Project Roll Call
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Say Their Names, Tell Their Stories, Never Forget!
Our mission at “Project Roll Call” is two-fold: to raise awareness on all veterans issues and to link both our veterans and their families with pertinent, reliable, and proven resources. Our vision is to team up with other like-minded individuals and organizations to create a platform and partnership in which people can seek, find and initiate support at all levels, regardless of their location, s
06/22/2026
Marine 2nd Lt. James P. Blecksmith, 24, of San Marino, Calif.; assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed Nov. 11, 2004 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq while Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom.
James was born in Pasadena, California, on September 26, 1980. He attended Valentine School in San Marino through 2nd grade before his family moved to Seattle, Washington in 1989.
After two years, the family returned to Southern California, and James enrolled at Flintridge Preparatory School, where he graduated in 1999.
Upon graduation from high school, James entered the United States Naval Academy in June 1999.
Although heavily recruited, James saw limited action on the field for the Naval Academy. He fit the prototype of the 21st-century quarterback at 6'3" and 216 pounds, with a strong arm, but Navy ran a triple-option offense, where the quarterback was more of a runner than a passer. As a backup quarterback, he completed 3 of his 4 passes, returned 2 kickoffs, and caught a pass as a wide receiver during the Army–Navy Game in 2001.
James's father, Edward, had served in the Marines during the Vietnam War.
May we never forget the Service and the Sacrifice of Marine 2nd Lt. James P. Blecksmith.
ProjectRollCall.org
🎖️FRIDAY NIGHT TOAST | June 19th, 2026 🇺🇸
Hey Facebook Family — I’m Ray, your host on this sacred journey of remembrance. Welcome to this week’s Friday Night Toast where we pause, reflect, and raise our voices to honor those who gave everything.
Tonight, we share the Birthdays and Angel Dates of our Fallen Brothers and Sisters. We speak their names. We tell their stories. And we lift a glass in tribute to this week’s Honored Service Members.
Before we begin, I invite you to: 👍Like this video 🔔Subscribe to our channel and📣 Share it with your friends and family
Your support helps us keep this mission alive — to raise awareness, offer resources, and remind every Veteran and Gold Star Family that they are never alone.
Now, Let's dive into this week's Birthdays:
This week's Birthdays:
Staff Sergeant Ricky G Fox – June 13th, 1971
Medal of Honor Recipient Specialist Ross A McGinnis – June 14th, 1987
Private Second Class James H Ebbers – June 15th, 1983
Private Joshua D Thompson – June 15th, 1990
Sergeant Jason E Ertter – June 15th, 1993
Lieutenant Colonel James A McLaughlin Jr – June 16th, 1955
Specialist Brandon J Prescott – June 18th, 1988
Specialist James L 'Doug' Bridges – June 19th, 1984
This week’s Angel Dates:
Lance Corporal Chad B Maynard – June 15th, 2005
Master Sergeant Christopher V Webb – June 15th, 2017
Sergeant First Class Michael C Bruck – June 15th, 2019
Senior Airman Karlie A Westhall – June 16th, 2018
Senior Airman Lawrence P Manlipit III – June 16th, 2018
Petty Officer First Class Xavier A Martin – June 17th, 2017
Specialist Austin J Hawk – June 17th, 2020
Sergeant Frank M Sandoval – June 18th, 2007
Now we invite you to lift a glass and join us now as we toast their legacy...
This Week's Honored are...
Army Command Sergeant Major James D. Blankenbecler, 40, of Alexandria, Virginia
Marine Lance Corporal Jeffery S. Blanton, 23, of Fayetteville, Georgia
Marine Staff Sergeant Melvin L. Blazer, 38, of Moore, Oklahoma
May Their Service and Their Sacrifice Never Be Forgotten!
📖Please take a moment to read their bios, share their stories, and say their names out loud. Let’s keep their memory burning bright.
💬And if you are struggling right now — please hear this: You are not alone. Reach out. Use your resources. Connect...
🆘Need help now? 📞Call 988, then press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line 🚨Or dial 911 or head to your nearest Emergency Room
You can also find a list of resources on our website: 🌐Visit ProjectRollCall.org for more support
Together, we can Change the Narrative.
🙏Thank you for being part of this community. We hope tonight’s Toast has inspired you as much as it’s inspired us.
📲Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for more stories, updates, and ways to get involved.
Until next time — stay safe, stay connected, and remember: Not all scars are visible. Not all wounds heal. Not all pain is obvious. But you are seen. You are valued. You are not forgotten.
