Remembering and honoring SPC Justin Rollins ~ NH Hero

Remembering and honoring SPC Justin Rollins who was killed on March 5, 2007 in Iraq. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

I remember talking with his mother, Rhonda, later in 2007 and she had said he was due home for his break as he had been in Iraq since August 8, 2006 – that was the last time that she got to see her beautiful and loving son. She told me that Justin gave up his life so that we could have our freedoms. She said how proud she was of him and for being so strong. She said she mourns too for the plans he had of marriage (he planned to propose to his long-time girlfriend, Brittney Murray, during an upcoming leave), having children and living a full life. He was only 22. She said the families lives have changed forever – life will never be the same again. He was vivacious, always fun to be around, and was such a good friend to all.

Justin’s story can’t be told without mention of Hero the puppy that was brought from Iraq to his parents after Justin’s death. The night before Justin died, he found a dog had given birth in the back room of an Iraqi police station. According to his dad, Skip, Justin yelled for his men. They came in with guns drawn and found Justin lying on his back on the floor covered in puppies. We all have been blessed by the story of Hero and Justin’s love for this dog. Skip said that Justin always wanted to focus on the lives he saved, including the stray animals. “Saving lives was more important to him” Skip said. “…he was running around trying to rescue everything. To us, Hero was the last life he ever saved.” He really did believe in what he was fighting for.” Rhonda said of Justin, “I think he’d be thrilled there was a positive story from the negative that happened to us…He was such a happy-go-lucky guy.”

To learn more about Justin visit ~ www.rollinsride.com

Honor and Remember

Remembering SGT William Tracy ~ NH Hero

Remembering SGT William Tracy – Killed on 2/25/03 in a UH-60 Black Hawk – crashed in a sandstorm during training in Kuwait.  He was assigned to B Company, 5th Battalion, 158^th Aviation, Aviano Air Base, Italy.

William graduated from Merrimack Valley High School in 1993 and spent one semester pursuing his love of art at a local school before enlisting in the Marines.  After four years, he returned home for a short time before joining the Army to fly helicopters.  He was a crew chief; he fixed the aircraft on the ground and helped pilots navigate in the air.  William was a soldier to the core, volunteering for every mission.  His deployments ranged from Atlas Drop, Tunisia; Flintlock, Mali, Strong Resolve, Norway; Lariat Response, Hungary; Victory Strike III, Poland; and Enduring Freedom, Kuwait.  He loved to travel and rarely stayed home on weekends.  He remained close to his family through e-mail and long telephone calls.  He loved meeting people from around the world and brought toys and gifts with him so they would think well of the United States and its soldiers.

May God be with his family and give them comfort and peace.  Never forget.

TO REMEMBER IS TO HONOR….

Remembering PFC Eric Currier ~ NH Hero

Today we remember PFC Eric Currier – KIA on 2/17/10 in Afghanistan.  May God be with his family and friends, especially today.  Their lives have been changed forever – grief never goes away.  May you find comfort in memories that you have of Eric and all the time you spent with him.

Eris was an avid sportsman – which included bow hunting, archery, as well as several outdoor activities such as, hockey, snowboarding, wakebording, water skiing and fishing.  Eric was a mentor to all and best friend to everyone.  He was loved by all he met wearing his heart on his sleeve.  Helping people came easy to him. In 2009 Eric joined the Marines after seeing what happened on Sept. 11, 2001.  Eric knew what he had to do.  He earned the High Shooter Award for his Platoon and was a very Proud Marine.

 From Gram

I went to the beach walked down to the water in hopes to find you but you weren’t there I looked and looked But I couldn’t find you So I sat and prayed hoping you hear me I want you to know I love you and I miss you. My boy you will always be with us and because of you our lives were so much brighter you brought so much love and laughter to us. You make us so proud to be called Gram and Grandpa Rest in peace my boy. Love Gram

From his sister, Marlayna

I wish you & I could go fishing one more time, I remember complaining that the sun was too hot but damn I would battle a million suns to get those moments back. I would do anything just to see mom smile like she did when you were here, God didn’t realize that when he took you,

he took all of our hearts with him as well. You’re my best friend Eric, always. I will never forget you, & MANY years from now when I’m looking into the eyes of my children I will tell them about their wonderful uncle & how much they would have loved you. I would kill to have you here, I feel like every day just isn’t and never will be the same without you. I love you; I will see you on the other side… Bait those fishing poles & wax those snow boards; we have ALOT of catching up to do, & more to come. Rest in peace, ♥

From Bob Hamilton, Eric’s friend

Eric I went down to the pier in Holly Ridge where you and Kayla’s initials were carved in the wood. This is the third time I went and re-carved them so they won’t fade. I don’t want the memory of you to fade. You were one of the most honest trustworthy person to come into my life. When I got shot I thought about you. Why did I make it when I’m not that great of a guy but you don’t make it and your way better of a man than I was? I don’t want to talk bad about myself but in a way I wanted to be more like you. I visited LANDING ZONE CURRIER in Afghanistan. I stood where you stood when those nasty evil Taliban shot you. I stuck my hand in the sand and I just felt you. I know you’re in Heaven and you probably watched over me and that why I survived my gunshot wounds. I have been told over and over it’s a miracle that I’m alive. I just miss you man. Don’t worry I won’t let anyone forget about you. I promise.

