Fallen Oklahoma soldiers remembered

By Alex Cameron, NEWS 9

Since last Memorial Day, there have been 18 Oklahomans whom have died fighting the war on terror.

Nineteen-year-old Coy Blodgett from Wilson was killed a year ago when his Humvee hit a roadside bomb in Baghdad.

On June 6, 2007, 38-year-old Greg Sutton, whose family is from Lawton, was also killed by a bomb in Baghdad.

Three Oklahomans lost their lives in Baghdad last June 21, including Thomas Leemhuis from Binger, 21-year-old Jermiah Veitch of Dibble and 22-year-old Ryan Wood from Oklahoma City.

"He was proud to be doing his part for America," Bonner Wood said. "I want people out there to realize there is a war going on as they walk through their daily lives."

Wood's son died while serving his country.

Two days later, 23-year-old Derek Calhoun, another Oklahoman, was killed by a roadside bomb in Taji.

On July 5, Marine Corporal Jeremy Allbaugh from Harrah was killed in Al Anbar Province. He was 21-years-old.

About a month later, on August 4, Jaron Holiday died when his truck hit an explosive.

Exactly one week following Holiday's death, 31-year-old William Scates was also killed by a roadside bomb.

"He knew what his duty was, he died doing what he loved," Morieana Whitson said. She's the mother of a fallen soldier.

A day later, Jeffery Kettle from Madill was killed in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb. Bryan Scripsick, a 22-year-old from Pauls Valley, was killed last September 6 by a suicide bomber, while 19-year veteran Kevin Brown, a 38-year-old from Harrah, became another victim of a roadside bomb September 25.

Lilliam Clamens, a 35-year-old from Lawton was killed October 10 by rocket fire and 19-year-old Cody Carver from Haskell was killed by small arms fire October 30.

Another 19-year-old, Michael Phillips of Ardmore, was the state's first casualty of 2008. He was killed in Baghdad February 24. Torre Mallard, a 27-year-old, is listed by the Department of Defense as being from Oklahoma. He was killed March 10.

Chris Hake was one of four soldiers killed in that March 23 roadside bomb attack. The death of Hake and the other three soldiers killed in attack bumped the nations total to the 4,000 mark.