Navy Gold Star Coordinator Support

Athan grew up in a small town called Nederland, Tx and graduated in 2000. Athan grew up playing sports mainly soccer and football. He achieved the Eagle Scout rank by age 16 and joined the Navy in 2001. After schooling at Great Lakes, he trained with the Marines in NC. He finished his schooling at Pensacola in Aviation Medicine in 2003 and was assigned to NAS Lemoore, Ca. He met his wife Catherine and was married in 2005. Their daughter Cailey was born in December 2005. While assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln he was part of the crew that helped the people affected by the tsunami in 2004. He enjoyed working with the pilots and loved going with them on trainings. Sadly his last training was at AF base Elmendorf, Ak.

PO1 Navy Corpsman Alexander Vernon was kind, loving, and deeply thoughtful, with a gentle spirit that touched everyone he met. His giving nature was evident in the way he helped others without being asked and in the simple, genuine warmth he shared through a smile or kind word. Intelligent and quick-witted, he brought light and laughter wherever he went.  He had a special love for animals, especially kittens, reflecting the same compassion he showed to others. To his family, his mom, dad, and sister, he was a constant source of pride, joy, and love and was loved beyond words. His kindness, humor, and generous heart remain with all who knew him.  Alexander will never be forgotten and always remembered with love, respect, and honor. He is survived by his loving parents, Michael and Dawn, and his sister, Emily Coyle, and her husband, Eric, along with their children, Evelyn and Ethan.

Petty Officer 1st Class (PO1) John Michael Miller was born on November 17th, 1981, the only child of John H. and Lanita (Sconce) Miller Smith in Columbia, Missouri. Known as “John” in the Navy, “Michael” by his family, and “Mike” by his buds, he was respected and loved by all. 

Sports and the Navy were his life. Between playing soccer from the age of 7, to making the all-state team in high school, he knew sports, both college and pros. An avid fan of the Jayhawk Men's basketball, St. Louis Cardinals, and pro basketball and soccer, his knowledge of different sports and players amazed others.

Michael was so highly successful in his Navy Career that at the time of his death, he had qualified for an early promotion [Chief Petty Officer]. All the while, he never let his family know of his Navy success or high security clearance.

Michael was a giver and team player even in the Navy. He gave the gift of life in death, through organ donation. He was a loving and fabulous son and a friend to many. Our hearts are still broken at his passing. 

Aaron Fowler lived his first 18 years in Tulsa, OK, where he was born. Upon graduation from the Naval Academy, he was selected for service with EOD. He took 1 ½ years to earn a Masters in Arabic Studies @ Georgetown University then completed the two-year EOD training pipeline before reporting for duty in San Diego in January of 2022. The three things most important to Aaron were the gospel of Jesus Christ, community and challenges, in that order! He found ways to work all three of these together no matter where he was or what he was doing. He located a community of Christians at the Naval Academy which led to two years of missions work in North Africa. He utilized every opportunity to travel around the world, but his destination in the US was Washington, DC, where he connected frequently with friends and roommates from his home church. Aaron is missed by his parents and three brothers as well as many friends and family around the globe.  We are thankful for his Navy family's remembrance of him on this earth, and we are comforted by the thought that his name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, NEVER to be forgotten!

Shianne “Shi” Taylor Soles, age 19, was taken from this world on May 4, 2019. She was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. From the day she was born, she was a bright light that would flood the room wherever she went. As a young girl she spent many years involved in dance she loved music and to express herself and entertain others. She was always active, participating in basketball, volleyball, cross country, track, DECA, and cheerleading. She loved being a part of a team and encouraging others to do their best. She loved road trips and cheering on Husky football. Most of all, she loved to laugh. She had a passion for life, and the desire to be a part of something bigger.

She arrived at U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command on July 18th and graduated September 14th, 2018. She then attended Hospital Corpsman 'A' School in San Antonio, Texas where she graduated in January 2019. Soon after, she arrived at her first duty station, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth where she was assigned to the immunization clinic under the Directorate of Public Health services where she successfully immunized over 150 patients including active duty and civilian beneficiary personnel.