Delawareans who gave their all

( Listed by their date of passing - the most recent being first )

December 11, 2005
( killed while driving, running over a bomb )
( His "Canine Soldier" was killed with him in the blast )
U.S. Army 1st Sergeant
Wilmington, Delaware

     "James "Shawn" Moudy", 36, was from Wilmington, Delaware. He was born the son of James and Thelma Moudy on July 14, 1968 in Wilmington, Delaware.
     He completed his elementary school education at the Independence School in Newark and graduated from the Tatnall High School in 1987. He also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, BSA, in 1987.
     Following his graduation from high school he attended Marion Military Institute in Marion, AL. While studying at MMI, he served in the ROTC and also in the Alabama National Guard. SFC Moudy joined the United States Army on November 15, 1988 as an Infantry Mortarman. He completed basic training at Fort Benning, GA.
     His first assignment was to Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Rifle Company at Ft. Campbell, KY. SFC Moudy was then assigned to Camp Gary Owen, South Korea. While serving in Korea, he met Pak Myong Sun. They were married in Seoul, South Korea on July 9, 1991.
     His stateside assignments included Fort Leonard Wood, MO, Fort Benning, GA and Fort Drum, NY. During his assignment with Task Force I-26, "The Blue Spaders," in Bosnia, he was awarded the NATO Medal for Service.
     SFC Moudy was studying for his degree in computer science through the Army education program. He enjoyed spending time with his wife and daughter. There was much love and laughter in their home. He was an enthusiastic outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting with both bow and rifle. He loved fishing, hiking and camping.
     He is survived by his parents, his wife, and his daughter Sandra Rebecca Moudy.
"Click Here" for James "Shawn" Moudy's online memorial record.

"Sgt. James Moudy"

October 11, 1978 - March 4, 2005
( vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Ar Ramadi, Iraq )
U.S. Army Corporal
Newark, Delaware

     "Stephen Michael McGowan", 26, was from Newark, Delaware. He was the son of Fran DiDomenicis and Bobbie Ann McGowan. McGowan had served with the 1st Infantry Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, since August. Before that, he served 15 months in South Korea. Three of his fellow soldiers were also killed in the March 4 explosion.
     After high school, McGowan studied criminal justice at the University of Delaware and Wilmington College. He considered becoming a police officer, but decided he would not like certain aspects of the job. "I think he thought police work would be too routine at times," his father said. McGowan played in a rugby league and enjoyed going caving with his father.
"Click Here" for Stephen M. McGowan's Online Memorial.

"Steve McGowan"

February 3, 2005
( killed while conducting security operations )
U.S. Marine Lance Cpl
Broadkill Beach, Delaware

     "Richard Chad Clifton", 19, was from Broadkill Beach, Delaware. He was the son of Richard C. and Terri L. Clifton. From the time Richard Chad Clifton took his first steps, he dreamed of becoming a soldier. He was a 2003 graduate of Cape Henlopen High School, Lewes and was a member of the National Youth Leadership forum on Defense and Diplomacy.
     He completed basic training at Parris Island, S.C., in October 2003 and was sent to Iraq in September. He was scheduled to come home next month. Richard was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Regiment, U.S.M.C. serving in Iraq. Through his military service, he attained the rank of Lance Cpl.
"Click Here" for Richard Chad Clifton's Online Memorial.

"Chad Clifton"

May 18, 2004
( Died by sniper fire in Muqdadiyah, Iraq, while on a combat patrol. )
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

     "Joseph P. Garyantes", 34, was born in Wilmington and raised in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. He later moved to Florida. Garyantes was a career military man who joined the Army when he was 20. He spent the last several years in Germany, where he lived with his wife, Monika, and their two sons, Tevin, 6, and Ryan, 4.
     Loved ones recalled how Garyantes, called "Little Joe," was an avid golfer and basketball player. Helping people was always something Joseph Garyantes was interested in, his family said. At one point, Garyantes toyed with the idea of becoming a preacher, but after a year at a bible college in Pennsylvania, he decided to look somewhere else. That's when he enlisted in the Army.
     "I remember the very day he came home and told me that he had enlisted. He sat me down and just told me that he wanted to do something with his life," his brother, Stephen, said. "I was proud of him then, and I'm proud of him now."
"Click Here" for Joseph's Online Memorial.

