Fallen Heroes of Operation Iraqi Freedom

"HOLA A LA FAMILIA DE STEVEN TENGO UNA MEDALLA EN LA QUE APARECE EL NOMBRE DE STEVEN SI LO QUIEREN RECUPERAR VIVO EN PROGRESO YUCATÁN MÉXICO.

MI NOMBRE ES MANUEL CRUZ ESTE ES MI TELÉFONO 9991414140"
MANUEL CRUZ of YUCATAN

"I served with Steve at Ft. Carson. I'll never forget his motivation and dedication. Also, I'll never forget the good times we had grilling at the barracks. RIP buddy."
Patrick Glover of Darien, IL.

"TODAY, AS ALWAYS, MARKED THE DAY THAT YOU LEFT US: YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, RELATIVES AND FRIENDS... KNOW THAT WE THINK YOU OF ALL THE TIME AND MISS YOU BEYOND WORDS...UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN...WE THANK YOU FOR THE ULTIMATE SACRAFICE YOU MADE FOR OUR FREEDOM. THANK YOU BROTHER, AND THOSE WHO FELL BESIDE YOU."
GUPIN MERTA of LAS CRUCES, NM

"You will never die,
You have passed the viel of this world. Left its suffering and concerns. Yet you will always be alive in the hearts of those who loved you dear.

-loving nephew
SPC Gubb, Jonathan
1SBCT 25TH ID OIF 08-09
4AAB 1CAV OND 10-11"
Jonathan of Mosul, Iraq

"Dear Steve,
I continue to think of you and my sister, Glenda, and the life that you both had planned for yourselves after you returned from Iraq. She was to die 2 years and 1 month after you died and she loved you until her last breath. We buried her with the ring that you had given her and had them play your song to her "Let Me Be Your Hero" at her funeral. You were so special to her and to us. I wish that you and she colud have lived out the beautiful life that you had planned together."
Julie Kinard of Savannah, ga.

"HELLO TO THE FAMILY OF STEVEN I HAVE A MEDAL IN WHICH APPEARS THE NAME OF STEVEN IF THEY WANT TO HAVE IT LIVE IN PROGRESS YUCATAN MEXICO.

MY NAME IS MANUEL CRUZ THIS IS MY 9997 PHONE 39 87 99 AND 9999 40 30 53 WHEN SPEAK IF YOU CAN SPEAK IN SPANISH.

HOLA A LA FAMILIA DE STEVEN TENGO UNA MEDALLA EN DONDE APARECE EL NOMBRE DE STEVEN SI QUIEREN TENERLA VIVO EN PROGRESO YUCATAN MEXICO.MI NOMBRE ES MANUEL CRUZ ESTE ES MI TELEFONO 9997 39 87 99 Y 9999 40 30 53 CUANDO HABLEN SI PUEDEN HABLAR EN ESPAÑOL."
MANUEL CRUZ of PROGRESO YUCATAN MEXICO

"Uncle Steve,
You are dearly missed and remembered fondly. RIP from your family, friends and comrades.
Your niece,
Mona"
Mona Mathow of PA,USA

"you'll never be forgotten. you were the best squad leader i ever had, and have ever known."
SSG Bass, Shawn of A Co. 2-7 INF, 1 BCT, 3 ID

"My Dear Uncle,
You were the reason why I joined the Army, you used to come home and tell us stories of all the training you did and all the different places you visited. I always said that when I grew up I want to be just like you. Well I did, I said that I will finish where you left off and that is what I'm doing. My goal is to stay in and Retire. Uncle please watch over me for when I leave for my third tour to Iraq. I remember you called me and told me that you will see me on the other side when I get to Iraq. Well uncle I will see you on the other side when the time comes. We missed you dearly and pray that you watch over us. Love and miss you"
Bernadette Mathow-Lewis of Fort Hood, TX

"”Honor and Remember” - “Project Compassion” We love our Soldiers! We love our country and we cannot express enough love and compassion to the families of our fallen heroes. War does not discriminate – It breaks our hearts to see the faces of the fallen. We want to give this gift to you. We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization! Over 1,600 portraits have been completed and shipped to the parents and or spouse - at no cost as this is a gift from one American to another!
Contact us directly at Projectcompassion@manti.com or go to www.heropaintings.com . If you have already had a portrait completed, we pray that you are enjoying the portrait and God Bless You.
Sincerely and Respectfully,
Kenna"
Kenna - Project Compassion of Manti, Utah USA

