Iraq and Afghanistan

Iraq and Afghanistan

Iraq and Afghanistan Casualties from Brevard County

These servicemen were either from Brevard County

or had family connections in Brevard County

Pfc. Branden C. Cummings

Hometown: Titusville

Age: 20

Unit: 1st Battalion, 121th Cavalry Regiment, 3d Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division

Died: February 14, 2007 in Iraq

Click HERE to visit the Washington Post web site In Rememberance

to view the guest book and photograph of Branden Cummings.

A tribute by DEFENDERS LAW ENFORCEMENT MOTORCYCLE CLUB

http://defendersmctampa.org/cummings.html

        Man Killed by IED during combat. Soldier remembered for fun-loving ways

        Charles Cummings looked over the dozens of photos he had of his son Branden and picked out his favorite. It shows the good-looking Army soldier with a confident face, standing at attention at his graduation from basic training last February. " That’s when I knew he was a man," the father said, fighting to hold back tears.

        Branden C. Cummings, 20, died Wednesday in Baqubah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device or IED blew up near his vehicle during combat, the Department of Defense reported Friday. He had been serving in Iraq since October and had returned to war in January after a two-week leave for Christmas.

        Cummings was at least the 10th person from Brevard County or with close family ties here to die in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

        At his home in Titusville, Charles Cummings said he was most proud of the pictures of his son wearing his military uniforms.

        Charles Cummings was watching television Wednesday evening, when about 11p.m. he turned to channel broadcasting Valentine’s Day messages from soldiers to their families. He watched for about an hour, hoping to hear a message from Branden. About 12:30 a.m. Thursday, he was told his son had died.

        The first call Charles Cummings made was to Branden fiancée, Danielle Dennull, whom Charles called his " bestest girl" and who lives in Texas. He had promised her only two days earlier that he would tell her if anything happened to Branden, Dennull said. It was a call she knew could happen, but one she said she wasn’t expecting to receive. " We planned so much for the future," Dennull said during a telephone interview with FLORIDA TODAY from her home.

        Branden was always joking and doing whatever he could to make those around him laugh, a trait that earned him the nickname " Joker", his family said. He always had a smile on his face, his uncle Don Cummings , said." You can just see the gleam in his eyes and the wide smile on his face," the uncle said as he pointed to Branden’s picture. Dennull said Branden’s joking got on her nerves the first time she met him, but it was something she later came to love about him. " He would dance around making a fool of himself just to make you laugh," she said. While Branden was an outgoing jokester, he was also " a big-hearted person," Dennull said. " He’s always been there for everyone. He’d give you the shirt off his back. He’d give his last cigarette to someone."

        Charles Cummings described his son as a " typical teen today". Branden loved video games, fast cars—his favorite and was a Dodge Viper—and baseball, especially the Atlanta Braves, also the name of his first little league team, his father said." He always wanted to be a left-handed pitcher for the Atlanta Braves," he said. His family also remembered Branden as being very respectful. The young man went to Dennull’s father and asking for permission to marry her before proposing in January, Charles Cummings said. " I don’t know too many young people that do that anymore," he said.

        Cummings said he had a close relationship with Branden, whom he raised by himself for the past 10 years. Branden had written on his Myspace .com page that he was just realizing how demanding Charles’ role as a single father had been. "He has always made sure that I had what I needed before he got what he wanted," Branden wrote before he died. " He’s my dad, he’s my hero and I love him with all my heart."

        Charles Cummings and Dennull said they have been grateful for the outpouring of support of family and friends during the past several days.

        One of those messages came from a soldier and friend of Branden’s the day after he died. Branden had told the soldier four hours before he left on the mission that killed him to tell Dennull he loved her.

        "It made me cry again," she said. " (But) it’s helping me get through this.

        (Published in the FLORIDA TODAY February 17, 2007. Written by Susanne Cervenka)   

Spec. Michael Shawn Deem

Hometown: Rockledge, Florida

Age 35

U. S. Army

Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, Ft. Stewart, Ga.

Died February 25, 2005 in Iraq

Click HERE to visit the Washington Post web site In Rememberance

to view the guest book and photograph of Michael Shawn Deem.