TO REMEMBER IS TO HONOR….

Remembering PFC Matthew Bertolino ~ NH Hero

– Killed February 9, 2006 when the vehicle in which he was traveling in rolled over during a combat patrol near Jalalabad, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

Matthew’s favorite saying was – “Everyone is alive, but not everyone truly lives.”

Never Forget TO REMEMBER IS TO HONOR…

The following was shared by Joyce, his mom:
Matt was the third child of Joyce and Stanley Bertolino. He is survived by his two older sisters, Kristen and Kimberly.
He was mature far beyond his twenty years, yet still had a childlike innocence about him.
His smile could light up a room.
His laugh was contagious.
His hugs could take your breath away.

Matthew felt a deep calling to serve his country: he believed it to be his duty.
He wanted to make this a better world for everyone.
He was proud to be an American and equally proud to be a Marine.
Matthew wrote a letter to his sister from boot camp saying that, “he left a boy, became a man, and was returning a Marine.”
To Matt, it was a privilege and an honor to be a Marine.
He wanted to become a police officer in New Hampshire when his tour of duty was over. He felt that was a way he could continue to serve and help others. He once told his mother that it would be the perfect job for him.

A scholarship fund has been established in Matts honor at his high school, Pinkerton Academy, for seniors pursuing a career in the criminal justice field.

Matt’s family asks each year that the winners please take Matt along with them on their journey, because they are living his dream.

Matthew was extremely loving and generous. Friends and family knew that he could always be counted on when needed. His support and help to his mother, at an early age, was remarkable.
He always put others first, even taking his mother to a movie on Friday night rather than going with his friends because he knew she wanted to go.

Matt loved the outdoors. He had considered landscaping as a career for a while. His home has many gardens, rock walls and walkways that he created. Each one is a gorgeous gift. Family feels very close to Matt when outside.

His mother has created a Memorial Garden for Matt at their home. It is her sanctuary. Family and friends come to visit him there. The garden has been expanded to honor other New Hampshire soldiers that have fallen as well.

Carpentry was also something Matt enjoyed. His grandfather was a carpenter. They both loved creating with their hands. Matt briefly worked with a craftsman, learning the art of cabinet making. He designed and built new kitchen cabinets in his family home. He had them partially installed before leaving for boot camp.

Seeing all his beautiful craftsmanship around their home daily, keeps him close…

Matt’s jeep was another passion that he had. He worked two jobs to have it paid off before joining the Marines. Countless hours were spent taking it apart and fixing and improving things on it. He wanted to make it just perfect. He loved going for long rides with the top off, listening to his music. It was a great place for him to be. His mother has kept his jeep and drives it daily, taking Matt with her.

Matt loved sports. He was a Red Sox and Patriots fan. He played football with friends and wrestled for Pinkerton Academy.
He loved the snow: skiing, snowboarding, and snow shoeing were all favorite pastimes.

The last family trip was to the White Mountains to ski and snowshoe.

He would also golf and play paintball with his dad.

Several times a week he would be at the gym working out. He even put a weight lifting bench in his room at home. Being physically fit was very important to Matt.

Matthew wanted to see the world. He believed he would have that opportunity as a Marine.

He planned on getting a tattoo and wanted it to read “Everyone is alive, but not everyone truly lives.”

We wonder daily what great things he could have done if his earthly time had not have been cut so short.

Everyone that knew Matt was blessed. His presence alone was great. He is deeply missed.

Matthew was a gift. Every memory is cherished. Family asks that he NEVER be forgotten.

Remember his service and sacrifice.

Please remember MATT.

Remembering Navy SEAL Nate Hardy ~ NH Heroes

Remembering Navy SEAL Nate Hardy – KIA February 4, 2008 during Operation Iraqi Freedom against an al Qaeda suicide bomb cell.

The following is from his family:  “As early as 6^th grade, Nate wrote a paper about becoming a Navy SEAL.  Through his years on the soccer and lacrosse fields he discovered and developed the fierce competitiveness and team first mentality that would later serve him well on the road to achieving his goal.  In his senior year, he was selected by the New Hampshire soccer coaches to the all-state second team.  He was elected by his teammates as a co-captain of his high school Boys Lacrosse team.  In November 1997, five months after graduating, he enlisted in the United States Navy and began his SEAL journey.  It included graduation with BUD/S Class 221, 3 deployments with SEAL Team 8, completion of the eighteen month course in Arabic at the Defense Language Institute, successful screening and selection as the ‘number one draft choice” to the elite Naval Special Warfare Development Group (aka Seal Team 6), and a final deployment with DevGru KILO Team.

