Fallen Heroes of Operation Enduring Freedom

"I knew Valdez the 0331 for only a short time, but in that short time, I found him to be of sterling character, dependable in all duties, and in possession a big heart, and he in turn kept an eye on his brothers-in-arms. His memory will stay with me for the rest of time. Oo-rah, Valdez. Oo-rah."
Troy Vanderlinde, USMC of Watertown, MN, USA

"I was attached to Echo 2/3 for the Afghanistan deployment 2005. I'm very sorry for your loss. I know many Marines still think of your son often."
Jared Lee, former Cpl, USMC of Kailua HI

"October 1, 2007
To the family of Lance Cpl. Steven A. Valdez:
Steven 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

"Dear Valdez Family,
Our son Trent 2/3 Echo Co. was good friends with Steven. To honor Steven Trent and many other brothers have a tattoo of Steven and still wear their bracelets everyday. Steven was watching over them while in Iraq, he is their brother and they are so grateful to have the honor of serving with him. Steven will never be forgotten."
Carl and Rhonda Smith of La Crescent, MN

"My Husband is LCPL Travis Zabroski of 2/3. Travis served with Steven in Afghanistan and has great memories and stories together. A lot of the guys from 2/3 wear bracelets in memory Steven with the date, so he will never be forgotten. Travis and the rest of 2/3 are in Iraq, but I know Steven is in there hearts and protecting them all. They may have lost a friend, but gained an angel."
Lindsey Zabroski 2/3 Echo Infantry Wife of Denver, CO

"We remember that it was a year ago that Steven gave his life for many!! Our son, Max Draper served with Steven in Afghanistan and they were good friends. Max misses him very much.
Take Care! The Draper Family
Parker, CO"
Draper Family of Parker, CO USA

"To the Valdez Family.
My name is also Steven Valdez. I'm a Corpsman in the United States Navy. We assist the Marines in the field for medical support. My condolences in your loss for a never forgotten Heroe. My prayers will be with your family. We will always remember him for his sacrifice and bravery. God Bless."
HM2 (aw) Steven Valdez, USN of Austin, TX/USA

"To the Valdez family your son knew me very well. We were childhood friends from school. I'm deeply saden to here the news. YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN BUT AWAYS REMEBERD IN OUR HEARTS STEVEN !!!!!"
Destry,Morris of Springfild,IL USA

"To the family of Steven Valdez:

My son, LCpl Mario Alberto Anes, was stationed with Steven in Camp Blessing, Afghanistan. Mario spoke very highly of Steven and how alike they were in many things....they became close friends. It was a very hard blow to Mario as well as the entire camp when Steven was killed. I just wanted to say thank you to you for giving the ultimate sacrifice....Steven knew the dangers he faced daily at Camp Blessing...yet they were there giving it their all....being Marines!!! God Bless you all and know that my family thinks and prays for you constantly. May the Lord give you strength.....he was a very brave young man....my total respect goes to him and all our young men and women facing similar dangers in Afghanistan and Iraq. GOD BLESS THE USA!"
Nilda M. Anes of McAllen, Texas

"Steven,
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.

Semper Fi Devil Dog!"

"I was stationed at Camp Blessing with Steven, or Valdez as we all came to know him. Valdez was one of the most motivated and truely happy Marines that I've come across in my time in the Marine Corps. He never really complained about anything, and he was almost always positive about whatever situation arose. Whenever we would be in the gym, we would almost always see Valdez in the gym as well. He had a saying that he used a lot when he saw us. He used to flex and say "all natural baby" with that southern accent that he was so well known for. I remember about just a few days before his death, I was sitting with him using the computers, and we were arguing about who was the better football team. He was a huge Patriots fan and I love their rivals the Colts. We went back and forth for about 30 minutes about who would come out on top this year. He was so convinced that the Pats were gonna win it again, and he was like that about everything. CONVINCED. We joked about him being convinced, not conceited. He was so sure of everything he ever said. That's what made him who he was, and that's what we miss. He was one of the truely great people that I ever met and I truely miss him. I just wanted to write here in hopes that the Valdez family might read this and see yet another person that your son affected in a positive way. God bless you all and my heart goes out to you."
Lcpl. Steven C. Mosley of Kaneohe Bay, HI

""As a veteren of K Co 3/3 and a very short stint (2 Months with G Co)(1986-1990)MCAS K-Bay it saddens me to hear of the loss of my brother Marine but I know he left us bravley fighting to keep my family safe from the evils of the world keeping with the highest traditions of the Corps. I'm now to old to reenlist but if I could I would.""
Lcpl Robert Blaylock of Lakeside CA, USA

""As a veteren of K Co 3/3 and a very short stint (2 Months with L Co)(1986-1990)MCAS K-Bay it saddens me to hear of the loss of my brother Marine but I know he left us bravley fighting to keep my family safe from the evils of the world keeping with the highest traditions of the Corps. I'm now to old to reenlist but if I could I would.""
Lcpl Robert Blaylock of Lakeside CA, USA