    Obituary

    MICHAEL DEEM

    ROCKLEDGE

    Michael Shawn Deem, 35, United States Army Specialist, died Friday, February 25, 2005 in Baghdad, Iraq. Michael was born in Quantico, VA. He came to Brevard County in 1989 from Miami. He was a member of St. Marys Catholic Church. He is survived by his wife, Lynn Shree Deem of Rockledge; father and step-mother, Michael and Jo Deem of Morgantown, W.VA; Mother and step-father, Rita and Carter Pomroy of Newfoundland, Canada; brother, William Deem of Rockledge; step-son, Robby McDaniel of Palm Bay; daughter, Maran Deem of Titusville; step-sisters, Donna Walter, Paula Poppenhager, and Tina Romano-Carrillo. He was preceded in death by a brother, Bryan Deem. Calling hours will be held from 11a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Saturday, March 5th, at Florida Memorial Funeral Home. Services will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, at St. Marys Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Florida Memorial Gardens. Florida Memorial Funeral Home in Rockledge is in charge of arrangements.

    (Published in the FLORIDA TODAY February, 2005)

    Biography of Michael Shawn Deem

    Michael Shawn Deem was born October 29, 1969, in Quantico, Virginia. His father Michael was in the military and his mother Rita was a homemaker from Newfoundland, Canada. As a child, Michael moved with his family to Florida, the state he considered "home" for the rest of his life. He was preceded in death by his brother, Bryan. He had three stepsisters, Donna, Paula, and Tina.

    Michael was always trying something new. His working career ran the gamut from shoe salesman to nursing assistant, phlebotomist, and EMT, to restaurant server to insurance agent to business owner to soldier. He liked working with his hands - painting, wallpapering, and ceramic tiling. A reformed high school dropout, Michael pursued his education as an adult, achieving an Associate of Arts degree from Brevard Community College and a Bachelors Degree from the University of Central Florida. At the time of his death, he was earning a Masters Degree from Webster University and on May 18, 2006, he was posthumously awarded the status of Honorary Alumnus.

    Michael was, as the saying goes, "a wild and crazy guy." He was an avid surfer and skydiver. He loved to play with his children - slip and slide in the yard, swimming at the ocean or a pool, swinging at the park, putt-putt golf, racing go-carts, bowling, or climbing through jungle gyms designated for kids only. He and his wife enjoyed traveling, holidays with family, and nights out on the town. They coordinated costumes for parties, and Michael performed as Santa for Christmas.

    As a Christian, Michael loved the Lord and was often heard thanking God for all His blessings. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Brevard County, and always found another church to fulfill his needs while traveling.

    Michael's passion in life was his family. He was a loving and dedicated husband. He and Lynn married in 1999 in Key West, Florida, where they had planned to someday retire. He was very proud of his children: son William who was only 3 years old when his father died, daughter Maran who was 7, and stepson Robby who was 15. He was a generous and devoted father. He volunteered in 2004 to go to Ft. Stewart, Georgia, to be closer to his daughter in Florida, knowing his unit would soon be deployed to Iraq.

    While in the United States Army, Specialist Deem was assigned to Ft. Benning, Ft. Gordon, Ft. Sam Houston, and Ft. Stewart. He served twice overseas in support of the war in Iraq - the first in 2003 at Pirmasens, Germany, and the second in 2005 at Baghdad, Iraq, where he died on February 25, 2005, at the age of 35. Among other honors, he was awarded the Gold Order of Mercury for his complete dedication as a warrior. His wife was presented with a Gold Wahatchee Award for her dedication, support, and sacrifice. His children have been awarded a Gold Medal of Remembrance.

    On January 31, 2005, as he was leaving for Iraq, Michael stated: "If anything happens to me, I want people to know who I was. I want people to know I was loving. I want them to know I couldn't hurt a thing - I feel bad when I kill a bug or a lizard. I'm a good daddy and a loving husband. I'm not a bad person. I like helping people."

   (Published in the FLORIDA TODAY)

Chief Warrant Officer Scott W. Dyer

Hometown: Cocoa Beach, Florida

Age: 38

U. S. Army

3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, Fort Bragg, N. C.

