RONALD D. WINCHESTER, 1LT, USMCR

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

1LT Ronald Winchester, USMCR '01 was killed in action on September 3, 2004 when an IED detonated near his vehicle in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was a member of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force. It was his second combat tour in Iraq; his first was as a platoon commander during the invasion in March 2003.

Ron was part of a longstanding family history in the military; his grandfather had also served in the 1st Marine Division. He is survived by his parents, as well as aunts, uncles and very close friends. More than 1,000 people attended his funeral and the Southern State Parkway on Long Island was closed for the procession.

“When he came home last time, he sat in the dining room telling stories,” family friend Maureen Chiaramonte recounted, “He said, “Aunt Mo, you know what it’s like. You get a choice to sit on the bench or play the game. I don’t want to sit on the bench.”

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/RONALD_D._WINCHESTER,_1LT,_USMCR

BRET T. MILLER, LT, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LT Bret Miller, USN '01 was lost on October 28, 2009 when the training aircraft he was piloting crashed into the Gulf of Mexico.

His obituary reads:

He was born the son of Rick & Judy (Neumann) Miller, the youngest of three children. Bret grew up in East Troy. He graduated from East Troy High School with the class of 1997. He was well known for his academic and athletic achievements. He was a National Honor Society Scholar as well as the school's all-time leading scorer in basketball. Bret was a four time varsity letter winner in golf and basketball and graduated with high honors. Bret earned an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, where he graduated with the class of 2001. He continued to play basketball and earned a bachelor of science degree in ocean engineering. Upon graduation from USNA in 2001, Bret discovered his love of naval aviation. He attended primary flight training at VT-28, followed by advanced multi-engine training at VT-31, where he earned his Wings of Gold. Following additional training at the [fleet replacement squadron], he reported to the War Eagles of VP-16 for his fleet tour. Bret earned qualifications as patrol plane commander, [functional check flight] pilot, mission commander and instructor pilot and successfully completed two deployments. Bret was a leader and a professional in every sense. He essentially held every qualification in the T-34.

Bret married the true love of his life, Brianne M. Voss, on Oct. 8, 2005, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Elkhorn, WI. While serving in Jacksonville, FL, they welcomed their first son, Chase, in February 2007, and patiently awaiting the arrival of their second son in March 2010. Bret was a devoted husband, father, son, brother and friend. He is survived by his wife, Brianne; son, Chase; parents, Rick and Judy Miller of East Troy, WI; mother-in-law, Twila Voss of Elkhorn, WI; a sister, Tara (Gary) Grocholski of North Prairie, WI; a brother, Chad (Laura) Miller of Watertown, WI; two nieces, Hailey and Grace Grocholski; a nephew, Noah Miller; a brother-in-law, Braidon Voss of Elkhorn, WI; two sisters-in-law, Brittney Voss of Menomonie, WI and Brooke Voss of Elkhorn; grandparents, Elaine (Alex) Gamez of Pewaukee, WI and Shirley Williams Bohrman of Oconomowoc, WI. Bret was preceded in death by his father-in-law, David Voss; grandparents, Harold Neuman, Harry "Ozzie" (Shirley) Miller and Jack "Buck" Bohrman.

Bret and the other officer aboard, LT Joe Houston '02, were members of Training Squadron (VT) 27.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/BRET_T._MILLER,_LT,_USN

LANDON L. JONES, LCDR, USN

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LCDR Landon Jones, USN '01 was lost on September 22, 2013 when his helicopter was destroyed on the deck of USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110) while operating in the Red Sea. The other crewman aboard was also killed.

One classmate said, "Landon 'LBJ' Jones was a wonderful husband, great father and an excellent pilot. The world was a better place with Landon in it and he will be missed by all of his friends."

From the Lompoc Record:

Vincent Culliver, a friend of Jones’ since first grade, recalled when Jones resolved to play hockey and made his own ice rink. “I told my kid the other day, ‘Never say you can’t do anything; Landon made an ice rink in his backyard with wood,’” Culliver said during his eulogy. “He just set some wood up, put the water out there – he knew it was going to freeze the next day – and the next thing you know he was ice skating in a circle.”

Jones was also a thrill-seeker who loved fast-moving vehicles from a young age, his friends and family remembered at the service. As a child he built model airplanes and drew cockpit controls onto cardboard boxes so he could pretend he was flying. As he grew older, he eventually owned a Chevrolet Camaro and a Dodge Viper.

Ned Shores, Jones’ biology teacher at Cabrillo High School, said that affinity for excitement was one reason he decided to pursue the career path he did in the Navy. “Landon told me that if he didn’t get the F-18, then his second choice was not going to be flying other planes because they’re boring,” Shores said. “But he was going to fly helicopters because flying helicopters demanded (that) you gave all your attention.”

Landon was survived by his wife Theresa, sons Anthony and Hunter, mom Debbi, father Larry and brother Nolan.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/LANDON_L._JONES,_LCDR,_USN