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US troops killed in Iraq and Kuwait

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Army Spc. Herberth A. Berrios-Campos

Herberth Berrios-Campos was an energetic and determined soldier before he even formally joined the military.

"He told me that he was going to join the program and be my highest-ranked cadet, and he was a man of his word, because that next term, he joined up and he stayed," said Warren Fountain, who was Berrios-Campos' JROTC instructor in high school.

"If you asked him a question, he said he could do it. He never doubted himself. That's one thing about Campos."

Berrios-Campos, 21, of Bealeton, Va., died July 24 in Salman Park, Iraq, of injuries sustained in a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to Fort Bragg.

Fountain remembered Berrios-Campos as a quiet but confident young man who enjoyed playing soccer and running cross-country. He said as a teen, Berrios-Campos often wore his uniform on days it wasn't necessary so he could represent the military.

Capt. Joel Graves, his company commander, remembered Berrios-Campos for his "energetic youthfulness and humorous personality."

Berrios-Campos is survived by his mother, Armida Carballos, and his father Jose Campos.

Army Spc. Robert L. Bittiker

Robert L. Bittiker was a hardworking National Guardsman who kept busy as a trucking company foreman, but he always made time for his sons.

"He loved his sons very much - followed them through all their sports," said Brian Wheat, Bittiker's stepfather. Bittiker, who worked for Elijah Morton Trucking Inc. and owned a taxi cab in Jacksonville, N.C., also was an avid sportsman who enjoyed fishing.

Bittiker, 39, of Jacksonville, N.C., was killed June 29 when a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad.

The Wilmington-based National Guardsman enjoyed cheering on the Washington Redskins and working on a beat-up truck and Ford Mustang, said his mother, Mary Wheat.

"They were pretty rough and unfixable," she said. "But you probably couldn't convince him of that."

Bittiker enlisted in the North Carolina Army National Guard in 1990. This was his third combat deployment, having served in Bosnia and Iraq in 2004. Bittiker's family has a history of service. His father served in the Marines and his mother worked for the Department of Defense.

He is survived by his wife, Tami; two sons, Cameron, 14, and Ronnie, 18; and a stepson, Robert Jenkins.

Army Pvt. Lucas M. Bregg

Lucas Bregg wasn't quite sure what he wanted to do. After graduating from Wright City High School in 2008, he worked as a roofer. He was also interested in anything related to cars - "He liked to do car work, body work; he loved that," said his grandmother, Kathleen Green.

He eventually decided on the Army, but recruiters turned him down at first because of bad eyesight. He asked them to reconsider, and he joined last summer.

Bregg, 19, of Wright City, Mo., died in Baghdad from injuries he suffered in a noncombat related incident. The military didn't release details. He was assigned to Fort Hood.

Michael Bregg said the last time he heard from his son was the day before he died. In a text message, his son wished him a happy wedding anniversary and said he couldn't wait to get back to town.

He said his son wanted to celebrate the anniversary along with his own wedding and Father's Day because he had been away.

"We watched him become a man we're damn proud of," his father said. "We wish he was here."

Other survivors include his mother, Tracie Green; two brothers, Zachary and Colton; and his sister, Taylor.

Army Sgt. Timothy A. David

Timothy A. David had an unusual business idea for when he got out of the military. It involved both safety and fun - a bar bus.

"Believe it or not, he was going to buy a couple of buses, transport people from Fort Hood to Austin, Texas," said his father, Michael David. "He was going to get a liquor license and make a bar bus."

David, 28, of Gladwin, Mich., died June 28 in Sadr City after a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle in Baghdad. He was a 1999 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Hood.

A senior sniper, he was on his sixth tour of duty, having previously served two tours in Afghanistan and three tours in Iraq.

"He was just an all-around good kid," said Michael David. "He left the Army life with the Army when was home, that was Tim."

In high school, David was a member of his school's football and track teams. "He got the most out of his ability," said Jim Emery, the boys' track coach. "He had a good year in the high jump his senior year."

He also is survived by his mother, Linda.

"He was a good kid," his father said. "He was a joy to be around."

Army National Guard Spc. Daniel P. Drevnick

Dan Drevnick's affinity with speed began early. He followed his father's interest in drag racing and even started restoring his own muscle car after graduating from Woodbury High School in 2005.

