Marine 1st Lt Ronald Winchester

25, of Rockville Center, N.Y.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; killed Sept 3, 2004 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.

In 2000, Ronald Winchester played in Navy's biggest football game of the season, against Army - and his best friend. There were no hard feelings when Navy beat Army 30-28. "He was like my brother. We had a lot of fun together," said former Army defensive tackle and pal Doug Larson. "He was independent, but we were both dependent on each other."

Marine Lance Cpl. Aaron W. Simons, 20,
Killed in Rocket-Propelled Grenade Attack in Iraq

Marine Lance Cpl. Aaron W. Simons was taking a break while patrolling the desert city of Qaim in western Iraq, near the Syrian border, when he was killed last month.

His team had reached what the military calls a "hardened site" -- a structure surrounded by sandbags and concertina wire, said his cousin John Widick. The Marines longed to shed their flak jackets, drink water and find refuge from the pale yellow desert, dry heat and coarse sand, he said.

For Simons, 20, the stop also meant a chance to lay down his heavy machine gun. Although he had been a skinny teenager in his hometown of Modesto, he had bulked up so much since joining the Marine Corps that he had been named SAW gunner -- typically a burly Marine whose job it is to carry the squad's heaviest hand-held weapon, the 15-pound Squad Automatic Weapon machine gun.

Sergeant James R. McIlvaine, age 26, was killed in Iraq April 30, 2009 serving his country in the United States Marine Corps. James was born September 24, 1982 in Olney, MD to Joanne E. Ryan and the late Michael S. McIlvaine. Sgt McIlvaine is survived by his wife Sheryl M. McIlvaine of Twentynine Palms, CA two children Michael T. McIlvaine and Alexa N. McIlvaine both of Twentynine Palms, CA, mother and step-father Joanne E. and Mike S. Ryan of Purcellville, VA, four sisters Shannon, Ally, and Katie all of Purcellville, VA, and Airen of Frederick, MD and grandparents William and Katherine Muncy of Ocean Pines, MD and Patricia DeSimone of Olney, MD.

Santa Ana Marine killed in Afghanistan

The Associated Press

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 23-year-old Marine was killed in combat in Afghanistan, one month shy of completing his third tour of duty in the Middle East, military officials said Friday. Lance Cpl. San Sim of Santa Ana died Wednesday after being shot in the Helmand province, the Department of Defense said. Sim, a rifleman based in Camp Pendleton, headed to southwestern Afghanistan in April and was due to return next month, said 1st Lt. Curtis Williamson. He said his unit’s mission was to help train Afghan troops but “the situation on the ground dictated that they have more of a combat role. He was out there fighting.” Sim’s brother Seng Sim described him as a dedicated Marine who had completed two stints in Iraq and won commendations, including two Purple Hearts. “We’re really proud of him,” Seng Sim said. San Sim was part of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. He attended Santa Ana Valley High School before joining the Marines. “When he got out of high school, he wanted to do something for his country,” Seng Sim said. “Everything else could wait.” The Marine’s body is expected to return next week. Funeral arrangements were pending.