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Fallen Defenders since 9-11.  Click image for full resolution poster.

Top Row: 

Airman First Class Elizabeth Jacobson, 21, was killed on a convoy near Camp Bucca, Iraq, on 28 Sep 2005 when her vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device. A1C Jacobson was the first female Airman and the first Security Forces Airman killed in the line of duty supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. She was assigned to the 17th Security Forces Squadron, Goodfellow AFB, TX.

Staff Sergeant Brian McElroy, 28, was killed on 22 Jan 2006, when his armored Humvee hit a roadside bomb near Taji, Iraq north of Baghdad while performing duties for the 586th Expeditionary Mission Support Group. SSgt McElroy, a native of San Antonio, TX, worked as Information Security Specialist with the 3d Security Forces Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, AK.

Technical Sergeant Jason L. Norton, 32, was killed on 22 Jan 2006 when his armored Humvee hit a roadside bomb near Taji, Iraq north of Baghdad while performing duties for the 586thExpeditionary Mission Support Group. TSgt Norton, served as a patrol K-9 officer and military working dog trainer with the 3d Security Forces Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, AK. 

Airman First Class Leebernard E. Chavis, 21, assigned to the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, was killed by enemy gunfire 14 Oct 2006 in the vicinity of Baghdad, Iraq. A1C Chavis was performing duties as a member of a U.S. military Police Transition Team supporting Iraqi police at the time of his death. He was assigned to the 820th Security Forces Group, Moody AFB, GA.

Staff Sergeant John T. Self, 29, was killed on 14 May 2007 while on his 79th combat patrol as fire team leader assisting Iraqis to take back the streets of Baghdad. An improvised explosive device detonated killing him and wounding three fellow Airmen. SSgt Self was in a Police Transition Team for the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and assigned to the 314th Security Forces Squadron, Little Rock AFB, AR.

Airman First Class Jason D. Nathan, 22, died in Iraq 23 Jun 2007 of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. A1C Nathan was assigned to the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at Camp Speicher, Iraq performing Police Transition Team duties with his squad. He was assigned to the 48th Security Forces Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom.

Staff Sergeant Travis L. Griffin, 28, was killed in action on 3 Apr 2008 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle while on patrol in Baghdad. SSgt Griffin was on his fourth Iraq tour and temporarily assigned to the Multinational Force in Iraq. He was assigned to the 377th Security Forces Squadron, Kirtland AFB, NM. 

Second Row:

First Lieutenant Joseph D. Helton, 24, died 8 Sep 2009 while on patrol near Baghdad, Iraq, when a roadside bomb exploded close to his vehicle. 1Lt Helton was the first security forces officer killed in Iraq or Afghanistan and performing duties as Flight Commander for the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron. 1Lt Helton was deployed from the 6th Security Forces Squadron, MacDill AFB, FL.

Senior Airman Nicholas Alden, 25, was shot and killed 2 Mar 2011 while sitting, unarmed with other deploying Airmen, on a bus at Frankfurt International Air Terminal, Germany while enroute to Afghanistan. The shooter admitted to targeting Americans and charged on the bus with a handgun and began shooting. SrA Alden, was assigned to 48th Security Forces Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom.

Staff Sergeant Todd "TJ" Lobraico, 22, was killed in action on 5 Sep 2013, in Afghanistan during an off-base combat operation and died from multiple gunshots received during a firefight near Bagram Airfield. SSgt Lobraico was worked in the 755th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron while deployed to Afghanistan and was assigned to the 105th Security Forces Squadron, Stewart ANGB, NY.

A1C Kcey E. Ruiz, 21, was killed on 2 Oct 2015, when the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft she was on crashed shortly after takeoff from Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan. She was deployed to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing as Fly Away Security Team member as part of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and was assigned to the 66th Security Forces Squadron, Hanscom AFB, MA.

SrA Nathan C. Sartain, 29, was killed on 2 Oct 2015, when the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft he was on crashed shortly after takeoff from Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan. He was deployed to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing as Fly Away Security Team member as part of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and was assigned to the 66th Security Forces Squadron, Hanscom AFB, MA.

TSgt Joseph G. Lemm, 45, was killed on 21 December 2015 when a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden motorcycle into a joint patrol with Afghan security forces outside of Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. He deployed with the 824th Base Defense Squadron and was assigned to the 105th Security Forces Squadron, Stewart ANGB, NY.

SSgt Louis M. Bonacasa, 31, was killed on 21 December 2015 when a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden motorcycle into a joint patrol with Afghan security forces outside of Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. He deployed with the 824th Base Defense Squadron and was assigned to the 105th Security Forces Squadron, Stewart ANGB, NY.

Not Pictured:

SrA Jason Khai Phan died, 12 September 2020,  as a result of a vehicle accident in Kuwait.  SrA Phan was on single vehicle patrol outside the perimeter of Ali Al Salem Air Base when accident occurred.