Fallen Heroes of Operation Iraqi Freedom

Remembering the servicemembers who died in the service of their country.

Army Staff Sgt. Daniel G. Gresham

23, of Lincoln, Illinois.
Gresham died in Camp Wilson, Iraq, when a second improvised explosive device detonated while he was responding to a first device. He was assigned to the 797th Ordnance Company (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), 79th Ordnance Battalion, 52nd Ordnance, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Died on February 24, 2005.

Please send information, photos, and corrections for Army Staff Sgt. Daniel G. Gresham.

Links:

Contributions to the Families of the Fallen

Messages:

Leave a message in memory of this servicemember, and/or to the loved ones left behind.

Please report inappropriate messages

"It has been 11 years since you left us and on this Veteran's Day 11-11-16 we pay you honor. We continue to think of you on a daily basis and remember you with our display of flags in front of our home in Chicago. We shall always keep our troops in our prayers and pray for a peaceful end to our conflicts. I know you are reunited this day with your mother, Ester, in your heavenly home. God Bless you for your service ."
The Donis Family of Chicago, Il.

"Hello Mr and Mrs. Gresham,
My name is Sonia Anderson and I am a tattoo artist in San Antonio Texas. I had the fortunate pleasure to meet and work on your son. Over the year that I worked on him we became friends. He was a funny young man that kept me laughing. We had numerous long talks on life in general. He was a very intelligent man who had a good head on his shoulders. I think of him often...which leads me to this message. Before he deployed, he gave me his division coin. I've kept it in my jewelry box for the past 10 years and always thought his family should have it. I would love to give this to his mother, Ester I believe. Please contact me so I can make sure this goes to the right person. My email is adrenalinesgirl@hotmail.com"
Sonia Anderson of San Antonio, Texas

"To the family of SSG Gresham,
You don't know me, and i didn't know your hero, but I was present at the event that took his life. I was in one of the two tanks that were on patrol when the initial IED rendered our lead vehicle immobile. Your hero was there to protect me. He gave his life for not only his country, but for me. I never met your hero, we never spoke, we never even met eyes. I helped place your hero's remains into the personnel carrier to take him to a secure location. I never knew who had sacrificed themselves to protect me and my patrol until today. I thanked him as we loaded him up to be extracted. Now I thank you for your contribution to my life. If he would not have been there to protect the 8 tanker who were in harms way, I may not have been here today. Thank you."
SGT Arron Wilcox of Hartselle, AL

"February 2, 2009
To the family of Staff Sgt. Daniel G. Gresham:
Daniel 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 the family of:Daniel G. Gresham I am so sorry for the loss of your love one. My heart cries out for you in your grief and you have my thoughts and prayers. He died a hero defending freedom. May you have the peace and understanding that only comes from God. Prayerfully we will all 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 11677 Brown Bridge Rd., Covington, GA 30016. (770)787-1015. Your friend in Jesus Christ, Polly Ballew Covington,Ga"

"My name is Cameron Schilling and I have started “Portrait of a Soldier” which donates a portrait sketch of every Illinois soldier who has fallen in Iraq or Afghanistan. All 122 sketches will be on display for a Memorial Day Presentation in Chicago, Illinois on May 26-31 at the James R. Thompson Center in downtown Chicago. After the ceremony the sketches will be given to the immediate families of the Illinois soldiers. I would invite any friends or family members to come and honor these men and women from Illinois who have given their lives to our country. For more information please contact OperationHomeFront.org at 866-417-8889 which is an organization headed by the Lt. Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois who is in charge of the Memorial Day Presentation. Thank You.

