Marine 1st Lt. Joshua M. Palmer and Army Spec. Michael A. Dahl Jr. were both casualties of war this decade, in wars fought in Iraq and Afghanistan; they are remembered this Veterans Day.
Palmer, a graduate of Banning High School, was 25 years old when struck down in Fallouja, Iraq, April 8, 2004.
Dahl, 23, went to Beaumont Senior High School; he died in Argahndab, Afghanistan, Oct. 17, 2009.
The men are listed in a comprehensive list compiled by the Los Angeles Times, complete with links to pictures of and details about each of the 726 California servicemembers who died during the Iraqi and Afghanistan wars to date.
Included in the listings are comments and quotes from family, friends and colleagues of the military men and women who sacrificed their lives for their country.
"He was an inspiration to me," Patricia Dahl told the Times of her son, Michael.
"Sometimes it’s hard being a single parent. But he kept me going," Dahl told the Times.
Dominic Persechini, a childhood friend of Palmer's, told the Times that his pal "was a great student of history and he thought that it was warriors that make countries strong and prosperous."
Marines, 1st Lieutenant Based: Camp Pendleton 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom Died: April 8, 2004 Fallouja, Iraq
