““Author’s Note: In some ancient polytheistic societies, the worst punishment that could be meted out was to erase a person’s existence by no longer speaking or writing their name and erasing any reference to them. It was thought this also negatively affected them in the afterlife. As a matter of personal policy, follow this concept and this is why I have not named the shooter in this article. However, The Honored Dead do deserve to be known:

U.S. Navy Petty Officer Randall Smith, age 24. Smith grew up in Paulding, Ohio and leaves behind a wife and three young daughters. Smith was a surface warfare specialist, and had received the Navy “E” Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal and Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon. He died Saturday, surrounded by family.

Sgt. Carson A. Holmquist, 25. Served in the Mike Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment in Tennessee and had been on two tours during 2013 and 2014 as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. David A. Wyatt, 35. Wyatt, who specialized in field artillery, had served three tours of duty, one in Afghanistan and two in Iraq. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Lance Cpl. Squire K. Wells, 21. Wells served as a field artillery cannoneer and waiting to be deployed. He was the only child of a single mother and left college to enlist in the Marine Corps.

Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, 40. Served in the Marines for almost two decades. He was deployed twice to Iraq and was the recipient of two Purple Hearts, a Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Defense Service Medal, a Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and two Iraq Campaign Medals.””