Teatime with Gods, Goddesses, Angels, and Demons

by Debi Smith

I was around seven or eight years old. It was the middle of the night and I was being invited to tea by demons who were sitting quite comfortably in the four corners of my bedroom ceiling. I ran sweaty and panicked into my mom and dad's bedroom. "Mom, Dad, some demons are asking me to have tea with them." I was truly freaked out and hoping they'd let me snuggle in the safety of their bed (never their modus operandi). They sleepily (not believing me) told me to go back to my bed and pray to god to get rid of the demons. So I did, lying there repeating mantra fashion over and over, "Jehovah God, please help me, Jehovah God, please help me...." (I was raised a Jehovah's Witness, but left the religion long ago.) I was taught to believe that the bible was the inspired-to humans-word of god, and I knew that within its crispy pages angels were also reported to have spoken directly to man. But, inexplicably, this was now a thing relegated to the past. God and angels didn't communicate personally anymore. Oh, I could talk to god (you know, an old white bearded guy sitting on a throne in the clouds), but he didn't talk back. And neither did angels. They certainly didn't invite you to tea. But demons? They're everywhere. Always looking to tempt or steal your soul. The thing I've wondered ever since was, what if those weren't demons? What if they were angels? Or . . . . what if it was a mixture? Wow, what an amazing conversation over tea that would be have been.

New Year 2008. A little tea time here with a few gods, goddesses, angels, and demons.

As we are usually want to do around this time, we think of what the past year brought us. Or took from us. How we might have succeeded at the promises we'd made and intentions we'd had. Or not. How we might have dealt with the many choices, opportunities, challenges, and outcomes the year put in our path. Or not.

And now with hope and perhaps more than a touch of trepidation we look ahead to the new year, contemplating what it will bring, what it might take, what challenges and adventures will be put in our path, and wondering what the tally of it all will be by this time next year. Mostly, and more importantly (right?), we contemplate the people we love and care about-whether we lost them to the past year or before, or are hoping and praying we don't lose them to the next year or beyond. And then there's the many people who we don't yet know but who will undoubtedly, and perhaps a bit serendipitously, cross our paths and enter our hearts this coming year.

One of the many amazing people taken from us this past year, at the end of January, was the inimitable Molly Ivins. In February, in an underclassman and wannabe nod to Molly, I promised to write regularly (weekly I said-but weakly is more how it turned out) about the men and women who have lost their lives in our country's twin Freedom Operations: Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. Otherwise known as The Global War On Terror. My intent was to do so in a non-judgmental fashion however-not an easy task considering how these wars were based, predominantly, on lies. But necessary I felt, out of respect for the fact that many of these mostly young men and women (pay attention to their ages) and their surviving families and friends might have fully believed/believe that what they were doing was best for the advancement of freedom and democracy, and for our country. And I didn't want them to feel that their loved one's names were being used as propaganda.

Yes, Molly was inimitable. Not capable of being imitated. Matchless. When Molly, bless her funky and passionate and truth seeking soul, said, "This will be a regular feature of mine, like an old-fashioned newspaper campaign. Every column, I'll write about this war until we find some way to end it. STOP IT NOW. BAM! Every day, we will review some factor we should have gotten right," she honored her commitment, not even allowing her impending death to get in the way of it. I, on the other hand, allowed life to get in the way of mine. I followed through in February, March, and April. Sort of. My original intention had been to delve deeper into some of the lives of these fallen. And to also put a lens on the fallen in Iraq (where so many thousands more have died).

But then the Goddess of Burn Out paid me a visit. (And the Demon of You Think What You're Doing Makes Any Difference?)

Perhaps this is one of death's great lessons, especially when you know death is at your door, the god of Impending Death we'll call him. When Impending Death rings the doorbell you don't have the luxury of claiming burn out. Or laziness. Or ignorance. Or ineptitude. You can declare those excuses of course, like some unnecessary baggage or foreign purchase, while waiting for your lonely and uncertain passage across the dark River Styx. And some do, but for most people Impending Death is a clarifier. Impending Death forces you to your knees and compels you to choose what's most important-the thing, or things, you must do, (or get rid of to make room for the doing)-before Death takes you on its crossing. And what a blessed gift that is. One Molly accepted and offered in return wholeheartedly.

Most of us don't get blessed by a visit from Impending Death. We just get good ol Sudden Death, who has a tendency to lure us into the belief that we have forever to get our lives in order and prioritized.

I went to see my grandmother on her deathbed a couple months ago. 93 years old. She was the mastermind behind my grandfather, the professional wrestler Gorgeous George who some might still recall, and his gimmicks that helped make professional wrestling popular (oh joy) and inspired people like Little Richard, and Muhammad Ali, and Bob Dylan. Here was my Nana, bleeding internally, with her blood count dropping precipitously, and no one could find the source of the problem. The hospital's take? "Well, she's 93 years old. She's gonna die." They put her on some oxygen to help her breathe, gave her morphine when she couldn't and panicked, and that was pretty much it. My first day there I volunteered to be the one to stay overnight with her. I didn't want her to die, but if she did I was happy to be the one with her when it happened. I massaged lotion over her tiny feet. Helped her mostly naked and withering body out of bed and onto the toilet in the middle of the night (after she fiercely refused the indignity of soiling her bed and pad, which is what the nurses wanted her to do). All night long lying there, mostly sleepless, facing her from the other bed in the room, making eye contact once in a while, listening to her breathe like she might have done for me when I was little. And when her breath would catch: Is she breathing? Is she still alive? What a miracle and a mystery, this thing called Life and Death.

I've only been present with one other person as they were dying. And I felt, surprisingly, that she was ready to go, even though her death came surprisingly and suddenly. It was okay. The three days I sat with my Nana I couldn't find that feeling. I tried. But I couldn't even find it in the midst of what we all thought was really the end-when she couldn't find her breath at all, and could barely gasp out that she was ready to go because what she was feeling was so terrifying. But she lived through that moment. And that day. I had to come home the next. It was my daughter's first homecoming dance and I wanted to be here for her. I said my tearful farewell to my Nana, giving her the same butterfly kisses she used to give me, believing the next time I saw her it would be at her funeral.

Well, almost three months later, Nana is still alive, and getting stronger and healthier with every passing day. A couple days after I left the hospital she woke up and, taking her survival literally into her own hands, asked if eating liver would help her blood count. "I don't like liver, but I'll eat it if it helps me." And then she said she wanted steak instead, medium rare, on a heated plate (never mind it was served well done on a paper plate). She's a ferocious little thing. Refuses to die until it suits her.

Why do I tell this story here? (Other than because telling stories about my family helps me appreciate them more, and helps me feel more connected to other people and their stories, and because health care needs a wake up call.) It's because I witnessed one of the greatest gifts Impending Death and Recognized Endings can bring. Nana had several glorious-probably not the adjective she'd use, but glorious in some respects they were-days in the hospital where she apologized and forgave and reconnected with many people who she'd in one way or another distanced (or pissed off) in her life. Bitterness and judgment and anger melted away leaving only love and acceptance. On all sides. Those of us closest to her know what a miracle that was! There's also another reason I tell this story though. Try as I might, I couldn't find the feeling that she was ready to go. But I just accepted that because she was old, and the hospital said so, she probably was a goner. Now of course she will undoubtedly die in the not too distant future. But who says she doesn't have three or four or five more months? Or years? And I, and my family, were willing to accept her date with Impending Death without question. I mean what a crappy date and we were willing to let her go out with him, hardly any questions asked.

