Lance Cpl. Matthew G. Reza

Lance Cpl. Matthew G. Reza
Hometown:Austin, Texas, U.S.

Age:27 years old

Died:May 31, 2009 in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Unit:Marines, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31, Marine Aircraft Group 31, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S. C.

Incident: Died in a non-hostile incident.

Obituary

Lance Corporal Matthew Gregory Reza, age 27, died Sunday, May 31, 2009, near Khandahar province, Afghanistan, while serving his country as a member of the United States Marine Corps. Matthew was born on September 23, 1981, in Austin, Texas, to Richard and Sharon Reza. He attended AISD schools and Austin Community College before enlisting in the Marines in 2007. Prior to joining the Marines, Matthew had a rewarding experience working at Hope House, a residential facility for children with special needs, and often spoke about advancing his education and career in social work after his tour of duty. After meeting in San Diego, Matthew wed Sarah Benway on February 16, 2008. The newlyweds led an active life in California, North Carolina, and South Carolina until Matthew's deployment in March 2009. Matthew will be readily remembered for his engaging personality, singular independence, exceptional sense of humor, and kind heart. To many he was a loyal friend and capable mentor, proficient at handling difficult situations with either his resourceful mind or engaging smile. To older family members, Matthew was the first grandchild, an "old soul" of exceptional intelligence who often discussed topics beyond his years. His younger sister and best friend, Stephanie Peek, to whom he was fiercely devoted, especially loved him. Stephanie's "hero" was a genuinely loving person who often put her needs, and those of many others, before his. Matthew is survived by his wife, Sarah Reza of Beaufort, South Carolina; mother, Sharon Reza; sister and brother-in-law, Stephanie and Joshua Peek of Austin, Texas; father, Richard; brother, Richard (Ricky); and sister, Emily Reza of Lansing, Michigan; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins of Austin, Texas. The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2009, at Cook- Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home located at 6300 West William Cannon Drive, Austin, Texas, 78749. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, 2009, in the Chapel of Cook-Walden/ Forest Oaks. The family has established a memorial website at www.MeM. com Please visit Matthew's site to view photos, tributes, sign the online guestbook and leave voice greetings.

Published in Austin American-Statesman on June 6, 2009

For a complete listing of all soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, please visit this link: The Washington Post

Spec. Bobby J. Pagan

Spec. Bobby J. Pagan
Hometown:Austin, Texas, U.S.

Age:23 years old

Died:February 13, 2010 in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Unit:Army, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Incident: Died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with a makeshift bomb Feb. 13 in Zhari province, Afghanistan.



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Austin soldier's funeral draws large crowd
Bobby Pagan's casket bore the logos of UT and the U.S. Army.

By Jeremy Schwartz AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Updated: 12:00 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010

Published: 8:43 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, 2010

Spc. Bobby Pagan, 23, was supposed to be home on leave in a few days, introducing his large family to his fiancée and sharing war stories of his first tour in Afghanistan. Instead, friends and family attended Pagan's funeral Friday and said his East Austin neighborhood will never be the same without the jokester whose infectious smile put everyone around him at ease.

Large crowds filled Santa Julia Catholic Church and Assumption Cemetery to say goodbye to the lifelong East Austinite who attended Oak Springs Elementary School , Lamar Middle School and Anderson High School.

"He had a big heart, a very big heart," said Jaime Anzures, a classmate at Anderson High who called Pagan her best friend. "He put everyone else before him. The only way I'm getting through it is knowing that he helped me get through a lot. No one can replace Bobby. He's been a man since he was 13."

Pagan, who joined the Army in 2008, was killed Feb. 13 with two fellow soldiers by a suicide bomber on a motorbike in Kandahar province.

Lalo Trevino met Pagan when the two worked at an Austin Lexus dealership before Pagan entered the Army.

"He was always joking around, always playing around, making people smile," said Trevino, who served two tours in Iraq with the U.S. Army. "He asked me a lot about what it was like over there. ... He was very, very excited about joining the Army. He said he wanted to be just like his brother."

Pagan was 12 when his older brother Robert left home and entered the military. His mother has said that soon after, Pagan took his brother's place, ensuring his siblings got to school and working at Highland Mall selling smoothies.

