Today we mark the first day of the Hebrew month of Sivan.  Few first days of the month in the Hebrew calendar serve as milestones of significance as does this date.  Since the second evening of Passover, over six weeks ago, we have been counting the Omer, marking the beginning of each Hebrew day (in the evening) with a blessing and a ritual counting of the day.  Like marking off days on a calendar in anticipation of a great event, counting the Omer is our Jewish anticipation-builder . . . for at the end of the counting we will have arrived at the 6th of Sivan, Shavuot, the festival marking the paradigm-creating revelation of Torah at Sinai.  From the moment that our Israelite ancestors looked back at the Sea of Reeds behind them and found their pursuers drowning in the waters that God had held back for them, until approaching the wilderness of Sin (please don't get caught up in the coincidence between the English word "sin" and the Hebrew geographic term, there is really and truly no connection save coincidence) the Israelites had already experienced some elevating and some challenging moments:  They had faced the uncertainties of food and water in the wilderness and learned to rely on God to sustain them; they had been introduced to Shabbat as a day of rest for God (who did not produce manna on Shabbat) and for themselves (they did not collect manna on Shabbat); they withstood a fierce attack by Amalek and his troops and were defended by Joshua and the Israelite troops sustained and inspired by God; Moses, advised by his father-in-law, Jethro, established a system of self-governance and dispute resolution . . . all before arriving at Sinai.

Although the walk to Sinai was through uncharted territory, the wandering of our ancestors was not random.  The Israelites arrived at the third new moon . . . today's date, the beginning of the month of Sivan . . . guided by God's pillar of cloud  during the day and pillar of fire by night and there they prepared themselves for the most extraordinary event they could not possibly anticipate.

I took a look at the challenges our walk from Passover to this first day of Sivan has involved as we, too, prepare to re-experience the revelation of Torah on Shavuot this coming week.   We have mourned the victims of the Holocaust and shuddered when notes bearing Nazi rhetoric were handed to Jews attending Passover services in the Ukraine.   We have found compassion and the conviction to speak out on behalf of the abducted schoolgirls of Nigeria, a compelling contemporary parallel to our own slavery story.  We have organized to lobby for poverty-alleviating legislation here in Rhode Island.  We have mourned both the troops who gave their lives for the establishment and defense of the State of Israel and those who gave their lives for the establishment and defense of the United States of America in two Memorial Days.  Even in these GPS-guided days, our wanderings take us through uncharted territory.

We know that something great is going to happen next week.  We have the advantage over our wilderness-walking ancestors in knowing that the revelatory moment awaiting us can bring wisdom and guidance, inspiration and challenge.  The Sinai revelation was not a one-time event . . . our tradition teaches us that revelatory moments happen throughout time.  When we come together as a community on Shavuot this week, let us stand shoulder-to-shoulder ready to accept the renewal of covenant with God which is the glue that binds us together . . . binds us to God and binds us to each other.  

Letting the eternal and eternally renewing teachings of Torah into our daily lives will guide our walking and provide us with goals and aspirations and the tools to navigate the complexities we encounter in life.

This Shabbat, we embark on our annual reading of the book of Bamidbar, in English, the book of Numbers.  The English name for this fourth book of the Torah is taken from the opening verses in which Moses is directed to conduct a census . . . "Add up the heads of all of the congregation of Israel by their families, by their fathers' houses, with the number of names of every male by their heads.  From twenty years old and up, everyone going out to the army in Israel:  you shall count them by their army units, you and Aaron." (Bamidbar/Numbers 1:2-3)

It is of profound significance to me that the United States Memorial Day and our reading of the opening passages of Numbers / Bamidbar coincide this weekend.

There are so many ways a God-ordained census of the Israelites might have been structured: There could have been a count of each woman and her progeny; there could have been a count of each household within each tribe; there could have been a count of each head of family . . . but this was a count of each male, twenty years old and up, able-bodied and serving in the army.  God was instructing Moses to prepare for wandering through a wilderness, an intermittently populated wilderness in which it was going to be necessary to defend the column of trekking Israelites: men, women, children, elderly, ill and well.  From a military point of view, it is, of course, important to know how many troops are at your command.  From a community's point of view, it is, or should be, crucial to know the name of every single individual placing life on the line for the sake of the safety and integrity of the community.

In my close to 20 years living in Israel, I became part of a population protected by a citizens' army: our sons and daughters were drafted after high school, trained superbly, served honorably and then came home, or didn't.  Every single military death in Israel is honored by the entire country: every fallen soldier's name, photograph, rank are shared on the national evening news.  The entire country mourns, for every fallen soldier is a child of ours.  Israel is a small country, so we feel these losses in a very immediate sense.  Every family has someone who has served, is serving or is about to serve in the Israel Defense Forces, so we feel these losses in a very immediate sense.  There is meaningful counting, census, acknowledging each individual in Israel, not just on the Shabbat we begin the reading of the book of Numbers.