Which made me think about how often we send our young men and women off on their dates with War Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression and Severed Limbs and Sudden Terrifying Death with barely a whispered resistance. Hardly any questions asked. Knowing as well that they and their actions (while in the honorable but perhaps misguided process of attempting to advance freedom and democracy) will often be the source of Panic, and Sorrow, and Severed Limbs, and Cancer Causing Depleted Uranium that will be around for oh-only about 4.5 Billion years, Destroyed Infrastructure And Culture And Homes And Places Of Worship And Families, and Thousands And Thousands Of Dead Civilians (just to name a few things). And I can't find the feeling that it is okay. And don't think I, or anyone else, should just accept it because someone else says so.

And while I didn't want any of my pieces about the fallen to appear judgmental or partisan, I can't help but appreciate some of the sentiments posted by an individual named "paschn" following a Guardian/UK article posted on December 31, 2007 at CommonDreams.org:

Actually, when you look at the track records of the whores in power lying us into killing and dying for their elite friends, there's no one betraying us but us. They simply do what evil blood-sucking swine do. We, on the other hand, continue to wave our little flags, offer up our ignorant off-spring, raise them to bury their little heads in the sand and rally 'round the flag for what appears to be the most destructive, nefarious, rapacious bunch of demons wrapped in human skin to ever soil the planet. So, you want to point the finger? first face a mirror, then point and you'll hit the bull's eye. Support our troops and what they've allowed themselves to do to those poor people that suffer for our lack of back-bone and courage to kick the bastards out? ...Our mindless following of the swine "leading" us for their high protein feeders has brought death on a scale not seen since they suckered us into slaughtering 600,000 phillipinos to save the sugar companies a tariff. Any sympathy I can muster is for the TRUE innocent victims. Those in the world who pay the price of our complacency and cherished ignorance. Those who had NO CHOICE in the matter.

The article, 2007 is America's Deadliest Year in Iraq, reports the following about Iraqi civilian deaths for 2007:

Over the year, 18,610 Iraqis were killed. In 2006, the only other full year an AP count has been made, 13,813 civilians were killed. The civilian toll was compiled by AP from hospital, police and military officials, as well as accounts from reporters and photographers. Insurgent deaths were not included. Other counts differ and some are much higher.

18,610 Iraqi civilians died in 2007 alone??? And other counts are much higher??? (Iraq Body Count puts it at between 22,586 and 24,159 for 2007) THIS is freedom and democracy on the march?? God (and demons if they can) help us if that's the case. Perhaps the numbers of our dying troops are decreasing, thankfully yes, but decreasing simply only perhaps because there's nobody left in Iraq. Wow. We sure showed them. High fives all around. Brought them our little McHappy Bags full of McFreedom and McDemocracy didn't we? They'll be thanking us for years and years won't they?

But in response to "paschen's" suggestion that our soldiers, since they appear to have a choice, are somehow less deserving of our sympathy, I have to add that while I see the point, I don't think it's as simple as that. I wrote a piece a few years ago about the Christmas Truce that happened in 1914 during WWII all along the Western Front. I shared the article a few days ago with a new friend of mine who is from Germany. Upon his recommendation I watched the movie Joyeux Noel, a retelling of that truce, and it was impressed upon me again how, even though it could be argued that war has been necessary at certain junctures, killing other human beings is not something the average person really wants to participate in. When these soldiers in WWII were faced with choices most of them didn't like or want, and an opportunity to rise above it appeared, a beautiful thing happened (albeit ever so briefly). Perhaps what we need to do is create different opportunities? Different ways than killing for people to help share in freedom and democracy? What a concept. Those ways already surely exist. We just need to quit listening to the Demons of BIG WAR AND PROFIT long enough to find and employ them.

So while it is absolutely imperative that we consider the spectre of utter carnage we have visited, in the name of freedom and democracy, upon Iraq and also Afghanistan, I have this feeling that the only way we'll muster a loud and vociferous reaction to it from those of us stateside is when it's made personal (and no, that doesn't mean I want to see Shock and Awe part II or III or XVI at my local theatre). No, I choose to highlight the names below because I believe, for one, that they deserve more attention than Anna or Britney or Ashley or Lindsey or . . . you get my drift, and that maybe the more we focus on what "we've" lost in these "freedom operations" the more likely we will wake from our national stupor. Because for many people, sadly, it's hard to imagine the lives of people half a world away being lost and destroyed. Anyway, they're just a bunch of "ragheads" and "sand niggers" and people who don't believe in Jesus and who probably don't care about their children or know how to love or have hopes and dreams or tell dumb jokes and do laundry and the dishes and....right? But this attitude is not just heartless ignorance. I think that in this country, from day one and in a myriad of ways, we are dumbed down and trained not to think or question. Which makes it very very easy, and is the overall purpose, to let our "opinions" and "beliefs" be shaped by outside influences. (That's a whole other story in itself.)

One major outside influence that shapes and guides much of what we think we believe is our media. And our media doesn't tell us squat. And WHY is that?? Do you know how many major airplane crashes with 500 fatalities it would take to add up to 18,600 dead people? Thirty-seven. If even one airplane crashed in 2007, anywhere in the world, killing all 500 aboard (and that's a big number for an airplane crash) don't you think it'd be headline and front page news? Or what if it was one a month? Or how about three? What then? Even if only one a year, they'd certainly milk that for as long as possible-and in its absence the plane crashes and train wrecks of our celebrity's lives-to distract us. Our media is in the business of playing the shell game. They are in the business of distracting us from the real news. Day in, day out. 24/7. Every channel. (Keith Olbermann aside.) And we keep buying it. But when almost (or more than) 20,000 people die in Iraq in just one year alone, because of our illegal occupation, what do we hear? Nothing.

(Oh the places you'll go when you sit back down to write at the computer after a long sabbatical.) Let me go back to where I began. Endings.

Endings, probably more so than beginnings, bring things into stark relief. Often make us face that which we've most been ignoring. Offer us, especially when impending and not sudden, an opportunity to make amends. I'm not sure what we can do to make amends to the nearly 4500 soldiers who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq in the past six years. Or to the tens upon thousands of dead Iraqis and Afghanis. But all their endings should prompt us to, among other things, consider as seriously as we possibly can what goes on in our name and with other people's blood in countries far away that don't want our meddling (or in countries who would appreciate our assistance--Darfur for example--if we had our priorities straight). Consider it and do something about it. No excuses. And, just a friendly suggestion, it's probably more important than standing in line for three hours on Friday trying to return that god awful pink nightgown with a faux fur collar that Aunt Margaret gave you at Christmas. Then again, what a gift from the Goddess of Opportunity! Why not talk to the person in line next to you? Make eye contact. Laugh about the nightgown. Discover what you have in common. Hopes for your children perhaps? The planet? The election? Your mutual enjoyment of knitting? Whatever. For the more we get to know each other, and see how much we have in common, the less likely we'll be to send our children off to kill, or be killed by, other people's children. And the more likely we will be to get our priorities right and start living up to, if it's not already too late, our "most powerful nation on earth" status and start helping people instead of destroying and killing them.

It wasn't my intent, when I first set out here today, to do anything more than type all the names of the fallen that I'd neglected this year, and their ages and hometowns (which is what I first did, a powerful exercise I must add, especially when staring at their photos--available at The Military Times ). Then I was going to try and find an appropriate reading or poem to add as an introduction. I don't know what happened. I guess it was the Goddess of Getting Personal who wanted a little attention. But sometimes, if I'm not mistaken, it's Getting Personal who introduces us to Getting Real.

And the people listed below were very real. Had very real smiles and hopes and dreams and beliefs and families (just like those who died in Iraq and Afghanistan). People who we'd all probably find a great deal in common with. They will be missed.

