Florida's Fallen Soldiers 2009

Posted 1/1/2010

Updated 1 decade ago

Military
» Florida's Fallen Soldiers

Soldiers carry the casket of Spec. Michael J. Anaya, who died in April.

2010

Spec. David A. Croft Jr., 22, of Plant City died Jan. 5 in Iraq.

Sgt. Daniel M. Angus, 28, of Thonotonassa died Jan. 24 in Iraq.

Staff Sgt. John A. Reiners, 24, of Lakeland died Feb. 13. in Afghanistan.
--
as of March 14
See also: Washington Post's database

Of the 446 American soldiers who died as of Dec. 10 in 2009 as a result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, 27 of them were Floridians. The oldest was 36. He was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan just a few hours after he e-mailed his wife to tell her he was safe and doing OK. The youngest was 20, the son of a single mother who immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic in part to give her son a better life. Only one was a woman, a 22-year-old unit supply specialist from Miami on her second tour of duty in Iraq. She was killed by mortar fire near Mosul.

In honor of their sacrifice, and in honor of their families, here are the 27, listed with their immediate survivors. — Amy Keller and Art Levy

Staff Sgt. Anthony D. Davis

Age: 29, Daytona Beach

Died: Jan. 6

War: Iraq

Survivors: Mother, Ellen Davis; stepfather, Nelson Buckwald; sister, Staff Sgt. Nakischa Davis; brother, Paris Davis

Spec. Jessica Y. Sarandrea

Age: 22, Miami

Died: March 3

War: Iraq

Survivors: Husband, Spc. Alejandro Sarandrea; father, Carlos A. Castillo; mother, Xiomara Mansilla; stepfather, Antonio Mansilla; brother, Brandon Mansilla

Lance Cpl. Patrick A. Malone

Age: 21, Ocala

Died: March 9

War: Iraq

Survivors: Mother, Neida Lucy Malone; father, Damian Malone; stepsisters, Andrea Pietronuto and Jennifer Hopper

Lance Cpl. Nelson M. Lantigua

Age: 20, Miami

Died: March 31

War: Iraq

Survivors: Wife, Rossana Lantigua; mother, Maria Lantigua

Spec. Michael J. Anaya

Age: 23, Crestview

Died: April 12

War: Iraq

Survivors: Mother, Cheryl Anaya; father, Carmelo Anaya Sr.; sister, Trista Moffett; brother, Carmelo Anaya Jr.

Spec. Jonathan C. O’Neill

Age: 22, Zephyrhills

Died: June 15

War: Afghanistan

Survivors: Mother, Jackie O’Neill; father, Bob O’Neill; sister, Kaitlyn O’Neill; brothers, Brian O’Neill and Matthew O’Neill

Master Sgt. John E. Hayes

Age: 36, Middleburg

Died: July 8

War: Afghanistan

Survivors: Wife, Shannon Hayes; daughters, Catherine Hayes and Emily Hayes; son, Jacob Hayes; brother, Sean Hall

Sgt. Michael C. Roy

Age: 25, North Fort Myers

Died: July 8

War: Afghanistan

Survivors: Wife, Amy Roy; daughter, Olivia Roy; sons, Michael Roy and Landon Roy; mother, Lisa Hickey; father, Michael Roy; sister, Christine Soucie; brothers, Richard Roy and Joshua Roy

Sgt. 1st Class Jason J. Fabrizi

Age: 29, Seffner

Died: July 14

War: Afghanistan

Survivors: Wife, Kristina Fabrizi; daughter, Reagan Lynn Fabrizi; sons, Jason Allen Fabrizi, Tyler Jacob Fabrizi and Layne Timothy Fabrizi; mother, Mary Casey; father, Timothy Hess; sisters, Erika Aylesbury and Ashley Fabrizi; brothers, Jarrod Hess and Jason Hess

Continued next page...

Spec. Justin D. Coleman

Age: 21, Spring Hill

Died: July 24

War: Afghanistan

Survivors: Wife, Nicole Coleman; mother, Catherine Debaney Comeaux; father, Dean Alan (Penny) Coleman; sisters, Ashley Comeaux and Brittany Comeaux, brothers, Joseph Fuselier and Michael Comeaux Jr.

