Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; And whosoever believeth in me shall never die.” (John 11:25,26)

Sergeant Emerson N. Brand was killed on March 14, 2006, in Baghdad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit during combat operations. He was part of 1^st Squadron, 8^th Cavalry Regiment, 2^nd Brigade Combat Team, 1^st Cavalry Division, based in Fort Hood, Texas.

Emerson served with pride and had requested a unit transfer so he could serve another term in Iraq. He spent the last nine years of his life in the Army, which included a previous deployment to Kosovo.

Sergeant Emerson Noah Brand’s close family included his grandparents of Idaho Falls, his parents, John and Debi Brand, and many friends who continue to salute him.

“Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:20)

Curtis Ralph Hall, was born June 10, 1982, in Burley, Idaho, to Clarence and Pamela and Hall.

Curtis Hall grew to be 6-foot-7 and played high school basketball. At age 14, he and an older brother received the Boy Scout’s Honor Medal for unusual heroism and skill in rescuing their father after he was knocked unconscious during a rafting trip on central Idaho’s Salmon River. Curtis and his brother were featured in Boys’ Life, the Boy Scouts of America’s official magazine. A year later, Curtis Hall became an Eagle Scout.

He enlisted in the United States Navy August 7, 2001, after graduating from Burley High School and attending classes at the College of Southern Idaho. Upon graduating from Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois, Curtis remained to complete the course of instruction to be rated as a Hull Technician Fireman Apprentice.

During his service, Curtis was awarded The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Expert Marksmanship Rifle Medal, and Expert Marksmanship Pistol Medal.

Private First Class John Borbonus was born and raised in Boise. He graduated in 2005 from Boise High School as a fine athlete and student. He joined the Army on July 16, 2005, and began training for the Special Forces as an Army Ranger and was assigned to Headquarters Company, 1st Squadron, 40^th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, during combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He was awarded a Silver Star for his conspicuous gallantry and fearlessness in combat action in Iraq, in which he took action that saved the lives of his battle buddies in an exceptionally vast explosion. He was killed on April 12, 2007.

John was a big, bold personality who grew into a tall, accomplished young man who had an impact on others. He volunteered more than a hundred hours of community service to St. John´s Catholic Church, where he changed lives and made a difference. He could come across as extremely shy, and then out of nowhere he would surprise you with a very imaginative practical joke. It was impossible to go into a conversation with John and not walk away in a better mood with a better outlook on life.

He was a true warrior and embodied characteristics every Soldier should strive to emulate.

He is survived by his parents, Hans and Maggie Borbonus

I had a son who loved life. He was an average kid who went to school and worked hard to buy his first car. School wasn’t easy for him but he graduated with pretty good grades and got the Maverick Award for most improved student. He played baseball, hockey and loved to snowboard.

My son and I loved to hike and go camping whenever we got a chance. He loved adventure, was ready to jump out of planes, climb mountains, and other extreme ideas. He graduated in 2000 and joined the Army.

Coby served five years in the Army, most of the time with the 5/20^th Battalion out of Fort Lewis, Washington. His unit was the first to maneuver the Stryker over in Iraq, which has replaced the ordinary tank. My son’s job was with computers, directing drivers where to go. Their unit spent 15 months over there, missing holidays and special occasions and losing a soldier April 28, 2008, Jacob Herring.

Coby came home and got out of the Army. He didn’t feel comfortable with people. He was used to such extreme conditions. Our simple problems we have every day just didn’t seem important to him. He’d tell me that what we worry about just isn’t that important when you look at the fact they were fighting for their lives every day over there in Iraq.

But he continued on with life, working on schooling. He had one more semester to finish before graduating from college. To help pay for schooling, he joined the Army Reserves, a unit that would never go overseas, he promised.  But in March, 2006, Coby went to the Bravo Company Task Force 321 Engineers out of Boise. They shipped out to Iraq in July, 2006. His job was to find and disarm IED in Ar Ramadi.

On May 3, 2007 he was killed by insurgents setting off an IED.

Since his death they have named a war game after him in California, and when they run this drill they take the time to tell Coby’s story. On April 9, 2011, they dedicated a building which Coby’s name is also on. So here is one soldier who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country, just an ordinary young man doing his job.

Thank you for listening to my story of just one of our country’s heroes. Remember we all have a lot to give in life.

Kelly was born June 27, 1985. He was a very adventurous little boy with a free spirit. He was never afraid of anything, willing to try anything and lived for excitement. We always knew he would serve his country it was just a matter of what branch and when.

He signed up with the Army Reserves in November 2003; just before he graduated. He went to boot camp at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, in the fall of 2004, and finished his training to be a heavy equipment operator.  Kelly's unit was currently deployed to Iraq when he finished up his training, so he was attached to the Hayden unit; a combat engineering unit.

Once he was deployed to Iraq in 2006, he was stationed at Camp Ramadi. Their mission over there was route clearance. They would go out mainly at night to find bombs on or by the roadside and clear them out of the way for the Marines who came up behind them, making the route safe.