Died October 11, 2006 in Afghanistan

Click HERE to visit the Washington Post website In Rememberance

to view the guest book and photograph of Scott Dyer.

 The obituary for Scott W. Dyer was published

in the Palm Beach Post. Due to copyright

and linking restrictions, we cannot publish the

obituary here.You may go to

http://www.legacy.com/PalmBeachPost/

and enter the last name in the "Search Options"

Gunnery Sgt. Elia Paietta Fontecchio

Hometown: Milford, Massachusetts and Satellite Beach, Florida

Age 30

U. S. Marines

3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force,

Marine Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California

Died August 4, 2004 in Iraq

Click HERE to visit the Washington Post web site In Rememberance

to view the guest book and photograph of Elia Fontecchio.

        Obituary

        ELIA FONTECCHIO

        SATELLITE BEACH

        Gunnery Sergeant Elia Paietta Fontecchio, U.S. Marine Corps, of Twentynine Palms, Calif., and Satellite Beach, Fla., died as the result of hostile action on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was serving his second deployment to Iraq at the time of his death. Gunnery Sergeant Fontecchio graduated from Milford High School in Milford, Mass., and joined the Marine Corps in 1993. He was the recipient of a number of personal awards during his military career, including a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and Marine Security Guard Ribbon. He is survived by his wife, Kinney, formerly of Virginia Beach, Va.; and their son, Elia; his parents, Dennis and Cindy Fontecchio, of Satellite Beach, Fla.; his twin sister, Alicia Powers, of Port St. John, Fla.; two sisters, Joslyn Mazziotti, of Cocoa Beach, Fla., and Nicole Fontecchio, of Melbourne, Fla.; his grand mother, Ann Szady, of Buzzard Bay, Mass.; and his wife’s family, Marietta Glascock, Mary Todd Glascock, Lionel Charuau, Henri Charuau and Natalie Carr, all of Virginia Beach. Family will receive visitors from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 11, at Beach Funeral Home, Indian Harbour Beach, Fla. Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, August 12 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Sebastian-by-the- Sea Episcopal Church, Melbourne Beach, Fla. Interment will follow in Florida Memorial Gardens, Rockledge, Fla. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Elia Fontecchio Memorial Fund at any Navy Federal Credit Union, or via mail to NFCU, P.O. Box 3000, Merri fields, VA 22199-3000. Please sign our online register book at: www.beachfuneralhome.com

        (Published in the FLORIDA TODAY August, 2004)

Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert B. Jenkins

Hometown: Stuart, Florida

Age: 35

U . S. Navy

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 14, Jacksonville, Florida

Died: May 5, 2004 in Iraq

Click HERE to visit the Washington Post web site In Rememberance

to view the guest book and photograph of Robert B. Jenkins.

        Obituary

        ROBERT JENKINS

        Stuart

        Robert Boyd Jenkins, an Altoona, Pa., native and resident of Stuart for more than seven years, was killed in the line of duty in Iraq on Sunday, May 2, 2004. Bobby, 35, was a reservist in the Navy Sea bees for 14 years, and was a former member of the Martin County Field Operations Team before being deployed to proudly serve his country overseas. Robert Jenkins was predeceased by his mother, Bonnie Jenkins. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Jenkin; his father, David Jenkins; his step-mother, Linda Jenkins; his sister, Jerri Moyer and her husband, Shawn, their two children, Jacob and Dalayne; as well as many family and friends. Services are being arranged by Young & Prill Funeral Home in Stuart, but services will be held at Forest Hills Funeral Home in Palm City on Monday, May 10th, at 11 a.m. Anyone wishing to honor Bobby may do so by donating to the Navy Relief Fund, 4015 Wilson Blvd., 10th Floor, Arlington, VA 22203. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Young & Prill Funeral Home, Stuart.

(Published in the FLORIDA TODAY May, 2004)

Sgt. First Class Stephen C. Kennedy

Hometown: Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Brevard County Connection: Parents in Rockledge

Age: 35

U. S. Army National Guard

1st Squadron, 278th Armored Calvary Regiment, Army National Guard, Lenoir City, Tennessee

Died April 4, 2005 in Iraq

Click HERE to visit the Washington Post web site In Rememberance

to view the guest book and photograph of Stephen C. Kennedy.