With first names like Matthew, Ryan, Michael, Karen, John, and Christopher (lots of Christophers). And Astor, Princess, Genesia, Vincenzo, Ming, and Alejandro. With last names like Marciante, Rateb, Martinez, Vidhyarkorn, LaFleur, and O'Leary. And Brown, Smith, Johnson, Wilson, Davis, and Miller. They came from places like Sugar Land, Ooltewah, Rochester, Houston, Roswell, and Venus. And Rootstown, Long Beach, White Pigeon, Wahiawa, Chagrin Falls, and Pointblank. From Hoquiam (my husband's hometown), Grants Pass (one of my hometowns), Chicago, Moscow, Carthage, and Independence. And from every place in between. Please offer them a moment of your contemplation and whatever else the gods and goddesses and angels of Compassion and Appreciation and Non-Judgment and Humanity and Stopping War might suggest to you.

Kurt Vonnegut-another amazing person we lost this past year, and who witnessed firsthand the bombing of Dresden, Germany-once said, "A purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved." And in my mind, that means absolutely everybody. My 17-year-old son who loves Kurt Vonnegut said it'd be better if I just wrote here: And so it goes. I allow him that.

And so it goes: In Memoriam (My sincere apologies for any inaccuracies or omissions.)

January 2007
Thomas E. Vandling Jr., 26, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Charles D. Allen, 28, of Wasilla, Alaska
Michael L. Mundell, 47, of Brandenburg, Kentucky
Raymond N. Mitchell Ill, 21, of West Memphis, Arkansas
Jeremiah J. Johnson, 23, of Vancouver, Washington
Stephen J. Raderstorf, 21, of Peoria, Arizona
Eric T. Caldwell, 22, of Salisbury, Maryland
Timothy R. Weiner, 35, of Tamarac, Florida
Elizabeth A. Loncki, 23, of New Castle, Delaware
Daniel B. Miller Jr., 24, of Galesburg, Illinois
James M. Wosika Jr., 24, of St. Paul, Minnesota
Ryan R. Berg, 19, of Sabine Pass, Texas
Ming Sun, 20, of Cathedral City, California
Paul T. Sanchez, 32, of Irving, Texas
James D. Riekena, 22, of Redmond, Washington
Mark J. Daily, 23, of Irvine, California
Ian C. Anderson, 22, of Prairie Village, Kansas
John E. Cooper, 29, of Ewing, Kentucky
Matthew T. Grimm, 21, of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
Gregroy A. Wright, 28, Boston, Massachusetts
Jason J. Corbett, 23, of Casper, Wyoming
Jennifer A. Valdivia, 27, of Cambridge, Illinois
Collin R. Schockmel, 19, of Richwood, Texas
Joseph D. Alomar, 22, of Brooklyn, New York
William J. Rechenmacher, 24, Jacksonville, Florida
Russell P. Borea, 38, of El Paso, Texas
Jacob H. Neal, 23, of San Marcos, Texas
Brian S. Freeman, 31, of Temecula, California
Luis J. Castillo, 20, of Lawton, Michigan
Allen B. Jaynes, 21, of Henderson, Texas
Jacob N. Fritz, 25, of Verdon, Nebraska
Johnathan B. Chism, 22, of Gonzales, Louisiana
Shawn P. Falter, 25, of Cortland, New York
Johnathon M. Millican, 20, of Trafford, Alabama Brian D. Allgood, 46, of Oklahoma
Darryl D. Booker, 37, of Midlothian, Virginia
John G. Brown, 43, of Little Rock, Arkansas
David C. Canegata, 50, of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands
Marilyn L. Gabbard, 46, of Polk City, Iowa
Roger W. Haller, 49, of Davidsonville, Maryland
Paul M. Kelly, 45, of Stafford, Virginia
Floyd E. Lake, 43, of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Victor M. Langarica, 29, of Decatur, Georgia
Sean E. Lyerly, 31, of Pflugerville, Texas
Michael V. Taylor, 40, of North Little Rock, Arkansas
William T. Warren, 48, of North Little Rock, Arkansas
Ryan J. Hill, 20, of Keizer, Oregon
Jonathan P.C. Kingman, 21, of Nankin, Ohio
Sean P. Fennerty, 25, of Corvallis, Oregon
Phillip D. McNeill, 22, of Sunrise, Florida
Jeffrey D. Bisson, 22, of Vista, California
Toby R. Olsen, 28, of Manchester, New Hampshire
Darrel J. Morris, 21, of Spokane, Washington
Emilian D. Sanchez, 20, of Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico
Andrew G. Matus, 19, of Chetek, Wisconsin
Nicholas P. Brown, 24, of Huber Heights, Ohio
Brandon L. Stout, 23, of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Jamie D. Wilson, 34, of San Diego, California
Gary S. Johnston, 21, of Windthorst, Texas
Michael J. Wiggins, 26, of Cleveland, Ohio
Michael M. Kashkoush, 24, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio
ector Leija, 27, of Houston, Texas
Keith A. Callahan, 31, of McClure, Pennsylvania
Michael C. Balsley, 23, of Hayward, California
Darrell W. Shipp, 25, of San Antonio, Texas
Mark D. Kidd, 26, of Milford, Michigan
Alexander H. Fuller, 21, of Centerville, Massachusetts
Alan R. Johnson, 44, of Yakima, Washington
Nathan P. Fairlie, 21, of Candor, New York
Anthony C. Melia, 20, of Thousand Oaks, California
Mickel D. Garrigus, 24, of Elma, Washington
Timothy A. Swanson, 21, of San Antonio, Texas
Jon B. St.John II, 25, of Neenah, Wisconsin
David T. Toomalatai, 19, of Long Beach, California
Carla J. Stewart, 37, of Sun Valley, California
Mark T. Resh, 28, of Fogelsville, Pennsylvania
Cornell C. Chao, 36, of Orange City, California
Adam Q. Emul, 19, of Vancouver, Washington
Milton A. Gist Jr., 27, of St. Louis, Missouri
Corey J. Aultz, 31, of Port Orchard, Washington
Alejandro Carrillo, 22, of Los Angeles, California
William M. Sigua, 21, of Los Altos Hills, California
Stephen D. Shannon, 21, of Guttenberg, Iowa

