Bob Inglis

PFC Joey T. Sams II, USA, 22 Spartanburg, S.C.

PFC Joey T. Sams II, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Georgia, died March 21, 2007 at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, of injuries suffered when he was pinned between two vehicles. He had only been in Kuwait for three weeks, and was serving as gunman on a tank. Sams joined the Army a year ago as an avenue to achieve his dream of becoming a police detective like his uncle. The 2004 Spartanburg High School alumnus graduated six months early and attended Spartanburg Community College for two years before enlisting. He loved martial arts and had a black belt in karate.

1ST LT Andrew C. Shields, USA (SCNG), 25 Campobello, S.C.

1ST LT Andrew C. Shields, USA, SCNG, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 151st Aviation Regiment, South Carolina Army National Guard, Columbia, South Carolina, was killed Dec. 9, 2004 in an Apache helicopter accident in Mosul, Iraq. Andrew graduated from Wofford College in 2001, and was an outstanding member of the Southern Guards Battalion, the ROTC program. In July 2001, Andrew, a senior majoring in chemistry at the time, was presented with the Distinguished Military Student Citation. Andrew is survived by his parents, Donald and Emily Shields of Campobello, two brothers and a sister.

Spc. Orenthial J. Smith, USA, 21 Allendale, S.C.

Spc. Orenthial J. Smith, USA, assigned to Company A, 123rd Main Support Battalion in Dexheim, Germany, was killed June 22, 2003, when his convoy was hit with enemy fire during an ambush in Baghdad, Iraq. Orenthial was a wide receiver and kicker on the football team at Allendale-Fairfax High School. He joined the military after graduation and “loved the Army, but he didn’t like the war,” according to his mother, Iratean Smith.

Sgt. Maj. Michael B. Stack, USA, 48 Lake City, S.C.

Sgt. Maj. Michael B. Stack, USA, assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group at Fort Campbell, Ky., was killed April 11, 2004, by hostile fire in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq. A father of six, Michael lost his life on Easter Sunday and was called “a soldier’s soldier” by his former pastor Rev. Gerald Owens. Coming from a long family military history, joined the Army in 1977 and the Special Forces in 1988. At Fort Campbell, he taught bible classes and led a prayer group while serving in Iraq. He was awarded a Silver Star, the military’s third-highest honor for heroism in combat, for helping the rest of his team survive the ambush in which he was killed.

Spc. Chrystal G. Stout, USA, 23 Travelers Rest, S.C.

Spc. Chrystal Stout, assigned to the 228th Signal Brigade, South Carolina Army National Guard, Spartanburg, S.C., was killed April 6, 2005 when the CH-47 helicopter in which she was riding crashed in Ghazni, Afghanistan. A 1999 graduate of Trinity Christian Academy in Easley, she wore No. 32 as a forward on the girls’ basketball team. She signed up for the National Guard in August 2001, one month before 9/11, applied to Liberty University, and the day she received her acceptance letter also learned she was being called into active duty. She regularly volunteered with the youth at her church, New Hope Baptist in Travelers Rest. She enjoyed her job in the military so much, she planned to return to the country as a civilian worker, doing the same kind of computer networking work she was doing for the military.

Staff Sgt Matthew Taylor, USA, 25 Charleston, S.C.

Army Staff Sgt Matthew Taylor, 25, of Charleston, S.C., died Sept. 21, 2008 in Baghdad. He was assigned to Fort Polk. Capt. Ryan Woolf recalled Matthew J. Taylor as an always-smiling practical joker, but also an accomplished leader. “At the age of 23, he was my youngest and best squad leader,” Woolf said. “He was my go-to guy.” Taylor signed up to join the Army on Sept. 12, 2001, the day after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. “He had an extreme sense of duty,” said his father, Don Taylor.

Master Sgt. Thomas R. Thigpen, USA, 52 Augusta, Ga. (Greenville, S.C.)

