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Maj. Ronald W. Culver Jr.
44
Shreveport
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Numaniyah, Iraq
5-24-2010
Major Culver was second in charge as the Executive Officer of the Louisiana Army National Guard's Shreveport-based 2nd Squadron of the 108th Cavalry Regiment, assigned to the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team mobilized on January 5th, 2010 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This deployment was Culver's second to Iraq with the 256th Brigade. The mission for this deployment is to conduct force protection and convoy security throughout the multi-national coalition during the responsible draw down of U.S. Forces in Iraq. Popularly regarded as a "Soldier's Soldier", Major Culver never asked his troops to do anything he would not do himself.
"Wayne", as his friends knew him, was born April 28th, 1966, the son of Ronald W. Culver Sr. and Betty Culver, both of Shreveport, Louisiana and was a brother to Shane Culver of Haughton, Louisiana. Wayne graduated from Northwood High School in Shreveport, LA in 1984. Throughout High School he played baseball, was member in his church's youth group, and was an active member in the Boy Scouts where he achieved the highest rank of Eagle Scout. Wayne joined the military in 1988 and graduated from LSUS in 1989 with a Bachelors Degree in Accounting. Major Culver served a majority of his 22-year career with 1-156th Armor Battalion and 2-108th Cavalry Squadron in Fort Humbug in Shreveport, LA. He served one tour during Desert Storm in 1990-91 and two tours in Iraq from 2004-05 and again in 2010. Wayne also responded numerous times for State emergencies to include Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, and Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008. Wayne was promoted to Major on August 28th, 2006. Wayne was very active in his community. Before his latest deployment, he was employed by AmerCable as the Accounting Supervisor. Wayne's Selfless sense of community ensured the continued growth of top-notch youth organizations in El Dorado such as the Boy Scouts of America, Camp Fire Girls, and the 4H club and is a testament of his devotion to his children. His commitment to El Dorado's "Main Street" initiatives and the Veterans of Foreign Wars' service programs for the community directly helped to preserve the rich character and history that makes El Dorado so treasured and unique. Wayne always wanted to be involved in his children's lives; they meant the world to him. Wayne loved taking his son and daughter camping and deer hunting and teaching them the rules of gun safety and marksmanship. He also taught them how to respect nature and animals. Wayne enjoyed showing Wayne Jr. the fellowship amongst his deer hunting buddies while at deer camp. This is where Wayne taught Wayne Jr. to play cards and to listen to his elders. He attended all of Wayne Jr.'s football games and would always assist the coach. Wayne loved taking Michelle to campfire formal dances when she was younger to let her know how special she was. He also enjoyed watching Michelle perform drama shows at Southern Arkansas Arts Center and at her high school. Wayne wanted to instill respect and discipline in his children, so he and the two children enrolled in Tae Kwon Do. Wayne and his children were moving up in ranks and their goal was to become a black belt. During their training, Wayne was deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004, and he asked the children to continue during the deployment. Michelle and Wayne Jr. honored their father's wishes and earned their black belts. Wayne also shared his love for NASCAR with his family. He enjoyed going on his "guys only" trips for the fellowship with his buddies but he also wanted his children to experience the thrill of NASCAR races so he packed his family up and took them to the NASCAR race in Dallas. The children had a great time and loved it while Tracey had to wear earplugs. Wayne also wanted to share his love for music by taking his wife and the children to concerts. He encouraged his son to play guitar and wanted him to learn the long version of the Star Spangled Banner. He was a strong family man and believed that his family and extended family should spend as much time together as possible. Wayne is survived by his wife, Tracey Culver, and two children, Michelle Francis Culver, 15, and Ronald Wayne Culver III, 13; his mother, Betty Culver; his father and his wife, Ronnie and Billie Jo Culver; his brother and his wife, Shane and Lauren Culver, their children, Solon, Hudson, and Landry; Tracey's father, Michael Quinlan; Tracey's mother, Sherry Quinlan, Tracey's sister and her husband, Christina and Darrell Thornbrugh, their children, Caitlin and Justin; Tracey's sister, Elizabeth Quinlan, and her daughter, Tamara; and Tracey's Aunt, Sandra Whistler. Major Culver received numerous military honors and awards during his 22 years in the Guard, including the Combat Action Badge, the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster, the National Defense Service Medal with campaign star, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device, numeral three and bronze hourglass, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Louisiana War Cross with two fleur-de-lis, the Louisiana Cross of Merit, the Louisiana Commendation Medal, the Louisiana Emergency Service Medal with one fleur-de-lis, and the Louisiana Longevity Ribbon with three fleur-de-lis. Major Culver also was a member of the Order of Saint George and recipient of the Order of Saint George Medallion, which is the top award given to the most deserving of members of the Army's mounted force by the United States Armor Association and the United States Army.
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Tech. Sgt. Daniel L. Douville
33
Harvey
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Spc. Steven L. Dupont
20
Lafayette
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Rangrizan, Afghanistan
10-24-2010
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Staff Sgt. Danny P. Dupre
28
Lockport
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Anbar Province, Iraq
7-15-2008
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Staff Sgt. Jarred S. Fontenot
35
Port Barre
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Baghdad, Iraq
10-18-2007
Jarred S. Fontenot's fellow soldiers described him as someone who took the time to care for others, and as a calm force during the unit's darkest days in Iraq. "He was our rock - able to take on the problems of a big company and never break." Fontenot was assigned to Fort Carson. Fontenot, who entered the Army on Christmas Day 1993, worked for local law enforcement between tours in Iraq. Fontenot also served in Korea. Fontenot loved to fish and hunt, making it on the high school football and track teams. "He was one hard-nosed football player." "You couldn't hurt this guy physically at all. He was tough." Fontenot is survived by his wife, Dana, and four children - 16-year-old Cameron, 7-year-old Logan, 6-year-old Mason and 4-year-old Macy. "Jarred didn't do it for the glory." "That's what he wanted to do his entire life was serve his country."
