Fallen Heroes of Operation Iraqi Freedom

"To the family of:Gary R. Harper, Jr.
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""

"I served with SSG Harper in Camp Stanley, Korea in the 38th Field Artillery (MLRS). We used to hang out and drink and talk about going SF, he made it and I got hurt and could not go to selection. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think about the good times that I had with him and I wear a memorial bracelet in his honor. I know it has been quite some years past but I give my condolences to his family and want them to know that I shed tears with them when I found out of his death."
SFC Perfetti of JBLE, VA

"never met the guy but my wife went to school with him he sounded like a guy i could easily call friend and even though i never knew him personally i wish to express my thanks for all he and others like him have given"
kory burch of virden il

"I met Gary in Arabic language training. He was a great guy with a really good heart. He was a low key guy, easy to get along with. His SF brothers will never forget him."
Justin J of Longmont, CO

"Coming on the fourth anniversery of your giving the ultimate sacrifice, Gary you are not forgotten Brother. To some Oct 9th is just another day in one's life, for myself and a few others Oct 9th of every year means so much more than just an average day. You'd have to had been a serving member of the detachment to understand that. As I prepare myself for a personal moment of silence and prayer, again I'd like to send my condolences to the entire Harper family and let it be known that no matter what day, month, or year it is, Gary is always there with me. Everyday I wear my hero bracelet bearing his name is a reminder to myself that no matter where I go in life, Gary is always there. Gary, I am priveleged to have served along side you brother. I also appreciate the fact that you been acting as a guardian angel from the heavens and shielded me from dangers. Love and miss you man! In your honor, I toast to you a shot of Starbucks cold frapiccino and large pinch of copahagen chewing tabacco. Take Care Brother! Team Motto "Don't Tread On Me""
JB of US

"”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 1,450 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 of Larra

"My hero bracelt just happens to bare the name of Staff Sgt. Gary R. Harper Jr. Even though I didn't know him every day I look at my wrist and remember that he was a real hero."
Kathy of Weston, Florida

"September 30, 2008
To the family of Staff Sgt. Gary R. Harper, Jr.:
Gary 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

"My name is Lee Isham, I went to language school with Gary when he was in the "Q" course, I was in language school as a PSYOP Operator. Gary had a large impact on me as a soldier. He helped me stay motivated and took me under his wing. He never discriminated against me because I was in PSYOP and he was SF. I will always remember Gary as a great role model, and a great leader. My deepest condolences go to you. Gary, Strength and Honor Brother, I will see you in Heaven!"
Lee Isham of Fayetteville, NC

"To the Family of SSG Gary Harper:
We have constructed a memorial to the service men and women from Wisconsin and Illinois who have died in Iraq. Our memorial includes, as of 8/28/06, 162 crosses and Stars of David. We would like your permission to put Gary's name on one of them. We have called our display "Arlington MidWest." 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 come to visit Arlington MidWest if you can. A friend has put us up on his website so you can see the memorial here:
www.williamgbecker.com/ArlingtonMidwest.html.

"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

"My name is SSG Christopher B. Mooring I served with Gary in the 4/505. He was in my squad and liked by all who knew him. He was our inocent country boy back then. He use to always make us laugh over some of the craziest things. Brother I will miss you but I will never forget you! I will always remember the rock you painted at OP 3-8 by looking at the picture of you and me there by it. Those were the good ole days and I'm proud to say I served with you brother!

"Second Squad Second To None"!"
SSG Christopher B. Mooring of Smithfield, North Carolina

"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 Cassidy and i am a volunteer for the Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run. We are a group of people that have built a memorial wall in Marsielles Illinois for all the fallen soldiers in Mideast conflicts since Beriut. Your loved one's name will be permenently added to this wall. For any further information visit our website www.ilfreedomrun.org please e-mail me at me1196@aol.com to let me know that you have recived this message. If you decide to come to this memorial on June 19th, 2006, you will recieve VIP seating and treatment for the cermonies that day. ALL OUR WELCOMING TO HONOR OUR FALLEN SOLDIERS
**Cassidy"
Cassidy of Brookfield/ILL/red,white,blue

