DAVID S. GREENE, LTCOL, USMCR

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LtCol David Greene, USMCR '86 was killed in action on July 28, 2004 when he was struck by ground fire while piloting an attack helicopter in Anbar Province, Iraq.

David was a native of Camden, New York. The author of his Lucky Bag biography wrote, "Dave never confused his priorities, with academics running a cool last place."

He served on active duty until 1997, and was recalled in January 2004 to serve with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 775. As a civilian he was a project manager at BF Goodrich Aerospace in Vergennes, Vermont.

David was remembered as having "unassuming nobility," and a "humor, wit and a perpetual smile for all around him. He effortlessly enriched the lives of all with whom he came in contact."

He was survived by his wife Sarah, children Wesley and Jena, parents, two sisters and a brother.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php?title=DAVID_S._GREENE,_LTCOL,_USMCR

MARIO D. CARAZO, LTCOL, USMC

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

From the September-October 2010 issue of "Shipmate":

Lieutenant Colonel Mario “Sugarbear” Carazo, USMC, ‘91 was lost to enemy action in Afghanistan, on 22 July 2010. His AH-1W Cobra was shot down while supporting Marines engaged in a firefight. He was 41 years old.

Born on 25 May 1969 in Inglewood, CA, to Alvaro and Ana Carazo, Mario entered the Academy where he graduated in 1991, with a B.S. in history, as a member of the 19th Company.

Mario went on to fly the AH-1W Cobra with the World Famous HMLA-369 “Gunfighters” at Camp Pendleton, CA. He did two Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) deployments, followed by a tour as an instructor at the Fleet Replenishment Squadron. He attended the Amphibious Warfare School in Quantico, VA, and then went back to Camp Pendleton for another tour as a “Gunfighter.” “Sugarbear” attended the United States Naval War College, Newport, RI, as a Major, where he received a M.A. in national security and strategy. He was not satisfied with one M.A., so he attended the School of Advanced Warfighting in Quantico and received his second in Operational Studies.

He took this newly found knowledge, and as only he could do, applied it on another deployment—in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in December 2007 and returned from Iraq in August 2008 to Camp Pendleton, becoming the executive officer of MAG-39, and ultimately the commanding officer of Headquarters Squadron 39. He then deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Mario spent his life focusing on taking care of the people in his life. There was always the “Sugarbear” smile to pick you up, or the “What’s going on, kid,” to begin a bull session, but there was the certainty that he would do whatever was possible to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone he cared about—his family, both immediate and extended.

He is survived by his wife, Jennifer; their son, Mario, and daughter, Milla; his parents, Alvaro and Ana; his brother and two sisters, Alvaro, Ana, Sandra and their families. Mario was interred with full military honors and an AH-1W fly-over at the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, CA. The family has established an education fund for the children, “Carazo Education Fund,” at California Bank & Trust, 1127 Wall Street, La Jolla, CA 92037.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/MARIO_D._CARAZO,_LTCOL,_USMC

KYLAN A. JONES-HUFFMAN, LT, USNR

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

LT Kylan Jones-Huffman, USNR, '94 was lost on August 21, 2003 near Hilah, Iraq, when he was shot by an unidentified gunman while riding in an SUV. He was an intelligence officer and the first mobilized naval reservist to be killed in action in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Kylan was fluent in Arabic, Farsi, French and German, and earned a master's degree in history from the University of Maryland. He had been accepted into the doctorate program in history at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., but had not started.

He grew up in Aptos, Calif. the oldest of three children. His father was a career Army officer. As a teenager, he attended York School, an independent school in Monterey.

A newspaper article reported:

When his parents sold their home to Dr. Larry deGhetaldi, they moved nearby. DeGhetaldi watched Kylan grow up and was so impressed, he named his first son after him. “We found in him a model for what we wanted our own children to be: poise, kindness, honor, an unquenchable thirst for learning, respect and that immediately recognizable spark that really bright young people have.” DeGhetaldi kept finding abandoned toys buried in the front lawn which he called “little time capsules.” “All of him, from the lost plastic toy soldiers in my front lawn, to the haiku focused on Iraqi children selling bayonets for food, (teach) me, (teach) us all to remember the core and the vital humanity in our soldiers.”

He married Heidi Lynn Jones on January 14, 1995 at the York Chapel. They both took the hyphenated name Jones-Huffman. Kylan was survived by her, his parents, and two younger siblings.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/KYLAN_A._JONES-HUFFMAN,_LT,_USNR

STEVE MORIN, JR., SGT, ARNG

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

SGT Steve Morin '97 was killed in action in Iraq on September 28, 2005 when the vehicle he was in was destroyed by an improvised explosive device. He was a member of the Texas National Guard's 111th Engineer Battalion, 36th Infantry Division.

Prior to attending the Naval Academy he was an enlisted sailor; he returned to the fleet sometime after the beginning of his 3/c year. He served his country in the Navy for 14 years prior to joining the National Guard for two more. Steve had degrees in economics and finance from Texas Tech University.

It was at Texas Tech that he met his wife, Gwendolyn. She said of her husband, "He’s very strong willed, very determined. Humorous, a clown, but he was also very disciplined and very passionate about what he believed in. He always wanted to serve his country."

In addition to Gwendolyn he was survived by his 12 year old daughter, Brianna; 6 year old son, Esteban; his parents, Steve and Audrey; a sister and a brother.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/STEVE_MORIN,_JR.,_SGT,_ARNG

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

JAMES P. BLECKSMITH, 2LT, USMCR

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

2LT J.P. Blecksmith, USMCR, '03 was killed in action in Fallujah, Iraq, on November 11, 2004, while leading the 3d Platoon, Company I, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines. Ed, his father: "J.P. wanted to lead his men effectively in combat, and bring them all home safely. He accomplished both of those goals. He just couldn't save himself."

Four other Naval Academy alumni, beginning with LTCOL David McDougal '33 on Okinawa, have been killed in action with our nation's enemies while serving in the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines.

J.P. was survived by his parents, his brother, and his sister.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/JAMES_P._BLECKSMITH,_2LT,_USMCR

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/Category:3rd_Battalion,_5th_Marines

MICHAEL L. LICALZI, 1LT, USMCR

★★★ Memorial Monday ★★★

First Lieutenant Michael LiCalzi, USMCR, '04 died on May 11, 2006 when his tank rolled off a bridge into a canal in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Three other men, all members of the 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, were also killed.

Mike graduated from Chaminade High School in 2000. He ran track and cross country, and was part of crew. He was also a member of the German Club. His outside activities included surfing and later in his life, he even took Italian cooking lessons. Mike graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2004 with a B.S. in Economics.

A native of Garden City, New York, he was survived by his parents and siblings.

To Honor! ⚓

https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/MICHAEL_L._LICALZI,_1LT,_USMCR