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Cpl. Carl Sampson CW3 Michael Wells LCpl. Justin McLeese Sgt. Jeffrey Lynn Kirk
First Lt. Jeffrey Adams Cpl. Matthew Cole Spc. Russell Kyle Burleson Spc. Christopher Vining
Sgt. Christopher Ramsey Sfc. Michael McNaughton Sgt. John Aaron Blanchard LCpl. Ryan McCurdy
Sgt. Sammy Anderson Sgt. Jonathan Reed Lt. Christopher Barnett Pfc. David Burridge
Cpl. David Bear Stewart Sfc. Kurt Comeaux Spc. Matthew King Cpl. Michael Savoie
Cpl. Jacob Schick LCpl. Hardy Mills IV
Spc. Christopher Vining, of Pontchatoula, Louisiana, is serving in the Louisiana Army National Guard. He has been injured twice in Iraq. The first injury occurred in March of 2005, as he was responding to a roadside bombing that injured several of his fellow servicemen. He is a trained first responder and while in route to the bombing, his vehicle was hit. He sustained moderate injuries from which he recovered and was returned to duty. In June of 2005, while on patrol in Masiariayah, an Improvised Explosive Device (roadside bomb) detonated in close proximity to him. He was injured with shrapnel piercing his back. He continues to suffer back problems. He feels that his life was saved by his body armor. He is returning to duty as soon as he is released to do so. He is still in Iraq and his unit is scheduled to return to the USA in September 2005. He comments that, "Im just doing my job and am anxious to return to it full time." Specialist Vining is the recipient of two Purple Hearts. Many of our service men and women are injured in the line of duty, and return to duty sometimes only to be injured again. Specialist Christopher Vining, thank you for your remarkable dedication and service to our country.