Roll of Honor

Staff Sgt. Shane Becker of Colorado was a 1990 graduate of Greeley West High School and is the son of a longtime Greeley firefighter. He attended some college. He served in the military with the 1st Cavalry at Fort Hood, Texas, from 1993 to 1996, with III Corp at Fort Hood 2002-2005, and most recently with the 440th Cavalry at Fort Richardson. From 1996 to 2001, Shane worked as a derrick hand in the oil fields in South Texas. He became a resident of Fort Richardson in March 2006. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart in 2007. Shane enjoyed rock climbing, bicycling, hiking, fishing, family and jumping out of planes. He was career military, and his wife, Crystal, and two daughters live in Alaska, where he was originally stationed. One daughter is 7 and the other was born in February. He was 35. Witzleben Family Funeral Home and Crematory.

John George Borbonus is a Silver Star awardee. His conspicuous gallantry and fearlessness in combat action in Iraq is honored by this award. SPC Borbonus was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, during combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. SPC Borbonus took action which saved the lives of those battle buddies around him in an exceptionally vast explosion. He was killed on April 12, 2007.

Army paratrooper John Borbonus had decided to go to college and looked forward to working out the details after returning from Iraq. He was 19 and the only child of Hans and Maggie Borbonus. John’s father Hans Barbonus, who owns a golf course and nursery, noted that his son worked briefly for him and mused that he’d send him out to clean and John ended up taking the golf cart for a spin around the course. John Borbonus had a tremendous sense of humor but was somewhat quiet.

John was born and raised in Boise. He was a member of the USA Ski-team and Snowboard team where he attended Wood River Middle School. He graduated in 2005 from Boise High School as a fine athlete and student. John joined the Army on July 16, 2005, and began training for the Special Forces as an Army Ranger.

John spoke fondly of family as he enthusiastically shared about snowboarding, traveling, hunting or fishing. He had the ability to make anyone laugh. He could come across as extremely shy, and then out of nowhere he would surprise you with a very imaginative practical joke. It was impossible to go into a conversation with John and not walk away in a better mood with a better outlook on life. SPC John Borbonus was a true warrior and embodied characteristics every Soldier should strive to emulate. As a Platoon machine gunner and dismount, his versatility made him irreplaceable. He was attentive and diligent manning the Platoon machine gun. He was proud of his role protecting Soldiers to the right and left of him. Over the course of his deployment John had come to excel in making intelligent and accurate split second decisions.

Army Pfc Devoe was assigned to the 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska. He died of wounds suffered when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device in Kandau Kalay. Devoe was in Afghanistan barely three weeks when he was killed. Neighbors remember Pat as the curly headed kid from across the street – a good kid, yet goofy, with a great sense of humor. He graduated in 2000 from Dana L. West High School in Port Byron, New York, where he played baseball. After graduation, he attended Delhi Tech for Culinary Arts because he enjoyed cooking and wanted to better his skill. Before joining the Army in January 2008, he worked at a construction company for several years. The desire to make a better life for his 16 month old daughter is what enticed him to join and he and the Army fit well together. He was happy with his decision and wanted to make a difference. Patrick earned the Combat Infantry Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal and Overseas Service Bar. His parents were presented with his Bronze Star medal and Purple Heart. Patrick had a contagious smile, wit, sense of humor and loyalty to friends and family. He was kind, smart, funny and loved the outdoors and adventure. Patrick's family wants to thank Private John Massi who carried him to a medavac after he was injured by the bomb.

C. Vincent J. Ellis, 22, died June 4, 2012 in Landstuhl, Germany, from wounds suffered June 1, on Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with improvised explosive devices and small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

Pfc Gideon was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska. He died at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered earlier that day in Paktya, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fires. Nick was originally from Murrietta, California and attended Chaparral High School in Temecula, California. The military was very much a part of his family's life – his great-grandfather served in the Austrian cavalry, his grandfather Joe Welzen was a pilot who lost his left leg when his Navy jet crashed, and his step-dad Mike Tyndale is a career Marine who served in Iraq a few years ago. So it was not a surprise when Nick joined the Army in June 2008. He wanted everyone to be safe and he wanted to protect our country. Nick never thought of himself – always others. He had a heart breaker smile, a humorous smirk, a contagious laugh and amazing humor. Nick was fearless, adventurous, intelligent, big-hearted, honest, sarcastic and funny. He was proud of being in the Army and when he talked about missions and promotions his face would light up. His awards include a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for valor. Nick loved motorcycles, skydiving, hockey, the saxophone, baseball and football. In-N-Out Burger was what he could live on, green was his favorite color and the Minnesota Vikings were his favorite football team. Nick was only 20 years old when he died but he lived more in his 20 years than most people live in their entire life.

