Honoring the Fallen

Since the inception of the Global War on Terrorism (October 7, 2001), many Marines and Navy Corpsmen from the Commonwealth of Kentucky have served multiple tours, deployments and redeployments in both Iraq and Afghanistan. All have given some, but some have given all. On this page the Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Kentucky honors and memorializes the sacrifices of those fallen brothers, who have given their "last full measure" in the service of our nation. Names, ages, hometowns, dates of death, circumstances surrounding same, and military unit are hereinafter set forth in order by date of loss. Lest we forget. 

1. Corporal Nicholas Dieruf, 21, of Versailles, Kentucky
Died on April 8, 2004, in or near Fallujah, Iraq, from an explosion. Dieruf was assigned to the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.

2. Lance Corporal Deshon E. Otey, 24, of Hardin, Kentucky
Died on June 21, 2001 as a result of hostile fire in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Otey was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.

3. Lance Corporal Sean M. Langley, 20, of Lexington, Kentucky
Died on November 7, 2004 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq from injuries received as a result of enemy action. Langley was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1^st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.

4. Sergeant Christopher T. Heflin, 26, of Paducah, Kentucky
Died on November 16, 2004 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, as result of enemy action. Heflin was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.

5. Petty Officer Third Class Jeffery L. Wiener, 32, of Louisville, Kentucky
Died on May 7, 2005, in a combat related incident. Weiner was a Navy Hospital Corpsman assigned to II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

6. Sergeant David N. Wimberg, 24, of Louisville, Kentucky
Died on May 25, 2005 from wounds received as a result of small-arms fire from enemy forces while conducting combat operations in Hadithah, Iraq. Wimberg was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Columbus, Ohio. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

7. Lance Corporal Chase J. Comley, 21, of Lexington, Kentucky
Died on August 6, 2005 as a result of an explosion from a suicide, vehicle-borne, improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces near Al Amiriyah, Iraq. He was assigned to the 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

8. Lance Corporal Justin D. Sims, 22, of Covington, Kentucky
Died on April 15, 2006 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device during combat operations. Sims was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

9. Corporal Christopher T. Warndorf, 21, of Burlington, Kentucky
Died on August 29, 2006 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Warndorf was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

10. Lance Corporal Jonathan B. Thornsberry, 22, of McDowell, Kentucky
Died on October 25, 2006 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, while conducting combat operations. He was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve, 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Johnson City, Tennessee.

11. Lance Corporal Thomas P. Echols, 20, of Shepherdsville, Kentucky
Died on December 4, 2006 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, while conducting combat operations. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

12. Lance Corporal Robert A. Lynch, 20, of Louisville, Kentucky
Died on July 24, 2007 while conducting combat operations in Diyala Province, Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

13. Captain Eric Daniel Terhune, 34, of Lexington, Kentucky
Died on June 19, 2008 while conducting combat operations in Farah Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, California.

14. Lance Corporal Thomas Reilly Jr., 19, of London, Kentucky
Died on December 21, 2008 while supporting combat operations in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

15. Lance Corporal Chadwick A. Gilliam, 29, of Mayking, Kentucky
Died January 3, 2009 at a United States military base in Kuwait. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

16. Lance Corporal Timothy J. Poole, Jr., 22, of Bowling Green, Kentucky
Died on January 24, 2010 while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

17. Lance Corporal Adam D. Peak, 25, of Florence, Kentucky
Died on February 21, 2010 while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd  Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

18. Lance Corporal Matthias N. Hanson, 20, of Buffalo, Kentucky
Died on February 21, 2010 while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.