💙Today and every day… YOU MATTER.
www.Projectrollcall.org
06/19/2026
Marine Staff Sgt. Melvin L. Blazer, 38, of Moore, Okla.; assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed Dec. 12, 2004 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq while Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Also killed were Lance Cpl. Hilario F. Lopez, 22, of Ingleside, Texas, and Lance Cpl. Gregory P. Rund, 21, of Littleton, Colorado.
Melvin graduated from Moore High School in 1984. He had decided to make the military his career. With the support of family and friends, Melvin’s life and service were full. He was blessed with an amazing partner and eventually two children.
Dana Blazer, Melvin’s wife, described their courtship and eventual marriage: “We were such wonderful friends for many, many years. That friendship blossomed into a wonderful love. The stuff fairy tales are made of.” “To know my husband was to love my husband. Everybody loved him and admired him and respected him and held him in such high regard. He was a hero in his everyday life.”
“I loved him dearly,” Melvin L. Blazer Sr., Melvin’s father and a Vietnam Veteran said, “I was very proud of him.”
Melvin was proud to help the people of Iraq, but also told his family that he was glad to be in the country for another reason. His grandmother, Velma Blazer, noted that one of the things that Melvin was excited about was being in Iraq where Abraham used to walk. “He was where the Garden of Eden was, where Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden, right there in the cradle of humanity.”
May we never forget the Service and the Sacrifice of Marine Staff Sgt. Melvin L. Blazer.
ProjectRollCall.org
06/17/2026
Marine Lance Cpl. Jeffery S. Blanton, 23, of Fayetteville, Ga.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Hawaii; killed Dec. 12, 2004 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq while Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Jeffery graduated from Marietta High School in 2001. He enlisted the The United States Marine Corps in 2002.
Jeffery chose to return to the battlefield after being treated in the hospital for a gunshot wound, his family said. Just two days later, he was killed. "He lost three toes and had an opportunity to come home, but he would not," Sandra Blanton said of her nephew. "He wanted to stay. He didn't want to give up his career."
May we never forget the Service and the Sacrifice of Marine Lance Cpl. Jeffery S. Blanton.
ProjectRollCall.org
06/15/2026
Army Command Sgt. Maj. James D. Blankenbecler, 40, of Alexandria, Va.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas; killed while riding in a convoy that was hit by an improvised explosive device and rocket-propelled grenades on Oct. 1, 2003 in Samarra, Iraq while Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom.
James was born in Arlington, Va., and attended the old Groveton High School in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County. He was interested in sports and played quarterback on the varsity football team.
James joined the Army in 1983 and his career included service in Operation Desert Storm and at Fort Belvoir in the Army Personnel Command.
“After graduation, he didn’t really know what he wanted to do,” said his mother, Joanne Blankenbecler, “and in January 1983, he joined the Army, where he thrived. It was always his dream to be a command sergeant major, and he reached his dream,”
CSM Blankenbecler is survived by his wife, Linne and their three children.
May we never forget the Service and the Sacrifice of Army Command Sgt. Maj. James D. Blankenbecler.
ProjectRollCall.org
🎖️FRIDAY NIGHT TOAST | June 12th, 2026 🇺🇸
Hey Facebook Family — I’m Ray, your host on this sacred journey of remembrance. Welcome to this week’s Friday Night Toast where we pause, reflect, and raise our voices to honor those who gave everything.
Tonight, we share the Birthdays and Angel Dates of our Fallen Brothers and Sisters. We speak their names. We tell their stories. And we lift a glass in tribute to this week’s Honored Service Members.
Before we begin, I invite you to: 👍Like this video 🔔Subscribe to our channel and📣 Share it with your friends and family
Your support helps us keep this mission alive — to raise awareness, offer resources, and remind every Veteran and Gold Star Family that they are never alone.
Now, Let's dive into this week's Birthdays:
This week's Birthdays:
Lance Corporal Travis T Babine – June 6th, 1989
Petty Officer First Class Michael J Strange – June 6th, 1986
Sergeant Raymond W Warlikowski – June 6th, 1975
Private Paul E Riege – June 7th, 1900
Sergeant Mark A Rademacher – June 7th, 1963
Second Lieutenant Tobias C Alexander – June 8th, 1981
Lance Corporal Victor A Dew – June 8th, 1990
Sergeant First Class Hughton O Brown – June 8th, 1974
Private First Class Edwin A Andino II - June 9th, 1983
Sergeant Alphonso J Montenegro II - June 9th, 1985
Specialist Mikayla A Bragg - June 9th, 1990
Sergeant David M Fisher - June 12th, 1983
This week’s Angel Dates:
Captain John J Sax – June 8th, 2022
Petty Officer Second Class Kyle B Leithoff – June 8th, 2009
Staff Sergeant Alexander W Conrad – June 8th, 2018
Private Scott A Miller – June 9th, 2007
Corporal Dillon C Baldridge – June 10th, 2017
Sergeant Eric M Houck – June 10th, 2017
Sergeant William M Bays – June 10th, 2017
Technical Sergeant Michael R Vinson – June 10th, 2019
Now we invite you to lift a glass and join us now as we toast their legacy...