Army CPL. Holliday was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska. Holliday died in Hawr Rajab when the vehicle he was in struck an improvised explosive device during combat operations. At the age of 11, Jaron decided he wanted to join the military and began researching the branches. He was a homeschooled student who graduated from Tulsa-based Christian Home Educators Fellowship in 2004 and became especially anxious to join the Army after the Sept 11 terrorist attacks. At the age of 19, he joined the Army in March 2005 and served as a cavalry scout. He began his first tour in Iraq in October 2006 and was scheduled to return home at the end of November. Jaron loved people and never met a stranger. He also loved music and had the potential to be a concert pianist. Favorite hobbies of Jaron's were basketball and playing the piano. On Tuesday, flowers arrived for Kelly Holliday, the mother of Jaron, to encourage her during her treatment for breast cancer. Even though the flowers are dying, she can't bear to throw them away – they were sent by her son who was killed on Saturday.

Army Cpl. Lafleur was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska. Lafleur died in Hawr Rajab when the vehicle he was in struck an improvised explosive device during combat operations. Jason graduated in 1997 from Lockhart High School in Lockhart, Texas, and played competitive soccer. He studied math on an academic scholarship at the University of Mississippi and spent a year at Texas State University before moving to Colorado in 2000. He worked for a recycling center in Durango, worked at Home Depot, and drove a bus for the Purgatory Ski Resort on the side. In May 2005, he decided he wanted to do something important so he joined the military. Jason was so committed to the Army that he re-upped upon his arrival to "the big sandbox." He was an avid Texas Longhorns fan, loved music and planned on making the military his career – he thrived in a military environment. Friends and family remember him as a "math head" – a whiz at taking tests and scoring high on exams when he joined the Army. He will be awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his actions on Aug 4. 1n addition to these medals, he also received an Army Commendation Medal, Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global, War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, 2nd award, Combat Action Badge and Parachute Test Badge. Jason was a private person who arrived in Iraq in October and only had five more months on his deployment.

1st Lt. Thomas M. Martin of Ward, Ark., left South Dakota as a young boy and attended school for a short time in San Marcos, TX. He graduated from high school in Cabot, AR. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1998 and serving in Korea before accepting an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated with his class in 2005 and was appointed as an Armored Cavalry Officer. After completing the Officer Basic Course and Ranger School, Tom was assigned to his first duty station at Anchorage, AK. As a youth, Tom was active in his church, community, 4-H, high school band, theater, the Boy Scouts of America, and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He was preceded in death by grandmother, Ruth E. Cain of Sioux Falls, SD and grandfather, Edmund T. Martin of Huron, SD. He died in Al Busayifi, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire during combat operations at age 27.

SPC Ethan J. Martin 22, of Lewiston, Idaho; assigned to 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th brigade combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; died Aug.7 in Koragay, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by small-arms fire.

Army Sgt. Robert J. Montgomery Jr., 29, of Scottsburg, Ind.; died May 22, 2007, while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska; died May 22 in Jabour, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit. He was killed Tuesday while on foot patrol searching for buried explosives at age 29. He leaves behind a wife and three children.

Sgt. Moretti of South Plainfield, N.J., grew up in South Plainfield where she was a track-and-field standout at South Plainfield High School known for her smile. She earned nine varsity letters for field hockey, winter track and spring track and was a member of the 1997 Middlesex County championship field hockey team. She was an exceptional athlete with great agility and speed and exuded enthusiasm and confidence while always giving 110 percent. Trista later went onto study at William Paterson University from 1998 to 2000, prior to joining the army. Her army career began with basic training in Charlie Company 3rd Battalion, 10th Infantry at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri on June 12, 2003. She than attended AIT training at Goodfellow Air Force Base in Texas and proceeded to Fort Benning, Georgia where she completed Airborne Training and received her wings. Trista was stationed in San Antonio, Texas until 2005 when she made the honorable decision to re-enlist and was reassigned to Alaska. After training for approximately one year in Alaska her unit was activated October 2006 and deployed to Iraq. Trista has been courageously serving our country in Iraq since her deployment. She had an unmistakable laugh and her honesty and genuine good nature made you want to be surrounded by her constantly. Trista loved doing new and exciting things. She would try anything once and definitely did not fit the typical "girl" mold. From bungee jumping to sky diving Trista was always looking for an adventure. She had a true appetite for life and let nothing stop her or get in her way of what she wanted to accomplish. She was a patriot who represented all that is good and respectful about America. She died in Nasir Lafitah, Iraq, when her unit was attacked by insurgents using indirect fire at age 27.