"Steven Bayow SSG, US Army
Republic of South Korea
2002-03
Aco 1st battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, "Keep Up The Fire"
Camp Hovey, South Korea"
P.O. Stephen A. Dunne NYPD of Staten Island, New York

"steven bayow, my friend, a fellow sergeant. i had the pleasure knowing steven during his reassignment to republic of south korea. a true soldier and friend. i am very sadden for the loss of a good friend. all my condolences to family and wife of steven bayow. you will never be forgotten"
P.O. stephen a. dunne NYPD of staten island, new york

"April 22, 2008
To the family of Staff Sgt. Steven G. Bayow:
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

"Bayow and I went to basic training together and then Korea and Carson. I ETSd but called every few years just to say hi. I looked him up today, 08-08-07 and just found out that he was killed in action and I can tell you that I am as sad as I've ever been in my life but I am proud to have called him my friend and I agree that he is a true hero. I will miss our laughing and joking whenever we did get to talk. I've kept a picture of he and I in my locker at work for the last 14 years and I always smile when I see it because I remember our youth and how many great times we had. I will forward some of the pictures to the members of his family. For the photos, please email me at curtis.hensley@adelphia.net and I will send them.
I am truly sorry for your loss and I'm sorry that it took me this long to find out about this.
Rest in Peace my friend."
Curtis O. Hensley of Oregonia, Ohio/USA

"WE REALLY MISS YOU....BEFORE YOU LEFT YOU PROMISED ME THAT YOU WOULD KEEP MY HUSBAND SAFE,AS WELL AS YOURSELF,AND THAT YOU WOULD 'BOTH' COME HOME.........YOU DID MAKE IT HOME,JUST NOT THE WAY THAT WE HAD HOPED FOR!!THANK YOU 4 ALL THE FUN TIMES WATCHING ALL YOU GUYS PLAYING SOFTBALL @ STEWART.I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOU'RE MISSED.WE LOVE YOU AND OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOUR FAMILY!!!GOD BLESS YOU!!!HOOAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!3rd I.D.2/7 INF."
TRINA AND SSG.GOOGE of METTER,GA.[FT.STEWART]

"My Uncle Steve will always live in my heart forever. I have so many good memories of us when i was little in Hawaii. Uncle Steve was a strong and caring individual who faught for our country and was never selfish in any of his actions. I will always be proud to tell others the heroe what was my uncle. I will always miss you uncle steve, love always kimmy"
Kimberly Limow Myers of Virginia

"My dear brother, Gaamew,
Each passing day since our Lord decided to take you away from us has left me speechless. I don't even know where or how to express my "tawreng" for you. Do you remember the last time we talked about tawreng? We tried to define "tawreng" and how it relates to "love, being missed, remembrance and family bonding. We finally arrived at the conclusion that "tawreng" is more than "missing someone." I didn't know then that you were saying your goodbye. There were so many things I wanted to share with you but time was stolen from us. I am only grateful that despite your duty and committment to the overall cause, you always took the time to call and even visited us whenever you could. Each time you visited, you left with us many fond memories of the little things you said or did. These memories are the things that have helped us deal with each day without you. And there are many days when dealing with the reality is unbearable.
You are missed everyday and your memory shall be cherished throughout time. As I rmemeber the little brother I helped took his first step, fished with when there was nothing to eat, cried with when one of us was disciplined, shared his last bite of food with when the rest of us had gulped down our last bite, protected his brothers and sisters eventhough he was younger, who honored his parents by being respectful and tried his best in everything he did, and lastly, by giving up his life so that I (we)can have my (our) freedom. Our family is not the same, your way of ensuring that we all connect whenever we get together, no matter where you were or how long you had been away, is felt everyday. And eventhough you are not physically here with us, your spirit is very much alive within each of us. I love and miss you, brother.