This Week's Honored are...
Army Captain Ernesto M. Blanco, 28, of San Antonio, Texas
Army Sergeant Joseph A. Blanco, 25, of Bloomington, California
Marine Staff Sergeant Brian D. Bland, 26, of Weston, Wyoming
May Their Service and Their Sacrifice Never Be Forgotten!
📖Please take a moment to read their bios, share their stories, and say their names out loud. Let’s keep their memory burning bright.
💬And if you are struggling right now — please hear this: You are not alone. Reach out. Use your resources. Connect...
🆘Need help now? 📞Call 988, then press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line 🚨Or dial 911 or head to your nearest Emergency Room
You can also find a list of resources on our website: 🌐Visit ProjectRollCall.org for more support
Together, we can Change the Narrative.
🙏Thank you for being part of this community. We hope tonight’s Toast has inspired you as much as it’s inspired us.
📲Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for more stories, updates, and ways to get involved.
Until next time — stay safe, stay connected, and remember: Not all scars are visible. Not all wounds heal. Not all pain is obvious. But you are seen. You are valued. You are not forgotten.
💙Today and every day… YOU MATTER.
www.Projectrollcall.org
06/12/2026
Marine Staff Sgt. Brian D. Bland, 26, of Weston, WY.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Hawaii; killed Jan. 26, 2005 when the CH-53E helicopter in which he was riding crashed near Rutbah, Iraq while Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Twenty-nine Marines and one sailor also were killed.
Brian was born March 12, 1978 in Newcastle, Wyoming. He spent four years living in Scotland with his family before returning to Newcastle.
Following Brian's 1995 graduation from Newcastle High School, he enlisted into the U.S. Marine Corps. After graduation from boot camp, he was trained as an infantry mortar man. He continued to advance in the Marines, and later graduated from Drill Instructor School.
Brian was very proud to be a Marine and proud to serve his country. He took every opportunity to advance and make himself better and stronger, for himself, his fellow Marines, and his country.
Brian's interests included wrestling, snowboarding, motorcycling, and spending as much time as he could with his family and friends.
May we never forget the Service and the Sacrifice of Marine Staff Sgt. Brian D. Bland.
ProjectRollCall.org
06/10/2026
Army Sgt. Joseph A. Blanco, 25, of Bloomington, Calif.; assigned to the 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died April 11, 2006 of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle and he subsequently came under small arms fire during combat operations in Taji, Iraq while Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Also killed were: Pfc. James F. Costello III and Pfc. George R. Roehl Jr.
Joseph was the second oldest among four siblings in a tightly knit family in Bloomington, a San Bernardino County community 50 miles east of Los Angeles. He enlisted in the Army in 2003.
His family was heartbroken when they found out he was heading for Iraq in July 2003. His mother, Ceferina, constantly worried about him and suffered a heart attack in 2004.
Just before Thanksgiving, he returned home and the family celebrated the holidays with a turkey dinner one night and tamales another night. He doted on his 4-year-old nephew, Derek.
“He was a really good person, kind hearted. He loved to play with kids,” his sister said, adding her brother and Derek were inseparable.
“Anytime he would write to us in letters or e-mails or call us, the very first thing to come out his mouth was, ‘How’s Derek doing? Send me pictures of him. Tell me about him and things he’s done,”’ his sister said.
Joseph returned to Iraq in December and was supposed to come home in March, but his stay was extended. The last time the family saw him was March 5 over an Internet video feed.
Joseph planned to go to college after leaving the Army and pursue a career in law enforcement.
May we never forget the Service and the Sacrifice of Army Sgt. Joseph A. Blanco.
ProjectRollCall.org
06/08/2026
Army Capt. Ernesto M. Blanco, 28, of San Antonio; assigned to 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, based in Fort Bragg, N.C.; killed while conducting a support mission Dec. 28, 2003 when an improvised explosive device hit his vehicle in Qaryat Ash Shababi, Iraq while Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Ernesto was a member of the 1993 graduating class of Churchill High School in San Antonio, Texas, his home of record since 1975. He was raised in Puerto Rico, his parent's birthplace.
