Major Robert J. Marchanti
"The legacy a hero is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example."
November 9, 1963 - February 25, 2012
Maj. Robert J. Marchanti II, from Gardenville, Md., died in Kabul, Afghanistan, of wounds received during an attack on the Afghan Interior Ministry. He was assigned to the 29th Infantry Division Security Partnering Team of the Maryland Army National Guard.
Bob was a longtime physical education teacher in Baltimore County Public Schools. He left teaching in 2008 to work full-time for the Guard as Planning and Programming Chief for Construction and Facilities Management at the Fifth Regiment Armory. He is survived by his wife, Peggy; four children: Aaron, Leah, Ian and Jonah and one grandson, Malachi. Bob and Peggy were in high school when they met as co-workers at a Friendly's Restaurant. He took her to her senior prom and they were married for 24 years.
Chief Warrant Officer William R. Ruth
"All gave some, some gave all."
November 29, 1943 - September 11, 2001
Chief Warrant Officer William R. Ruth of Mount Airy, Md., was assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel. He served in the Army and the Maryland National Guard for more then 30 years.
Born in Knoxville, Tenn., he was a graduate of Bowling Green University in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Ruth taught social studies for nearly 30 years in the Montgomery County school system. He last taught at John T. Baker Middle School in Damascus. In 1997, he began working at the Pentagon.
He is survived by a son, his mother, his brother, and a sister.
Command Sergeant Major Roger W. Haller
"Remember his sacrifice."
July 9, 1957 - January 20, 2007
Command Sgt. Maj. Roger W. Haller of Davidsonville, Md., was assigned to the 70th Regiment, Regional Training Institute, Maryland Army National Guard, Reisterstown, Md.
Haller was the top-ranked enlisted man in the Guard’s Headquarters 70th Regiment (Leader), a leadership training unit. He was commandant of the noncommissioned officers’ academy, which trains Soldiers in a variety of disciplines, including ethics, personnel management and military history.
He is survived by his three children, a sister and three brothers.
Sergeant First Class Collin Bowen
"...Say for their tomorrow, we gave our today."
January 20, 1970 - March 14, 2008
Sgt. 1st Class Collin J. Bowen, of Millersville, Md., was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment, Maryland Army National Guard, Towson, Md.
Bowen met his wife, Ursula, at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County when he was enrolled in a Spanish class she taught. They had one daughter, Gabriela.
He also had two daughters from a previous marriage - Erin and Katelyn, who live in Westminster, Md.
Mrs. Bowen said her husband learned to take care of others as an infantryman, but he maintained the same selfless manner outside the military. "What people always said about him is how much he cared for people," she said. "He was a true friend."
Sergeant First Class William B. Woods, Jr
"We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
September 8, 1977 - August 16, 2009
Sgt. 1st Class William B. Woods Jr., of Chesapeake, Va., died from a wound sustained in action while serving in Ghazni, Afghanistan.
Woods was assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group, based in Glen Arm, Md. He was born in Hermann, Mo. and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1996. After one year, he was selected to become a scout sniper and served in that capacity for the remainder of his enlistment. In 2003, Woods joined the U.S. Army Special Forces and was assigned as a senior medical sergeant. He attended Montana State University and majored in photography. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Staff Sergeant Kenneth Cropper
"Not the glittering weapons fights the fight, but rather the hero's heart."
December 30, 1952 - March 20, 2002
Staff Sgt. Kenneth Cropper of Snow Hill, Md., was a member of the 200th Military Police Company, Maryland Army National Guard, Salisbury, Md.
Cropper was a 29-year veteran of the National Guard and the part-owner of Dashiell Well, Inc., a Fruitland well drilling company.
"He was a great motivator, religious, upbeat, happy," said 1st Sgt. Bob Bakeoven. "A great NCO; he cared about his troops."
Staff Sgt. Eddison A. Hermond, Jr.
"He is the epitome of the "Citizen-Soldier,'' always ready to help a neighbor or stranger in their hour of need."