On the evening of May 3, 2007, Kelly and Staff Sergeant Coby Schwab were going to the aid of another truck in their convoy that had been hit with an IED. Unfortunately, there was a secondary bomb planted in the same area that went off when they got out of their truck, killing both of them and injuring others.

We will always remember Kelly and all those who were willing to give their all in their courageous fight for freedom.

Blake Christopher Stephens was born in Pocatello, Idaho on September 28, 1981, the youngest of five children and son to Trent and Kathleen Stephens. He was a very charismatic and handsome young man with a beautiful smile and green eyes.

Blake was born with a love and respect for those who served in the military.  As we attended the forth of July parades, starting out very young, he would salute the flag in great respect and, of course, wear his military fatigues.  He was very happy and always loved life and packed a lot of experiences and stories to tell of the things he did in his short 25 years.

While a junior in high school he joined the National Guard and went to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, in the summer for boot camp, and was trained as an artillery forward observer. After 9/11, he was very concerned for his country’s welfare. He was activated in the National Guard, serving as a guard at Hill Air Force Base.

In 2003, he met and married the love of his life, Erin Dructor.

After serving six years in the National Guard, he joined the Active Army out of Ft. Benning, Georgia. His assignment was to be the Colonel’s body guard, and he loved flying in the helicopter over Bagdad, over-seeing getting the colonel where he needed to be as they visited with Iraqi generals.  After attending to some of his men getting killed in an IED attack, he made this last entry into his journal on April 29, 2007.

“I actually think to die serving your country is as honorable a way to die as a man can,” he wrote. It was on the road through Salmon Pak on the morning of May 8, 2007, that his humvee was hit by an IED which killed him and his driver, Kyle Little.

Sergeant Major Bradly Conner, 41, assigned to Company C, 1^st Battalion, 1^st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Lewis, Washington, was fatally wounded when an IED struck the troop carrier he was riding in.

He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March, 2007. This was his fourth

deployment since 2003.

He was the son of William and Kay Conner of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho; the youngest of three boys, brother to one sister, the father of three and husband to Cynthia.

He was outgoing, friendly, with no biases at all. He was helpful - an encourager - and when he set his heart on something, he gave it his all.

His awards include three Bronze Stars, one Purple Heart, three Meritorious Service Medals, three Joint Service Commendation Medals, six Army Commendation Medals, seven Army Achievement Medals, five Good Conduct Medals and two National Defense Medals.

He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Private First Class Charles Hester was assigned to the 2^nd Battalion, 3^rd Infantry Regiment, with the 3^rd Brigade, 2^nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington. He was killed May 26, 2007, when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Baghdad.

Hester had been in the Army since May 2004 and arrived in Fort Lewis in September, 2004, where he was assigned to the 3^rd Brigade.

Charles Hester was an avid guitar player who once made the pilgrimage to Jimi Hendrix’s grave, where he buried a guitar pick. He loved the oldies, his former squad leader Staff Sergeant Chess Johnson remembers, and he could never come up with a song that Charles didn’t know the lyrics to.

Charles was a devoted and loving father, who was wrapped around his daughter Elizabeth’s little finger. His is also survived by his wife, Roxanne Slate.

Shane was born May 22, 1984, in Artesia, California.  He moved to live with his father and stepmother in Boise, Idaho, and lived in Boise between the ages 9 and 14, attending Taft Elementary and Hillside Junior High Schools and played on an Optimist Football team for NorWest Mortgage.  Shane then moved to Fullerton, California, to live with his mother, earning his diploma in 2001.

He wanted more for his future and told his friends and family that he was joining the Army to serve his country and to earn money to go to college.  He planned to earn his degree in business and open his own sporting goods store. 

Shane was assigned to the 2^nd Battalion, 69^th Armor Regiment, 3^rd Brigade Combat Team, 3^rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Georgia.  On June 23, 2007, Shane volunteered to drive on a search and rescue mission.  Their Humvee was hit by an IED, which drove him and two comrades out of the vehicle, where they were gunned down by small-arms fire.

Shane’s comrades nicknamed him “the silent soldier” because “he was quiet and direct to the point.”

Shane was an outstanding soldier in whom everyone found comfort and confidence.  His devotion to duty placed him in a very special category – guardian of the Nation.  Shane’s loss came in selfless service to make our country and the world safer.  His dedication to

his country was invaluable, and he will be remembered for his generous spirit and devotion to duty. In his death, we have lost a true hero.

Specialist Adam Davis was less than a few weeks shy of his 20th birthday when the Army deployed him and others from the 173rd Airborne Brigade, stationed in Vicenza, Italy, to Afghanistan.

Adam enlisted in the Army, following in the footsteps of numerous family members, including his grandfather, Albert Davis, who died from cancer. Albert was a sailor stationed in San Diego in World War II.

Adam and his older brother TJ, who also enlisted in the Army,  were very close  to their grandpa.

Adam enjoyed reading most anything, but enjoyed science fiction and fantasy; he loved to listen to music, go on hikes with his dad and brother, as well as spending time with his horse and skateboarding. He loved to spend time with his family and friends. His dream was to finish with the military and go to college to become an English professor.

Adam was the youngest of three siblings.  He is survived by his father, Tim Davis, and mother, Tracy Carrico.