Ernesto first picked up a guitar when he was 8 months old and loved to play, so his family wasn’t surprised when a friend saw television footage of him strumming in Iraq on Christmas Day. He was a classically trained guitarist who loved Rock and Country music. He was a gifted singer and an excellent dancer.
“When he would play, everyone would just stop,” sister Carmen Blanco-Pendergraff said. “I’m glad to know he got to play in his last days.”
His sister said he had a strong faith in God and did mission work in Mexico. “He would walk into a room and light it up. He was the glue that held everyone together,” she said.
Ernesto had a contagious smile, and whatever he did, he did with great enthusiasm, humor, and total dedication.
May we never forget the Service and the Sacrifice of Army Capt. Ernesto M. Blanco.
ProjectRollCall.org
🎖️ FRIDAY NIGHT TOAST | June 5th, 2026 🇺🇸
Hey Facebook Family — I’m Ray, your host on this sacred journey of remembrance. Welcome to this week’s Friday Night Toast where we pause, reflect, and raise our voices to honor those who gave everything.
Tonight, we share the Birthdays and Angel Dates of our Fallen Brothers and Sisters. We speak their names. We tell their stories. And we lift a glass in tribute to this week’s Honored Service Members.
Before we begin, I invite you to: 👍 Like this video 🔔 Subscribe to our channel and📣 Share it with your friends and family
Your support helps us keep this mission alive — to raise awareness, offer resources, and remind every Veteran and Gold Star Family that they are never alone.
Now, Let's dive into this week's Birthdays:
This week's Birthdays:
Medal of Honor Recipient Sergeant First Class Tony K Burris – May 30th, 1929
Specialist Allen J Burgess - May 30th, 1980
Sergeant Michael T Lilly - May 31st, 1984
Private First Class Eric M Kavanagh - June 1st, 1986
Sergeant Edward J Anguiano - June 1st, 1978
Lance Corporal James W Higgins Jr - June 2nd, 1984
Sergeant Major Christopher Brownawell - June 2nd, 1971
Specialist Tommy L Kidman - June 3rd, 1988
Sergeant Major Darron D Beatty - June 4th, 1967
Senior Chief Petty Officer Heath M Robinson - June 5th, 1977
This week’s Angel Dates:
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Christoper M Allgaier – May 30th, 2007
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua R Rodgers – May 30th, 2007
Staff Sergeant Charlie L Bagwell – May 30th, 2007
Sergeant Jesse A Blamires – May 30th, 2007
Sergeant Brandon E Hadaway – May 30th, 2007
Airman First Class Richard A Winkler – May 30th, 2016
Major Joseph R Biden III – May 30th, 2015
Private First Class Cody G Hendrickson – May 30th, 2011
Airman First Class Richard J Medina – June 1st, 2022
Sergeant Rhonald E Meeks – June 1st, 2006
Specialist Ray A Ramirez – June 1st, 2013
Staff Sergeant Juan F Campos – June 1st, 2007
Private First Class Dalton M Beals – June 4th, 2021
Sergeant Cody R Legg – June 4th, 2008
Specialist Carrie L French – June 5th, 2005
Technical Sergeant Ryan A Balmer – June 5th, 2007
Now we invite you to lift a glass and join us now as we toast their legacy...
This Week's Honored are...
Army Specialist Robert E. Blair, 22, of Ocala, Florida
Marine Lance Corporal Thomas A. Blair, 24, of Wagoner, Oklahoma
Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michael T. Blaise, 29, of Tennessee
May Their Service and Their Sacrifice Never Be Forgotten!
📖 Please take a moment to read their bios, share their stories, and say their names out loud. Let’s keep their memory burning bright.
💬 And if you are struggling right now — please hear this: You are not alone. Reach out. Use your resources. Connect...
🆘 Need help now? 📞 Call 988, then press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line 🚨 Or dial 911 or head to your nearest Emergency Room
You can also find a list of resources on our website: 🌐 Visit ProjectRollCall.org for more support
Together, we can Change the Narrative.
🙏 Thank you for being part of this community. We hope tonight’s Toast has inspired you as much as it’s inspired us.
📲 Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for more stories, updates, and ways to get involved.
Until next time — stay safe, stay connected, and remember: Not all scars are visible. Not all wounds heal. Not all pain is obvious. But you are seen. You are valued. You are not forgotten.
💙 Today and every day… YOU MATTER.
www.Projectrollcall.org
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