VIRTUAL MEMORIAL HALL

Honor Our Fallen Heroes 2024

The alumni below were specifically remembered by family, shipmates, and friends at the Honor Our Fallen Heroes event at the Naval Academy on November 16, 2024.

Following the event the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association created this video:

1LT RONALD D. WINCHESTER, USMCR

Ronald Winchester

Class of 2001
1st Lieutenant | US Marine Corps Reserve
September 3, 2004 (25 years old)
KIA Iraq 1st Battalion, 7th Marines Global War on Terrorism Ground HOFH19 HOFH21 HOFH22 HOFH23 HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 25th Company
1LT TRAVIS J. MANION, USMC

Travis Manion

Class of 2004
1st Lieutenant | US Marine Corps
April 29, 2007 (26 years old)
KIA Iraq Global War on Terrorism Ground Silver Star Bronze Star HOFH23 HOFH24 Ship Namesake USNA 18th Company
2LT RONALD W. MEYER, USMC

Ronald Meyer

Class of 1965
2nd Lieutenant | US Marine Corps
June 16, 1966 (23 years old)
KIA 1st Battalion, 5th Marines Vietnam Ground Silver Star HOFH19 HOFH21 HOFH23 HOFH24 USNA 27th Company
CAPT BRIAN T. KENNEDY, USMC

Brian Kennedy

Class of 2007
Captain | US Marine Corps
January 14, 2016 (31 years old)
Operational loss Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 463 Helicopter HOFH24 USNA 26th Company
CAPT GERALD F. DECONTO, USN

Gerald DeConto

Class of 1979
Captain | US Navy
September 11, 2001 (44 years old)
KIA 9/11 Terrorism HOFH23 HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 7th Company
CAPT HENRY M. KLEEMANN, USN

Henry Kleemann

Class of 1965
Captain | US Navy
December 3, 1985 (42 years old)
Operational loss Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 4 Fixed Wing HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 5th Company
CAPT JENNIFER J. HARRIS, USMC

Jennifer Harris

Class of 2000
Captain | US Marine Corps
February 7, 2007 (28 years old)
KIA Iraq Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 364 Global War on Terrorism Helicopter HOFH22 HOFH23 HOFH24 HOFH25 Woman USNA 18th Company
CAPT MICHAEL C. WUNSCH, USMC

Michael Wunsch

Class of 1966
Captain | US Marine Corps
July 28, 1969 (25 years old)
KIA 3rd Tank Battalion Vietnam Ground Silver Star HOFH24 USNA 11th Company
CAPT MICHAEL D. L. MORGAN, USMC

Michael Morgan

Class of 1967
Captain | US Marine Corps
November 2, 1973 (29 years old)
Operational loss Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323 Fixed Wing HOFH19 HOFH21 HOFH22 HOFH24 USNA 11th Company
CAPT MIGUEL J. NAVA, USMC

Miguel Nava

Class of 2017
Captain | US Marine Corps
February 7, 2024 (28 years old)
Operational loss Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 361 Helicopter HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 22nd Company
CAPT SETH R. MICHAUD, USMC

Seth Michaud

Class of 1998
Captain | US Marine Corps
June 22, 2003 (27 years old)
Operational loss Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 461 Ground Fratricide HOFH19 HOFH21 HOFH23 HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 5th Company
CAPT STANFORD H. SHAW, III, USMC

Stanford Shaw, III

Class of 2006
Captain | US Marine Corps
March 10, 2015 (31 years old)
Operational loss 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion Helicopter Bronze Star HOFH19 HOFH21 HOFH22 HOFH23 HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 6th Company
CAPT THOMAS D. PASQUALE, USMC

Thomas Pasquale

Class of 1969
Captain | US Marine Corps
July 18, 1979 (32 years old)
Operational loss No. 4 Squadron (RAF) Fixed Wing HOFH24 USNA 21st Company
CAPT THOMAS J. EVANS, USMC