        Obituary

        STEPHEN KENNEDY

        OAK RIDGE, TENN.

        Sergeant First Class Stephen Curtis Kennedy, of Oak Ridge, Tenn., passed away Monday, April 4, 2005, while serving with the Army National Guards D Battery, First Squadron, 278th Regimental Combat Team in Iraq. Stephen was born April 6, 1969 in Jacksonville, Florida. Stephen served as the Training NCO for his unit. He was also a veteran of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm while serving in the United States Marine Corps. He was a Cub Scout leader and Little League baseball coach. He was a former employee of St. Johns River Water Management District. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Megan. Stephen is survived by his wife of four years, Tiffany Kennedy; children, Stephen Gregory Kennedy of Washing ton, Morgan Alexis Kennedy, Logan Andrew Kennedy and Reagan Renaissance Kennedy, all of Oak Ridge; parents, Robert Kennedy Sr. and wife, Jo of Rockledge; brother, Robert Kennedy Jr. and wife, Peggy of New York; sister, Bobbi Gillis and husband, Robert of Connecticut; and three nieces. The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, at Click Funeral Home in Lenoir City. Funeral Services will be held at 7 a.m., Thursday, in the Click Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ronny Jones officiating. Military honors will be conferred following the funeral. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Stephen C. Kennedy Memorial Fund, c/o ORNL Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 365, Oak Ridge, TN 37851-0365. Click Funeral Home in Lenoir City is serving the Kennedy Family. www.clickfunerlahome.com

        (Published in the FLORIDA TODAY April, 2005)

Capt. Christopher J. Kenny

Hometown: Miami, Florida

Brevard County Connection: Parents Merritt Island

Age: 32

U. S. Army

4th Calvary Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Vilseck, Germany

Died May 3, 2004 in Iraq

Click HERE to visit the Washington Post web site In Rememberance

to view the guest book and photograph of Christopher J. Kenny.

Capt. Edward Jason Korn

Hometown: Savannah, Georgia

Brevard County Connection: Parents Malabar

Age 31

U. S. Army

64th Armor, 3rd Army Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia

Killed April 3, 2003 in Iraq

Click HERE to visit the Washington Post web site In Rememberance

to view the guest book and photograph of Edward Jason Korn.

        Obituary

        Edward Jason Korn, 31, died Thursday, April 3, 2003, in Iraq. He was born in Decatur, GA and lived most of his life in Savannah. He was an alumnus of the Bethesda Home for Boys. Jason, as the family knew him, was a career soldier. He served as an enlisted man who volunteered for duty in "Desert Storm" and served with Lt. Gen. Paul E. Funk in the Headquarters of the 3rd Armor Division there. Upon completion of his enlistment, Capt. Korn enrolled at Armstrong Atlantic University in Savannah and participated in the Army ROTC program. Upon graduation in June 2001, he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army and served in various assignments, the most recent being on the staff of Lt. Gen. Terry Tucker, Base Commander, at Ft. Knox, KY. prior to volunteering for duty in Iraq. Capt. Korn was first and foremost a soldier, and his entire adult life has been dedicated to this profession. His hard work and "Can Do" attitude has been an asset to any unit to which he was assigned throughout his career. Survivors: mother, Sally Davenport; son Jerry White, of Trenton, OH; his father, Richard Korn and his wife, Joanne, of Malabar, FL; his stepmother, Annette Hale and her children, Michael, Alexis, Tammy, and Lance, of Savannah; and two uncles and their families. Visitation: 2:00-8:00 p.m., Tuesday and 8:30-11:00 a.m., Wednesday, at the Hubert C. Baker Funeral Home - Hodgson Memorial Chapel. Funeral Services: 2:00 p.m., Wednesday in the Chapel of the Bethesda Home for Boys, with Reverend Bill Ford officiating. Burial: 9:00 a.m., Thursday, April 24 in the Arlington National Cemetery, with full Military Honors.

        Remembrances: Bethesda Home for Boys, 9520 Ferguson Ave., Savannah, GA 31406. Hubert C. Baker Funeral Home 7415 Hodgson Memorial Dr. Savannah, GA 31406 (912) 927-1999.

