Fallen Heroes of Operation Enduring Freedom

""IT'S NOT THE CRITIC WHO COUNTS, NOR THE MAN WHO POINTS OUT HOW A STRONG MAN STUMBLED, OR WHERE THE DOER OF DEEDS COULD HAVE DONE IT BETTER. THE CREDIT BELONGS TO THE MAN WHO'S IN THE AREANA, WHO'S FACE IS MARRED WITH BLOOD, DUST AND SWEET. WHO STRIVES, WHO SPENDS HIMSELF FOR A WORTHY CAUSE.""
William Darby Taylor Jr. of Bonita Springs Florida

"To all the loved ones of Spence, I did a report on your son/cousin/friend/whatever he was to you. I just want to say thank you so much for Spence's incredible sacrifice. From what I read, he was a beautiful person and I was very glad to hear that he was a strong Chrisian. I know that I'll meet him in heaven someday!"
Anna of Orange, CA

"It's so amazing to see how a lot of people have honored my big brother. I never would've thought that my brother would leave me so soon, but i am thankful that i still have precious memories of him. Even though we use to argue all the time, he was still my brother and i love him just as much as he love me. So RIP big bro and i WILL see you again. I love you!"
Tamesha McNeil of Bennettsville, SC, USA

"May 22, 2007
To the family of Spence A. McNeil. Spence gave the ultimate sacrifice and will be held in the hearts of Americans forever. I cannot and will not let our fallen heroes be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to you. "Some gave all."
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org"
Peggy Childers of Carson City, NV

"To family and friends of Pfc.McNeil my heart goes out to you I'm sorry that you had to lose a son,brother,and one day a father.I know how it is being from South Carolina I'm out of Florence,South Carolina so just watch over another country boy I will never forget a fallen solider"
Spc.Turner Steven of Kabul,Afghanistan

""You'll never be forgotten""
SPC Lourena Smith "LouLou" of Ridgeland, MS

"Your still in my thoughts Spence....R.I.P....."
Bianca Campbell of Buffalo, NY

"To the McNeil Family,
I am sorry for your loss. I also have made a quilt for Mr and Mrs Mc Neil from the Home of the Brave Quilt Project. If someone could contact me so that I may have an address to send it to, that would be great. Again, I am sorry for your loss and I hope that the quilt that I would like to give to you will help to comfort you in some way.
Thanks. My e-mail address is ljwayne925@yahoo.com"
Lynda Wayne of Greensboro, NC

"Ms. McNeil it has been 3 yrs since Spence was taken and it still hurts. I was going through my things from basic and found a poem he wrote for you. i would like to send it to you. The last thing you told me was to watch what you say to people because you never know when it is your last.
Words truly cannot express how sorry I am that spence is gone. Please know that he is still loved."
Erikewanna Poleder of Ft. McPherson, GA

"FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, AND WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH IN HIM, SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. FOR SPENCE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR A JUST CAUSE, AND WE THANK GOD EVERYDAY FOR THE TIME THAT WE HAVE SPENT WITH HIM. WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE KIND WORDS, THOUGHTS, AND PRAYERS THAT WAS SENT, HEARD, AND PRAYED. WE HOPE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR US AS WE PRAY FOR YOU.
THE McNEIL FAMILY"
COLE L. BECOTE III of BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

"I want to thank everyone who left such remarkable comments about my cousin. He was more like a little brother to me and we actually called each other brother and sister. A piece of my soul died when I received the devastating news. I do know he is in a better place, but he is thought of daily and missed very, very much. Thank you again for all of your thoughts and prayers."
Katina Simmons of Atlanta, GA

"for the family and friends of pfc. mcneil,
i am very sorry to hear of your loss. this story made me think. i am a truck driver in the ohio army national guard. it's something we always hear about and know it could happen to anyone. I am sorry it happened to you. just know he did something while so many people just sit back and watch. he did make a difference. thankyou for your son, he makes me more proud than ever to fight for the usa, we all do it, we all have different reasons, thankyou, i hope it gets easier for you all to cope, just think how great and how much of a hero he truly will always be."
Girlie in Ohio Guard of Cleveland, Ohio

"To the parents, family and friends of Spence Mcneil. I first arrived to Ft Bliss after spending 2 years in Korea. Spence was fresh out of basic training. We became friends immediately. Spence would always come knocking on my door first thing in the morning. He was a great guy. I spent many days going to the gym, playing basketball, going to the mall, listening to music, and just laughing about everything. After I returned home from the war, I got a tattoo of S.A.M on my wrist in remembrance for him. He once called my car the "White Ghost", so I made a sticker and put it on the back of my car. I'm also writing a story about him. He was loved by all, a real true friend. I'm gonna miss you Mcneil, I will never forget you buddy. Shalom and God Bless. Your fellow soldier and friend to the end.
Marc Beracha slimchance26@yahoo.com 401-743-7293 please call, we were very close."
Marc Beracha (ex Specialist) of rhode Island