 When I came back to the States, I found the distance between the general population and our military losses to be disturbing, wrong, unhealthy.  So it has been my practice to share not the just the numbers, but the names, ranks, ages and home states of those killed serving our country since the previous Memorial Day each year.  We should enjoy the weekend's barbecues and family gatherings . . . but let us spend more than a moment acknowledging that we are enjoying this leisure because our children have served honorably and many have lost their lives serving our country.

Yes, we may have differences of opinions about the policies that have brought our troops into the range of fire; but our support and appreciation and mourning for our children who have died in military service is not a political or policy issue, it is a sacrifice we must humbly acknowledge.

Please do not skip over the rest of this blog.  
Please read each and every name.
These are the US troops who died serving in Afghanistan since last Memorial Day . . . יהיו זכרם ברוך:  May their memories be blessed; may their families be blessed with healing and peace of mind.

Date of death    Name                  Rank         Age         Service            Home State
5-17-2014            Perkins, Adrian M.            Specialist            19            U. S. Army            California
5-13-2014            Barreras, Martin R            Command Sergeant Major            49            U. S. Army            Arizona
5-11-2014            Rasmussen, Deric M.            Chief Warrant Office            33            U. S. Army            California
4-28-2014            Chandler, Christian J.            Private 1st Class            20            U. S. Army            Texas
4-28-2014            Farrell II, Shawn M.            Sergeant            24            U. S. Army            New York
4-15-2014            Danyluk, Kerry M. G.            Specialist            27            U. S. Army            Texas            
4-01-2014            Chaffin III, James E.            Captain            27            U. S. Army            South Carolina
2-28-2014            Poirier, David L            Master Sergeant            52            U.S. Air Force            Rhode Island
2-28-2014            Erickson, Caleb L.            Lance Corporal            20            U.S. Marine            Minnesota
2-15-2014            Torian, Aaron C.            Master Sergeant            36            U. S. Marine            Kentucky
2-12-2014            Pelham, John A.            Specialist            22            U. S. Army            Oregon
2-12-2014            Skelt, Roberto C.            Sergeant            41            U. S. Army            Florida
2-10-2014            Landis, Christopher A.            Specialist            27            U. S. Army            Kentucky
2-10-2014            Gray, Joshua A.            Private 1st Class            21            U.S. Army            Kentucky
1-20-2014            Balli, Edward            Chief Petty Officer            42            U. S. Army            California
1-17-2014            Sipple, Andrew H.            Specialist            22            U. S. Army            North Carolina
1-15-2014            Lee, Daniel Tyler            Sergeant            28            U. S. Army            Tennessee
1-10-2014            Scobie, Drew M.            Sergeant            25            U. S. Army National Guard            Hawaii            
1-10-2014            McAdams, Andrew L.            Chief Warrant Officer            27            National Guard            Wyoming
1-04-2014            Lacey, William K.            Sergeant 1st Class            38            U. S. Army            Florida
1-01-2014            Hess, Jacob M.            Sergeant            22            U. S. Marine            Washington
12-27-2013            Lyon, David I.            Captain            28            U. S. Air Force                        Idaho
12-23-2013            Vasselian, Daniel M.            Sergent            27            U. S. Marine            Massachusetts
12-17-2013            Billings, Randy L.            Chief Warrant Officer 2            34            U. S. Army            Oklahoma
12-17-2013            Silverman, Joshua B.            Chief Warrant Officer 2            35            U. S. Army            Arizona
12-17-2013            Bohler, Peter C.            Sergeant            29            North Carolina
12-17-2013            Forde, Omar W.            Sergeant 1st Class            28            U. S. Army            Georgia
12-17-2013            Gordon, Terry K. D.            Specialist            22            U. S. Army            Mississippi
12-17-2013            Williams, Jesse L            Staff Sergeant                        30            U. S. Army            Indiana
12-11-2013            Smith, James L.            Petty Officer 1st Class            38            U. S. Navy            Texas
12-11-2013            Rodriguez, Matthew R.            Lance Corporal            19            U. S. Marine            Massachusetts
11-17-2013            Viola, Alex A.            Staff Sergeant                        29            U.S. Army            Texas
11-13-2013            Vazquez, Richard L.            Staff Sergeant                        28            U. S. Army            Texas
11-03-2013            Robertson, Forrest W.            Sergeant 1st Class            35            U. S. Army            Kansas
10-20-2013            Grant, Christopher O.            Lance Corporal            20
10-18-2013            Turnbull, Lyle D.            Sergeant            31            U. S. Army            Virginia
10-13-2013            Quinn, Patrick H.            Sergeant            26            U. S. Army            Pennsylvania
10-06-2013            Moreno, Jennifer M.            1st Lieutenant            25            U. S. Army            California
10-06-2013            Hawkins, Patrick C.            Sergeant            25            U. S. Army            Pennsylvania
10-06-2013            Peters, Joseph M.            Sergeant            24            U. S. Army            Missouri
10-06-2013            Patterson, Cody J.            Private 1st Class            24            U. S. Army            Oregon
10-05-2013            Lopez, Angel L.            Specialist            27            U. S. Army            Ohio
