Valley troops who have been killed in action

Published online on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009

Lance Cpl. Alfonso Ochoa Jr., an Avenal High graduate, was killed Saturday in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan. Here is a list of service members with Valley ties who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

2009

-- Army Sgt. Joshua Soto, 25, Avenal High School graduate
-- Army Sgt. Raul Moncada, 29, Madera High School graduate
-- Marine Lance Cpl. Alfonso Ochoa Jr., 20, of Armona

2008

-- Sgt. Frank J. Gasper, 25, graduated from Golden Valley High School in Merced
-- Air Force Tech. Sgt. Anthony L. Capra, 31, of Hanford
-- Sgt. Timothy P. Martin, 27, of Pixley, graduate of Monache High School in Porterville

2007

-- Senior Airman Nick Eischen, 24, Buchanan High School graduate
-- Army Cpl. Nathan Hubbard, 21, Buchanan High School graduate
-- Marine Lance Cpl. Christian Vasquez, 20, of Coalinga
-- Army Cpl. Victor H. Toledo Pulido, 22, of Hanford
-- Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Moore, 28, former resident of Alpaugh
-- Sgt. Steven Packer, 23, Clovis High School graduate
-- Pfc. Daniel Courneya, 19, former Fresnan, moved to Michigan at age 10
-- Army Cpl. Michael Rojas, 21, Clovis East High School graduate
-- Pfc. Rowan D. Walter, 25, Buchanan High School graduate

2006

-- Marine Pfc. Javier Chavez, 19, of Cutler
-- Air Force Airman 1st Class Carl Jerome Ware Jr., 22, formerly of Dinuba
-- Army Spc. Manuel Joaquin Holguin, 21, of Woodlake
-- Marine Lance Cpl. Anthony “Tony” Edward Butterfield, 19, of Clovis
-- Marine Cpl. Joshua Pickard, 20, of Merced County

2005 -- Army Sgt. Regina C. Reali, 25, of Fresno
-- Army Sgt. Adrian N. Orosco, 26, of Corcoran
-- Marine Lance Cpl. John Anthony “JT” Lucente, 19, lived in Fresno until he was 14
-- Air Force Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Jacobson, 21, of Madera Ranchos
-- Marine Corps Sgt. Lindsey James, formerly of Coalinga

2004

-- Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Hubbard, 22, of Clovis
-- Marine Lance Cpl. Jeremiah Baro, 21, of Clovis
-- Marine Lance Cpl. Branden Paul Ramey, son of Randy Ramey of Madera Ranchos
-- Marine Lance Cpl. Jeremy D. Bow, 20, of Lemoore
-- Army Spc. Daniel Paul Unger, 19, of Exeter
-- Army Sgt. Michael W. Mitchell, 25, grew up in Porterville

2003

-- Army Pfc. Karina Lau, 20, of Livingston
-- Army 1st Lt. Osbaldo Orozco, 26, of Earlimart

Two more men with Valley ties were killed during training in Kuwait:

-- Army Staff Sgt. Jose Carlos Rangel, 43, of Fresno
-- Capt. Joe Fenton Lusk II, 25, a 1997 Reedley High School graduate

Source: Fresno Bee staff librarians