Cpl. Putman of Reynolds, Indiana attended Hershey Elementary School, East Tipp Middle School and graduated from Twin Lakes High School in Monticello in 2003. He was last home March 14 for leave and he and his family went to Florida for a week long vacation where Cody parasailed, bungee jumped, and went to Sea World and Disney World. He departed back to Iraq on March 31. Cody enlisted in the Army in March 2005 and underwent basic training at Fort Knox, Ky. He was a fan of the Chicago Cubs and the Indianapolis Colts and was very athletic playing basketball, football and loved riding go-karts. He was married to Mollie at St. James Lutheran Church in Lafayette Sept. 14, 2006 and they have a daughter. He was a member of St. James Lutheran Church. His nephew, Quinton A. Bricker, is deceased. He was 22.

Sgt. L. Craig Springer of Benbrook, Texas graduated from Western Hills High School and attending Tarrant County College for his mechanic's training. Craig always dreamed of being a soldier so after finishing his Associate Degree in mechanics he joined the military to work on humvees. However, he discovered he was colored blind and was given the opportunity to work as a Medic. He found that he loved being a Medic and treated wounded from both sides of the war. Anywhere he could help people and feel that he was making a difference. Craig always wanted to be with his unit and especially to meet the needs of the wounded and dying. His love for people would not let him do or be anything less than God had destined him to be a Combat Medic. As a youth he was a Boy Scout, member of the Church of God and saxophone player in the marching band. The day before he died, Craig called his father to tell him that he had gotten a chance to go to Chapel and he wanted his father to know how much he enjoyed the chaplain's sermon on Christ healing the blind man. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Lonnie and Robbie Nell Springer. Craig had already passed his test to be promoted to Sergeant and was posthumously awarded his rank along with two purple hearts, a Bronze Star and the one he would have loved most, the Combat Medic badge. He was 23.

Army Sgt. Wakeman was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska. Wakeman died in Hawr Rajab when the vehicle he was in struck an improvised explosive device during combat operations. Dustin graduated in 2000 from Everman High School in Everman, Texas. He was a member of the math and science clubs, the band, and the National Honors Society. After graduation, he attended Tarrant County College and UT – Arlington, but he didn't apply himself like he thought he should. He decided what he needed was self-discipline and the solution was the U.S. Army. In 2004, Dustin joined the Army and served as a medic and paratrooper – even considering a career in the medical field. He received many awards while serving our country: Bronze Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, Combat Medic Badge, Paratrooper Badge and the Purple Heart. Dustin was an outgoing person who loved life, friends, family and music. He had a great sense of humor and would use his wit to lighten up any tense situation. Dustin was deployed to Iraq in October. Just minutes before he was killed, he had treated some soldiers injured by an IED. Because of the time difference between Iraq and home, he wasn't able to call his family often. The last time the family heard from him they weren't home so Dustin left a simple voice message that said, "Damn. Missed you again. Sorry I really wanted to talk to ya'll. Try to catch you later." His family never dreamed there would never be a "later" and his last message was erased.

Army Sgt. Ardron was assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska as a demolition specialist. Ardron died of wounds sustained when multiple improvised explosive devices detonated near his vehicle. Brian earned a GED after leaving Sprayberry High School in Marietta, Georgia. Eight years ago, he went thru a series of jobs he wasn't happy with and then made up his mind to join the Army. He told his mom he intended to stay in the Army until it stopped being fun. During his six years in the service, he was sent to the Middle East on three tours of duty. Brian planned to finish his tour this November and leave the Army. He wanted to spend more time with his wife, Jessica, and their son. To his mother, Deborah, Brian will be the wayward man who got his life together. When he got out of the Army, he was going to join the police force and be with the bomb squad – that's how much he loved what he did.

Army Cpl. Michael W. Davis, 22, of San Marcos, Texas; assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska; died May 21 in Baghdad of wounds sustained when multiple improvised explosive devices detonated near their vehicle. Also killed were Staff Sgt. Shannon V. Weaver and Sgt. Brian D. Ardron. In addition to his wife, Taryn, he also leaves behind his mother Sonya Davis Kennedy; father Myron Warner Davis; sisters Natalie Davis and Jessica Bell; brother-in-law Freeman Bell and beloved nephew Grayson "lil Mikey" Bell.

Army Staff Sgt. Weaver was assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska. Weaver died of wounds sustained when multiple improvised explosive devices detonated near his vehicle. The fallen soldier and his squad were on a route clearance mission when the blast occurred. Shannon grew up in Esom Hill, Georgia; Centre, Alabama; and Urich, Missouri. He graduated in 1998 from Piedmont High in Piedmont, Alabama and immediately joined the Army. Shannon was a Senior NCO in his unit of 81 men and was remembered as an all around good guy who wanted to serve his country. He was supposed to finish his second tour of duty in Iraq next week when he was killed. Shannon will be buried next to his older brother, Christopher, who preceded him in death before the family moved to Missouri in late 1990. Christopher was 13 years old when he was hit by a car. Shannon leaves behind his wife, Desiree who is also in the military.