He worked two jobs to pay for it, said his father, Ken Drevnick.

"That's what type of person he was," he said. "To get someplace he knew he had to make it happen."

Dan Drevnick, 22, of Woodbury, Minn., was one of three Minnesota National Guard soldiers killed July 16 during an insurgent attack in Iraq, a week after he returned from a visit home. He was assigned to the 34th Military Police Company in Stillwater, Minn.

His father said Drevnick was part of a military police unit and hoped to become a state trooper. He was his family's sixth generation in the military.

His family spoke of "rebellious years" in high school when he pierced his ears and grew out his hair. He was energetic - "our wild child," his stepfather said - loved learning, skateboarded and raced cars. He also was fond of duct tape and once used it to mummify a friend.

"He was never afraid of anything," said his stepfather, Charles Freese.

Marine Lance Cpl. Brandon T. Lara

As his Canyon High School classmates donned caps and gowns, Brandon Lara was in his helmet and fatigues. He was so eager to become a Marine that he finished his studies a semester before his May 2006 graduation.

"He had long waited for his 18th birthday so he could join," said his father, Jacob Lara Jr. "When his classmates were walking the stage, Brandon was serving his first tour." And he volunteered for his second.

Brandon Lara, 20, of New Braunfels, Texas, died July 19 in Iraq while supporting combat operations in Anbar province. He was assigned to Camp Pendleton and scheduled to be home in October, in time for his birthday.

"Ever since I can remember, he knew exactly what he wanted to do," his stepmother Gloria Lara said. "He's always wanted to be military. Since he was little, he was into guns and swords and knives."

She said they communicated constantly on the MySpace social networking Web site. During their last phone conversation, she said, he told her he was thinking of home.

Brandon Lara also is survived by his mother, Shannon Martin; his brother, Jonathon Lara; and his sisters, Victoria and Rebecca Lara and Stormi McCandless.

Army National Guard Spc. James D. Wertish

James D. Wertish helped out on his family's farm in rural Minnesota, but he also may have helped quicken his father's hair loss.

The Rev. George Schmit said Wertish was a friendly young man who loved to ride snow mobiles and all-terrain vehicles, but also "raised a little hell now and then."

The pastor said Wertish's teenage years likely caused some of his father's hair loss, but "deep down in his heart were the values and virtues that guided his life."

Wertish, 20, of Olivia, Minn., was among three Minnesota soldiers killed July 16 in an insurgent attack near Basra, Iraq. His unit was based in Stillwater, Minn.

Wertish joined the Guard before graduating from BOLD High School in 2007, said Schmit, pastor at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Bird Island where his family attended.

Fellow soldiers said he loved playing Rock Band II, a video game that challenges players to play the drums and guitar, and sing to popular rock songs. They said he could always make them laugh, "we could count on him to improve our day."

Wertish is survived by his parents, David and Kim Wertish, sisters Amber and Carolyn and brother Tony.

Army National Guard Spc. Carlos E. Wilcox IV

Carlos Wilcox had his sights on medicine. He earned a biology degree from Metro State University, returning to Minnesota after spending time studying at Arizona State University and in Granada, Spain.

Even when deployed to Iraq, he found time to study while helping his comrades as a health care specialist.

"He wanted to become a doctor," his mother, Charlene Wilcox said. "I had just sent him books to study for the MCAT (entrance exam) so he could apply for medical school."

Wilcox, 27, of Collage Grove, Minn., died July 16 along side two other Minnesota Army National Guard soldiers during an insurgent attack in Iraq. His mother said Wilcox was on his first deployment, and had been in Iraq since May. His unit was based in Stillwater, Minn.

Comrades said they had fun joking around with Wilcox but were always a bit amazed by how professional and astute he was while deployed.

"Wilcox always took care of us," one of his fellow soldiers said. "If anyone was hurting or had a medical issue, he took care of it."

Wilcox grew up in Minnesota and graduated from Tartan High School in Oakdale. He enlisted in the National Guard in 2006, after a short break from service with the Army Reserve.

He is survived by his mother.

"He was a very proud young man, just very proud to serve his country," she said.

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