April 6, 2004
( died in battle at Ramadi, Iraq )
Age 18
Marine Lance CPL
Glasgow, Delaware

     Anthony P. Roberts, 18, was the son of William, Jr. & Emma Roberts and he grew up in the Glasgow, Delaware area. He graduated in 2003 from Middletown High School in Middletown, Delaware. In high school, he was a dedicated member of the A.F.J. ROTC.
     Emma Roberts said her son, known as "Little Tony," enjoyed writing "clean" rap music lyrics, reading car magazines and playing computer games.
     Anthony joined the Marines soon after graduating from high school. He had been stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif. He was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment and died in battle at Ramadi, Iraq.
"Click Here" for Anthony P. Robert's Online Memorial record.

" Jarrett, Kelly, Conner & Collin "

October 6, 1975 - September 7, 2003
( Died as a result of a Vehicle Accident )
Army Reserve SPC
Dover, Delaware

     "Jarrett Bennett Thompson", 27, was born in Dover Delaware on October 6, 1975 the son of Allen B. and Judy Coleman Thompson. He grew up in the town of Millington, Maryland and was a 1993 graduate of Kent County (Md.) High School.
     Jarrett then served with the U.S. Army's 160th Special Operations Unit in Fort Campbell, Ky., for three years, during which time, he married his high-school sweetheart, Kelly Quinn Thompson. After his release from active duty, he moved to Dover and then joined the U.S. Army Reserve. Through his military service, he attained the rank of sergeant.
     Jarrett enjoyed all aspects of life and shared them with his family and friends. He loved playing the guitar, brewing beer and most athletics, especially football. He also loved playing croquet, playing cards, reading and learning about the Civil War and the all-around history of war as far back as the medieval times. Recently, he was learning how to play golf, and he also was working on getting his pilot's license due to his passion for flying and flying high. But most of all, he loved his family, especially his wife and their two sons, Connor Bennett Thompson and Collin Quinn Thompson, both of Dover.
     A member of an Army Reserve unit based in Lewes, Jarrett died of injuries suffered in Iraq on Aug. 30, 2003 when the truck he was driving in a supply convoy was forced off the road.
"Click Here" for Jarrett B. Thompson's Online Memorial record.

"Jarrett Thompson"

April 19, 1981 - April 3, 2003
( Killed In Car Bombing )
Army SPC
Seaford, Delaware

     Ryan P. Long, 21, grew up in Seaford, Delaware and graduated in 1999 from Seaford High School in Seaford.
     Ryan, who joined the Army soon after graduating from high school, was killed when a car bomb exploded as he and two other soldiers with the 3rd Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment were walking toward the vehicle. The attack happened Thursday night about 10 miles southwest of the Haditha Dam northwest of Baghdad and about 80 miles east of the Syrian border.
     According to the Pentagon, a pregnant woman stepped out of a vehicle and began screaming in fear. Long, Rippetoe and Livaudais walked toward the vehicle and it exploded. The pregnant woman standing outside the car, the driver - another woman - and the three soldiers were killed. Two other soldiers were wounded.
     Long was a fourth-generation soldier. His father, grandfather and great-grandfather all retired from the military. His father, Maj. Rudy Long, was in charge of recruiting on the Delmarva Peninsula before retiring.
"Click Here" for Ryan Long's Online Memorial record.

June 13, 1979 - March 30, 2003
( killed in a helicopter crash )
Age 23
Marine SGT
St. George's, Delaware
A memorial honoring
Marine Sgt. Brian McGinnis, 23,
is displayed on the lawn
of his father's Woodbury Heights, N.J., home.

     Brian Daniel McGinnis, 23, grew up in St. Georges, Delaware and graduated in 1997 from William Penn High School in New Castle. He married Megan Mahoney of New Castle in 1999.
     His high school wrestling coach tried to persuade him to attend college, but McGinnis had other plans. "He said the Marines were the best, and that's what he wanted to be a part of. He welcomed the challenge," said the coach, Jack Holloway.
     "He had just gotten his crew wings ... the day before the accident," said his mother, Mildred Williams. "I am sure it was a big moment for him. He just loved flying."
     McGinnis was one of three Marines killed when their UH-1 Huey helicopter crashed at a refueling point in southern Iraq. The cause of the crash was unclear, although military officials said enemy fire wasn't involved.
"Click Here" for Brian McGinnis' Online Memorial record.



Email any questions or comments to:
Russ Pickett
Last update: 7/15/2007