Nate’s military honors included selection as Distinguished Military Graduate from Quartermaster “A” School, selection as Honorman at tactical entry expert school, two Bronze Stars, Purple Heart, promotion to the rank of Chief Petty Officer and numerous other medals.  He seldom talked about his SEAL deployments.  He kept his first Bronze Star in a locker at his base and dismissively told his father “Dad, it’s not about the medals.  It’s about serving my country and the guys I work with”.

His life was fulfilled in his marriage to Mindi on June 4, 2005 and the birth of their son, Parker on July 16, 2007.

To Honor is to Remember

 

Honoring and remembering SPC Marc Decoteau ~ NH Hero

Honoring and remembering SPC Marc Decoteau, 19
KIA 1-29-10 ~ Operation Enduring Freedom.

6th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne), 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne), Ft. Bragg, NC. Marc was killed while supporting combat operations in FOB Nunez, Afghanistan.

Marc was a standout student and athlete growing up in New Hampshire. He never got into any kid of trouble and was always there if anyone needed anything. Marc helped lead his high school football team to a state championship and also played lacrosse. He graduated from Plymouth High School in 2008 and immediately entered the Army. His service to his country energized by the words love, life, and honor. He put great emphasis on relationships over personal achievements. Serving his country was a relationship with his idea of what duty was all about. Marc was soft-spoken, had an infectious laugh and smile and never gave up trying task until he got them right.

Marc deployed to Afghanistan in early January 2010. He was killed three weeks later when an interpreter opened fire inside Camp Nunez with an AK-47. Marc would not have wished for people to grieve for him. The life suffering and death he witnessed in Afghanistan was troubling to him, but he felt God sent him a message in the Bible to put what he felt was his duty into perspective. It was from Romans 8:18, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that well be revealed in us.”

Statement from the family…
Marc’s strong faith in God allows us the comfort of knowing that he is with his Savior and that one day we will join him. We are proud of our son and all that he did and aspired to do for his country. Marc was a rare person who knew very early what he wanted to do and focused on attaining his goals. He learned early the meaning of being on a team and working hard for others. Marc took those values he developed in school and sports with him to the military and used them every day of his service. We are also comforted to know that even though he was young, Marc touched so many people in a positive way. It is great to hear and read of the joy and happiness Marc brought with his smile and quick laugh.

To remember is to honor…

 

 

Remembering CPL Timothy Gibson ~ NH Hero

Remembering CPL Timothy Gibson – Operation Iraqi Freedom – 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. KIA January 26, 2005

Sharing this from his mom, Elaine:

Tim liked people and they certainly adored him. He was never happier than when with friends and family, laughing and having a great time together. Tim was not only a brother to Tom and Patrick but also a good friend. They both looked up to Tim.

Tim always took care of those not able to stick up for themselves, being the protector to many youngsters in school. He once tot in trouble for ‘physical contact’ in grade school. When the principal found that Tim was defending a friend who being picked on, Time was exonerated. In middle school, some boys took a baseball cap from a special needs student and Tim waded right in there and took it back. In high school, a friend and Tim saved a young girl who was trying to commit suicide.

Tim excelled in sports, being the quarterback for three years and captain of the football team his senior year. He also was the centerfielder and captain of the baseball team. Tim led those athletes on and off the field. He always stopped to help the underclassmen who were struggling on the field and kept them true to their pledge of conduct.

Tim was a friend to all – teachers, coaches, athletes, non-athletes, parents of his friends—everyone had a soft spot for him. He was hard to resist with the grin of his and those blue eyes sparkling with mischief.

In the Marines, his men also looked up to him and the letters we have received from him Marine brothers speaks of a leader, serious in his duty, a good man who never had a bad word to say about anyone. His officers sent wonderful letters telling of a “Squared Away Marine”. “The Marine Corps does not build character, the Corps reveals it.” Tim’s heart was the Marines.

 

Remembering Army Sgt. Randy Scott Rosenberg ~ NH Hero

Honor and Remember Army Maj. Brian M. Mescall ~ NH Hero

Honor and Remember Army Maj. Brian M. Mescall

Age 33, died January 9, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom,
in Jaldak, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device
detonated near his vehicle.  Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, Hohenfels, Germany.

Honor and Remember Pfc. Juctin P. McDaniel ~ NH Hero

Army Pfc. Juctin P. McDaniel, 19 years old, of Andover, N.H; died Dec. 17, 2007 in Baghdad of injuries sustained from a non-combat-related incident in Taji, Iraq

He was assigned to the 524th Combat Service Support Battalion, 45th Sustainment Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, Fort Shafter, Hawaii;

Juctin is remembered by his friends as a young man with a strong desire to serve in the military. It appeared to be his purpose in life to serve his country and support our troops. He went out of his way to help others. He was a friend to all in school, no matter how different they were from him. He loved to make people laugh and smile and would always make light of difficult situations. He was deeply loyal to his family and friends.

Juctin met his wife, Alicia, while they were both in the Army and they married in 2006. They were expecting their first child. He could hardly wait for his child to be born. To his regret, he would be in Iraq when his wife delivered.

May God be with his family and friends, especially today and give them comfort.

To remember is to honor…

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