Pfc. Donald W. Vincent

Age: 26, Gainesville

Died: July 25

War: Afghanistan

Survivors: Mother, Betty Sue Vincent; father, Lee Vincent; sister, Julia Havener Doyle; brothers, Rodney Vincent and Jeffrey Vincent

Spec. Alexander J. Miller

Age: 21, Clermont

Died: July 31

War: Afghanistan

Survivors: Mother, Sue Miller; brother, Richard Miller; half-brothers, John Miller and Jason Grove

Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony C. Garcia

Age: 21, Panama City

Died: Aug. 5

War: Afghanistan

Survivors: Wife, Jewell Garcia; mother, Carol (Lewis) Lindsey; father, Anthony J. (Martina) Garcia; sisters, Elisha Garcia and Christine Stimpson; brothers, Troy Garcia, Andy DeHerrera and Elijah Garcia

Cpl. Christian A. Guzman Rivera

Age: 21, Homestead

Died: Aug. 6

War: Afghanistan

Survivors: Mother, Velma Torres; father, Felix Rivera; brother, Jonathan Rivera

Lance Cpl. Dennis J. Burrow

Age: 23, Naples

Died: Aug. 7

War: Afghanistan

Survivors: Mother, Daryl E. Burrow; father, R. Morgan Burrow; sister, Megan Burrow; brother, Chris Burrow

Capt. John Tinsley

Age: 28, Tallahassee

Died: Aug. 12

War: Afghanistan

Survivors: Wife, Emily Tinsley; daughter, Isabella Tinsley; mother, Debra Tinsley;
father, John Tinsley

Staff Sgt. Jason S. Dahlke

Age: 29, Orlando

Died: Aug. 29

War: Afghanistan

Survivors: Wife, Nikole M. Norvell Dahlke; mother, Deborah DeLaney; father, Roger Dahlke; stepmother, Tessa Dahlke; sisters, Talia Dahlke, Taryn Funcheon, Donielle Graham and Kelsea Evans

Sgt. Randy M. Haney

Age: 27, Orlando

Died: Sept. 6

War: Afghanistan

Survivors: Wife, Katie Haney; daughter, Aubry Haney; son, Austin Haney

Staff Sgt. Bryan D. Berky

Age: 25, Melrose

Died: Sept. 12

War: Afghanistan

Survivors: Wife, Erin Berky; son, Harrison Berky; mother, Sonya Berky; father, Bill Berky; brother, Jeremy Berky

Continued next page...

Sgt. Edward B. Smith

Age: 30, Homestead

Died: Sept. 24

War: Afghanistan

Survivors: Wife, Jamie Welch Smith; daughter, DeAnndrea Luney; son, Deiontay Welch; father, Michael Miller; stepfather, Robert Earl Jarman; sisters, Thelma (Charles) McGruder and June Smith; brothers, Robert Smith, Steven Smith, Craig Smith and Richard Smith

Sgt. Roberto D. Sanchez

Age: 24, Satellite Beach

Died: Oct. 1

War: Afghanistan

Survivors: Mother, Wendy Holland; father, Sgt. Will Holland; brothers, Jacob Goldberg and Logan Holland

Spec. Daniel C. Lawson

Age: 33, Deerfield Beach

Died: Oct. 15

War: Afghanistan

Survivors: Wife, Latoria Lawson; daughters, Kiara Lawson and Kourtney Lawson; son, Kevon Lawson; mother, Carolyn Lawson; father, Rev. Thomas Lawson; sister, Melanie Lawson; brother, David Lawson

Spec. Eric N. Lembke

Age: 25, Plant City

Died: Oct. 23

War: Afghanistan

Survivors: Wife, Mashelle Lembke; daughter, Alexis Marie Lembke; son, Thomas Nathaniel Lembke; mother, Saundra Sajak; father figure, Jim Pollard; sisters, Daniell Lembke, Diana Lembke, Leah Heberling and Anne Stephenson; brother, Jimmy Lembke

Spec. Gary L. Gooch Jr.

Age: 22, Ocala

Died: Nov. 5

War: Afghanistan

Survivors: Mother, Jeanine Murphy; father, Gary Gooch Sr.; sister, Keely Murphy

Chief Warrant Officer Earl R. Scott III

Age: 24, Jacksonville

Died: Nov. 8 War: Iraq

Survivors: Mother, Sandra Scott; father, Earl R. Scott Jr.; brother, William Scott

Pfc. Derrick D. Gwaltney

Age: 21, Cape Coral

Died: Nov. 29

War: Iraq

Survivors: Wife, Heidi Gwaltney; daughter, Saphira Gwaltney; mother, Patricia Gwaltney; father, Billy Gwaltney; sisters, Jessica Gwaltney, Latisha Gwaltney and Casey Gwaltney; brother, Brian Gwaltney; stepdaughter, Cyrah Carvallo

Lance Cpl. Jonathan A. Taylor