David G. Richerson

SFC

US Army

David George Richerson March 19, 1985 - July 9, 2016 SFC David G. Richerson, a U.S. Army Engineer and Colorado native has died unexpectedly on July 9, 2016 in Washington. He is survived by his mother, Dorothy Lessem; his wife, Melanie Richerson; his son Tylor Richerson, his extended family, and many friends. David was born on March 19, 1985 in Denver, Colorado. After graduating from John F. Kennedy High School, David joined the U.S. Army and served his country proudly as an Engineer. In 2007 he married Melanie whom he had met while stationed in Germany. In 2008 they welcomed their son, Tylor. David was a devoted father, husband, soldier, and friend. He was a problem-solver who never shied away from the biggest challenges. He was also a thinker who appreciated time by himself in nature. David will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and everybody whose lives he touched. http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=David-Richerson&lc=7549&pid=180713032&mid=7013552

Forrest R. Eaton

SGT

US Army

Frank Buoniconti III

CW3

US Army

He died in a helicopter crash. Three other American soldiers were also killed. Frank graduated from Doherty High School in Colorado Springs. Frank followed his father into the military, serving three overseas tours. He joined up because he felt it was the right thing to do. Frank was an amateur chef and loved to cook. Frank is survived by many loving friends and relatives including his mother, Silvia Buoniconti and his father, Frank Buoniconti Sr.; his wife and their four children. https://sanctuaryofmary.blogspot.com/2011/12/frank-buoniconti.html

Garry Forkum

SGT

US Army

23 August 1949-22 December 1968 (19 years old) Garry Michael Forkum is the son of John Oliver and Ruth Forkum, his father being a career military veteran of World War II. By the age of 19 Garry was already a Sargent in Co. D, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Battalion, U.S. Army. Garry, a member of the Baptist faith, died from small arms fire during a firefight in Binh Dinh Province, Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). He is buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Nashville TN. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/116593154/garry-michael-forkum

Gavin B. Reinke

SSG

US Army

PUEBLO, Colorado. An Army soldier from Pueblo on his second tour of duty in Iraq was killed earlier this week when a roadside bomb detonated near his military vehicle, family and the Department of Defense said Friday. Staff Sergeant Gavin B. Reinke, 32, was one of two soldiers who died after the explosion May 4, 2006 in Baghdad. Also killed was Specialist Bryan L. Quinton, 24, of Sand Springs, Oklahoma. Both men were assigned to the 5th Engineer Battalion, 1st Engineer Brigade at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Reinke's wife, Carole Reinke, said she was told her husband died while trying to help fellow soldiers whose Humvee had been hit by an explosive moments earlier. "That's exactly the kind of person he was," Reinke said from her home in Saint Robert, Mo., where she lives with their 3-year-old daughter, Kayleigh. "He was an amazing man. As a friend, as a father, as a husband, and it carried over to being a soldier." She said her husband wasn't an outgoing person, but once people got to know him, he would do anything to help them. When they lived on base, he would take the time to mow the lawn of his neighbor, a single mother, when he had finished his own, she said. "Everybody that knows him is just as proud as they can be of what he did," Reinke said. Gavin Reinke was born in New Jersey, but his family moved to Pueblo in 1980, his father, Scott Reinke, said. He graduated from Central High School and joined the military in 1996. Carole Reinke said he loved his job and wanted to stay in the Army for at least 20 years. His second tour had begun in November, and his family believed he would have returned to the United States for a break in the summer. "He truly believed in what he was doing," his mother, Karen Reinke, said. When his work day was over, he relaxed by hunting deer, elk and turkeys, fishing and riding all-terrain vehicles -- basically any activity that could be done outdoors, Carole Reinke said. Usually, his young daughter was by his side. "He loved to go fishing with his daughter," Scott Reinke said as he looked at a photo of his son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter, with Kayleigh holding a large catfish. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/gbreinke.htm

Glenn E. Luhnow

PFC

US Army

Glenn Eugene Luhnow was born on September 9, 1945. According to our records California was his home or enlistment state and San Diego County included within the archival record. We have El Cajon listed as the city. He was drafted into the Army. Entered the service via Selective Service. Served during the Vietnam War. He began his tour on September 5, 1967. Luhnow had the rank of Private First Class. His military occupation or specialty was Light Weapons Infantry. Service number assignment was 56704464. Attached to 25th Infantry Division, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry, D Company. During his service in the Vietnam War, Army Private First Class Luhnow experienced a traumatic event which ultimately resulted in loss of life on October 14, 1967. Recorded circumstances attributed to: Died through hostile action, small arms fire. Incident location: Ho Bo Woods, South Vietnam, Binh Duong province. Glenn Eugene Luhnow is buried or memorialized at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, San Diego County, California. This is a National American Cemetery administered through the Department of Veteran's Affairs. Glenn is honored on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington DC. Name inscribed at VVM Wall, Panel 28e, Line 2. https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=285021

