First Lieutenant Jared Landaker, 25, of Big Bear City, Calif. died Feb. 7, 2007 with four fellow Marines when the helicopter they were flying crashed. They were supporting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. Landaker was assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. He died supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, and was survived by his parents, Laura and Joseph, and his brother, Jason and sister-in-law Christina.

“He was not only a hero, he was a great son,” said his father, a former Marine and retired California Highway Patrol officer. “He did more in 25 years than most of us will do in 75 years.” –LA Times