10-05-2013            Collins, Jeremiah M.            Lance Corporal            19            U.S. Marine            Wisconsin
9-26-2013            Baysore, Jr., Thomas A.            Staff Sergeant                        31            U. S. Army            Pennsylvania
9-22-2013            Gibson, Jonathan S.            Chief Warrant Officer            32            U.S. Navy            Oregon
9-22-2013            Jones, Landon L.            Lieutenant Commander            35            U.S. Navy            California
9-21-2013            Nevins, Liam J.            Staff Sergeant                        32            U. S. Army            Colorado
9-21-2013            McGill, Timothy R.            Staff Sergeant                        30            U. S. Army            New Jersey
9-21-2013            Strickland, Joshua J.            Specialist            23            U. S. Army            Georgia
9-20-2013            Wickliffchacin, James T.            Specialist            22            U. S. Army            Oklahoma
9-19-2013            Brown III, William D.            Sergeant            44            U. S. Army            North Carolina
9-13-2013            Thomas Jr., Robert E.            Staff Sergeant                        24            U. S. Army            California
9-05-2013            Lobraico Jr., Todd J.            Staff Sergeant                        22            U. S. Air Force            Connecticut
8-31-2013            Bowden, Joshua J.            Staff Sergeant                        28            U. S. Army            Georgia
8-28-2013            Ollis, Michael H.            Staff Sergeant                        24            U. S. Army            New York
8-28-2013            Young, Ricardo D.            Sergeant 1st Class            34            U. S. Army            Arkansas
8-26-2013            Togi, Jason            1st Lieutenant            24            U. S. Army            American Samoa            
8-23-2013            Alvarez, Kenneth Clifford            Specialist            23            U. S. Army            California
8-23-2013            Hostetter, Jonathon Michael Dean            Private            20            U. S. Army            Missouri
8-20-2013            Banner Jr., George A.            Master Sergeant            37            U.S. Army            Virginia
8-11-2013            Hicks, Jamar A.            Sergent            22            U. S. Army            Arkansas
8-11-2013            Grace Jr., Keith E.            Specialist            26            U. S. Army            Texas
8-11-2013            Herrera, Octavio            Staff Sergeant                        26            U. S. Army            Idaho
8-06-2013            Welch, Nickolas S.            Specialist            26            U. S. Army            Oregon
7-30-2013            Burley, Nicholas B.            Specialist            22            U. S. Army            California
7-28-2013            New, Stephen M.            Sergeant            29            U. S. Army            Tennessee
7-27-2013            Lawson, Eric T.            Sergeant            30            U. S. Army            Georgia
7-27-2013            Nouv, Caryn E.            Specialist            29            U. S. Army            Virginia
7-23-2013            Russell, Jonam            1st Lieutenant            ?0            U. S. Army            Arizona
7-23-2013            Smith, Stefan M.            Sergent            24            U. S. Army            Georgia
7-23-2013            Nichols, Rob L.            Specialist            24            U. S. Army            Colorado
7-22-2013            Maddox, Anthony R.            Specialist            22            U. S. Army            Texas
7-16-2013            Zimmerman, Sonny C.            Staff Sergeant                        25            U. S. Army            Ohio
7-14-2013            Tuttle, Benjamin W.            Lance Corporal            19            U. S. Marine            Arkansas
7-04-2013            Milliard, Errol D.A.            Private            18            U. S. Army            Alabama
7-03-2013            Stapley, Tracy L.            First Sergeant                        44            U. S. Army            Utah
7-02-2013            Clayton, Hilda I.            Specialist            22            U. S. Army            Georgia
6-28-2013            Rogers, Justin R.            Sergeant            25            U.S. Army            New York
6-23-2013            Garver, Corey E.            Sergeant            25
6-23-2013            Sanchez Jr., Javier            Specialist            28            U. S. Army            California
6-19-2013            Johnson, Justin R.            Sergeant            25            U. S. Army            Florida
6-19-2013            Alt, Ember M.            Specialist            21            U. S. Army            South Carolina
6-19-2013            Ellis, Robert W.            Specialist            21            U. S. Army            Washington
6-19-2013            Moody, William R.            Specialist            30            U. S. Army            Texas
6-16-2013            Brown, Jared W.            Lance Corporal            20            U. S. Marine            Florida
6-10-2013            Thomas Jr., Jesse L.            Staff Sergeant                        31            U. S. Army            Florida
6-08-2013            Leonard, Jaimie E.            Major            39            U. S. Army            New York
6-08-2013            Clark, Todd J.            Lieutenant Colonel            40            U. S. Army            New York
6-03-2013            Sisson, Justin L.            2nd Lieutenant            23            U.S. Army            Arizona
6-03-2013            Pierce, Robert A.            Specialist            20            U.S. Army            Oklahoma
6-02-2013            Mullen, Sean W.            Warrant Officer            39            U.S. Army            Delaware
6-01-2013            Stoeckli, Kyle P.            Specialist            21            U.S. Army            Virginia
6-01-2013            Ramirez, Ray A.            Specialist            20            US Army            California
6-01-2013            Raymundo, Mariano M.            Private 1st Class            21            U.S. Army            Texas
5-30-2013            Nunezrodriguez, Joe A.            Staff Sergeant                        29