"As a mom of five young children, I am so grateful for the sacrifice of this brave, young solder Steven A Valdez. You are loved by many. Words can not express the emotion. He payed the ultimate price for our freedom and the freedom of so many other people who suffered under the rule of Sadaam. May God be with his family in this time of sorrow and may you find comfort in the fact that we think about Steven's sacrifice for the love of his country. May we NEVER forget! Thank you!"
jill hughes of Houston, Tx

"To the Valdez family your son knew me very well. We were in boot camp together, and also SOI together. I'm deeply saden to here this news. I myself just got form Iraq and know what we have to go through. Semper Fi"
Lcpl DeAnda, Manny of Anaheim, Ca

"i went to the school of infantry with valdez. and i knew him to be a great person as well as an outstanding marine. i am truly sorry for this loss and i pray for his family and friends."
lcpl j.m. walker of bollings afb washington, dc

"My love and my prayers go out to this fine young man and his family."
Jenny of Marion, OH USA

"To Steven's family, our hearts go out to you for the pain of losing your loved one. He has given his all for our country and we know he has joined the Hall of Heroes. The pain for you all remains here but he has passed to a better world and leaves us with a better place. The men and women who give of their lives for us will always be valued by those of us who know the hurt of this sacrifice. Only God can heal this pain and give you hope again. Lean on him.We lost our grandson in Bari Khout, Afghanistan who was with the 3/6 Marines on 6/24/04 when he and 2 others came up on insurgents setting IEDs for a convoy that was coming later. Your son served bravely and is to be honored. If we can ever be of help contact us at http://lcpljustontthacker.com. God Bless. Proud grandparents of LCpl Juston Thacker."
Tom & Dixie Sisk of Princeton, WV

"TO THE VALDEZ FAMILY FROM THE WAHL FAMILY. OUR HEART AND PRAYS ARE WITH STEVEN AND YOUR FAMILY. TEARS NEVER STOPPED ROLLING DOWN MY CHEEK FOR MY SON, ALL OUR FALLEN NOR WITH STEVEN. ALL THIS IS HARD ON EVERY FAMILY LOSING SOMEONE SO LOVED. STEVEN THANK YOU FOR SERVING OUR COUNTRY. AN FOR BEING A MILITARY BROTHER TO OUR SON! I REALIZE NEITHER GREGORY NOR YOU KNEW ONE ANOTHER. STILL A BAND OF MILITARY BROTHERS UNITED! TO ALWAYS WATCH OVER ONE ANOTHER IN HARMS WAY! STEVEN YOU BEEN A COMFORT TO ME. THAT GREGORY SERVED WITH SOMEONE AS YOU. A REAL TRUE AMERICAN HERO! ONE THAT HAS TOUCHED THE HEARTS OF SO MANY. TO ALL THOSE YOU HAVE TOUCHED WITH YOUR HEART. ALL UNDERSTAND THAT YOU OFFERED SO MUCH BESIDES FRIENDSHIP. YOU ARE NOW APART OF IRAQI, AMERICAN AND WORLD HISTORY. ANSWERING A CALL THAT VERY FEW AMERICAN DO! RISKING YOUR LIFE DAY IN AND DAY OUT FOR THE WORLD. YOU HAVE NOT GIVEN YOUR LIFE IN VAIN STEVEN. THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING AMERICA AGAINST TERRORISM. AN FOR GIVEN THOSE IN IRAQ AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME HAPPINESS! SOONER OR LATER THE WORLD WILL SEE ALL YOUR EFFORTS, FROM OUR ENTIRE ARM FORCES AND COLATION FORCES WAS THE RIGHT ANSWER. ALL THIS IS EXTREMELY, HARD AND IT WILL TAKE TIME TO HEAL STEVEN. MY PRAYS ARE WITH YOU BUDDY! TO YOUR FAMILY REACH OUT TO YOUR POLITICAL LEADERS. REQUEST STEVEN BE HONORED BY NAMING A STREET AFTER HIM. CONFLICT AND WARS TAKES YEARS TO END. STEVEN DESERVE'S TO BE HONORED TODAY NOT TOMORROW! THE COMMUNITY IS VERY FORTUNATE. HE SERVE DTHEM AS HIS STATE AND COUNTRY. GOD BLESS!"
leonard t. wahl of VALLEY STREAM NY

"To Steven's Family and Friends:

On behalf of the Blanco-Caldas family, we send our sincerest condolences. We share the same loss ... the same pain. Our son returned safely from Afghanistan, only to lose his life in Iraq. Our prayers are with you in this most difficult time and we thank you for your soldier's bravery and sacrifice. Our sons are true heroes!

By His Grace,

Gloria Caldas
Proud Mother of Fallen Hero
Capt. Ernesto "The Big Ern" Blanco-Caldas
82nd Airborne, KIA Iraq 12/28/2003
San Antonio, Texas
gcaldas48@aol.com"

"We Will NEVER FORGET !"
Please KNOW so many people share your sadness,
and we are remembering your family in your loss and your deep grief.
Our nations HERO, Steven will be remembered by name.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
God Bless you ALWAYS.
Pat & Sandi Breckenridge from Montana "

"Thank you Steven Valdez, 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 Lance Cpl. Steven Valdez:
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 Steven 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 Lance Cpl. Steven Valdez:
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 Steven, who continues to live on in your heart."
Tim Rivera of Powder Springs, Georgia