Please check out www.portraitofasoldier.org
To contact Cameron email cameronschilling84@hotmail.com
To contact Operation Home Front call 866-417-8889"
Cameron Schilling of Charleston, Illinois

"My name is Cameron Schilling. I am a college student from central Illinois. I am the first generation of my family not to serve his country. I am extremely grateful for the sacrifice you and your loved one has given for the United States. I am disappointed by the way the news media has covered this war and the deaths of our youth. The media has stopped listing the names of the soldiers killed in Iraq and people only talk about the soldiers when we reach a specific milestone in deaths. If you just started watching the news today you would not even know there is a war going on. Partisan politics have replaced coverage of our young generation who have traveled to a foreign land in the name of the United States. Whether you believe the war in Iraq is wrong, right, justified or not everyone should pay even just a little more attention to what these young men and women are sacrificing. This is what I would like to do. I want to do my part in honoring these soldiers and their memories. Along with being a college student I am also a budding artist. I draw pencil portraits of local people in my community. I want to offer a pencil portrait sketch to the immediate family of every Illinois soldier killed in Iraq. Please contact me at cameronschilling84@hotmail.com."
Cameron of Illinois

"My name is Cameron Schilling. I am a college student from central Illinois. I am the first generation of my family not to serve his country. I am extremely grateful for the sacrifice you and your loved one has given for the United States. I am disappointed by the way the news media has covered this war and the deaths of our youth. The media as stopped listing the names of the soldiers killed in Iraq and people only talk about the soldiers when we reach a specific milestone in deaths. If you just started watching the news today you would not even know there is a war going on. Partisan politics have replaced coverage of our young generation who have traveled to a foreign land in the name of the United States. Whether you believe the war in Iraq is wrong, right, justified or not everyone should pay even just a little more attention to what these young men and women are sacrificing. This is what I would like to do. I want to do my part in honoring these soldiers and their memories. Along with being a college student I am also a budding artist. I draw pencil portraits of local people in my community. I want to offer a pencil portrait sketch to the immediate family of every Illinois soldier killed in Iraq. Please contact me at cameronschilling84@hotmail.com."
Cameron Schilling of Illinois

"Dan, I miss you. Over the past couple of years you became a big part of my family and my life. You were there for me as a true friend when I needed it. Thank you. Life has not been the same without your presence although I now you are watching over us all, I still miss you. If I could have traded you places I would. Your sacrafice will not go unnoticed as long as I am still breathing. I talk about you everyday and I have told your story a countless number of times on the job and off, with the intention of saving lives and continuting your legacy. Thank you for being my friend and always know that you will never be forgotten. With brotherly love, Jamie"
Jamie Ulm of Fort Sam Houston, TX

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

"To the Family of SSG Gresham:
We have constructed a memorial to the service men and women from Wisconsin and Illinois who have died in Iraq which includes, as of 7/12/05, 112 crosses and Stars of David. We would like your permission to put Dan's name on one of them.
We have called our display "Arlington Midwest" and it is located in Wisconsin Dells, WI.
It is our expression of mourning for the indescribable loss you have suffered for our country.

If you would like us to do this, please email me at ArlingtonMidwest@yahoo.com.

We invite you to visit Arlington Midwest. I can send you directions and some pictures by email.

"As long as we live, they too will live;
for they are now a part of us,
as we remember them."
Marty Preston of Wisconsin Dells, WI

"To Dan's family;
My husband, Phil, worked with Dan in Korea. I never got to see his smiling face in person, only in pictures. I did talk to him on the phone, which was enough for him to make me laugh and touch my heart. I don't have the words to express my sorrow for your loss.

Be proud, be strong, remember all the happy times, and know that he is always with you.
Hugs & Kisses,
Connie Herndon"
Connie Herndon of Ft. Campbell, KY

"To the family of SGT Gresham: Please accept my condolences. It is never easy to accept the loss of a loved one, but always remember that Daniel honorably and willingly served his country, to help keep the greatest country on earth free and safe. My prayers are with you."
Ted Cagley of Pontiac, Illinois

"Dear Gresham Family:

I think of you and Dan everyday since the day he gave his life for our Country. Words cannot express the saddness we feel for your loss; however, words cannot express how very proud we are of your brave and courageous Soldier.