source:  www.icasualties.org

Not a week goes by when there is not some news item about Israel or the middle east.  This week, as we commemorate Israel's fallen defense forces during Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) and transition into the celebrations around Yom Ha'atzma'ut (Independence Day), I think it's worth taking a few moments to reflect on the beginnings of the State of Israel.

Israel is a unique mixture of ancient roots and modern formation:  Through much of the book of Breishit/Genesis, we witness God's promise to Abraham and his progeny that their relationship with God's land will be part of an eternal covenant.  This element of our brit/covenant with God is so essential to our being, we have turned daily to face that land as we pray no matter where in the world we are: South African Jews face north, the Jews of Scotland turn south, Jews in Tokyo face west and we here in Rhode Island face east during prayer.  The element of The Land is so central to our brit/covenant with God, that our rabbinic literature has embroidered and elevated the nature of The Land in order to foster this ongoing love for God's Land: the fruit is sweeter, the animals healthier, milk and honey (actually date syrup!) flows with abundance.  These images inspired us during millennia of exile.  Jews in Europe would leave a small patch of wall unpainted in the upper corner of a room in their homes to show that life is incomplete as long as we are living anywhere but The Land.

Since 1948, the Land of Israel has transformed into a modern polity, the State of Israel.  In 66 short years, a breathtakingly beautiful and raucous and fragile and steadfast and ground-breaking and brilliant and bewildering and inspiring democracy has emerged.  For a moment, let us put aside the contentious issues of the day and remember how the State of Israel took shape.  What follows is the proclamation issued in Tel Aviv on May 14, 1948, the 5th of Iyar 5708.  So much has happened since that day, and with the support and pride and involvement of Jews all over the world, the State of Israel will continue, with God's blessing, to thrive, grow and contribute as a respected nation.


Provisional Government of Israel
Official Gazette: Number 1; Tel Aviv, 5 Iyar 5708, 14.5.1948 Page 1
 The Land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people.

Here their spiritual, religious and political identity was shaped. Here they first attained to statehood, created cultural values of national and universal significance and gave to the world the eternal Book of Books. 
 
After being forcibly exiled from their land, the people kept faith with it throughout their Dispersion and never ceased to pray and hope for their return to it and for the restoration in it of their political freedom. 
 
Impelled by this historic and traditional attachment, Jews strove in every successive generation to re-establish themselves in their ancient homeland. In recent decades they returned in their masses. Pioneers, defiant returnees, and defenders, they made deserts bloom, revived the Hebrew language, built villages and towns, and created a thriving community controlling its own economy and culture, loving peace but knowing how to defend itself, bringing the blessings of progress to all the country's inhabitants, and aspiring towards independent nationhood. 
 
In the year 5657 (1897), at the summons of the spiritual father of the Jewish State, Theodore Herzl, the First Zionist Congress convened and proclaimed the right of the Jewish people to national rebirth in its own country. 
 
This right was recognized in the Balfour Declaration of the 2nd November, 1917, and re-affirmed in the Mandate of the League of Nations which, in particular, gave international sanction to the historic connection between the Jewish people and Eretz-Israel and to the right of the Jewish people to rebuild its National Home. 
 
The catastrophe which recently befell the Jewish people--the massacre of millions of Jews in Europe--was another clear demonstration of the urgency of solving the problem of its homelessness by re-establishing in Eretz-Israel the Jewish State, which would open the gates of the homeland wide to every Jew and confer upon the Jewish people the status of a fully privileged member of the community of nations. 
 
Survivors of the Nazi holocaust in Europe, as well as Jews from other parts of the world, continued to migrate to Eretz-Israel, undaunted by difficulties, restrictions and dangers, and never ceased to assert their right to a life of dignity, freedom and honest toil in their national homeland. 
 
In the Second World War, the Jewish community of this country contributed its full share to the struggle of the freedom- and peace-loving nations against the forces of Nazi wickedness and, by the blood of its soldiers and its war effort, gained the right to be reckoned among the peoples who founded the United Nations. 
 
On the 29th of November, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling for the establishment of a Jewish State in Eretz-Israel; the General Assembly required the inhabitants of Eretz-Israel to take such steps as were necessary on their part for the implementation of that resolution. This recognition by the United Nations of the right of the Jewish people to establish their State is irrevocable. 
 
