Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Florida's Fallen Soldiers

This year’s Floridian of the Year issue includes 19 American soldiers from Florida who died serving their country in 2012 and three other Florida soldiers who died in 2011 after Trend’s 2011 list went to press. All were killed during the war in Afghanistan. The list is in chronological order.

Army Pfc.
Matthew C. Colin, 22
Navarre
Nov. 16, 2011
Improvised explosive device

Army Spc.
Ryan M. Lumley, 21
Lakeland
Dec. 3. 2011
Improvised explosive device

Army Pfc.
Jalfred D. Vaquerano, 20
Apopka
Dec. 13, 2011
Small-arms fire

Army Sgt.
Joshua A. Born, 25
Niceville
Feb. 23, 2012
Small-arms fire

Army Spc.
Daquane D. Rivers, 21
Marianna
March 14, 2012
Non-combat injuries

Army Pfc.
Michael J. Metcalf, 22
Boynton Beach
April 22, 2012
Improvised explosive device

Army Staff Sgt.
Dick A. Lee Jr., 31
Orange Park
April 26, 2012
Improvised explosive device

Army Spc.
Gerardo Campos, 23
Miami
June 2, 2012
Small-arms fire

Navy Master Chief
Logistics Specialist
Richard J. Kessler Jr., 47
Gulfport
June 8, 2012
Found dead aboard aircraft
carrier Enterprise

Marine Lance Cpl.
Steven P. Stevens II, 23
Tallahassee
June 22, 2012
Combat

Army Capt.
Bruce A. MacFarlane, 46
Oviedo
July 6, 2012
Unspecified

Army Spc.
Clarence Williams III, 23
Brooksville
July 8, 2012
Improvised explosive device

Army Staff Sgt.
Ricardo Seija, 31
Tampa
July 8, 2012
Improvised explosive device

Navy Master-at-Arms 2nd Class
Michael J. Brodsky, 33
Tamarac
July 21, 2012
Improvised explosive device

Army Spc.
Brenden N. Salazar, 20
Chuluota
July 22, 2012
Improvised explosive device

Army Spc.
Justin L. Horsley, 21
Palm Bay
July 22, 2012
Improvised explosive device

Marine Gunnery Sgt.
Jonathan W. Gifford, 34
Palm Bay
July 29, 2012
Combat

Army Staff Sgt.
Matthew S. Sitton, 26
Largo
Aug. 2, 2012
Improvised explosive device

Army Chief Warrant Officer 3
Brian D. Hornsby, 37
Melbourne
Aug. 16, 2012
Helicopter crash

Army Warrant Officer
Joseph L. Schiro, 27
Coral Springs
Oct. 6, 2012
Small-arms fire

Army Spc.
Brittany B. Gordon, 24 
St. Petersburg
Oct. 13, 2012
Improvised explosive device

Army Chief Warrant Officer 2
Michael S. Duskin, 42
Orange Park
Oct. 23, 2012
Small-arms fire