February 2007
March 2007
April 2007

May 2007
Johnathan E. Kirk, 25, of Belhaven, North Carolina
Zachary R. Gullett, 20, of Hillsboro, Ohio
Katie M. Soenksen, 19, of Davenport, Iowa
Ryan P. Jones, 23, of Westminster, Massachusetts
Astor A. Sunsin-Pineda, 20, of Long Beach, California
Colby J. Umbrell, 26, of Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Joseph G. Harris, 19, of Sugar Land, Texas
Andrew R. Weiss, 28, of Lafayette, Indiana
Felix G. Gonzalez-Iraheta, 25, of Sun Valley, California
John D. Flores, 21, of Barrigada, Guam
Kelly B. Grothe, 21, of Spokane, Washington
Jerome J. Potter, 24, of Tacoma, Washington
Matthew T. Bolar, 24, of Montgomery, Alabama
Christopher N. Hamlin, 24, of London, Kentucky
Kenneth N. Mack, 42, of Fort Worth, Texas
Charles O. Palmer II, 36, of Manteca, California
Larry I. Guyton, 22, of Brenham, Texas
Christopher S. Kiernan, 37, of Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virgil C. Martinez, 33, of West Valley, Utah
Robert J. Dixon, 27, of Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sameer A.M. Rateb, 22, of Absecon, New Jersey
Vincenzo Romeo, 23, of Lodi, New Jersey
Joel W. Lewis, 28, of Sandia Park, New Mexico
Jason R. Harkins, 25, of Clarkesville, Georgia
Matthew L. Alexander, 21, of Gretna, Nebraska
Anthony M. Bradshaw, 21, of San Antonio, Texas
Michael A. Pursel, 19, of Clinton, Utah
Wilberto Sabalu Jr., 36, of Chicago, Illinois
James W. Harrison Jr., 47, of Ft. Leavenworth/Kansas City, Missouri
Timothy P. Padgett, 28, of DeFuniak Springs, Florida
Dan H. Nguyen, 24, of Sugar Land, Texas
Blake C. Stephens, 25, of Pocatello, Idaho
Kyle A. Little, 20, of West Boylston, Massachusetts
Bradly D. Conner, 41, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Walter K. O'Haire, 20, of Lynn, Massachusetts
Michael K. Frank, 36, of Great Falls, Montana
Jason W. Vaughn, 29, of Iuka, Mississippi
Roy L. Jones III, 21, of Houston, Texas
Anthony J. Sausto, 22, of Lake Havasu City, Arizona
William A. Farrar Jr., 20, of Redlands, California
Douglas A. Zembiec, 34, of Albuquerque, New Mexico
James D. Connell Jr., 40, of Lake City, Tennessee
Daniel W. Courneya, 19, of Nashville, Michigan
Christopher E. Murphy, 21, of Lynchburg, Virginia
Rhys W. Klasno, 20, of Riverside, California
Andrew J. Bacevich, 27, of Walpole, Massachusetts
Jeffrey D. Walker, 21, of Macon, Georgia
John T. Self, 29, of Pontotoc, Mississippi
Nicholas S. Hartge, 20, of Rome City, Indiana
Thomas G. Wright, 38, of Holly, Michigan
Allen J. Dunckley, 25, of Yardley, Pennsylvania
Christopher N. Gonzalez, 25, of Winslow, Arizona
Anthony J. Schober, 23, of Reno, Nevada
Larry J. Bauguess Jr., 36, of Moravian Falls, North Carolina
Joshua R. Whitaker, 23, of Long Beach, California
Jonathan V. Hamm, 20, of Baltimore, Maryland
Jess Be. Albrecht, 31, of Hager City, Wisconsin
Victor M. Fontanilla, 23, of Stockton, California
Coty J. Phelps, 20, of Kingman, Arizona
Steven M. Packer, 23, of Clovis, California
Aaron D. Gautier, 19, of Hampton, Virginia
Joshua G. Romero, 19, of Crowley, Texas
Anselmo Martinez III, 26, of Robstown, Texas
Casey W. Nash, 22, of Baltimore, Maryland
Marquis J. McCants, 23, of San Antonio, Texas
Scott J. Brown, 33, of Windsor, Colorado
Ryan D. Collins, 20, of Vernon, Texas
Ryan J. Baum, 27, of Aurora, Colorado
Justin D. Wisniewski, 22, of Standish, Michigan
Christopher Moore, 28, of Alpaugh, California
Jean P. Medlin, 27, of Pelham, Alabama
David W. Behrle, 20, of Tipton, Iowa
Joseph A. Gilmore, 26, of Webster, Florida
Travis F. Haslip, 20, of Ooltewah, Tennessee
Alexander R. Varela, 19, of Fernley, Nevada
Jason A. Schumann, 23, of Hawley, Minnesota
Shannon V. Weaver, 28, Urich, Missouri
Brian D. Ardron, 32, of Acworth, Georgia
Michael W. Davis, 22, of San Marcos, Texas
Benjamin D. Desilets, 21, of Elmwood, Illinois
Julian M. Woodall, 21, of Tallahassee, Florida
Robert J. Montgomery Jr., 29, of Scottsburg, Indiana
Oscar Sauceda Jr., 21, of Del Rio, Texas
David C. Kuehl, 27, of Wahpeton, North Dakota
Kristopher A. Higdon, 25, of Odessa, Texas
Robert A. Worthington, 19, of Jackson, Georgia
Joseph J. Anzack Jr., 20, of Torrance, California
Steve Butcher Jr., 27, of Rochester, New York
Daniel P. Cagle, 22, of Carson, California
Victor H. Toledo Pulido, 22, of Hanford, California
Jonathan D. Winterbottom, 21, of Falls Church, Virginia
Benjamin J. Ashley, 22, of Independence, Missouri
Robert H. Dembowski, 20, of Ivyland, Pennsylvania
Iosiwo Uruo, 27, of Agana Heights, Guam
Robert E. Dunham, 36, of Baltimore, Maryland
Russell K. Shoemaker, 31, of Sweet Springs, Missouri
Mark R.C. Caguioa, 21, of Stockton, California
Mathew P. LaForest, 21, of Austin, Texas
Alexander Rosa Jr., 22, of Orlando, Florida
William L. Baily III, 29, of Bellevue, Nebraska
David P. Lindsey, 20, of Spartanburg, South Carolina
Casey P. Zylman, 22, of Coleman, Michigan
Erich S. Smallwood, 23, of Trumann, Arkansas
Clayton G. Dunn II, 22, of Moreno Valley, California
Michael J. Jaurigue, 20, of Texas City, Texas
Gregory N. Millard, 22, of San Diego, California
Nicholas R. Walsh, 27, of Millstadt, Illinois
Francis M. Trussel Jr., 21, of Lincoln, Illinois
Clinton C. Blodgett, 19, of Pekin, Indiana
Emmanuel Villarreal, 21, of Eagle Pass, Texas
Thomas M. McFall, 36, of Glendora, California
Cedeno Sanchez, 20, of Miami, Florida
Anthony D. Ewing, 22, of Phoenix, Arizona
Keith N. Heidtman, 24, of Norwich, Connecticut
Theodore U. Church, 32, of South Point, Ohio
Zachary D. Baker, 24, of Vilonia, Arkansas
James E. Summers III, 21, of Bourbon, Missouri
Kile G. West, 23, of Pasadena, Texas
Alexandre A. Alexeev, 23, of Wilmington, California
Joseph M. Weiglein, 31, of Audubon, New Jersey
Richard V. Correa, 25, of Honolulu, Hawaii
Robert A. Liggett, 23, of Urbana, Illinois
Doonewey White, 26, of Milpitas, California
Jonathan A. Markham, 22, of Bedford, Texas
Christopher M. Allgaier, 33, of Middleton, Missouri
Joshua R. Rodgers, 29, of Carson City, Nevada
Charlie L. Bagwell, 28, of Lake Toxaway, North Carolina
Jesse A. Blamires, 25, of West Jordan, Utah
Brandon E. Hadaway, 25, of Valley, Alabama
Bacilio E. Cuellar, 24, of Odessa, Texas
James E. Lundin, 20, of Bellport, New York
Joshua M. Moore, 20, of Russellville, Kentucky
Matthew A. Bean, 22, of Pembroke, Massachusetts
Matthew E. Bayliss, 20, of Oakdale, New York
Chadrick O. Domino, 23, of Ennis, Texas