This right is the natural right of the Jewish people to be masters of their own fate, like all other nations, in their own sovereign State. 
 
Accordingly we, members of the People's Council, representatives of the Jewish Community of Eretz-Israel and of the Zionist Movement, are here assembled on the day of the termination of the British Mandate over Eretz-Israel and, by virtue of our natural and historic right and on the strength of the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, hereby declare the establishment of a Jewish state in Eretz-Israel, to be known as the State of Israel. 
 
We declare that, with effect from the moment of the termination of the Mandate being tonight, the eve of Sabbath, the 6th Iyar, 5708 (15th May, 1948), until the establishment of the elected, regular authorities of the State in accordance with the Constitution which shall be adopted by the Elected Constituent Assembly not later than the 1st October 1948, the People's Council shall act as a Provisional Council of State, and its executive organ, the People's Administration, shall be the Provisional Government of the Jewish State, to be called "Israel."  The State of Israel will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. 
 
The State of Israel is prepared to cooperate with the agencies and representatives of the United Nations in implementing the resolution of the General Assembly of the 29th November, 1947, and will take steps to bring about the economic union of the whole of Eretz-Israel. 
 
We appeal to the United Nations to assist the Jewish people in the building-up of its State and to receive the State of Israel into the community of nations. 
 
We appeal--in the very midst of the onslaught launched against us now for months--to the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to preserve peace and participate in the upbuilding of the State on the basis of full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its provisional and permanent institutions. 
 
We extend our hand to all neighbouring states and their peoples in an offer of peace and good neighbourliness, and appeal to them to establish bonds of cooperation and mutual help with the sovereign Jewish people settled in its own land. The State of Israel is prepared to do its share in a common effort for the advancement of the entire Middle East. 
 
We appeal to the Jewish people throughout the Diaspora to rally round the Jews of Eretz-Israel in the tasks of immigration and upbuilding and to stand by them in the great struggle for the realization of the age-old dream--the redemption of Israel. 
 
Placing our trust in the Almighty, we affix our signatures to this proclamation at this session of the provisional Council of State, on the soil of the Homeland, in the city of Tel-Aviv, on this Sabbath eve, the 5th day of Iyar, 5708 (14th May, 1948). 
 
DAVID BEN-GURION
Daniel Auster Mordekhai Bentov Yitzchak Ben Zvi Eliyahu Berligne Fritz Bernstein Rabbi Wolf Gold Meir Grabovsky Yitzchak Gruenbaum Dr. Abraham Granovsky Eliyahu Dobkin Meir Wilner-Kovner Zerach Wahrhaftig Herzl Vardi Rachel Cohen Rabbi Kalman Kahana Saadia Kobashi Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Levin Meir David Loewenstein Zvi Luria Golda Myerson Nachum Nir Zvi Segal Rabbi Yehuda Leib Hacohen Fishman David Zvi Pinkas Aharon Zisling Moshe Kolodny Eliezer Kaplan Abraham Katznelson Felix Rosenblueth David Remez Berl Repetur Mordekhai Shattner Ben Zion Sternberg Bekhor Shitreet Moshe Shapira Moshe Shertok

As we all anticipate the long weekend of Memorial Day, I ask you all to pause a contemplate the following list.  These are the names, ranks and home locations of the US troops who died in the line of duty since Memorial Day 2012.

We pray that by May 2014 there will be no list at all for me to share with you and that the men and women wearing the uniforms of the United States Military will not be putting their lives on the line in the course of their duty.


May the memories of the following US troops serve as an inspiration to us to seek peace and to cherish the unique democracy we enjoy here in the United States.

May 2013
Flores, Dwayne W., Specialist, 22, from Guam
Aguon, Eugene M., Sergeant, 23, from Guam
Rhea, Trenton L., Sergeant 1st Class, 33, from Kansas
NAME NOT RELEASED YET, Not reported yet
Baker, Jeffrey C., Sergeant 1st Class, 29, from California
Daehling, Mitchell Kirk, Specialist, 24, from Massachusetts
Gilbert, William Joseph, Specialist, 24, from California
Sonka, David M., Corporal, 23, from Colorado
Christian, Eric D., Staff Sergeant, 39, from New York
Thomas Paige, Specialist, 22, from Idaho
Phillips IV, Francis Gene, Staff Sergeant, 28, from New York
Prescott, Brandon Joseph, Specialist, 24, from Oregon
Cardoza, Kevin, Specialist, 19, from Texas
Landrum, Brandon J., 1st Lieutenant, 26, from Oklahoma
Voss, Mark T., Captain, 27, from Colorado
Pinckney, Victoria A., Captain, 27, from California
Mackey III, Herman, Technical Sergeant, 30, California
Santiago Jr., Trinidad, Specialist, 25, from California
McClure, Charles P., Private 1st Class, 21, from Oklahoma
Simpson, Michael H., Staff Sergeant, 30, from Texas