Thomas Evans

Class of 1974
Captain | US Marine Corps
April 6, 1977 (25 years old)
Operational loss Marine Attack Training Squadron (VMAT) 203 Fixed Wing HOFH24 USNA 35th Company
CDR RAYMOND A. HANSEN, USN

Raymond Hansen

Class of 1922
Commander | US Navy
August 9, 1942 (43 years old)
KIA Battle of Savo Island Pacific USS Vincennes (CA 44) WWII Ship HOFH19 HOFH21 HOFH22 HOFH24 HOFH25
ENS JOSHUA K. WATSON, USN

Joshua Watson

Class of 2019
Ensign | US Navy
December 6, 2019 (23 years old)
KIA Global War on Terrorism Navy and Marine Corps Medal Terrorism Video HOFH23 HOFH24 USNA 10th Company
ENS STEVEN E. PONTELL, USN

Steven Pontell

Class of 1988
Ensign | US Navy
October 29, 1989 (23 years old)
Operational loss Training Squadron (VT) 19 Fixed Wing Family HOFH24 USNA 36th Company
LCDR ALEXANDER J. PALENSCAR, III, USN

Alexander Palenscar, III

Class of 1963
Lieutenant Commander | US Navy
March 27, 1967 (25 years old)
KIA Attack Squadron (VA) 112 Vietnam Fixed Wing Naval Academy Cemetery HOFH24 USNA 19th Company
LCDR BARTON S. CREED, USN

Barton Creed

Class of 1967
Lieutenant Commander | US Navy
March 13, 1971 (25 years old)
KIA Attack Squadron (VA) 113 Vietnam Fixed Wing Bronze Star Distinguished Flying Cross MIA HOFH19 HOFH21 HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 26th Company
LCDR BENJAMIN TAPPAN, III, USN

Benjamin Tappan, III

Class of 1966
Lieutenant Commander | US Navy
June 2, 1980 (36 years old)
Operational loss Attack Squadron (VA) 147 Fixed Wing HOFH24 USNA 8th Company
LCDR DAVID B. LLOYD, USN

David Lloyd

Class of 1956
Lieutenant Commander | US Navy
May 22, 1968 (33 years old)
Operational loss USS Scorpion (SSN 589) Submarine HOFH19 HOFH21 HOFH22 HOFH23 HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 18th Company
LCDR ERIK S. KRISTENSEN, USN

Erik Kristensen

Class of 1995
Lieutenant Commander | US Navy
June 28, 2005 (33 years old)
KIA Afghanistan Global War on Terrorism Helicopter Bronze Star SEAL HOFH19 HOFH21 HOFH22 HOFH23 HOFH24 HOFH25 Naval Academy Cemetery USNA 2nd Company
LCDR FRANK C. WITTWER, USN

Frank Wittwer

Class of 1994
Lieutenant Commander | US Navy
January 18, 2006 (35 years old)
Operational loss Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 97 Fixed Wing HOFH23 HOFH24 USNA 33rd Company
LCDR JOSEPH F. KING, JR., USN

Joseph King, Jr.

Class of 1983
Lieutenant Commander | US Navy
March 13, 1997 (35 years old)
Operational loss Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 3 Helicopter HOFH19 HOFH21 HOFH22 HOFH23 HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 25th Company
LT CHARLES A. KNOCHEL, USN

Charles Knochel

Class of 1962
Lieutenant | US Navy
September 22, 1966 (26 years old)
KIA Attack Squadron (VA) 176 Vietnam Fixed Wing Distinguished Flying Cross MIA HOFH22 HOFH23 HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 15th Company
LT DARIN H. PONTELL, USN

Darin Pontell

Class of 1998
Lieutenant | US Navy
September 11, 2001 (26 years old)
KIA 9/11 Terrorism Family HOFH24 USNA 6th Company
LT DAVID M. LUMSDEN, USN

David Lumsden

Class of 1969
Lieutenant | US Navy
November 20, 1974 (27 years old)
Operational loss Attack Squadron (VA) 95 Fixed Wing HOFH24 USNA 3rd Company
LT EARL D. HACKMAN, JR., USN

Earl Hackman, Jr.