June 2007
Travis W. Atkins, 31, of Bozeman, Montana
Bruce E. Horner, 43, of Newport News, Virginia
Charles R. Browning, 31 of Tucson, Arizona
Michael A. Robinson, 42, of Sylacauga, Alabama
Juan F. Campos, 27, of McAllen, Texas
William J. Crouch, 21, Zachary, Louisiana
Keith V. Nepsa, 22, of New Philadelphia, Ohio
Shawn E. Dressler, 22, of Santa Maria, California
Jacob M. Lowell, 22, of New Lenox, Illinois
Romel Catalan, 21, of Los Angeles, California
Jeremiah D. Costello, 22, of Carlinville, Illinois
Joshua D. Brown, 26, of Dearborn Heights, Michigan
Kimel L. Watt, 21, of Brooklyn, New York
Caleb P. Christopher, 25, of Chandler, Arizona
Greg P. Gagarin, 38, of Los Angeles, California
James C. Akin, 23, of Albuquerque, New Mexico
Tyler J. Kritz, 21, of Eagle River, Wisconsin
Robert A. Surber, 24, of Inverness, Florida
Ryan A. Balmer, 33, of Mishawaka, Indiana
Matthew J. Kuglics, 25, of North Canton, Ohio
Timothy R. Vimoto, 19, of Fort Campbell Kentucky
Andrews J. Higgins, 28, of Hayward, California
Justin A. Verdeja, 20, of La Puente, California
Greg L. Sutton, 38, of Spring Lake, North Carolina
Timothy B. Cole Jr., 28, of Missouri City, Texas
Shawn D. Gajdos, 25, of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Matthew Soper, 25, of Kalamazoo, Michigan
Charles E. Wyckoff Jr., 28, of Chula Vista, California
William N. Newman, 23, of Kingston Springs, Tennessee
Scott A. Miller, 20, of Casper, Wyoming
Cory M. Endlich, 23, of Massillon, Ohio
Dariek E. Dehn, 32, of Spangle, Washington
Brian M. Long, 32, of Burns, Wyoming
Eric M. Barnes, 20, of Lorain, Ohio
Llythaniele Fender, 21, of Medical Lake, Washington
Meresebang Ngiraked, 21, or Koror, Republic of Palau
Adam G. Herold, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska
Cameron K. Payne, 22, of Corona, California
Glade L. Felix, 52, of Lake Park, Georgia
William C. Johnson, 22, of Oxford, North Carolina
Johnny R. Strong, 21, of Waco, Texas
Damon G. LeGrand, 27, of Lakeside, California
Casey S. Carriker, 20, of Hoquiam, Washington
Derek T. Roberts, 24, of Gold River, California
Val J. Borm, 21, of Sidney, Nebraska
Farid Elazzouzi, 26, of Paterson, New Jersey
Josiah W. Hollopeter, 27, of San Diego, California
Michael A. Bechert, 24, of New Castle, Indiana
Dustin R. Brisky, 26, of Round Rock, Texas
Richard K. Parker, 26, of Phillips, Maine
Arthur L. Lilley, 35, of Smithfield, Pennsylvania
Kevin H. Sonnenberg, 42, McClure, Ohio
Michael P. Pittman, 34, Davenport, Iowa
Danny R. Soto, 24, of Houston, Texas
Zachary A. Grass, 22, of Beach City, Ohio
Roy P. Lewsader, Jr., 36, of Belleville, Illinois
Frank B. Walkup IV, 23, of Woodbury, Tennessee
Joshua E. Steele, 26, North Henderson, Illinois
Christopher D. Henderson, 35, of Hillsboro, Oregon
John M. Hennen, 26, of Vinton, Louisiana
Larry Parks Jr., 24, of Altoona, Pennsylvania
Eric L. Snell, 35, of Trenton, New Jersey
Jacob T. Tracy, 20, of Palestine, Illinois
Frank M. Sandoval, 27, of Yuma, Arizona
David A. Wilkey, Jr., 22, of Elkhart, Indiana
Darryl W. Linder, 23, of Hickory, North Carolina
William A. Zapfe, 35, of Muldraugh, Kentucky
Joshua S. Modgling, 22, of Las Vegas, Nevada
Shawn P. Martin, 30, of Delmar, New York
Stephen J. Wilson, 28, of Duluth, Georgia
Sid W. Brookshire, 36, of Willard, Missouri
Darren P. Hubbell, 38, of Tifton, Georgia
Joe G. Charfauros Jr., 33, of Rota, Mariana Islands
David J. Bentz III, 20, of Newfield, New Jersey
Dustin J. Perrott, 23, of Fredericksburg, Virginia
Alphonso J. Montenegro II, 22, of Far Rockaway, New York
Ryan M. Wood, 22, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Raymond N. Spencer Jr., 23, of Carmichael, California
Daniel J. Agami, 25, of Coconut Creek, Florida
Anthony D. Hebert, 19, of Lake City, Minnesota
Karen N. Clifton, 22, Lehigh Acres, Florida
Thomas R. Leemhuis, 23, of Binger, Oklahoma
Jerimiah J. Veitch, 21, of Dibble, Oklahoma
Dominic N. Rodriguez, 23, of Klamath Falls, Oregon
Michael J. Montpetit, 31, of Honolulu, Hawaii
Jason D. Nathan, 22, of Macon, Georgia
Joseph P. Kenny, 20, of Veneta, Oregon
Chris Davis, 35, of Lubbock, Texas
Michael D. Moody Jr., 31, of Richmond, Virginia
Shane M. Stinson, 23, of Fullerton, California
William E. Brown, 25, of Phil Campbell, Alabama
Joel A. Dahl, 21, Los Lunas, New Mexico
Darrell C. Lewis, 31, Washington, D.C.
Jimy M. Malone, 23, Wills Point, Texas
Carter A. Gamble Jr., 24, Brownstown, Indiana
Derek A. Calhoun, 23, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Joel A. House, 22, of Lee, Maine
Daniel P. Riordan, 24, of St. Louis, Missouri
Eric C. Palmer, 21, of Maize, Kansas
Henry G. Byrd III, 20, of Veguita, New Mexico
Trista L. Moretti, 27, of South Plainfield, New Jersey
Andre Craig Jr., 24, of New Haven, Connecticut
Derek C. Dixon, 20, of Riverside, Ohio
Nathan L. Winder, 32, of Blanding, Utah
Daniel A. Newsome, 27, of Chiopee, Massachusetts
Dustin L. Workman II, 19, of Greenwood, Nebraska
Michael J. Martinez, 24, of Chula Vista, California
William W. Crow Jr., 28, of Grandview Plaza, Kansas
Cory F. Hiltz, 20, of La Verne, California
Giann C. Joya Mendoza, 27, of North Hollywood, California
Shin W. Kim, 23, Fullerton, California
James L. Adair, 26, of Carthage, Texas
Robb L. Rolfing, 29, of Milton, Massachusetts