Love,
Your sister, Gupin


You see, I have been waiting for your next phone call, the one that always tells me that you were safe and soon you would be home soon. The last time we talked, you reassured me that you were only going to go for a little while and that you should be back before I knew it."
Gupin Merta of Las Cruces, NM/USA

"My dear brother, Gaamew,
Each passing day since our Lord decided to take you away from us has left me speechless. I don't even know where or how to express my "tawreng" for you. Do you remember the last time we talked about tawreng? We tried to define "tawreng" and how it really meant to us. I didn't know then that you were saying your goodbye. There were so many things I wanted to share with you but time was stolen from us. I am only grateful that despite your duty and committment to the overall cause, you always took the time to call and even visited us whenever you could. Each time you visited, you left with us many fond memories of the little things you said or did. These memories are the things that have helped us deal with each day without you. And there are many days when dealing with the reality is unbearable.
You are missed everyday and your memory shall be cherished throughout time. As I rmemeber the little brother I helped took his first step, fished with when there was nothing to eat, cried with when one of us was disciplined, shared his last bite of food with when the rest of us had gulped down our last bite, protected his brothers and sisters eventhough he was younger, who honored his parents by being respectful and tried his best in everything he did, and lastly, by giving up his life so that I (we)can have my (our) freedom. Our family is not the same, your way of ensuring that we all connect whenever we get together, no matter where you were or how long you had been away, is felt everyday. And eventhough you are not physically here with us, your spirit is very much alive within each of us. I love and miss you, brother.

Love,
Your sister, Gupin


You see, I have been waiting for your next phone call, the one that always tells me that you were safe and soon you would be home soon. The last time we talked, you reassured me that you were only going to go for a little while and that you should be back before I knew it."
Gupin Merta of Las Cruces, NM/USA

"Bayow was a great soldier to be around..He was full of humor..Me and the other soldiers who served with him will miss him...SSG.Foster E-co 2-12 inf Ft carson Co. 93-96"
SSG. Foster of Sacramento Ca

"STEVEN YOU WILL BE MISSED!!
LOVE,
YOUR MICRONESIANS BROTHERS AND SISTERS"

"my dear brother,a year has gone by, since the lord took you from us. we still expect to get a call from you, the way that you use to call to check up on us, no matter where you were at the time,to see how me and my family were doing. but that call, i know is not coming.i remember all the good times we shared here in the states, and on yap, especially on yap where we grew up. we miss you very much. there isn't a day that goes by, that you are not in our thoughts. next year when we are suppose to be going home for our reunion, it will not be the same, because you will not be there with us. though,i know, you will be there among us in spirit. rest in peace my brother. i miss you so much. we all love you. and you are not forgotten, and never will be. you will always be our hero.
your sis, miremog"
Alma Miremog & family of Taos, New Mexico

"Thank you to all of you who have written such kind words on behalf of my beloved and favorite uncle, SSG Bayow. He is greatly missed.

Thank you from Steve's family. Kammagar."
SGT Mona Mathow of USARIEM, MA, USA

"To the family of:Steven G. Bayow I am so sorry for the loss of your love one. He died a hero defending freedom. May you have the peace and understanding that only comes from God. Prayerfully, we will meet in Heaven one day where we will rest in the arms of Jesus. If you need prayer or need someone to talk to, please call or write my pastor: Rev. John Pearrell, Gateway Community Church, 11677 Brown Bridge Rd., Covington, GA 30016. (770)787-1015. Your friend in Jesus Christ,"
Polly Ballew of Covington,Ga

"Kammagar."
Phil Chavez of USA

"I work at the hospital where Steven came in. We tried so hard to help him, but the angels came and took him. I closed his eyes for the last time and I will always remember him. My thoughts and prayers are with you."
SGT Lee of Tikrit, Iraq

"To Ssg. Bayow's family, my heart goes out to you, and my admiration to Ssg. Biyow. I have no doubt he was a good leader and soldier. May he find peace where ever he is."
Spc. Michael G. Pong of Ft. Polk , Louisiana

"STEVEN, YOU WILL BE MISSED. IT WAS AN HONOR AND I HAD A GREAT TIME SERVING WITH YOU IN IRAQ AND BACK AT STEWART."
SSG CHRISTOPHER YORK of NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR

"Steve,our love continues even though you want be coming home to me.I will be coming home to you.I can see you in my mind waiting for me,my darling.Don't you ever doubt you are my man and I will love you for all eternity!"
Glenda Longaberger of Bloomingdale,Georgia,Chatham County,Our Home

"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. Your HERO, Steven , will be remembered by name. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. God Bless you ALWAYS. Pat & Sandi Breckenridge from Montana "

"My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Steven Bayow. I lost my son on January 26, 2005 in Iraq. Those that have laid down their lives are the true heroes. May God bless you and comfort you during this time."
Helen Gilbert of Dayton, Ohio

"Thank you Steven Bayow, 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 Staff Sgt. Steven Bayow:
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 Staff Sgt. Steven Bayow:
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