"Spence,
When I first met you I thought you were the weirdest person I ever met. Although I was much older than you, whenever I was around, you treated me like I was one of your closest friends. When you graduated from school and we ran into each other for the last time, I told you to always remember where you came from and always know where you are going. You, as usual, joked around and told me how "in love" you were with me (our little joke) and how excited you were about going to the army. Through my cousin, I was always updated on you, while you were gone. My heart hurt so bad when I heard of you accident. Though we only knew each other through my cousin and occasional run ins, those breif encounters affected me enough that I broke down. You were so young and so loved. Thank you for your sacrifice and know that a whole community came together because of you. A whole community cried with your family. A whole community lost a son, a brother, a friend...Spence, I know you are in a better place. I know you are dancing with angels. Heaven is smiling because they got a clown!! Keep them laughing..."
Charity Johnson of Clio, SC/USA

"Spence, The last time i ever saw u was on the football field in 2000....never know that would be last time...Your honor and ur sacrifice is one of the main reasons "WE" are a free country now...not only will I remember u as a friend in school, but also as a devoted BROTHER in the military....u will be always Remembered!!!"..........CLASS OF 2000....................................~SPEC. Derrick Carter~....82nd Airborne ......"Bennettville, SC""
Derrick Carter of Bennettville,SC

"Spence,
I would like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for our Country. And to your family, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy."
Mike Casey of El Paso, Texas

"DEAR FAMILY OF THE FALLEN HERO BUT RISING ANGEL SPENCE A. MCNEIL I LOVE YOU ALL AND YOU ARE IN MY PRAYERS MAY GOD FOREVER BLESS YOU AND HELP YOU IN YOUR TIME OF LOSS.

CLASS OF 2002: NEONTAE S. BASS"
NEONTAE BASS of BENNETTSVILLE, SC

"To everyone that has left a message for us. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. It means so much to me to know the loss of my son is appreciated and not forgotten. Spence was definitely a beautiful and loving person and I do miss him tremendously. I know how God felt when He gave His only Son, Spence was mine and the pain is a lot to bear for anyone. So again thank you and may God bless each and everyone of you."
Tammy McNeil of Cheraw SC USA

"To the family and friends,

Our prayers are with you in this most difficult time and we thank you for your loved ones bravery and sacrifice. May God strengthen you from knowing that fellow Americans and people around the world care about you and grieve with you in your loss. Your loved one is a hero. Greater love have no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13.

God bless you.

Home Front Ministries
Shepherd of the Hills Church
Porter Ranch, CA"

"DEAR SPENCE,
YOU KNOW WE BEEN THROUGH ALOT. FROM PLAYING IN THE CHICKEN COOPS AT YOUR GRANDMA'S HOUSE WHEN WE WERE 4 TO REALLY CARING AND LOVING EACH OTHER WHEN WE WERE 18. NO ONE KNEW BUT WE HAD PLANS FOR OURSELVES IN THE FUTURE, BUT GOD HAD OTHER ONES. I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU. I ALWAYS HAVE AND ALWAYS WILL. IT'S HARD TO DEAL WITH BUT I KNOW YOU GOT MY BACK.
LOVE ALWAYS,
LAURA LATTAKER"
laura lattaker of bennettsville,sc

"Thanks for stepping forward when America needed you. To the family - Thank you for your contribution to our liberty and freedom. I'm sorry for your tremendous loss."
Ronald Carlson of Montrose, MN

"Spence Mcneil, This was one of the saddest days within my military career when I received word of this tragic accident. You were one of the brightest and hard-working soldiers I have had the pleasure to mentor. I will miss you greatly but you will always remain in my thoughts."
SSG Rodney Spencer of Bravo Battery 3-43 ADA Fort Bliss, Texas

"Private McNeil, goodbye soldier and thank you. You are my hero."
Bill of Houston, Texas

"Mr. and Mrs. McNeil, I had the chance to be stationed with your son in Fort Bliss, and you know how you read a paper about a person who has died or was taken away for whatever reason, and people always have something great to say, and you may say to yourself " they're just saying that because..." maybe cause you didn't know that person or whatever...what I'm trying to say is when everyone who says Spence was talented, fun, smart, funny, just an all around great person, they're 100% right, but of course you know that. I miss seeing him walking up with those ugly orange hawiian shorts, playing basketball with him til wee hours in the night, I still miss him daily. It has been over a year since he was taken from you, from us, and I still can't get over it. I guess I wanna thank you for raising such a gentle, kind young man who I admired."
PFC Bianca Campbell of Ft. Bliss, TX/U.S

"We are so very grateful for what Spence did for his country. Sadly an army on the move has accidents of this nature. The army that this brave soldier served in was going after a dangerous foe to our country. What Spence did to make my kids safer will not be forgotten."
The Estes Family of Phoenix, AZ

"Thank you Spence McNeil, you will not be forgotten. Your bravery goes beyond words. I want to express my deepest gratitude for your sacrifice. To the family and friends, my prayers and deep condolences in your loss. May God strengthen you from knowing that fellow Americans and people around the world care about you and grieve with you in your loss. God bless you all. A very appreciative fellow American,"
Leo Titus of Grayslake, Illinios

"To the family and friends of Pfc. Spence McNeil:
May God's grace be with you during your time of grief. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and we feel your loss and share in your sorrow. Bless Spence for the sacrifice he has made to make a better life for the rest of us."
The Ford Family of Wells, Nevada

"To the family and friends of Pfc. Spence McNeil:
I am saddened by the loss of your loved one. He will always be remembered as a hero for fighting for freedom. I hope that this website will be a source of comfort and encouragement for you during this difficult time, and in the future as you recall the memories of Spence, who continues to live on in your heart."
Tim Rivera of Powder Springs, Georgia