July 2007
Jonathan M. Rossi, 20, Safety Harbor, Florida
Victor A. Garcia, 22, of Rialto, California
Raymond R. Buchan, 33, of Johnston, Pennsylvania
Michael L. Ruoff Jr., 31, or Yosemite, California
William C. Chambers, 20, of Ringgold, Georgia
Jeremy L. Tinnel, 20, Mechanicsville, Virginia
Christopher N. Rutherford, 25, of Newport, Ohio
Juan M. Garcia Schill, 20, of Grants Pass, Oregon
Scott A.M. Oswell, 33, of Fort Lewis, Washington
Steven A. Davis, 23, of Woodbridge, Virginia
Andrew T. Engstrom, 22, of Slaton, Texas
Jeremy L. Stacey, 23, Bismark, Arkansas
Keith A. Kline, 24, of Oak Harbor, Ohio
James M. Ahearn, 43, of Concord, California
Michelle R. Ring, 24, of Martin, Tennessee
Joseph A. Miracle, 22, of Ortonville, Michigan
Christopher S. Honaker, 23, of Cleveland, North Carolina
Anthony M.K. Vinnedge, 24, of Okeana, Ohio
Steven A. Stacy, 23, of Coos Bay, Oregon
Jeremy D. Allbaugh, 21, Luther, Oklahoma
Thomas P. McGee, 23, of Hawthorne, California
Steven Phillip Daugherty, 28, of Barstow, California
Robert Richard McRill, 42, of Lake Placid, Florida
Jason Dale Lewis, 30, of Brookfield, Connecticut
Jon M. Lockey, 44, of Fredericksburg, Virginia
Le Ron A. Wilson, 18, of Queens, New York
Gene L. Lamie, 25, of Homerville, Georgia
Kory D. Wiens, 20, of Independence, Oregon
Bruce C. Salazar Jr., 24, of Tracy, California
Eric A. Lill, 28, of Chicago, Illinois
Roberto J. Causor Jr., 21, of San Jose, California
Sean K. Mitchell, 35, of Monterey, California
Jason E. Dore, 25, of Moscow, Maine
Randy J. Gillespie, 44, of Coaldale, Colorado
Maria I. Ortiz, 40, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Jeffrey R. McKinney, 40, of Garland, Texas
Courtney T. Johnson, 26, of Garner, North Carolina
Allen A. Greka, 29, of Alpena, Michigan
Christopher D. Kube, 18, of Sterling Heights, Michigan
Robert D. Varga, 24, of Monroe City, Missouri
John R. Massey, 29, of Judsonia, Arkansas
Benjamin B. Bartlett Jr., 25, of Manchester, Georgia
Eric M. Holke, 31, of Crestline, California
Shawn V. Starkovich, 20, of Arlington, Washington
Scott R. Smith, 34, of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
Patrick L. Wade, 38, of Key West, Florida
Jeffrey L. Chaney, 35, of Omaha, Nebraska
Brandon K. Bobb, 20, of Orlando, Florida
Ron J. Joshua Jr., 19, of Austin, Texas
Nathan S. Barnes, 23, of American Fork, Utah
James J. Harrelson, 19, of Dadeville, Alabama
Richard Gilmore III, 22, of Jasper, Alabama
Daniel E. Gomez, 21, Warner Robins, Georgia
Zachary R. Clouser, 19, of Dover, Pennsylvania
Luis E. Gutierrez-Rosales, 38, of Bakersfield, California
Brandon M. Craig, 25, of Earleville, Maryland
Ronald L. Coffelt, 36, of Fair Oaks, California
Rhett A. Butler, 22, of Fort Worth, Texas
Jacob S. Schmuecker, 27, of Atkinson, Nebraska
Christopher G. Scherer, 21, of East Northport, New York
Shawn G. Adams, 21, of Dixon, California
Juan S. Restrapo, 20, of Pembroke Pines, Florida
Bobby L. Twitty, 20, of Bedias, Texas
Zachary R. Endsley, 21, of Spring, Texas
Michael S. Curry Jr., 37, of Dania Beach, Florida
Travon T. Johnson, 29, of Palmdale, California
Adam J. Davis, 19, Twin Falls, Idaho
Jessy S. Rogers, 20, Copper Center, Alaska
Courtney D. Finch, 27, of Leavenworth, Kansas
Camy Florexil, 20, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Daniel S. Noble, 21, of Whittier, California
Joshua P. Mattero, 29, of San Diego, California
Robert A. Lynch, 20, of Louisville, Kentucky
James H. McRae, 22, Springtown, Texas
Matthew R. Zindars, 21, of Watertown, Wisconsin
Daniel A. Leckel, 19, Medford, Oregon
Charles E. Bilbrey Jr., 21, of Owego, New York
Jaime Rodriguez Jr., 19, of Oxnard, California
William R. Howdeshell, 37, of Norfold, Virginia
Michael A. Balogoa, 21, of Everett, Washington
Thomas G. Bostick Jr., 37, of Llano, Texas
William R. Fritsche, 23, of Martinsville, Indiana
Cody C. Grater, 20, of Spring Hill, Florida
Wilberto Suliveras, 38, of Humacao, Puerto Rico
Sean A. Stokes, 24, of Auburn, California
Jason M. Kessler, 29, of Mount Vernon, Washington
Benjamin J. Hall, 24, of Fredericksburg, Virginia
Stephen R. Maddies, 41, of Elizabethton, Tennessee
Zachariah J. Gonzalez, 23, of Indianapolis, Indiana
Charles T. Heinlein Jr., 23, of Hemlock, Michigan
Alfred H. Jairala, 29, of Hialeah, Florida
Bradley W. Marshall, 37, of Little Rock, Arkansas
Daniel F. Reyes, 24, of San Diego, California