Class of 1943
Lieutenant | US Navy
August 6, 1945 (25 years old)
KIA Pacific USS Bullhead (SS 332) WWII Submarine HOFH19 HOFH21 HOFH22 HOFH23 HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 1st Company
LT GARWOOD W. BACON, USN

Garwood Bacon

Class of 1968
Lieutenant | US Navy
August 23, 1975 (29 years old)
Operational loss Attack Squadron (VA) 35 Fixed Wing HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 5th Company
LT J. BRENDAN A. LOONEY, USN

J. Brendan Looney

Class of 2004
Lieutenant | US Navy
September 21, 2010 (29 years old)
KIA Afghanistan Global War on Terrorism Helicopter Bronze Star SEAL HOFH21 HOFH22 HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 18th Company
LT JAMES L. FEENEY, USN

James Feeney

Class of 1969
Lieutenant | US Navy
July 11, 1974 (27 years old)
Operational loss Attack Squadron (VA) 93 Fixed Wing HOFH23 HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 32nd Company
LT JASON E. JAKUBOWSKI, USN

Jason Jakubowski

Class of 1993
Lieutenant | US Navy
September 14, 1997 (27 years old)
Operational loss Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 15 Fixed Wing HOFH19 HOFH21 HOFH22 HOFH23 HOFH24 HOFH25 Naval Academy Cemetery USNA 31st Company
LT JOHN J. WILEY, USN

John Wiley

Class of 1961
Lieutenant | US Navy
April 10, 1963 (23 years old)
Operational loss USS Thresher (SSN 593) Submarine HOFH21 HOFH23 HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 11th Company
LT JOHN M. FRANKLIN, USN

John Franklin

Class of 1974
Lieutenant | US Navy
November 20, 1979 (27 years old)
Operational loss Fighter Squadron (VF) 33 Fixed Wing HOFH22 HOFH24 USNA 6th Company
LT MATTHEW S. SHUBZDA, USN

Matthew Shubzda

Class of 1998
Lieutenant | US Navy
October 18, 2002 (27 years old)
Operational loss Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41 Fixed Wing HOFH24 USNA 13th Company
LT MICHAEL F. WILSON, USN

Michael Wilson

Class of 1981
Lieutenant | US Navy
May 22, 1986 (27 years old)
Operational loss Attack Squadron (VA) 65 Fixed Wing HOFH19 HOFH21 HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 8th Company
LT ROBERT L. LEDBETTER, III, USNR

Robert Ledbetter, III

Class of 1969
Lieutenant | US Naval Reserve
October 15, 1985 (38 years old)
Operational loss 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines Helicopter HOFH24 USNA 35th Company
LT RONALD J. MOBAYED, USN

Ronald Mobayed

Class of 1991
Lieutenant | US Navy
October 3, 1995 (27 years old)
Operational loss Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC) 6 Helicopter HOFH19 HOFH21 HOFH22 HOFH23 HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 36th Company
LT V. PATRICK BUCKLEY, USN

V. Patrick Buckley

Class of 1966
Lieutenant | US Navy
December 16, 1969 (25 years old)
KIA Light Photographic Squadron (VFP) 63 Vietnam Fixed Wing HOFH19 HOFH21 HOFH22 HOFH23 HOFH24 HOFH25 KIA-combat flight USNA 11th Company
LT WILLIAM F. SIGLER, USN

William Sigler

Class of 1969
Lieutenant | US Navy
November 10, 1973 (27 years old)
Operational loss Helicopter Training Squadron (HT) 8 Helicopter Distinguished Flying Cross HOFH24 USNA 29th Company
LTCOL FRANK P. KOLBE, JR., USMCR

Frank Kolbe, Jr.

