Proud Gold Star Parents are Thomas E. and Romayne S. McGinnis.
Ross Andrew McGinnis was born June 14 (Flag Day), 1987 at Meadville, PA. His family moved to Knox, PA when he was 3, and lived there until he left for the Army in June 2005.

Ross graduated from Keystone Senior High School in 2005. He attended Clarion County Career Center (Vocational-Technical School) in his senior year in the automotive classes, a field which he discovered that he enjoyed tremendously. He wanted to continue his Automotive tech training while in the Army after his deployment. He sang in the High School Choir, and was active in the Boy Scouts up until he was about 14 years old. He was a member of St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Knox, PA. He enjoyed music (both Rap and Country, believe it or not), BMX biking, and fast cars. He had many friends, each of which considered themselves to be his best friend.

Ross joined the Army on his 17th birthday in the Delayed Enlistment Program, and was inducted into the Army on June 8th (or 9th, I'm not sure). He entered the Army as a Private First Class by completing various requirements prior to his induction. He went through basic training and Advanced Infantry Training

at Fort Benning, GA and then was assigned to the 1st Batalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division in Schweinfurt Germany. He was deployed in August of 2006 and went to Kuwait for 2 weeks of training and then to Iraq, assigned to the Blue Spaders Combat Team. From his then until his death on Dec. 4, 2006, he participated in over 200 missions in and around Eastern Baghdad.

For his bravery and exemplary conduct during a heated battle with insurgents on November 6, 2006 he was recommended for a waiver of time required for promotion to Specialist. On the morning that he died, his commanding officer, Captain Mike Baka, wrote up the recommendation for his promotion which was to be effective Jan 1, 2007.

On December 4, he was manning his gunner's turret, in a convoy of 6 Humvee's traveling down a narrow Street in eastern Baghdad when an insurgent tossed a fragmentation grenade onto his vehicle. He tried to deflect it, but it got past him and entered the battle-locked vehicle which had 4 more men inside. He had yelled "Grenade!" when it landed, but the men inside the vehicle asked where it was. He responded, "It's in the truck!" and moved to exit as he was trained to do. However, he realized that the men inside were trapped and unprotected from the coming blast, so he dropped into the hatch and quickly pinned the grenade between his back and the radio mount, absorbing all the lethal fragments and dying instantly. Only one of the other four men were hospitalized as a result of the blast, with damage to his arm and leg requiring extensive surgery.

Ross was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery that day, as an interim award, and recommended for the Medal of Honor by his commanding officer.

His fellow soldiers remember him as a comedian who even managed to make Drill Sergeants laugh, and who could lift the mood of any situation with his humor. And they all agreed that he was a true friend to those who knew him.

Carl James Morgain, 40, of Butler died Sunday May 22, 2005 in Balad, Iraq.
Born Sept. 22, 1964, in Butler, he was a 1982 graduate of Knoch High School and was an electronic technician at T.W. Phillips Gas & Oil Co. He was a faithful hunter. Mr. Morgain was a member of the Cabot United Methodist Church, the William H. Miller Lodge 769 F&AM and Butler American Legion Post 117.

He was active in the Army from 1981 to 1985 and served as a communications technician at the White House and at the presidential retreat at Camp David under President Ronald Reagan. He also was active in the White House Contingency Support of FEMA Facilities. He was awarded the Presidential Service Award and the Army Achievement Medal in 1985.

In June 1998, he joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, Co. A, 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry HG Unit in Butler. He served as communications technician and then converted to an infantry fire team leader. He received the Strom Thurmond Award for outstanding NCO leadership. He was deployed June 30, 2004, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Posthumously, he received the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantry Badge. He was a proud soldier and gave the ultimate sacrifice for the love of his country.

SFC George Anthony Pugliese

18 Sept. 1966 – 28 Sept. 2005

Son of Dolores Parker, Honesdale, PA
Husband of LeeAnne Pugliese, Carbondale, PA

George, the youngest of three brothers, was born and raised in Queens, New York City. He participated in many sports, had a paper route and enjoyed his childhood just like any typical American boy.

He and his family moved to Honesdale, PA in 1986. Under a deferred enrolment while in high school, he joined the regular army. Unfortunately, a prior sports related injury resulted in a medical discharge during basic training. Not to be discouraged, after surgery, therapy and a lot of exercise, he again entered the military, joining the PA National Guard in 1991. He was assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, Co. B, 1-109th Infantry.

While in the Guard, he was employed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for 8 years as a corrections officer both at SCI Dallas and SCI Waymart. He met and married Lee Anne from Archbald. They are the parents of 3 children,
Nicholas, Jonathon and Avianna. His daughter was born in 2002 during his first deployment in Bosnia.

During his 14 years in the Guard he advanced not only in rank but also in responsibility: Section Leader and Squad Leader. Early in his training it was realized that his grasp of military tactics was outstanding. He was asked, and accepted the assignment, to serve full time and teach Tactical Logistics at the Ft. Indiantown Gap training school. He was encouraged to go to Officers’ Candidate School, and join the regular army full time. He declined the suggestion, stating that teaching was not in his future. He would rather be with ‘his boys’ the ones he felt responsibility for. This decision ultimately determined his destiny.

Achieving the rank of SSG, he was the commander of a Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Bravo 12. In June 2005, his unit was again deployed, this time to Iraq. Just 3 months later on Sept. 28th near Ar Ramadi, Iraq, they were protecting and guarding a civilian bridge repair crew. The Bradley was destroyed by buried IED’s and set afire by a grenade attack. The 3 man crew and 2 other soldiers onboard were all killed instantly and perished in the vehicle.

At 39 years of age, George died serving his country, protecting his family and believing that his service would help to make the world a better place to live in. He was a truly decent and honorable human being. It was only after his death that I found out how much he was loved and respected, not only by his friends but his co-workers and fellow soldiers as well. He was awarded the Bronze Star and promoted to Sgt. 1st Class posthumously.

And so now, I write this tribute to my son. I am so proud to be able to call him MY HERO.

Fly with the angles, soar with the eagles my son, until we all meet again…………..

George is also survived by his 2 brothers: Stephen of Honesdale, PA and Michael of Kingston, N.Y., his aunt Sylvia Parker, Honesdale, PA and several nieces and nephews.