“It’s strange,” he said. “I think of Jim. I can see him in my mind’s eye, and I feel this peace, and I know he’s OK.”

n E-mail comments to rscott@dailyitem.com.

The Valley’s fallen

A list of deaths of military personnel in Iraq with ties to the Valley:

June 24, 2008: Army Pfc. James Yohn, 25, of Highspire. Killed after a roadside bomb exploded in Mosul. He is the son of Robert Fisher, of Coal Township, and Judy Yohn, of Highspire.

Jan. 24, 2007: Army Sgt. 1st Class Keith A. Callahan, 31, of McClure. Killed after an improvised explosive device detonated while he was on combat patrol south of Baghdad.

Sept. 2, 2006: Army Pfc. Justin Dreese, 21, Freeburg. Killed on a rooftop in enemy territory from mortar fire in Yusifiyah, Iraq.

Jan. 24, 2005: Army Sgt. Brett Swank, 21, Northumberland. Killed while on foot patrol when an improvised explosion device went off in western Baghdad.

July 19, 2004: Army Sgt. Dale T. Lloyd, 22, Watsontown. Killed when multiple mortar rounds hit his forward operating base in Scandaria, Anbar province.

May 30, 2004: Army Capt. Robert C. Scheetz Jr., 31, of Dotham, Ala., 1990 Shamokin Area High School graduate. Killed following a car bombing in Musayyib.

March 20, 2004: Army Spc. Matthew J. Sandri, 24, Shamokin. Killed in a rocket attack in Fallujah.

May 30, 2003: Army Spc. Zachariah M. Long, 20, Milton. Killed between Mosul and Tikrit during a vehicle accident.