Class of 1960
Lieutenant Colonel | US Marine Corps Reserve
July 19, 1981 (45 years old)
Operational loss Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 772 Helicopter HOFH19 HOFH21 HOFH22 HOFH23 HOFH24 USNA 11th Company
LTCOL ROBERT J. JOHNSON, JR., USMC

Robert Johnson, Jr.

Class of 1964
Lieutenant Colonel | US Marine Corps
October 9, 1982 (41 years old)
Operational loss Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312 Fixed Wing HOFH23 HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 11th Company
LTCOL WILLIAM R. WATKINS, III, USAF

William Watkins, III

Class of 1989
Lieutenant Colonel | US Air Force
April 7, 2003 (37 years old)
KIA Iraq 333rd Fighter Squadron Global War on Terrorism Fixed Wing Distinguished Flying Cross HOFH19 HOFH21 HOFH22 HOFH24 USNA 32nd Company
LTJG ARNOLD W. BARDEN, JR., USN

Arnold Barden, Jr.

Class of 1969
Lieutenant (j.g.) | US Navy
September 20, 1971 (25 years old)
KIA Helicopter Attack Squadron (Light) (HA(L)) 3 Vietnam Helicopter KIA-combat flight HOFH24 USNA 20th Company
LTJG DOUGLAS D. VAUGHAN, USN

Douglas Vaughan

Class of 1966
Lieutenant (j.g.) | US Navy
May 20, 1969 (25 years old)
KIA Naval Advisory Group Vietnam Ground Bronze Star HOFH23 HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 34th Company
LTJG MARK S. GONTKOVIC, USN

Mark Gontkovic

Class of 1976
Lieutenant (j.g.) | US Navy
December 6, 1979 (26 years old)
Operational loss Attack Squadron (VA) 35 Fixed Wing HOFH19 HOFH21 HOFH22 HOFH23 HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 28th Company
LTJG PATRICK J. KILCLINE, USN

Patrick Kilcline

Class of 1975
Lieutenant (j.g.) | US Navy
July 16, 1978 (25 years old)
Operational loss Fighter Squadron (VF) 211 Fixed Wing HOFH21 HOFH22 HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 33rd Company
LTJG STEPHEN G. LABARRE, USN

Stephen LaBarre

Class of 1974
Lieutenant (j.g.) | US Navy
March 22, 1978 (25 years old)
Operational loss Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 Helicopter HOFH24 USNA 29th Company
MAJ DAVID G. BUELL, USMC

David Buell

Class of 1969
Major | US Marine Corps
November 4, 1983 (35 years old)
Operational loss Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 115 Fixed Wing HOFH23 HOFH24 USNA 32nd Company
MAJ DOUGLAS A. ZEMBIEC, USMC

Douglas Zembiec

Class of 1995
Major | US Marine Corps, CIA
May 11, 2007 (34 years old)
KIA Iraq Global War on Terrorism Ground Silver Star Bronze Star HOFH19 HOFH21 HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 8th Company
MAJ ELIZABETH R. KEALEY, USMC

Elizabeth Kealey

Class of 2005
Major | US Marine Corps
January 23, 2015 (32 years old)
Operational loss Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 169 Helicopter HOFH24 HOFH25 Woman USNA 30th Company
MAJ JAMES L. SMEE, USMC

James Smee

Class of 1970
Major | US Marine Corps
May 16, 1984 (36 years old)
Operational loss Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron (MAWTS) 1 Fixed Wing HOFH19 HOFH21 HOFH22 HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 29th Company
MAJ MATTHEW M. WIEGAND, USMC

Matthew Wiegand

Class of 2008
Major | US Marine Corps
March 30, 2019 (34 years old)
Operational loss Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron (MAWTS) 1 Helicopter HOFH19 HOFH21 HOFH22 HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 24th Company
MAJ MICHAEL F. BRADLEY, USMCR

Michael Bradley

Class of 1979
Major | US Marine Corps
September 8, 1993 (37 years old)
Operational loss Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 773 Helicopter Naval Academy Cemetery HOFH24 HOFH25 USNA 27th Company