August 2007
Travis S. Bachman, 30, of Garden City, Kansas
Fernando Santos, 29, of San Antonio, Texas
Eric D. Salinas, 25, of Houston, Texas
Christian Rojas-Gallego, 24, of Loganville, Georgia
Julian Ingles Rios, 52, of Anasco, Puerto Rico
Taurean T. Harris, 22, of Liberty, Mississippi
Cristian Vasquez, 20, of Coalinga, California
Jaron D. Holliday, 21, of Tulsa, Oklahoma
Jason K. Lafleur, 28, of Ignacio, Colorado
Braden J. Long, 19, of Sherman, Texas
Dustin S. Wakeman, 25, of Fort Worth, Texas
Matthew M. Murchison, 21, of Independence, Missouri
Charles E. Leonard Jr., 29, of Monroe, Louisiana
Justin R. Blackwell, 27, of Paris, Tennessee
Jeremy S. Bohannon, 18, of Bon Aqua, Tennessee
Joey D. Link, 29, of Portland, Tennessee
Nicholas A. Gummersall, 23, of Chubbuck, Idaho
Christopher T. Neiberger, 22, of Gainesville, Florida
Juan M. Alcantara, 22, of New York
Kareem R. Khan, 20, of Manahawk, New Jersey
Jacob M. Thompson, 26, of North Mankato, Minnesota
Jon E. Bonnell Jr., 22, of Fort Dodge, Iowa
Reynold Armand, 21, of Rochester, New York
Donald M. Young, 19, of Helena, Montana
Alicia A. Birchett, 29, of Mashpee, Massachusetts
Michael E. Tayaotao, 27, of Sunnyvale, California
Joan J. Duran, 24, of Roxbury, Massachusetts
William L. Edwards, 23, of Houston, Texas
Jordan E. Goode, 21, of Kalamazoo, Michigan
Scott L. Kirkpatrick, 26, of Reston, Virginia
Andrew W. Lancaster, 23, of Stockton, Illinois
Justin O. Penrod, 24, of Mahomet, Illinois
William D. Scates, 31, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Alan J. Austin, 21, of Houston, Texas
Jesse G. Clowers Jr., 27, of Herndon, Virginia
Charles B. Kitowski III, 31, of Farmers Branch, Texas
Jeffrey D. Kettle, 31, of Madill, Oklahoma
Alun R. Howells, 20, of Parlin, Colorado
Eric D. Cottrell, 39, of Pittsview, Alabama
Juan M. Lopez Jr., 23, of San Antonio, Texas
Paulomarko U. Pacificador, 24, of Shirley, New York
Christopher C. Johnson, 31, of Grandville, Michigan
Jackie L. McFarlane, 30, of Virginia Beach, Virginia
Sean P. Fisher, 29, of Santee, California
Stanley B. Reynolds, 37, of Rock, West Virginia
Steven R. Jewell, 26, of Bridgeton, North Carolina
Shawn D. Hensel, 20, of Logansport, Indiana
Robert R. Pirelli, 29, of Franklin, Massachusetts
Princess C. Samuels, 22, of Mitchellville, Maryland
Zandra T. Walker, 28, of Greenville, South Carolina
Kamisha J. Block, 20, of Vidor, Texas
Paul B. Norris, 30, of Cullman, Alabama
Willard M. Powell, 21, of Evansville, Indiana
Jonathan W. Edds, 24, of White Pigeon, Michigan
Michael S. Fielder, 35, of Holly Springs, North Carolina
George V. Libby, 23, of Aberdeen, North Carolina
Donovan D. Witham, 20, of Malvern, Arkansas
Sandy R. Britt, 30, of Apoka, Florida
Corry P. Tyler, 29, of Georgia
Paul J. Flynn, 28, of Whitsett, North Carolina
Matthew L. Tallman, 30, of Groveland, California
Rickey L. Bell, 21, of Caruthersville, Missouri
Derek A. Dobogai, 26, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Jason L. Paton, 25, of Poway, California
Garrett I. McLead, 23, of Rockport, Texas
Jeremy P. Bouffard, 21, of Middlefield, Massachusetts
Phillip J. Brodnick, 25, of New Lenox, Illinois
Joshua S. Harmon, 20, of Mentor, Ohio
Nathan C. Hubbard, 21, of Clovis, California
Michael A. Hook, 25, of Altoona, Pennsylvania
Jessy G. Pollard, 22, Springfield, Missouri
Tyler R. Seideman, 20, of Lincoln, Arkansas
Omar E. Torres, 20, of Chicago, Illinois
Edgar E. Cardenas, 34, of Lilburn, Georgia
Adrian M. Elizalde, 30, of North Bend, Oregon
Michael J. Tully, 33, of Falls Creek, Pennsylvania
Scott M. Carney, 37, of Ankeny, Iowa
Daniel E. Miller, 43, of Rossford, Ohio
David A. Heringes, 36, of Tampa, Florida
Matthew S. Medlicott, 21, of Houston, Texas
Nicholas R. Carnes, 25, of Dayton, Kentucky
Joshua L. Morley, 22, of Boise, Idaho
Tracy C. Willis, 21, of Marshall, Texas
Rogelio A. Ramirez, 21, of Pasadena, California
Scott R. Ball, 38, of Mount Holly Springs, Pennsylvania
Thomas R. Wilson, 21, of Maurertown, Virginia
Henry S. Ofeciar, 37, of Agana, Guam
Jan M. Argonish, 26, of Peckville, Pennsylvania
James S. Collins Jr., 35, of Rochester Hills, Michigan
Cory L. Clark, 25, of Plant City, Florida
Bryce D. Howard, 24, of Vancouver, Washington
Rocky H. Herrera, 43, of Salt Lake City, Utah
Erick M. Foster, 29, of Wexford, Pennsylvania
Kevin A. Gilbertson, 24, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Edward L. Brooks, 25, of Dayton, Ohio
Andrew P. Nelson, 22, of Moorhead, Minnesota
Justin T. Sanders, 22, of Watson, Louisiana
John C. Tanner, 21, of Columbus, Georgia
Travis M. Virgadamo, 19, of Las Vegas, Nevada
Daniel E. Scheibner, 40, of Muskegon, Michigan
Jason M. Butkus, 34, of West Milford, New Jersey

September 2007
Christopher G. Patton, 21, of Lawrenceville, Georgia
Delmar White, 37, of Wallins, Kentucky
Joel L. Murray, 26, of Kansas City, Missouri
Patrick D. Magnani, 38, of Martinez, California
Rodney J. Johnson, 20, of Houston, Texas
David J. Lane, 20, of Emporia, Kansas
Randol S. Shelton, 22, of Schiller Park, Illinois
William T. Warford III, 24, of Temple, Texas
Dane R. Balcom, 19, of Colorado Springs, Colorado
Keith A. Nurnberg, 26, of McHenry, Illinois
Javier G. Paredes, 24, of San Antonio, Texas
David A. Cooper Jr., 36, of State College, Pennsylvania
Michael J. Yarbrough, 24, of Malvern, Arkansas
Bryan J. Scripsick, 22, of Wayne, Oklahoma
Christopher L. Poole Jr., 22, of Mount Dora, Florida
Mykel F. Miller, 19, of Phoenix, Arizona
John C. Stock, 26, of Longview, Texas
Lee. C. Wilson, 30, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Drew N. Jensen, 27, of Clackamas, California
Marisol Heredia, 19, of El Monte, California
Thomas L. Hilbert, 20, of Venus, Texas
Lance M. Clark, 21, of Cookeville, Tennessee
Jason J. Hernandez, 21, of Streetsboro, Ohio
Ryan A. Woodward, 22, of Fort Wayne, Indiana
Courtney Hollinsworth, 26, of Yonkers, New York
Alexander U. Gagalac, 28, of Wahiawa, Hawaii
Travis M. Woods, 21, of Redding, California
Jon T. Hicks Jr., 20, of Atco, New Jersey
Carlos E. Gil Orozco, 23, of San Jose, California
Yance T. Gray, 26, of Ismay, Montana
Gregory Rivera-Santiago, 26, of St. Croix, Virgin Islands
Michael C. Hardegree, 21, of Villa Rica, Georgia
Omar L. Mora, 28, of Texas City, Texas
Nicholas J. Patterson, 24, of Rochester, Indiana
Ari D. Brown-Weeks, 23, of Abingdon, Maryland
Steven R. Elrod, 20, of Hope Mills, North Carolina
Sammie E. Phillips, 19, of Cecilia, Kentucky
John Mele, 25, of Bunnell, Florida
Todd A. Motley, 23, of Clare, Michigan
Terry D. Wagoner, 28, of Piedmont, South Carolina
Christopher M. McCloud, 24, of Malakoff, Texas
Jonathan Rivadeneira, 22, of Jackson Heights, New York
Terrence P. Allen, 21, of Pennsauken, New Jersey
Brandon T. Thorsen, 22, of Trenton, Florida
Michael L. Townes, 29, of Las Vegas
Matthew J. Emerson, 20, of Grandview, Washington
Aaron J. Walker, 23, of Harker Heights, Texas
Joseph N. Landry III, 23, of Pensacola, Florida
Nicholas P. Olson, 22, of Novato, California
Donald E. Valentine III, 21, of Orange Park, Florida
Christian M. Neff, 19, of Lima, Ohio
Graham M. McMahon, 22, of Corvallis, Oregon
Edmund J. Jeffers, 23, of Daleville, Alabama
Roselle M. Hoffmaster, 32, of Cleveland, Ohio
Luigi Marciante Jr., 25, of Elizabeth, New Jersey
John J. Young, 24, of Savannah, Georgia
Jonathan M. Lankford, 42, of Scottsboro, Alabama
David L. Watson, 29, of Newport, Arkansas
Joshua H. Reeves, 26, of Watkinsville, Georgia
Matthew D. Blaskowski, 27, of Levering, Michigan
Anthony K. Bento, 23, of San Diego, California
Kevin R. Brown, 38, of Harrah, Oklahoma
Zachary B. Tomczak, 24, of Huron, South Dakota
Charles Luke Milam, 26, of Littleton, Colorado
Christopher F. Pfeifer, 21, of Spalding, Nebraska
Mathew D. Taylor, 21, of Cameron Park, California
Randy L. Johnson, 34, of Washington, D.C.
Ciara M. Durkin, 30, of Quincy, Massachusetts
Donnie D. Dixon, 37, of Miami, Florida
James D. Doster, 37, of Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Robert T. Ayres III, 23, of Los Angeles, California
Zachary D. Tellier, 31, of Charlotte, North Carolina
Chirasak Vidhyarkorn, 32, of Queens, New York
Randell Olguin, 24, of Ralls, Texas