Master Sgt. Thomas R. Thigpen, assigned to the Army National Guard, 151st Signal Battalion from Greenville, S.C., died March 16, 2004, of non-combat related injuries, on March 16 in Camp Virginia, Kuwait. Thomas was a dedicated solider and “was true to his men,” said his wife, Theresa. Before his unit was activated, Thomas was a civilian worker at Fort Gordon, a budget analyst for the 15th Signal Brigade. He is survived by his wife and daughter as well as two granddaughters.

Sgt. Anthony O. Thompson, USA, 26 Orangeburg, S.C.

Sgt. Anthony Thompson (USA), assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas, was killed Sept. 18, 2003, in Tikirit, Iraq, during an ambush by small-arms fire and rocketpropelled grenades. The Branchville native was one of five children, but known as the “little baby,” according to his sister Mary Bell. Anthony played football and basketball at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School before graduating in 1995 and joining the Army in 1996. He is survived by his wife, Valerie, and son, Jaykwon Kyreek.

SPC Douglas L. Tinsley, USA, 21 Chester, S.C.

SPC Douglas L. Tinsley, assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska, died Dec. 26, 2006 of injuries sustained when the vehicle he was in was involved in a rollover incident in Baghdad. He was a 2004 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Richardson. He saw the military as a way out of Chester, a sleepy old textile town in one of the poorest counties in the state. Serving in the US Army took Tinsley to the place that he met Sarah Nelson, the woman he planned to marry in a matter of weeks. His mother had already reserved her plane tickets.

Master Sgt. Timothy Toney, USMC, 37 Columbia, S.C.

Master Sgt. Timothy Toney, USMC, assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton, Calif., died March 27, 2004, as a result of a non-combat related incident at Camp Wolverine, Kuwait. A 19-year veteran of the Marine Corps, Timothy coached a Marine basketball team as well as youth basketball, baseball and softball. He was also active in helping Marine peers above and below and was called “a great humanitarian, a great person, a loving husband and also a Marine,” by Master Sgt. Guy Williams. He is survived by his wife, Delores Baise, twin 4-year-old daughters, Tiara and Tiana, and three stepchildren.

Lance Cpl. Joshua L. Torrence, USMC, 20 Lexington, S.C.

Lance Cpl. Joshua Torrence, assigned to 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, died March 14, 2005, of wounds sustained in enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq. Joshua graduated from White Knoll in 2003 and joined the Marines in January 2004. He played on the first-ever White Knoll football team in 2000. He was a leader who lived life with a purpose, his former high school football coach Mark Cagle said. “He is a wonderful young man who exemplifies all that’s good about family, our country, God,” said Cagle, who coaches at White Knoll High School. “I can’t say enough good things about him.”

Spc. Demetrius L. Void, 20 Orangeburg, S.C.

Army Spc. Demetrius L. Void, 20, of Orangeburg, S.C.; assigned to the 57th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 11th Signal Brigade, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas; died Sept. 15, 2009 at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when a military vehicle struck him while conducting physical training. Demetrius Void was always focused on academics in high school. Teachers said he never shied away from asking for help and had a competitive nature. Void was disciplined before he joined the Army, being active in the JROTC at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. “He greeted students at the front desk and said, ‘You can’t go in there until you get your pants up. ... This is an order,’ ” recalled Angelia Fersner, the school’s guidance counselor, who called Void her “acting secretary.”

Terry D. Wagoner, 28 Piedmont, S.C.

Terry D. Wagoner, 28 of Piedmont, S.C.; assigned to the 6th Squadron, 9th U.S. Cavalry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died Sept. 14, 2007 in Baghdad, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations.

Zandra T. Walker, 28 Greenville, S.C.

Zandra T. Walker, 28, of Greenville died on Aug. 15, 2007 in Taji, Iraq. Walker was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Aviation Cavalry Brigade. Walker graduated from Woodmont High School in 1997 and joined the Army during her second year at South Carolina State University. “She knew what she was going into, and she went into it proudly, bravely,” her sister Yolanda Worthy said. “I’m the big sister, and they’re supposed to look up to me. But at this point, I’m looking up to her.”

CPL David G. Weimortz, USMC, 28 Irmo, S.C.