"I went through training with Gary for almost two years, he always talked of his family. I had the honor to place the flag over him, the same flag his wife holds so precious today. I did so with great pride, he was a true warrior, great friend, loving husband and father, I also did it with tears in my eyes, he and his family will never leave my thoughts and prayers. God truly did bless us all who knew and loved Gary, let those blessing now fall on his Family."
Antonio of Clarksville , TN

"God bless Gary R. Harper as a defender of the faith, the country and his family. My wife and I hope that God wraps his tender arms around your family and grant you His peace. Gary is a part of the REAL heroes of this country. We all appreciate his and his family's service to this great nation. He knew that we must win this war against terroism. I too am a veteran and served with great pride and understood the meaning of going into harm's way. God be with you all. Dr. Charles Flanders"
Dr. C. Flanders of Temple, TX U.S.A.

"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

"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

"Gary Harper was a good man. He was kind and helpful. I knew him for the two years we went through the course together. Every phase side by side. I am sorry for you loss and the SF community, the military, and the world are now worse off without having him in our presence. De Oppressor Liber.."
Tom Stang of Ft. Bragg, NC

"Gary Harper was a good man. He was kind and helpful. I knew him for the two years we went through the course together. Every phase side by side. I am sorry for you loss and the SF, the military, and the world are now worse off without having him in our presents. De Oppressor Liber.."
Tom Stang of Afgahnistan

"As a former classmate of Gary's, my thoughts and prayers go out to your family. He was always a friendly guy and seemed to always have a smile. I wish this war did not hit so close to home, but your son/brother/husband/father is a hero for serving his country. God bless."
Katie Johnson Suski (VHS Class of 1994) and family of Murphysboro, IL

"To the Harper Family,
My most sincere condolences to your family at this very difficult time. I had the privelage of being one of Gary's instuctors at the Medical Course at Fort Bragg. I saw him soon after he arrived at Group before he deployed, he was very proud of what he was doing. I was very proud of him as with most of my former students. He was a fine soldier, a caring medic and a good person.
De Opresso Liber"
Pete Schichtel of Clarksville, Tennessee

"To the Harper family,

There are no words that will ease the pain for the loss of your beloved GARY. But we hope you take some comfort in knowing we celebrate his life with you and that he will always be remembered as an American Hero.

I found this poem on the internet, and wanted to share it with you. I hope the author won't mind.

This Crisply Folded Flag

This crisply folded flag
Stands for valor and for honor,
These stars don't stand for states,
They stand for courage under fire.
These stripes, they mark the passing Of a son or of a daughter,
And represent the sacrifice
Of a father or a mother.
This piece of folded cloth
Is more than just a flag,
It's the leaving of a loved one,
Of a brother or a dad.
So when you see a flag unfurled
And waving in the breeze,
Remember all those families
And folded flags they have received.
But most of all remember,
Those stars and stripes together mean,
The sacrifice of an Airman,
Of a Soldier, Sailor, or Marine.

Author: Stephen R. Huebschman, Fallujah, Iraq; April, 2004; Copyright © 2004 Submitted by: Susan S., PMM LCpl. James

May you find some peace with God's Blessings and may the Angels surround you as you try to begin to heal.

From a grateful American Family, whose son is also stationed at Fort Campbell, and is now serving in Iraq with the 101st AVN REGT"
Sharon & Craig Erwin of Oregon, United States of America

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

"TO TH HARPER FAMILY FROM THE WAHL FAMILY. GARY HAS NOT GIVEN HIS LIFE IN VAIN. HE IS A REAL TRUE AMERICAN HERO! UNSELISHLY, SERVING HIS COUNTRY FOR US ALL. GARY YOU ARE SOMEONE'S SOMEONE AND SOMEONE TO OUR FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR BEING A MILITARY BROTHER TO OUR SON. REALIZE YOU TWO HADN'T KNOWN ONE ANOTHER. STILL MILITARY BROTHERS WATCHING OVER ONE ANOTHER ALL THE SAME. WE LOST GREGORY LAST YEAR IN BALAD, IRAQ. AN MY TEARS NEVER STOPPED FLOWING SINCE THAT DAY. MORE TODAY FOR YOU GARY! GOD BLESS!"
leonard t wahl of VALLEY STREAM NY

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