October 2007
Herman J. Murkerson Jr., 35, of Adger, Alabama
Shayna Ann Schnell, 19, of Tell City, Indiana
Mark R. Cannon, 31, of Lubbock, Texas
Ricardo X. Rodriguez, 23, of Arecibo, Puerto Rico
Avealalo Milo, 23, of Hayward, California
Vincent G. Kamka, 23, of Everett, Washington
Rachel L. Hugo, 24, of Madison, Wisconsin
Joseph B. Milledge, 23, of Pointblank, Texas
Jason N. Marchand, 26, of Greenwood, West Virginia
Adam D. Quinn, 22, of Orange City, Florida
Gilberto A. Meza, 21, of Oxnard, California
Benjamin C. Dillon, 22, of Rootstown, Ohio
Jeremy W. Burris, 22, of Tacoma, Washington
Eric T. Duckworth, 26, of Plano, Texas
Jason M. Lantieri, 25, of Killingworth, Connecticut
Lillian Clamens, 35, of Lawton, Oklahoma
Samuel F. Pearson, 28, of Westerville, Ohio
Frank L. Cady III, 20, of Sacramento, California
Donald L. Munn II, 25, of St. Clair Shores, Michigan
Nathan Z. Thacker, 18, of Greenbrier, Arkansas
Thomas M. Martin, 27, of Ward, Arkansas
Justin S. Monschke, 28, of Krum, Texas
Kenneth J. Iwasinski, 22, of West Springfield, Massachusetts
Jason B. Koutroubas, 21, of Dunnellon, Florida
Michael D. Brown, 20, of Williamsburg, Kansas
Vincent A. Madero, 22, of Port Heuneme, California
Wayne M. Geiger, 23, of Lone Pine, California
Jarred S. Fontenot, 35, of Port Barre, Louisiana
Erik T. Garoutte, 22, of Santee, California
Genesia Mattril Gresham, 19, of Lithonia, Georgia
Anamarie Sannicolas Camacho, 20, of Panama City, Florida
Edward O. Philpot, 38, of Latta, South Carolina
Larry I. Rougle, 25, of West Jordan, Utah
Robin L. Towns Sr., 52, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Adam J. Chitjian, 39, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Joshua C. Brennan, 22, of Ontario, Oregon
David E. Lambert, 39, of Cedar Bluff, Virginia
Hugo V. Mendoza, 29, of Glendale, Arizona
Joseph F. Curreri, 27, of Los Angeles, California
Thomas L. Bruner, 50, of Owensboro, Kentucky
Jeffrey R. Calero, 34, of Queens Village, New York
James D. Bullard, 28, of Marion, South Carolina
Daniel L. McCall, 24, of Pace, Florida
Cody M. Carver, 19, of Haskell, Oklahoma
Rush M. Jenkins, 22, of Clarksville, Tennessee
Louis A. Griese, 30, of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Timothy I. McGovern, 28, of Idaville, Indiana
Brandon W. Smitherman, 21, of Conroe, Texas

November 2007
Thomas A. Crowell, 36, of Neosho, Missouri
David A. Wieger, 28, of North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
Tracy Lynn Alger, 30, of New Auburn, Wisconsin
Johnny C. Walls, 41, of Bremerton, Washington
Dwane A. Covert Jr., 20, of Tonawanda, New York
Adam J. Muller, 21, of Underhill, Vermont
Daniel J. Shaw, 23, of West Seneca, New York
Carletta S. Davis, 34, of Anchorage, Alaska
John D. Linde, 30, of New York, New York
Derek T. Stenroos, 24, of North Pole, Alaska
Kevin R. Bewley, 27, of Hector, Arkansas
Christine M. Ndururi, 21, of Dracut, Massachusetts
Benjamin D. Tiffner, 31, of West Virginia
Lui Tumanuvao, 29, of Fagaalu, American Samoa
Jermaine D. Franklin, 22, of Arlington, Texas
Matthew C. Ferrara, 24, of Torrance, California
Sean K.A. Langevin, 23, of Walnut Creek, California
Phillip A. Bocks, 28, of Troy, Michigan
Jeffery S. Mersman, 23, of Parker, Kansas
Joseph M. Lancour, 21, of Swartz Creek, Michigan
Lester G. Roque, 23, of Torrance, California
Patrick F. Kutschback, 25, of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania
Joseph M. Venek, 22, of Elmhurst, Illinois
David A. Boris, 30, of Pottsville, Pennsylvania
Adrian E. Hike, 26, of Callender, Iowa
Ashley Sietsema, 20, of Melrose Park, Illinois
Peter W. Schmidt, 30, of Eureka, California
Casey P. Mason, 22, of Lake, Michigan
Christopher R. Kruse, 23, of Emporia, Kansas
Stuart F. Liles, 26, of Hot Springs, Arkansas
Derek R. Banks, 24, of Newport News, Virginia
Kenneth R. Booker, 25, of Vevay, Indiana
Peter H. Burks, 26, of Dallas, Texas
Mason L. Lewis, 26, of Gloucester, Virginia
Steven C. Ganczewski, 22, of Niagra Falls, New York
Christopher J. Nelson, 22, of Rochester, Washington
Jason T. Lee, 26, of Fruitport, Michigan
Marius L. Ferrero, 23, of Miami
Alejandro Ayala, 26, of Riverside, California
Alfred G. Paredez Jr., 32, of Las Vegas, Nevada
Melvin L. Henley Jr., 26, of Jackson, Mississippi
Jonathon L. Martin, 33, of Bellevue, Ohio
Benjamin J. Garrison, 25, of Houston, Texas
Isaac T. Cortes, 26, of Bronx, New York
Allen C. Roberts, 21, of Arcola, Illinois
John J. Tobiason, 42, of Bloomington, Minnesota
Blair W. Emery, 24, of Lee, Maine

December 2007
Matthew K. Reece, 24, of Harrison, Arkansas
Kyle Dayton, 22, of El Dorado Hills, California
Eric J. Hernandez, 26, of Waldwick, New Jersey
Dewayne L. White, 27, of Country Club Hills, Illinois
Adam P. Snyder, 26, of Fort Pierce, Florida
Randy W. Pickering, 31, of Bovey, Minnesota
Tanner J. O'Leary, 23, of Eagle Butte, South Dakota
Johnathan A. Lahmann, 21, of Richmond, Indiana
Mark T. Carter, 27, of Fallbrook, California
Gregory L. Elam, 39, of Columbus, Georgia
Joshua C. Blaney, 25, of Matthews, North Carolina
Michael J. Gabel, 30, of Crowley, Louisiana
Samuel E. Kelsey, 24, of Troup, Texas
Brynn J. Naylor, 21, of Roswell, New Mexico
Daren A. Smith, 19, of Helena, Montana
Jonathan A. Lowery, 38, of Houlton, Maine
Austin D. Pratt, 22, of Cadet, Missouri
Juctin R.P. McDaniel, 19, of Andover, New Hampshire
Jeremy E. Ray, 26, of Houston, Texas
George J. Howell, 24, of Salinas, California
Nicholas D. Eischen, 24, of Sanger, California

Debi Smith lives in Ashland, Oregon. She's currently attempting to negotiate peace with, among many other entities, the Demon of Perfectionism and the Goddess of Speaking Your Truth While Also Respecting That Other People Might Have A Different Truth. She asks for your understanding if she's not agonized long enough over editing or certain societal niceties. She wishes everyone a 2008 of peace and happiness and one that takes into account the common dreams of everyone everywhere.