August 15, 1978– May 29, 2018
Staff Sgt. Eddison A. Hermond, Jr., of Severn, Md., distinguished himself by an extraordinary act of bravery at the risk of his life to assist a Marylander during raging floods on May 27, 2018, in Ellicott City.
While eating dinner at a restaurant, the flash flood started. During this time, he witnessed a person in distress outside. He, without hesitation, left the restaurant to assist the person and was swept away by the intense rushing water.
He is survived by his son, Jayden.
Staff Sergeant Michael J. McMullen
"Our job is to defend freedom; we will never forget."
May 27, 1980 - January 20, 2006
Staff Sgt. Michael J. McMullen of Salisbury, Md., was assigned to the 243rd Engineer Company, Maryland Army National Guard, Baltimore.
McMullen worked as a paramedic for the Salisbury fire department. Salisbury Fire Chief David See said McMullen’s actions in the war zone were what he was trained to do. See him remembered as a dedicated professional. “He couldn’t wait to get on the job,” he said. “Firefighting was in his blood. He was a prankster, a straight shooter and a good guy. He was honest.”
The Army posthumously awarded McMullen a Silver Star and promoted him to staff sergeant. McMullen was also awarded the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Good Conduct Medal.
Staff Sergeant Matthew A. Pucino
"This is a soldier, a hero, a person to whom you can count on in all aspects of life."
March 10, 1975 - November 23, 2009
Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Pucino, of Cockeysville, Md., died near Pashay Kala, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. He was assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group in Glen Arm, Md.
He was born in Boston, Mass., and enlisted in the Army in 2002. He graduated from Bishop Stang High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Northeastern University in Boston, Mass.
Matthew was a very generous person in life and even in his passing. It takes an extraordinary individual to join the Special Forces, and he was an example for other Soldiers to follow.
"No greater love has anyone than this that he lay down his life for his friends."
May 8, 1969 - October 14, 2005
Sgt. Brian R. Conner of Baltimore was assigned to the 243rd Engineer Company, Maryland Army National Guard, Baltimore.
Conner enlisted in the Army in September 1986 and was on his second tour in Iraq.
“He was a cool guy, an upbeat person and outgoing,” said Kevin Cartwright, spokesman, Baltimore City Fire Department. “He liked to kid and joke, but when it came to being serious about his job, he got down to business.”
Conner had been a Guard member for more than 16 years and had also served in Bosnia.
He is survived by three daughters and a grandson.
Corporal Samuel M. Boswell
"To live in the hearts of those we leave behind is not to die."
September 23, 1985 - October 14, 2005
Cpl. Samuel M. Boswell of Elkridge, Md., was assigned to the 243rd Engineer Company, Maryland Army National Guard, Baltimore.
Boswell joined the Guard after graduating high school in 2003. He loved computers and playing video games, and he was a skilled paintball enthusiast who hoped to become a civil engineer.
"He was probably the happiest person you'll ever meet," said his brother, Michael Boswell. "He always wanted to do things that would help other people whether he knew them or not."
He is survived by his father and seven siblings.
"A hero is someone who has given his life to something bigger than oneself."
August 1, 1982 - October 14, 2005
Cpl. Bernard L. Ceo of Baltimore, was assigned to the 243rd Engineer Company, Maryland Army National Guard, Baltimore.
"He was kind of a thoughtful, introspective young guy," said Aaron Parsons, a school administrator. "Bernard was an excellent employee, and he would have been an excellent teacher."
Ceo’s grandmother described him as "just a regular fellow," who loved to help people. Ceo was a full-time technician with the Guard and a member of the Honor Guard, which represents the Guard at official ceremonies.
He is survived by his mother, father and two brothers.
Private First Class Carlton D. Newman, Jr
"Gone, but not forgotten."
December, 5 1983 - March 3, 2005
Pfc. Carlton D. Newman, 21, of Landover, Md., was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion 115th Infantry Regiment as an infantryman.
He entered the service on Oct. 10, 2004, and arrived at Fort Stewart Feb. 23, 2005 to prepare for deployment with his unit in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"Carlton was a patriot and represents the finest that Maryland has to offer in defending our freedoms," said Maj. Gen. Bruce F. Tuxill.
