Warrant Officer
Latham, William T. Staff Sergeant
Lawrence, Jeffrey D. Corporal
Lucero, Joshua E. Lance Corporal
Mack, Brian A. Sergeant 1st Class
Martens, Robert N. Hospitalman
McCarthy, Joseph C. Lance Corporal
McIntosh, Joshua Hospitalman
Merila, Michael M. Specialist
Mortenson, Marty G. Lance Corporal
Nicolas, Dominique J. Corporal
Onwordi, Justin B. Specialist
Owen, Michael G. Sergeant
Padilla-Ramirez, Fernando Sergeant
Peterson, Alyssa R. Specialist
Piestewa, Lori Ann Private 1st Class
Poston, Christopher M. Lance Corporal
Prewitt, Tyler D. Sergeant
Ramsey, Carson J. Private
Reeder, Edward T. Gunnery Sergeant
Reyna, Seferino J. Private 1st Class
Robinson, Jeremiah W. Specialist
Schall, Kenneth J. Sergeant
Schuck, Brandon S. Corporal
Shondee Jr., Harry N. Private 1st Class
Sisung, David Petty Officer 3rd Class
Smith, Jason E. Lance Corporal
Thomas, Carl Sergeant
Thornton, John Joshua Lance Corporal
Time, Tina Safaira Sergeant
Tinnell, Patrick A. Private 1st Class
Unruh, Robert Oliver Specialist
Verdugo, Russell J. Staff Sergeant
White, Nathan Dennis Lieutenant
Williams, Michael Jason Lance Corporal
Wilson, Nicholas E. Specialist
Witkowski, James Sergeant
Wong, Elijah Tai Wah Sergeant
Zurheide Jr., Robert Paul Lance Corporal

Metcalf, Lawrence Major