        (Published in the FLORIDA TODAY, April, 2003)

Sgt. Phillip D. McNeill

Hometown: Sunrise, Florida

Brevard County Connection: Family in Cocoa

Age: 22

Died: January 20, 2007 in Iraq

U. S. Army

3rd Battalion, 509th Airborne Infantry, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska

Click HERE to visit the Washington Post web site In Rememberance

to view the guest book and photograph of Phillip D. McNeill.

        Obituary

        Cocoa Family Mourns Soldier

        22-year old killed in Iraq

        By R. Norman Moody, Florida Today

        Sgt. Phillip D. McNeill, whose family members in Cocoa fretted over his second deployment to Iraq, died in an explosion while on patrol.

        McNeill and three other soldiers were killed Saturday when a roadside bomb exploded near their Humvee while on patrol in Karma, according to the Department of Defense.

        McNeill, 22, and Army medic, listed his hometown as Sunrise, Florida, where he once lived, but also called Owingsville, Ky., home. Family members said he would be buried on Owingsville, but that funeral arrangements were not yet complete Wednesday.

        "We came from a military family," said his aunt, Pam Bates of Cocoa. "He knew the risks. He wanted to go. He thought he could help the Iraqi people."

        Family members said McNeill was proud of serving in the Army and had considered making the military a career. Bate’s husband, Ron Bates, said McNeill was known for helping others.

        "He was the one who volunteered to do things nobody else wanted to do," he said Pam Bates, who works as a retirement specialist for Brevard Public Schools said McNeill last visited family members in Brevard County about a year ago, before joining his unit in Alaska and later deploying to Iraq. Also killed Saturday … They were all serving with the 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

        Bates said family and members of her church in Cocoa Beach had been praying for McNeill and had been supportive, even sending him care package before Christmas "People have just been wonderful," she said.

        (Published in the FLORIDA TODAY January 25, 2007)

Pfc. Shane Reifert

Hometown: Cottellville, Michigan

Brevard County Connection: Uncle in Satellite Beach

Age: 23

Died: Saturday, 6 November, 2010

Unit: 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airbourne Division

Cpl. Dustin H. Schrage

Hometown: Indian Harbor Beach, Florida

Age 20

U. S. Marines

2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California

Disappeared May 3, 2004 in Iraq

Click HERE to visit the Washington Post web site In Rememberance

to view the guest book and photograph of Dustin H. Schrage.

        Obituary

        DUSTIN SCHRAGE

        INDIAN HARBOUR BEACH

        Dustin H. Schrage, 20, a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps was Killed in Action while serving in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, on Monday, May 3, 2004. He sacrificed his life so that others could live free. Originally from East Moriches, N.Y., Dustin moved to Indian Harbour Beach in 1993. Directly after graduating from Satellite Beach High School in 2001, Dustin left for Boot Camp. Dustin was a true gift to his family. He was one of a kind, possessing a quick wit and had a unique talent for always offering his unusual comical outlook into any situation.

        We love him so much,

        and can't begin to describe how

        much he will be missed.

        An emptiness inside will forever remain,

        until we meet again....

        He will be more than just missed by his parents, Preston and Nina; his brothers, Jesse and Kerry; his sister, Kali; grandmother, Shirley Myers of Cocoa Beach; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and Marine comrades. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, May 17th, at the Gleason Park Community Service Center, 1233 Yacht Club Blvd., Indian Harbour Beach, followed by a graveside service with full military honors at Fountainhead Memorial Park.

        (Published in the FLORIDA TODAY, May, 2004)

Pfc. Michael Russell Creighton Weldon

Hometown: Palm Bay, Florida

Age 20

U. S. Army

2-7th Infantry, 3rd Army Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia

Killed March 29, 2003

 Click HERE to visit the Washington Post web site Faces of the Fallen to view photograph of Michael Weldon

Spec. James Page

Age 23

Home town: Titusville, Florida

Unit: 173d Brigade Support Battalion, 173d Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Bamberg, Germany

Killed August 31, 2010 in Afghanistan

Click HERE to visit the Washington Post web site In Rememberance

to view the guest book and photograph of James Page .