US Army Sgt. John Castro

US Army Sgt. John P. Castro, aged 25, from Andrews, Texas died on 22nd April 2011 in Paktika province, Afghanistan from wounds suffered when his unit was attacked by enemy insurgent small arms fire. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Sgt. Castro joined the military in October 2004 and arrived at Fort Campbell in January 2006.

He is survived by his wife, daughter, step-son, and parents.

US Army Sgt. 1st Class Charles L. Adkins

US Army Sgt. 1st Class Charles Lewis Adkins, aged 35, from Sandusky, Ohio, died on 16th April 2011 at Forward Operating Base Gamberi, in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, along with four colleagues. An Afghan National Army soldier threw grenades at the group in a suicide attack.

He was a maintenance supervisor, serving with the 101st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

He joined the Army in November 1995 and transferred to Fort Campbell in June 2002. 

His awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Korean Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal; Combat Action Badge; Pathfinder Badge; Air Assault Badge and Driver and Mechanic Badge.

He is survived by his wife Sarah, son Garrhett, daughters Makayla, Mackenzie and Gabriella.

US Army Staff Sgt. Cynthia Taylor

US Army Staff Sgt. Cynthia R. Taylor, aged 39, from Columbus, Ga., died on 16th April 2011 at Forward Operating Base Gamberi, in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, along with four colleagues. An Afghan National Army soldier threw grenades at the group in a suicide attack.

SSgt. Taylor was a wheeled-vehicle mechanic, serving with the 101st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

She joined the Army in November 2003 and arrived at Fort Campbell in April 2004. 

Her awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart Medal; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal; Combat Action Badge and Driver and Mechanic Badge.

SSgt. Taylor is survived by her daughter Maggie, son Joseph and mother Judy.

US Army Sgt. Linda Pierre

US Army Sgt. Linda L. Pierre, aged 28, from Immokalee, Florida, died on 16th April 2011 at Forward Operating Base Gamberi, in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, along with four colleagues. An Afghan National Army soldier threw grenades at the group in a suicide attack.

Sgt. Pierre was a human resources specialist, serving with the 101st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

She joined the Army in November 2006 and transferred to Fort Campbell in September 2009.

Her awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal and Combat Action Badge.

She is survived by her father, Jean Lamour and mother, Elvina Pierre, both from Immokalee, Florida.

US Army Spc. Joseph B. Cemper

US Army Spc. Joseph Brian Cemper, aged 21, from Warrensburg, Montana, died on 16th April 2011 at Forward Operating Base Gamberi, in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, along with four colleagues. An Afghan National Army soldier threw grenades at the group in a suicide attack.

Spc. Cemper was a transportation management coordinator, serving with the 101st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

He joined the Army in September 2009 and transferred to Fort Campbell in February 2010. 

His awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal and Combat Action Badge.

Spc. Cemper is survived by his daughter, Liam, and his parents Eugene and Angela.

Staff Sgt. Jerome Firtamag, U.S 101st Airborne

Staff Sgt. Jerome Firtamag

A 101st Airborne Division soldier who had served in Afghanistan until December has died of liver cancer.

The U.S Defense Department announced 29-year-old Staff Sgt. Jerome Firtamag of Pohnpei, Micronesia, was medically evacuated from Kandahar to the U.S. on Dec. 1 and died Thursday 24th February in Pembroke, Ky.

He had served with 96 Combat Support Btn, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade.

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