2022
This year, the Freedom Games will honor TSgt Phillip Myers, 30, of Hopewell, Virginia.
Myers was killed in action on April 4, 2009 while serving near Helmund Province, Afghanistan. The U.S. Air Force technical Sergeant was serving with the 48th Civil Engineer Squadron, Explosive Ordnance Flight, RAF Lakenheath, England when he was killed from an improvised explosive device. TSgt Myers is survived by his wife Aimee, daughter, Dakotah, and son, Kaiden, who now reside in Anderson, South Carolina.
2021
In 2021, the Freedom Games honored Army Spc. Geoffrey Whitsitt, 21, of Taylors, South Carolina
On January 13, 2010, while serving during Operation Enduring Freedom, Geoffrey's Humvee hit a homemade bomb leaving him fatally wounded.
2020
In 2020, The Freedom Games honored Cpl. Matthew Dillon, 25, of Aiken, SC.
Cpl. Matthew Dillon, 25, served in the support squadron of Miramar, Calif., which is part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. In 2006, Matthew was deployed to Operation Iraq Freedom, serving as a Military Policeman fire team leader. On December 11, 2006, Matthew’s Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb leaving him fatally wounded.
2019
In 2019, The Freedom Games honored Army Spc. Thomas Day Caughman, 20, of Lexington, South Carolina.
Thomas Caughman was killed in Iraq on June 9, 2004 after volunteering for overseas deployment. During this deployment, he was reassigned to the 458th Engineer Battalion, a unit that had been activated for deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The primary mission of Caughman’s unit was to patrol the streets of Baghdad in search of roadside bombs. While on such a mission, the up-armored Humvee on which Thomas was riding was struck by rocket-propelled grenades and small-arms fire leaving Thomas mortally wounded.
2018
In 2018, the Freedom Games honored Army Captain, Kimberly Nicole Hampton, 27, of Easley, SC
Capt. Kimberly Hampton, 27, died January 2, 2004 after her OH-58 Kiowa helicopter went down in enemy fire near Fallujah.
Hampton, an Easley High School graduate, also was the first woman from South Carolina killed in combat in Iraq.
She was stationed in Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg. She lived in Fayetteville, N.C., before she left for Iraq on Aug. 31.