April 2013
Fannin, Daniel N., Staff Sergeant, 30, from Kentucky
Dickson, Richard A., Staff Sergeant, 24, from California
Nishizuka, Reid K., Captain, 30, from Hawaii
Cyr, Brandon L., Captain, 28, from Virginia
Hess, Robert J., 1st Lieutenant, 26, from Virginia
Blanchard, Aaron R., Captain, 32, from Washington
Austin, Barrett L., Private 1st Class, 20, from South Carolina
Yoder, Jarett M., Chief Warrant Officer 2, 26, from Pennsylvania
Ruffner, Matthew P., Chief Warrant Officer 3, 34, from Pennsylvania
NAME NOT RELEASED YET, Not reported yet
Santos Jr., Deflin M., Specialist, 24, from California,
Robles-Santa, Wilbel A., Specialist, 25, Puerto Rico,
Ward, Christopher M., Staff Sergeant, 24, from Tennessee
Steel, James Michael, Captain, 29, from Florida

March 2013
Reagan, Curtis S., Chief Warrant Officer, 43, from South Carolina
Cable, Michael C., Sergeant, 26, from Kentucky
Wade, Tristan M., Sergeant, 23, from Indiana
Groves III, James E., Chief Warrant Officer, 37, from Ohio
Proctor, David T., Specialist, 26, from North Carolina
Pike, Christian Michael, Chief Petty Officer, 31, from Arizona
Blass, Steven P., Staff Sergeant, 27, from Iowa
Henderson, Bryan J., Chief Warrant Officer, 27, from Louisiana
Knutson, Sara M., Captain, 27, from Maryland
Scialdo, Marc A., Staff Sergeant, 31, from Florida
Shannon, Zachary L., Specialist, 21, from Florida
Schad, Rex L., Staff Sergeant, 26, from Oklahoma
Pedersen-Keel, Andrew M., Captain, 28, from Connecticut
Suggs, Cody D., Specialist, 22, from Ohio
Bunn, Larry D., Technical Sergeant, 43, from Louisiana

February 2013
Davis, Jonathan D., Staff Sergeant, 34, from Arizona

January 2013
Schoonhoven, Mark H., Sergeant, 38, Michigan
Chambers, David J., Sergeant, 25, from Virginia
Wittman, Aaron X., Sergeant, 28, from Virginia

December 2012
Sims, Markie T., Private 1st Class, 20, from Florida
Mondragon, Enrique, Sergeant, 23, from Texas
Price, Job W., Commander, 42, from Pennsylvania
Robinson, Leonard, Lieutenant, 29, from North Carolina
Lipari, Kevin E., Sergeant 1st Class, 39, from New York
Guillory, Michael J., Sergent, 28, from Louisiana
Trent, Nelson D., Staff Sergeant, 37, from Texas
Reid, Nicholas J., Staff Sergeant, 26, from New York
Williams, Wesley R., Staff Sergeant, 25, Ohio
Checque, Nicolas D., Petty Officer 1st Class, 28, from Pennsylvania
Orgaard, Tyler J., Specialist, 20, from North Dakota
Linde, Darren M., Sergeant 1st Class, 41, from Montana
Denier, Anthony J., Lance Corporal, 26, from New York

November 2012
Monahan Jr., Christopher M., Corporal, 25, from New Jersey
Ebbert, Kevin R., Petty Officer 1st Class, 32, from California
Shanafelt, Zachary, Specialist, 24, from Michigan
Means, Dale W., Lance Corporal, 23, from Minnesota
Hicks, Channing B., Sergeant, 24, from South Carolina
Richardson, Joseph A., Specialist, 23, from Arkansas
Battle Jr., Rayvon, Staff Sergeant, 25, from North Carolina
Stiltz, Matthew H., Sergeant, 26, from Washington
Bennett, Kenneth W., Staff Sergeant, 26, from California
Nehl, James D., Captain, 37, from Oregon
Carlson, Daniel L., Specialist, 21, from California
Buttry, Brandon L., Private 1st Class, 19, from Iowa           
Venne, Dain T., Staff Sergeant, 29, from New York
Jayne, Ryan P., Specialist, 22, from New York
Gornewicz, Brett E., Specialist, 27, from New York
Kantor, Matthew G., Petty Officer 2nd Class, 22, from New Jersey