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Staff Sgt. Michael J. Gabel
30
Crowley
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Dandar, Afghanistan
12-12-2007
He is survived by his parents, John Philip Gabel III and Catherine Miller Gabel; a sister, Joanne Gabel Cummings, husband Rick and their daughter, Cate; a brother, David Thomas Gabel, wife Brandi, and their daughter, Brooke, and sons, Alex and Jack. He was a graduate of Lee High School and the Culinary Arts Institute. Michael enlisted in the Army in 2000 and was stationed with the 82nd Airborne out of Fort Bragg, N.C. While serving in the 82nd, he completed a tour in Afghanistan in 2002 and Iraq from 2003-2004. In late 2004, he was reassigned to the 173rd Airborne "Sky Troopers" of Camp Ederle, Italy. While in Afghanistan in 2005, he was awarded a Bronze Star. In early September 2007, he led 25 fellow soldiers in a pilgrimage to the Black Madonna in Częstochowa, Poland, and later that month, he returned to Afghanistan. While leading a mission out of Dandar. Posthumously, Michael will receive his second Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
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Staff Sgt. Michael J. Garcia
27
Bossier City
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Staff Sgt. Quadi S. Hudgins
26
New Orleans
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Babil, Iraq
4-2-2011
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Lance Cpl. Dakota R. Huse
19
Greenwood
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Helmand Province, Afghanistan
11-9-2010
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Senior Airman Omar J. McKnight
22
Marrero
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Balad, Iraq
1-17-2009
Omar was a quiet, "easygoing kid," with respectful manners, a good head on his shoulders and an obsession with updating the photos on his MySpace page. He was also the baby of the family, the youngest of three boys. "He was just a special person, always smiling." "Anything he could do to help someone, he would. He was assigned to MacDill Air Force Base and was on his second tour. As a high school freshman, Omar had dreamed about following in the footsteps of his father who was an Army veteran from Operation Desert Storm and his older brother, Trumain, who is now serving with the Air Force''s special operations unit in Iraq. "His whole life was the military." "He did four years in ROTC in high school. It was evident." In 2006, three weeks after graduating, Omar joined the Air Force. He attended basic training at Lackland Air Force and he had served as a firefighter at the base in Tampa.
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Cpl. Chad W. Powell
23
West Monroe
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Fallujah, Iraq
6-25-2005
A 2001 high school graduate, he was based at Camp Lejeune. Alison Hogan, 22, Chad's first cousin, remember him as her playful partner in crime. "We'd get in all kinds of trouble together." He always wanted to be a Marine. His father, grandfather and uncles were all Marines. Chad joined the Marines in November 2001 and served tours in Afghanistan, Haiti and Iraq. Chad was called a "good ol' Southern boy" who loved to fish and hunt. He'd already taught Elijah to fish. He thanked his parents for raising him "the right way. He was appreciative."
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Spc. Matthew C. Powell
20
Slidell
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Ghunday Ghar, Afghanistan
10-12-2010
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Cpl. Matthew T. Richard
21
Acadia
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Helmand Province, Afghanistan
6-9-2011
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Pvt. Justin T. Sanders
22
Watson
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Taji, Iraq
8-29-2007
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Sgt. Christopher P. Soderlund
23
Pineville
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Logar Province, Afghanistan
7-9-2011
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CW4
Milton Eric Suggs
51
Lockport
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Camp Lemonier, Djibouti
1-30-2009
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Sgt. 1st Class
David J. Todd Jr.
36
Marrero
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Bala Morghab, Afghanistan
8-20-2008
He was the beloved husband of Tianna Todd, and father of Kandace, David (Bubba), Katelynn, Kyle, and Madison. He was the son of Mary and David Todd, Sr. He was the brother of Stephanie Todd Keller. He is also survived by a host of other relatives and friends. He enlisted May 16, 1991. He received the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" device, Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Air Assault Badge, Driver and Mechanic Badge Bar, Driver-T (for tracked vehicles) Weapons Qualification Badge, Rifle (Inscription: Rifle) Expert, and the Overseas Service Bar.
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Spc. Joshua A. Tomlinson
24
Dubberly
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Kabul, Afghanistan
5-18-2010
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Sgt. Jordan E. Tuttle
22
West Monroe
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Baghdad, Iraq
7-2-2010
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Cpl. Joe L. Wrightsman
23
Jonesboro
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7-18-2010
Joe grew up in Kitsap County and whose family still lives in the area. Wrightsman joined the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, based out of Marine Corp Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay in October 2005, and served as a rifleman and team leader with Kilo Company. His unit deployed to Afghanistan in May to conduct counterinsurgency operations with Afghan forces. Wrightsman leaves behind a large number of surviving family members in the local area. Wrightsman moved with his mother, Connie, to Louisiana when he was a teenager. Wrightsman was infatuated with the Marines as a teenager, and couldn’t wait to enlist. He enlisted in May 2005 and attended infantry school in August 2005. He had completed two previous deployments to Iraq with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. When volunteers were sought for Afghanistan, the family asked him not to go. “He said he wanted to be there for his country, and he was a Marine to his heart,” “He’s one young man who got to live his dreams.” Wrightsman’s personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal and the NATO-International Security Assistance Force Afghanistan Medal.
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These are the names of our FALLEN HEROES. If you have any information how this HERO lived, please email the information and a picture in jpeg to us and we will add it to the name.
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