Pastor Christopher Ferrer of Santa Julia Church said Pagan touched many lives.

During Pagan's funeral Mass, Ferrer led more than 100 mourners in a standing ovation.

"Today we have in front of us a brave soldier," Ferrer said. "Bobby, we admire your courage and we admire your self-sacrifice."

Later at Assumption Cemetery, Pagan's military burial drew a number of childhood and high school friends, several of whom wore T-shirts with a photo of Pagan. One wore a sweatshirt airbrushed with a picture of Pagan sporting his trademark grin.

Pagan's custom coffin lid was adorned with two of his loves. Painted burnt orange, it featured the logo of his beloved University of Texas Longhorns and an emblem of the U.S. Army.

jschwartz@statesman.com; 912-2942

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For a complete listing of all soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, please visit this link: The Washington Post

Sgt. Jaime Gonzalez, Jr.

Sgt. Jaime Gonzalez, Jr.,
Hometown:Austin, Texas, U.S.

Age:40 years old

Died:August 3, 2008 in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Unit:Army, 436th Chemical Company, Texas Army National Guard, Laredo, Tex.

Incident: Killed in Kabul, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when his vehicle encountered a mine.

Obituary

Sgt. Jaime Gonzalez, Jr., 40, born in El Paso, Texas was killed in action in Kabul, Afghanistan. He served in both the U.S. Navy and U. S. Army. He is survived by his parents: Jaime Gonzalez Sr. and Maria M. Gonzalez; wife: Erica Gonzalez; son: Jaime Ricardo Gonzalez III; daughter: Samantha Elizabeth Gonzalez; stepsons: Jacob and Christopher Villarreal, and Robert Garcia; stepdaughter: Missy Villarreal; brothers: Robert and Demetrio Gonzalez; sisters: Belen Gonzalez, Cynthia Ann Aleman and Flower "Flor" Providence. Visitation will be from 5:00-9:00 pm and Prayer Service at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast. Funeral Service at 12:30 pm, Thursday, August 14, 2008 at Iglesia Bautista - Trinity, 201 Cargill St. Interment will follow with full military honors at Fort Bliss National Cemetery. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast. Please visit on-line register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net.

Published by the El Paso Times August 12, 2008

For a complete listing of all soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, please visit this link: The Washington Post

St. Shaun M. Mittler

Sgt. Shaun M. Mittler
Hometown:Austin, Texas, U.S.

Age:32 years old

Died:July 10, 2010 in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Unit:Army, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Incident: Died in Konar, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit using rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fires.
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Soldier with Austin ties killed in Afghanistan
By Claudia Grisales | Wednesday, July 14, 2010, 01:32 PM

A 32-year old soldier, Sgt. Shaun M. Mittler, who was recently stationed at Fort Hood and lived in Austin, was killed in Afghanistan in an attack this past weekend, the Defense Department and relatives said Wednesday.

Mittler died of injuries sustained in an attack in the Kunar region of Afghanistan when his unit was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and gunfire, military officials said in a statement. Mittler had been stationed in Afghanistan for about a year, his stepfather Lance Turner said by telephone Wednesday from his Kansas City, Mo., home.

Previously, Mittler lived in Kentucky, where he was assigned to Fort Campbell, the base where he began his military career almost 12 years ago, Turner said.

Mittler was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star on Tuesday, Turner said. The military was key in Mittler’s life, Turner said.

Mittler was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), in Fort Campbell, Ky.

“The military saved him and he’s a hero of this country and his friends and family,” said Turner, 57. “He loved life and he’s a hero.”

After Fort Campbell, Mittler was stationed in Korea for about a year and then spent a few years in Hawaii and then Fort Hood around 2006 for a couple of years until he returned to Kentucky, Turner said. He also did two tours of duty in Iraq in recent years, Turner said.

Turner, who is married to Mittler’s mother, 56-year-old Joyce Turner, also described his stepson as a “goofball.” Joyce Turner declined to comment Wednesday.

“He lived life to the fullest and he was a jokester and he had a huge heart,” Turner said.

Mittler is survived by his wife Maricel and a 9-year-old daughter, who both live in the Philippines, Turner said.
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For a complete listing of all soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, please visit this link: The Washington Post