From the very first graduating class of Round Rock High School, to the present day war in Iraq and Afghanistan, thousands of former Round Rock ISD students have headed the call of duty to serve our country during times of peace and at times of war. Not all returned home.
We remember their sacrifice.
George Johns
World War I
U.S. National Guard
Round Rock HS Class of 1913
Died October 8, 1918 near St. Etienne, France
Johns served in Company “C” – 132nd Machine Gun Battalion of the 36th Division of the Texas National Guard. Johns fought alongside the French Army near St. Etienne and died as a result of heavy artillery fire by the Germans. The American Legion George Johns Post 447 in Georgetown is named in his honor.
Source: American Legion George Johns Post 447
Staff Sergeant Chester D. Cahill
World War II
U.S. Air Corps
Attended McNeil country schools, now a part of Round Rock ISD
Died July 6, 1943 near Sicily, Italy
Cahill served as a gunner on A-20B Havoc #41-3390, assigned to the 12th Air Force, 47th Bombardment Group, 97th Bombardment Squadron. Cahill and his crew left Soliman, Tunisia on a bombing mission against Sciacca airdrome, Sicily. Immediately after making their bomb run the plane was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire, it made a spiraling dive and crashed into the ground, killing all aboard. Cahill was the recipient of at least one Air Medal – awarded for single acts of heroism or meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.
Source: Find a Grave, and Missing Sergeant Believed Killed, Parents Informed. Austin American Statesman, December 23, 1943*
Corporal Luther Earl Ferrell
World War II
U.S. Army
Round Rock HS Class of 1937
Died September 20, 1944 in France
Ferrell served in the 48th Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division. He was killed in action in France and is buried in the Lorraine American Military Cemetery just outside of St. Avoid, France. Ferrell was a co-captain of the Round Rock HS 1936 football team and also ran track for the Dragons.
Source: Monuments to Fighting Men Stand Proudly in Europe. Austin-American Statesman. April 24, 1971* and Williamson County Military Deaths* American Battle Monuments Commission
Sergeant John (Chester) Jacobson
World War II
U.S. Marine Corps
Round Rock HS Class of 1940
Died December 1944 in Guam
Jacobson served as a Marine in the Pacific Front. He died as a result of burns received in the line of duty. Jacobson was a co-captain of the 1939 Round Rock HS football team.
James Luther Lee, Jr.
World War II
U.S. Navy Reserves
Attended Round Rock High School (graduation date unknown)
Died December 21, 1943 in Piva Forks, Bougainville, Solomon Islands
Lee served as a pharmacist’s mate, Third Class in the Naval Reserves. He died while administering first aid to an injured Marine.
Source: Round Rock Boy’s Death Confirmed. Austin American Statesman, December 16, 1943* Find a Grave
PFC Robert P. Hernandez
Vietnam War
U.S. Marine Corps
Round Rock HS Class of 1967
Died July 10, 1968 Quang Tri, Vietnam
Hernandez was assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division as an M-60 machine gunner. He died during the final days of The Battle of Khe Sanh as a result of fragmentation wounds to the head and body from an explosive device. Hernandez Middle School is named in his honor.
Corporal Joseph Fite
Operation Iraqi Freedom
U.S. Marine Corps
Round Rock HS Class of 1999
Died January 9, 2005 in Anbar province, Iraq
Fite served in the 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, based in Austin. He died in hostile action when a driver crashed through a checkpoint barricade in Anbar province, Iraq, and struck him. Fite was a member of the Rock Band while at Round Rock HS.
Source: The Military Times
Corporal Steven P. Gill
Operation Iraqi Freedom
U.S. Marine Corps
Westwood HS Class of 1999
Died July 21, 2005 near Zaidon, Iraq
Gill was assigned to the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, San Antonio; attached to Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force. He was killed by an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations near Zaidon, Iraq.
Source: The Military Times
Corporal Dustin Brisky
Operation Iraqi Freedom
U.S. Army
McNeil HS Class of 1999
Died June 14, 2007 in Tallil, Iraq
Brisky was assigned to the Army Reserve’s 952nd Engineer Company, Paris, Texas, attached to the 92nd Engineer Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga. He died in Tallil, Iraq of wounds sustained in an explosion.
Source: The Military Time
Lance Corporal Roger D. Castleberry, Jr.
Iraq War
U.S. Marine Corps
Died August 1, 2005 near Haditha, Iraq
Castleberry was assigned to the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force. He was killed by enemy fire while conducting dismounted operations outside of Haditha, Iraq.
Sergeant Paul A. Rivera
Iraq War
U.S. Army
Stony Point HS Class of 2003
Died October 22, 2011 in Logar province, Afghanistan
Rivera was assigned to the 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command, based in Hohenfels, Germany. He was killed in Logar province, Afghanistan after his vehicle was attacked.
Source: Fallen Heroes Project
Lance Corporal Dominic Christopher Brown
Iraq War
Westwood HS Class of 2004
U.S. Marine Corps
Died September 13, 2004 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq
Dominic was assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1 Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA. He died from non-combat related incident.
Source: Military Times
Sergeant Adam Huckstep-LaPorte
Iraq War
McNeil HS
U.S. Army
Died February 1, 2012 in Georgia
Huckstep-La Porte served as an infantryman in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia. His most recent deployment was in October 2009 to Iraq. He was preparing to leave for Afghanistan in the coming months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as an infantryman/gunner. He died after being struck by a vehicle near Long County, Georgia.
Source: Fallen Heroes Project
Editors Note: Several Round Rock residents have died serving our country. The above list includes individuals who have been verified as Round Rock ISD students via newspapers and other online sources. We apologize in advance if a former Round Rock ISD student was not included in this post. Please feel free to contact us and provide us with information about other students who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
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