God Bless You."
Rita Stoeltje of Victoria TX

""For soul of freedom, we fight for the heart and right of liberty." Thank you Daniel for your heart and the spirit and the ultimate gift that you gave to protect your country and to spread that gift to others. You will not be forgotten and today I want to honor you and your family!"
Nancy Byers of Hattiesburg, MS USA

"My Husband, Capt. Lampier had the honor of escorting Dan to Arlington. It was an honor that he took very seriously. His heart hurt for you as does mine. There is nothing that can be said to lessen the pain of losing a child but there is One who will help us bear the pain...if we only ask Him. My family and friends and our church family are in prayer for all of you. Thank you for your sacrifce and for the sacrifice of your son. I pray you will find comfort in Christ."
Carolyn Lampier of San Antonio, Texas

""There is no greater love than this, that a man would lay down his life for a friend." Thanks Daniel for loving us and your country so much that you were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice."
Cindy Thornton of Pearl, MS

"I didn’t know Dan for long but he was one of the nicest guys I’ve known. A few years ago when I was living with his sister my car broke down. He did everything he could to try and fix it and drove me around until it was repaired. He was a really sweet guy you didn’t have to talk to you him long to know he loved his mom and sisters. He will be missed"
Rebecca Ku of Schaumburg, IL

"There are no words to express the sorrow we feel for your loss. May God bless you and help you through this time."
Dan and Meg Manninen of San Antonio, Texas

"After hearing the sad news about Dan, I thought about the times he spent with our family while growing up. He spent a lot of time with my family before moving to Lincoln. I remember the fun we had. After the Greshams left for Lincoln I did not see him again until a few years ago when he spent a few days at my house. The little kid I used to beat on like a little brother had grown into a man. A man who loved and was protective of his family, a man proud of his duties in the service, a man who I will always remember."
Steven Ku of Schaumburg, IL

"Dan and I went through a whole lot together. I first met him in Basic Training and was lucky enough to continue on with him to Red Stone and finally to EOD school. We had a lot of crazy and fun times. He was a total clown but extremely serious when it came time to be. I spent many hours studying explosives and procedures with him. We helped each other through school and some strange times in life. When we graduated it was Dan who was the first one to give me a hug a smile and a congrats. We shared some beers at Ruby Tuesdays and he headed off to Korea. I'd spoken to him a few times since but that was the last time I saw him. Take pride in knowing that Dan made a huge difference in Iraq. He answered his call to duty to put his life on the line for the safety of others he will never know. Our EOD job is a special thing and it takes a special person to do it. Dan was as good as they come. I keep you all in my prayers and hope for your pain to ease. God Bless"
Brandon Robertson of Arlington, VA

"to the Gresham family---My son was also a member of the EOD(745) and was killed in Iraq Dec. 26, 2003.My prayers are with you and our heroes are together in Heaven.remember the good times with Daniel. He will always be with you in your heart and thoughts."
judy sutter of tinley park,Il.

"To the Gresham Family

Please accept my deepest condolences. Dan was my Team Member in Korea; he was the type of person that could never be forgotten. We shared many memories on and off duty. God Bless your family and friends"
Alex Leon of APG-EA, MD

"To the Gresham Family,

I will never the forget the friendship that Daniel and I shared - and I will never take for granted his sacrifice for his country.
Please take great comfort in knowing that being absent from the body is to present with Lord."
Paul Ku of Streamwood, IL USA

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

"To The Gresham Family,

Please accept our deepest condolences for the great loss of Staff Sgt. Gresham. His bravery, valor, and unselfish sacrifice will not be forgotten. I pray that you will have the strength and courage for the hard days ahead. God has blessed our country with Daniel, and may you find comfort in the memories of your loved one, and in knowing what a true hero he is. God Bless you, your family and friends."
The Edward Todd Family of Springfield, GA USA

"My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. You gave the ultimate sacrafice and you will not be forgotten. You truely are a hero. Thank you!"
Debby Marshall of San Bernardino, CA

"Thank you Daniel Gresham, 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. Daniel Gresham:
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 Daniel 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. Daniel Gresham:
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 Daniel, who continues to live on in your heart."
Tim Rivera of Powder Springs, Georgia

Honor them by remembering... Freedom - is their gift to us But his soul goes marching on