In a sense, every Sunday is Memorial Day for me – I don’t need a Federal holiday to remind me to stop, think, and give thanks for the sacrifices of the men and women of the United States who have died in service to our country. But tomorrow is the official Memorial Day, and I am deeply honored and touched by the sacrifices that men and women have been making for America for the last 236 years.
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Our condolences to the families, friends, and units of these fallen warriors:
- Capt. Jesse A. Ozbat, 28, of, Prince George, Virginia, died May 20, in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
- 2nd Lt. Tobias C. Alexander, 30, of Lawton, Oklahoma, died May 20, in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
- Spc. Samuel T. Watts, 20, of Wheaton, Illinois, died May 19, in Bethesda, Md., of wounds sustained April 25, in Zharay, Afghanistan, when he was attacked with an enemy improvised explosive device.
- Spc. Arronn D. Fields, 27, of Terre Haute, Indiana, died May 21 in Qal-ah-ye Mirza Jal, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with rocket propelled grenades.
- 2nd Lt. Travis A. Morgado, 25, of San Jose, California, died May 23 in Zharay, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his patrol with an improvised explosive device.
- Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan J. Wilson, 26, of Shasta, California, died of complications associated with a medical condition May 20 in Manama, Bahrain.
- Pfc. Cale C. Miller, 23, of Overland Park, Kansas, died May 24, in Maiwand, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
- Cpl. Keaton G. Coffey, 22, of Boring, Oregon, died May 24 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
- Hospitalman Eric D. Warren, of Shawnee, Oklahoma, died May 26 of wounds received in action due to an improvised explosive device blast in Sangin District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.