Grant A. Wichmann

SGT

US Army

While Grant was growing up he enjoyed sports of all kinds and played on youth soccer and football teams. In the winter his interests turned to snowboarding and he was very good at it. Actually, Grant loved and enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest. He enjoyed music and was an accomplished guitarist, looking forward to pursuing this interest with his brother and friends on his return from Afghanistan. After much soul searching, Grant joined the army in September 2007. Soon after basic training he married his dream girl on December 22, 2007. Following additional, more specialized, training Grant was deployed to Afghanistan in mid-2009. Soon after he left his son was born on June 19, 2009. Grant came home on leave later in the year and, after meeting his son, reaffirmed his belief in all that he was fighting for. This young man was one that his fellow soldiers trusted their lives to and he never let them down. They gave him their friendship and respect; and Grant returned those feelings. Sergeant Grant Arthur Wichmann was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star in addition to previously earned military honors. Grant was the son of a Vietnam era Sergeant and both his grandfathers were veterans--Staff Sergeant Alvin Edward Wichmann, World War II, and Technical Sergeant James Morrow Noland, Korea. Sgt. Grant A. Wichmann, 27, of Golden, Colo., died April 24 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C., of wounds sustained March 12 when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms fire at Out Post Bari Alai, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51791243/grant-arthur-wichmann

Herman L. Knapp

COL

USAF

Herman Ludwig Knapp (born 11 April 1929) was a US Air Force colonel who was declared "missing in action" on 24 April 1967 during the Vietnam War. Herman Ludwig Knapp was born in Roselle, Union County, New Jersey in 1929, and he married Helene Knapp, a Colorado Springs resident, in June 1952. Knapp rose to the rank of Colonel in the US Air Force, and he served in the Vietnam War. On 24 April 1967, he and navigator Charles Austin flew from the Ubon Airfield in Thailand to bomb a five-span bridge four miles north of the city center of Hanoi, North Vietnam with the goal of severing the country's rail links with communist China. During their strike, their plane was struck by a flak burst, disintegrated, and fell to the ground in a fireball. The two men were declared "missing in action", as they were believed by some to have bailed out of their aircraft before the explosion, but, eleven years later, Knapp was declared legally dead. His wife Helene became an activist for the POW/MIA cause. https://historica.fandom.com/wiki/Herman_L._Knapp

James E. Kinnard

SP4

US Army

ARMY SPC ,CO C, 1ST BN, 8TH CAV, 1ST CAV DIV (AMBL) 03/07/1969, HAU NGHIA PROVINCE, VIETNAM. James Edward Kinnard was born June 12, 1948 in Cherry Point, North Carolina near Camp Lejeune. He grew up in a Marine Corps family that moved frequently across the country. https://www.fallenheroesproject.org/?p=14031&cpage=1

James E. Thode

SFC

USANG

James Earl Thode Jim was born in Show Low, Arizona, on September 27, 1965. He was killed while on active duty in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb on December 2, 2010 (Afghan time). Jim was a Sergeant 1st Class with the 118 Sappers of the Utah National Guard. At age three, Jim and his family moved to Tucson, Arizona, where he graduated from Catalina High School and the University of Arizona. Jim was a sergeant on the Farmington, New Mexico Police Department where he served for 14 years. He was awarded Supervisor of the Year in 2009. Jim is survived by his wife, Carla; daughter, Ashley and son, Thomas all of Kirtland, New Mexico; his mother, Eve and stepfather, Ron Taylor of Pagosa Springs, Colorado. He is also survived by his father, Ernest Thode and Mary Thode; his sisters both of Tucson, Arizona and his grandmother, Olive Myers of Payson, Arizona. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/tucson/name/james-thode-obituary?pid=147098935