October 2012
Domion, Alex F., Corporal, 21, from New York
Memon, Kashif M., Staff Sergeant, 31, from Texas
Ruiz, Clinton K., Sergeant, 22, from California
Duskin, Michael S., Chief Warrant Office, 42, from Florida
Wilson, Shane G., Private 1st Class, 20, from Idaho
Savard, Ryan J., Sergeant 1st Class, 29, from Arizona
Gordon, Brittany B., Specialist, 24, from Florida
Billings, Robert J., Sergeant, 30, from Virginia
Macpherson, Thomas R., Sergeant, 26, from California
Tiu, Joel Del Mundo, Commander, 49, from Philippines
Schiro, Joseph L., Warrant Officer, 27, from Florida
Marquez, Justin C., Staff Sergeant, 25, from North Carolina
Brown, Milton W., Culinary Specialist 2nd Class, 28, Texas
Steedley, Camella M., Sergeant, 31, from California
Henderson, Aaron A., Sergeant 1st Class, 33, Maine           
Johnson, Donna R., Sergeant, 29, from North Carolina
Butler IV, Thomas Jefferson, Sergeant, 25, from North Carolina
Hardison, Jeremy F., Sergeant, 23, from North Carolina

September 2012
Metcalfe, Daniel T., Sergeant 1st Class, 29, from New Jersey
Stephens, Riley G., Sergeant 1st Class, 39, Texas
Gollnitz, Jonathan A., Sergeant, 28, New Jersey
Sparks, Orion N., Staff Sergeant, 29, from Arizona
Roberts, Rashun, Gunners Mate 2nd Class, 23, from Illinois
Swindle, Jason M., Sergeant, 24, from Arkansas
Nena, Sapuro B., Sergeant, 25, from Hawaii
Nelson, Joshua N., Specialist, 22, from North Carolina
Bedoy, Genaro, Private 1st Class, 20, from Texas
Townsend, Jon R., Private 1st Class, 19, Oklahoma
Raible, Christopher K., Lieutenant Colonel, 40, from Pennsylvania
Atwell, Bradley W., Sergeant, 27, from Indiana
Osborn, Kyle B., Sergeant, 26, from Indiana
Ramirez, Thalia S., Chief Warrant Officer 2, 28, from Texas
Montenegro Jr., Jose L., Chief Warrant Officer 2, 31, Texas
Terwiske, Alec R., Lance Corporal, 21, from Indiana
Rookey, Kyle R., Specialist, 23, from New York
 Border, Jeremie S., Staff Sergeant, from Texas
 Schmidt, Jonathan P., Staff Sergeant, 28, from Virginia

August 2012
  Cantu, Shane W., Private 1st Class, 20, from Michigan
Wing, Jessica M., Staff Sergeant, 42, from Virginia
Anders, Mabry J., Specialist, 21, from Oregon
Birdwell, Christopher J., Sergeant, 25, from Colorado     
Horne, Patricia L., Private 1st Class, 20, from Mississippi
Torres, Louis R., Sergeant, 23, from Ohio
Debose, Coater B., Sergeant 1st Class, 55, from Mississippi
Williams, David V., Sergeant, 24, from Maryland
Justice, James A., Specialist, 21, North Carolina
Copes, Gregory T., Staff Sergeant, 36, from Virginia           
Enos, Darrel L., Hospital Corpsman Petty Officer 1st Class, 36, from Colorado
Demarsico II, Michael R., Private 1st Class, 20, from California
Warsen, David J., Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class, 27, from Michigan
Galbreath, Luis A. Oliver, Sergeant, 41, from Puerto Rico
Essex, Richard A., Sergeant, 23, from California
Feeks, Patrick D., Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class, 28, from Maryland
Carson, Sean P., Explosive Ordnance Disposal Petty Officer Technician, 32, from Washington
Krause, Suresh N. A., Chief Warrant Officer, 29, from California
Hornsby, Brian D., Chief Warrant Officer, 37, from Florida
Holman, Eric S., Staff Sergeant, 39, from Pennsylvania
Dickinson, Scott E., Staff Sergeant, 29, from California
Rivera Jr., Richard A., Corporal, 20, from California
Buckley, Gregory T., Lance Corporal, 21, from New Jersey
Jeschke, Ryan            , Gunnery Sergeant, 31, from Virginia
Mote, Sky R., Staff Sergeant, 27, from California
Manoukian, Matthew P., Captain, 29, from California
Kennedy, Thomas E., Major, 35, from New York
Griffin, Kevin J., Command Sergeant Major, 45, Wyoming
Gray, Walter D., Major, 38, from Georgia
Trent, Gregory R., Master Sergeant, 38, from Massachusetts
Martin, Ethan J., Specialist, 22, from Idaho
Beauchamp, Clayton R., Petty Officer 3rd Class, from Texas
Linnabary II, Daniel L., Corporal, 23, from North Carolina
Sitton, Matthew S., Staff Sergeant, 26, from Florida
Bell, Russell R., 1st Sergeant, 37, from Texas
Lopez, Jesus J., Private 1st Class, 22, from California
Lambka, Todd W., 1st Lieutenant, 25, from Michigan
McClain, Kyle B., Specialist, 25, from Michigan
Duarte, Curtis J., Lance Corporal, 22, from California
Price, Daniel J., Gunnery Sergeant, 27, Michigan

