Your tributes to fallen soldiers

Daniel Torres

Daniel Torres DOB November 7, 1981 Passed Away on February 4, 2005 What I loved most about my brother is that he always knew how to make me feel safe. He knew what to say to calm me down and make everything better. He knew how to make me feel beautiful and smart. Daniel had so much trust in me that I feel like I could overcome any obstacle that came my way. He knew how to make every single person in a room feel special and unique. I loved the way he looked into my eyes when we held a conversation. I loved the way he hugged my mom and spinned her around! It always made me laugh! There was always a great sensation when I heard Daniel tell my mom that he loved her so much! I loved how Daniel and my dad smiled at each other. The pride held in my father's eyes was amazing! I loved how my brother's shoulders would shake every time he laughed! I loved how humble and sincere he was! But most of all I love to think how he would have been a wonderful father to his daughter he never met. I love to imagine how his sincerity and patience could elude and overshadow what would have been a beautiful family in the making! I love my brother so much and miss him! The memories are what keeps my soul alive. I thank Daniel so much for all the wonderful times, but most importantly I thank God for sharing Daniel with us. --Cristina Torres, Fort Worth, TX (submitted on May 15, 2007)

Thomas B. Turner

Sgt. Thomas B. Turner, Jr. 9/15/1974 - 7/14/2006. It is difficult for me to put into words the things I loved most about Tom. I admired his ambition and his genuin love of life. His passion was his family. A fellow soldier said it best while speaking at his memorial. "Tom wore his love for his family like a soldier wears a patch on his sleeve". Tom joined the military in 2003. Prior to that he ran his own business while putting himself through college. He was just a few semesters shy of completing his bachelors degree and had planned on returning to school once out of the service. This was Toms second tour in Iraq and he was less than a month away from returning home and discharging. He couldn't wait to get home to be with his family that he had missed so much in the past few years. The morning of Toms accident he wrote me an email and told me he was so excited because they packed up their extra gear to start sending home and this chapter of his life was finally coming to an end. Tom had no regrets about joining the military, and he respecting all the soldiers he worked with, but he was also anxious to move on. Tom's reflection lives on every day in the eyes of our son. My daughter holds close to her heart the values Tom instilled in her. I have not only lost my husband, but my best friend. I can feel his strength within me, and that is what I use to face each and every day. It is now my job to preserve the memories and the legacy of my husband to pass onto our children. My sorrows run deep not for my loss, but for my children. --Jennifer Turner, Red Bluff, CA (submitted on May 24, 2007)

Ruben Villa Jr.

SFC Ruben Villa JR. 07/07/70-8/18/06 My father was SFC Ruben Villa. He was 36 when he passed. He was in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. You've never met a more dedicated soldier. He loved the country he defended right down to his bones. What I loved most about him? His smile and his voice. Whenever I was in a bad mood, I would feel 100% better just by hearing his voice and seeing that big grin of his. He was my stepfather, but he never made me feel as anything less. He is my inspiration to keep striving for everything I've aimed for. Thanks MSNBC for giving me the opportunity for sharing my dad's story with everyone. --Kristle Villa, Sierra Vista, AZ (submitted on April 27, 2007)

Rusty Lee Washam

Cpl. Rusty Lee Washam age 21 2/11/1985 - 2/14/2006 Rusty grew up in Huntsville, Tennessee the youngest of three sisters and two brothers. Rusty always had a smile on his face he lived his life to the fullest. He truly loved his family and his country. Rusty always wanted to be a Marine he joined straight out of High School in 2003. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C. with the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. He was on his second tour over seas he was within a month of coming home when he was killed by a suicide car bomber that attacked his vehicle near Al Qa’im, Iraq. He loved his job he believed in what he was doing that they were making a difference. He is a hero to all of his family and we are proud of him. --Anonymous , Huntsville, TN (submitted on May 24, 2007)

Joshua S. Wilfong

CPL Joshua S. Wilfong Hometown-Parkersburg, WV August 28,1981-April 30,2004 Killed by a car bomb RIP Joined the Marines in 2001. This was his second tour in iraq for which he volunteered for. We miss you bro.. --Cassandra Wilfong, Williamstown, WV (submitted on April 27, 2007)

Wesley Williams

I am writing in regards of Pvt Wesley Williams of the 163rd Military Intelligence Batalion. He was killed on March 2, 2007. He was 23 years old from Philadelphia, Pa and was stationed at Fort Hood, Tx. I met Wesley through adopt a platoon (adoptaplatoon.org) we became pen pals and I would send him care packages every month. He was an amazing man and I was proud to know him. I am so thankful for the men and women like him that serve our country. I will never forget him and I am so happy that I had the opportunity to get to know him. God Bless America and all of our soldiers!!! --Jamie Melton, Redondo Beach, CA (submitted on April 27, 2007)

Harry A. Winkler III

Spc Harry A Winkler III 12 March 1974 - 12 November 2006 Harry (Buck - as he was known to his friends) was a soldier who died doing what he knew and loved. He joined the army to make a difference, not a difference in the world but in himself. He was always the soldier that got everything asked of him done. The platoon leader and platoon sargent thought so highly of him that they argued over who's truck he was going to ride in and be the gunner for. Younger soldiers looked up to him, asked him for advice, and listened to his stories of his past experience in Iraq. He loved life. He loved his friends. He loved his family. The one person that made his life complete was our son, Owen. He re-enlisted in the Army to help provide for our son. He was there grinning ear to ear the day he was born. He bragged to everyone about how great his little boy was. Each moment was precious to him and on the day he left he made sure that there were enough videos for Owen to watch while his daddy was gone so he would not forget him. He watched him grow through the webcam and pictures that we sent to him on a weekly basis. And his memory will live on in him forever The one thing we will all miss the most ia his laugh. Buck would light up a room with his jokes and laughter. When he was killed it seemed like the world stopped laughing. The happiness was washed away. In his own little way, he makes sure that we are still laughing. Any story that we share with each other about Buck always ends in laughter. Buck lived life to the fullest. Even when hardships came our way he always had a smile on his face. He never let anything get him down. He always found a way to make things happen. He was the sunshine when there were grey clouds. You can ask any soldier who served with my husband, and they will tell you that Buck was the guy who boosted their morale when it was low. Buck was the guy who would give you the shirt off his back. He had a joke for every occasion. And now that he is gone his laughter lives on in all of our memories. --Charity Winkler, Clarksville, TN (submitted on April 27, 2007)

Kevin M. Witte

My son-in-law, SSG Kevin M Witte, was killed in action in Iraq on October 20, 2006. He was 27 years old. This was his 3rd deployment in this war, and he was due home to his wife and 18 month old son in just a few weeks. Kevin was so looking forward to getting home, as he had missed so much of his little boy's life. This boy was the light of his parents' life, and it was such a joy to see them all together. Kevin was also the northern star of my daughter's life, and these are the two main reasons that I loved my son-in-law. He was a hard worker and also knew how to have a good time. He was an exemplary soldier who loved his job, believed in what he was doing, and did it well. Losing Kevin has been the hardest thing that has ever happened to me. In a world where things didnt always go right, Kevin was someone you could always count on for help, good advice, or even just a great smile. Things will never be the same without him here. The world has lost one of it's finest in Kevin and all the other fallen heroes. The finest tribute I can pay to him is to try and live my life in the same way, trying to make my small world, and therefore the greater world, a better place by my actions. As your baby son says, 'Peace Out, Boy'. Love you, Kevin, from your family. --Laurel Taylor, Laurel, MD (submitted on May 6, 2007)

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