Hero
Craig Crews
United States Air Force
1983-1988
Unit was P.O.L.
Lived in Ogallala Nebraska
Resides: Kearney Nebraska
Rank E-4
General Manager of Restaurant
Hero
George Evertsen
USAF
Unit Communications
Years Served 5.5 yrs
Hometown: Fairfield,CA
Residing: Cedar Park,TX
Hero
CW3 Robert Graber
Soldiers, technicians, retirees and friends from the
Montana Army National Guard maintenance community
gathered to honor and wish CW3 Robert Graber an
emotional farewell as he takes an early retirement from his
career in the Montana Army National Guard and as a civilian
technician at Combined Support Maintenance Shop (CSMS).
His 29 year career came to an abrupt halt after Chief Graber
sustained a disabling and a life threatening illness related
to and during his combat tour in IRAQ in 2005.
Chief Graber enlisted in the Marines in 1980 and then
joined the Montana National Guard 1991 in Kalispell,
Montana. In 1996 he became a full-time technician,
working at FMS#1 and in 1999 he moved his family to their new home in Helena as his career progressed to a full-time maintenance technician at the Fort Harrison
Field Maintenance Shop No. 3. He began his Warrant Officer career in November 2001 and advanced to the CSMS as a technician. CW3 Graber deployed and served six months in support of GWOT. CW3 Graber’s military and technician performance awards are many, to include Meritorious Service Medal, The Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Iraq CampaignMedal, NCO Development Ribbon, MT Attendance Ribbon, MT Service Ribbon, MT Campaign Ribbon, MT Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon, MT Nobile Eagle Ribbon and Driver/Mechanic Badge. Chief Grabers camaraderie, expertise, work ethic, great attitude and friendship will be missed by all in the MTARNG. His health has continued to improve with treatment. He has the support of his wife Laurie and sons Branson and Jarrett Graber. Jarrett is also a technician at the Combined Support Maintenance Shop.
This was taken on the day we dedicated Justin's "Lest They Be Forgotten" memorial. The young man in the photograph is Sgt. Perez. He was Justin's best friend in the unit, and was there when he died. Sgt Perez flew up from Texas to be at the dedication of the monument, arriving at about 4 in the morning.
When he got here, we found out he had to do this on his own dime (no flights coming this way) and had about $12 to his name when he landed.We adopted him, gave him a place to stay, fed him, and welcomed him into our family as a brother at the reunion we were having that weekend.
We even taught him how to kayak in Justin's kayak (it was always strapped to the top of Justin's car). Sgt. Perez had just been married, so next year, we're flying him and his wife up for the party, as well as the Sgt who helped with the funeral arraignments when Justin was killed (he and his wife are also a part of the family now).
Hero
PFC Justin T. Paton
KIA February 17,2007
Branch: U.S Army
1st Cav. 1st Brigade, 8th Regiment, 2nd Battalion
Hometown : Alanson , Michigan Justin’s uncle, Thomas Paton tells us that Justin was killed in action in Tarmiyah, Iraq on 17 February, 2007 while on patrol with his platoon. Justin was a sniper, killed by an enemy sniper. He survived long enough to get back to the base hospital, but was unable to hold on any longer. He had been shot through the neck.
Justin had only been in the service less than a year when he was deployed, and as is often the case, was due to come home in less than 2 months when we lost him. He was born in Alanson, Michigan, and lived there most of his life. He was born 4 July, 1983 (he always thought the flags were out for him, now I guess they are).
He is interred in the Ohioville Cemetery, in Indian River, Michigan, where he went to school.
Hero
David Stitt
U.S. Army
1982-1990
4th Battalion 32nd
Armor, 2/5 Cav,
2/8 Cav 19k tanker-
SGT E-5 Promotable
Currently:
Chemical/pharmacutical manafacturing
Hometown: Milroy, PA
Resides: Houston, Texas
Hero
David K. Fribley
USMC
Killed in action, on March 23, 2003, in the vicinity of An Nasiriyah. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.
He was 26 at the time of his death.
The terror attacks of September 11 inspired Fribley to quit his job at a Ft.Meyers, Florida retirement home and sign up with the Marines.
He was raised in Atwood
Indiana.
“In Loving Memory”
Ranielle Harris