July 2012
Gifford, Jonathan W., Gunnery Sergeant, 34, from Florida
Belmontes, Jose Oscar, Private 1st Class, 28, from California
Estle, Bobby L., Sergeant, 38, from Ohio
Pleitez, Benjamin C., Specialist, 25, from California
Glende, Theodore M., Private 1st Class, 23, from New York
Jacobs, Sean R., 1st Lieutenant, 23, from California           
Hansen, John E., Sergeant, 41, from Texas
Ross, Adam C., Private 1st Class, 19, from South Carolina
Hansen, Justin M., Sergeant, 26, from Michigan
Williams, Eric E., Sergeant, 27, from California
Colvin, Julian L., Private 1st Class, 21, from Alabama
Berry, Richard L., Staff Sergeant, 27, from Arizona
Horsley, Justin L., Specialist, 21, from Florida
Salazar, Brenden N., Private 1st Class, 20, from Florida
Brodsky, Michael J., Petty Officer 2nd Class, 33, from Florida
Pepper, Brandon R., Staff Sergeant, 31, from Pennsylvania
Hicks, Darrion T., Specialist, 21, from North Carolina
Ashley, Joshua R., Corporal, 23, from California
Rice, Jeffrey L., Private 1st Class, 24, from Ohio
Reyes, Jose, Sergeant, 24, from Puerto Rico
Rodriguez, Daniel, Sergeant, 28, from Maryland
Fitts, Krystal M., Specialist, 26, from Texas
Perez Jr., Sergio E., Specialist, 21, from Indiana
Taylor, Nicholas A., Specialist, 20, from Indiana
Hammar, Carl E., Staff Sergeant, 24, from Arizona
May, Erik N., Sergeant, 26, from Kansas
Ristau, Michael E., Sergeant, 25, from Illinois
Wyatt, Sterling W., 21, from Missouri
Adkins, Trevor B., Private 1st Class, 21, from North Carolina
Pardo, Alejandro J., Private 1st Class, 21, from California
Stambaugh, Cameron J., Private 1st Class, 20, from Pennsylvania
Williams III, Clarence, Sergeant, 23, from Florida
Alecksen, Erica P., Specialist, 21, from Georgia
Seija, Ricardo, Staff Sergeant, 31, from Florida
Batista, Jonathan, Specialist, 22, from New Jersey
Navarro, Juan P., Corporal, 23, from Texas
MacFarlane, Bruce A., Captain, 46, from Florida
Guerra, Raul M., Staff Sergeant, 37, from New Jersey
Rodriguez Jr., Roberto A., from North Carolina
Moosman, Cody O., Private 1st Class, 24, from Idaho

June 2012
Skalberg Jr., James L., Sergeant, 25, from Alabama
Prasnicki, Stephen C., 1st Lieutenant, 24, from Virginia
White, Jason,  24, from Virginia
Leach, Matthew J., Staff Sergeant, 29, from Michigan
Strachota, Michael J., Sergeant, 28, from Arkansas
Massarelli, Robert A., Staff Sergeant, 32, from Ohio
Cotisears, Niall W., Lance Corporal, 23, from Virginia
Hogan, Hunter D., Lance Corporal, 21, from Indiana
Voelke, Paul C., Major, 36, from New York
Stevens II, Steven P., Private 1st Class, 23, from Florida
Mills III, Eugene C., Lance Corporal, 21, from Maryland
Meador II, John D., Specialist, 36, from South Carolina
Thomas, Matthew B., Sergeant 1st Class, 30, from South Carolina
Rawl, Ryan D., 1st Lieutenant, 30, from South Carolina
Rodriguez, Jose, Sergeant, 22, from California
Lallier, Jarrod A., Private 1st Class, 20, from Washington
Fredsti, Nicholas C., Sergeant, 30, from California
Lilly, Joseph M., Sergeant, 25, from Michigan
Pinnick, Trevor A., Specialist, 20, from Illinois
McNabb, Barett W., Sergeant 1st Class, 33, from Arizona
Luxmore, Bryant J., Specialist, 25, from Illinois
Davis, Nathan T., Private 1st Class, 20, from California
Servin, Anthony R., Corporal, 22, from California
Kessler Jr., Richard J., Master Chief Petty Officer, 47, from Florida
Goodine, Brandon D., Private 1st Class, 20, from Georgia
Fazzari, Mathew G., 1st Lieutenant, 25, from Washington
Pace, Scott P., Captain, 39, from California
Ellis, Vincent J., Private 1st Class, 22, from Japan
Campos, Gerardo, Specialist, 23, from Florida  

May 2013
Povilaitis, Alexander G., Staff Sergeant, 47, from Georgia
Witsman, Joshua, Lance Corporal, 23, from Indiana
Brazas, Sean E., Petty Officer 2nd Class, 26, from North Carolina
Olivas, Nicholas H., Corporal, 20, from Ohio
Source:  icasualties.org