James Gregory Ryan Sartor

SGM

US Army

Sergeant Major James Gregory Ryan Sartor, age 40, was killed in action in the service of his country on July 13, 2019 in Faryab Province, Afghanistan. He was a dedicated husband, father, career Soldier, and a Special Forces Green Beret. Ryan resided with his family in Falcon, Colorado for 11 years and as a native Texan, maintained a permanent residence in Teague, Texas. At the time of his death, he was Sergeant Major of A Co, 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) out of Fort Carson, Colorado, where he was a leader who led with muddy boots. Ryan was born on September 23, 1978 to James Sartor and Mary Teresa (Terri) Pryor in Teague, Texas. He graduated from Teague High School with the class of 1997 where he was a standout football player. After high school, Ryan moved to College Station, TX to work and met the love of his life, Deanna Unger, in the fall of 2000. Ryan and Deanna began dating in February 2001 and were married on June 29, 2002 in Odessa, Texas. Ryan answered the call to serve and joined the Army in June 2001, becoming an infantryman in the 3rd Infantry Division where he quickly deployed to help lead the Invasion of Iraq in 2002. Upon completion of his first combat deployment he continued to advance and after being selected for the Special Forces Qualification Course he earned his Green Beret and was assigned to A Co, 2nd Battalion, 10th SFG(A) in Fort Carson, Colorado where he served for the next 14 years. During his career, Ryan defined the 10th Special Forces Group motto, “Quiet Professional,” and deployed numerous times to include additional combat operations in Iraq in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010-2011, Germany and Israel in 2008, Africa in 2012 and 2013, and Afghanistan in 2017 and 2019. Ryan always assured his combat stripes outnumbered his service stripes and in doing so became highly decorated. Ryan’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Presidential Unit Citation Award, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster and National Defense Service Medal, among others. He has been posthumously awarded the Purple Heart medal and Bronze Star medal. Ryan also earned the Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, where he earned the title of Honor Grad, Combat Infantryman Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Special Operations Diver Badge and Dive Supervisor Badge. Ryan loved life to the fullest and was known and highly respected for his kind yet focused soul. He was a beloved friend, neighbor, and brother in arms who lived to be with his family in the outdoors; camping, hiking or finding an adventure. Ryan loved and was deeply loved in return as he lived a life of purpose many only dream about. He was an inspiration, a warrior, a mentor, but first and foremost a family man who left an indelible legacy in the world he left behind through his wife and three children. Ryan is survived by his loving wife, Deanna; his three beautiful children, Stryder, Grace and Garrett; his parents, Mary Teresa (Terri) Pryor and James Sartor; his sister, Crista Brooner; half-sister, Shae Sartor; and his grandmother, Patricia Pryor. He was preceded in death by his great grandmother, Mary Pryor, his grandfather Harold Pryor and his grandmother Carmie Sartor.

John A. Chapman

TSgt

USAF

John Allan Chapman (July 14, 1965 – March 4, 2002) was a Combat Controller in the United States Air Force who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on August 22, 2018 for his actions in the Battle of Takur Ghar during the War in Afghanistan. He is the first airman to receive the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. Chapman was inducted into the Hall of Heroes on August 23, 2018, and posthumously promoted to Master Sergeant on the following day. Chapman was also the first Air Force Combat Controller to be awarded the Air Force Cross before the award was subsequently upgraded to the Medal of Honor. John Chapman was born July 14, 1965, in Springfield, Massachusetts, and grew up in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. In 1983 he graduated from Windsor Locks High School. The citation accompanying his upgrade to the Medal of Honor reads as follows: Technical Sergeant John A. Chapman distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism as an Air Force Special Tactics Combat Controller, attached to a Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) Team conducting reconnaissance operations in Takur Ghar, Afghanistan, on March 4, 2002. During insertion, the team's helicopter was ambushed causing a teammate to fall into an entrenched group of enemy combatants below. Sergeant Chapman and the team voluntarily reinserted onto the snow-capped mountain, into the heart of a known enemy stronghold to rescue one of their own. Without regard for his own safety, Sergeant Chapman immediately engaged, moving in the direction of the closest enemy position despite coming under heavy fire from multiple directions. He fearlessly charged an enemy bunker, up a steep incline in thigh-deep snow and into hostile fire, directly engaging the enemy. Upon reaching the bunker, Sergeant Chapman assaulted and cleared the position, killing all enemy occupants. With complete disregard for his own life, Sergeant Chapman deliberately moved from cover only 12 meters from the enemy, and exposed himself once again to attack a second bunker, from which an emplaced machine gun was firing on his team. During this assault from an exposed position directly in the line of intense fire, Sergeant Chapman was struck and injured by enemy fire. Despite severe, mortal wounds, he continued to fight relentlessly, sustaining a violent engagement with multiple enemy personnel before making the ultimate sacrifice. By his heroic actions and extraordinary valor, sacrificing his life for the lives of his teammates, Technical Sergeant Chapman upheld the highest traditions of military service and reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. The ceremony took place Wednesday 22 August 2018.[15] On 23 August 2018, Chapman was inducted into the Hall of Heroes during a ceremony at the Pentagon, which was attended by family and teammates.[16] On 24 August 2018, Chapman was posthumously promoted to the rank of Master Sergeant and his name was added to the Medal of Honor wall at the Air Force Memorial. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_A._Chapman