CPL David G. Weimortz, USMC, assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division in Camp Lejeune, N.C., died Aug. 26, 2006 from injuries sustained while conducting combat operations in Anbar province of Iraq. David graduated from Dutch Fork High School. His friends said that he was the kind of guy that if you ever met, you would never forget. He had a tremendous heart. He truly loved his sister and his mother.

Spc. Abraham S. Wheeler III, USA, 22 Columbia, S.C.

Army Spc. Abraham S. Wheeler III, 22, of Columbia, S.C. was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died Aug. 28, 2009 in Logar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Abraham S. Wheeler III, whom friends called “Rod,” couldn’t wait to get home and finish restoring his 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme. Wheeler joined the Army in 2007, two years after graduating from Ridge View High School, where he was a 6-foot-2, 260-pound defensive end on the football team.

PFC Anthony J. White, USA, 21 Columbia, S.C.

PFC Anthony J. White, assigned to the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC, died March 25, 2007 in Baqubah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations. The Army tank mechanic was a 2003 graduate of Richland Northeast High School and played on the varsity basketball team. Anthony was following in his father’s footsteps; he also belonged to the 82nd as a tank mechanic.

It took him two years to get through basic and advanced training as a mechanic at nearby Fort Jackson and train as a parachutist. His father, who works as a civilian mechanic at Fort Jackson, said he retired as a command sergeant major after 29 years. “It was like father, like son,” White said.

Pfc. Geoffrey A. Whitsitt, USA, 21 Taylors, S.C.

Army Pfc. Geoffrey A. Whitsitt, 21, of Taylors, S.C.; assigned to the 118th Military Police Company (Airborne), 503rd Military Police Battalion (Airborne), 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Jan. 13, 2010 at Combat Outpost McClain, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. His brother Steven is a sailor stationed in the Persian Gulf. Geoffrey was two weeks shy of his 22nd birthday. He was living his lifelong dream, and his ultimate goal was to become an Army Ranger. “He loved his life. He loved his friends. There is nothing that I can think of that I would have wanted differently in how he lived his life. He loved God.” – Debbie Whitsitt; “He was my fishing buddy and my friend.” – Steve Whitsitt.

Specialist Harry "Buck" Winkler, USA, 32 Hampton, S.C.

Specialist Harry "Buck" Winkler, USA, was killed by a car bomb Sunday, Nov. 12, 2006, near Samarra, Iraq. He was on patrol with Lt. Michael A. Cerrone of Clarksville, Tenn., soldiers with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. Both died after their vehicle was struck, according to the division. Spc. Winkler was born in Jacksonville, FL on March 12, 1974. Buck, as he was called from birth, was a kid who just enjoyed life. Everyone in Hampton knew him and he got along with almost everyone. He made a commitment to join the service and enlisted in the Army. He was proud of what he did and believed in the fight for freedom. Upon return from his first tour of duty in Iraq, he met and married his soul mate Charity, on Sept 23, 2004. In December of 2005, they were blessed with a son, Owen Harrison Winkler. Buck loved his family and is survived by parents, siblings and extended family.

PFC Dustin A. Yancey, USA, 22 Goose Creek, S.C.

PFC Dustin A. Yancey, assigned to the 26th Forward Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia, was killed November 4th, 2005 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during convoy operations in Baghdad. He was a member of the “Top Flight” platoon, a group that provided security to military convoys. Yancey played guitar, disassembled and rebuilt computers and his commanders said that he was the best driver in the U.S. Army. He was also considered one of the best hackey sack players around.

PFC Rodricka A. Youmans, USMC, 22 Allendale, S.C.

PFC Rodricka Youmans, USMC, assigned to 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, was killed July 6, 2004 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq. Rodricka graduated from Allendale-Fairfax High School in 2000, and studied to be a mechanic for about a year at a tech school in Houston. He returned home, planning to work and go to college. Having trouble finding work, he joined the military. He loved the Marines and wanted to make a career of it. He would wear his khakicolored casual dress uniform even around the house. Rodricka leaves behind his fiancee, Stephanie Cuthbertson, and children, Amiyah, 4, and Mekhi, 1. A third child, Rodricka Jr., was due when he died.