At the end of each year, I am glued to the television as we reflect on the celebrities and well-known personalities who have died during the year.

I didn’t know any of them personally, but I certainly benefited in some way from their talents in film, television, books or music.

What we didn’t hear about were the United States military personnel killed in 2016.

Senior Chief Petty Officer Scott Cooper Dayton, 42, of Woodbridge, Va., died Nov. 14, 2016, serving during Operation Inherent Resolve in northern Syria.

Staff Sgt. Matthew C. Lewellen, 27, of Lawrence, Kan., died Nov. 4, 2016, serving during Operation Inherent Resolve in Jafr, Jordan.

Staff Sgt. Kevin J. McEnroe, 30, of Tucson, Ariz., died Nov. 4, 2016, serving during Operation Inherent Resolve in Jafr, Jordan.

Staff Sgt. James F. Moriarty, 27, of Kerrville, Texas, died Nov. 4, 2016, serving during Operation Inherent Resolve in Jafr, Jordan.

Capt. Andrew D. Byers, 30, of Rolesville, N.C., died Nov. 3, 2016, serving during Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in Kunduz, Afghanistan.

Sgt. 1st Class Ryan A. Gloyer, 34, of Greenville, Pa., died Nov. 3, 2016, serving during Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in Kunduz, Afghanistan.

Chief Petty Officer Jason C Finan, 34, of Anaheim, Calif., died Oct. 20, 2016, serving during Operation Inherent Resolve in northern Iraq.

Staff Sgt. Adam Thomas, 31, of Takoma Park, Md., died Oct. 4, 2016, serving during Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuels) Airman Devon M. Faulkner, 24, of North Carolina, died Sept. 20, 2016, serving during Operation Odyssey Lightning in the central Mediterranean Sea.

1st Lt. Jeffrey D. Cooper, 25, of Mill Creek, Wash., died Sept. 10, 2016, serving during Operation Inherent Resolve in Kuwait.

Staff Sgt. Matthew V. Thompson, 28, of Irvine, Calif., died Aug. 23, 2016, serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Christopher A. Wilbur, 36, of Granite City, Ill., died Aug. 12, 2016, serving during Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Lt. Col. Flando E. Jackson, 45, of Lansing, Mich., died Aug. 4, 2016, serving during Operation Inherent Resolve.

1st Lt. Anais A. Tobar, 25, of Miami, Fla., died July 18, 2016, serving during Operation Inherent Resolve in Southwest Asia.

Gunner’s Mate Seaman Connor A. McQuagge, 19, of Utah, died May 26, 2016, serving during Operation Inherent Resolve.

1st Lt. David A. Bauders, 25, of Seattle, Wash., died May 6, 2016, serving during Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq.

Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Charles H. Keating IV, 31, of San Diego, Calif., died May 3, 2016, serving during Operation Inherent Resolve in Tall Usquf, Iraq.

Staff Sgt. Louis F. Cardin, 27, of North Carolina, died March 19, 2016, serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom in Makhmur.

Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Q. McClintock, 30, of Albuquerque, N.M., died Jan. 5, 2016, serving during Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in Marjah District, Afghanistan.

(Information on fallen military personnel was gathered from MilitaryTimes.com.)

I didn’t know any of these individuals personally; however, I know I would have thanked them for their service to our country.

In a list compiled by Jenna Johnson with The Washington Post in November 2016, President-elect Donald Trump made the following campaign promises regarding our national defense and security.

• “Strengthen the military so that it’s ‘so big and so strong and so great’ that ‘nobody’s going to mess with us.’”

• “Modernize and renew the nuclear weapons arsenal.”

• “Grow the Army from its current size of 470,000 active-duty soldiers to 540,000.”

• “Modernize and grow the Navy fleet to 350 surface ships and submarines. The Navy currently has 272 deployable battle-force ships.”

• “Grow the Air Force to 1,200 fighter aircraft.”

• “Grow the Marine Corps to 36 battalions, increasing the active-duty force from its current target of 182,000 to 200,000.”

• “Develop a ‘state of the art’ missile defense system and modernize naval cruisers to provide Ballistic Missile Defense capabilities.”

• “Leave troops in Afghanistan because it’s such ‘a mess.’”

• “Increase the U.S. military presence in the East and South China Seas.”

Whether you voted for Trump or not, if Trump follows through on these campaign promises, I worry an increase in deployed military forces could result in a higher number of deaths.

An increase in the military budget will be appreciated by those currently serving and those who wish to serve their country in the future.

Training for one’s job is always a bonus; let’s just hope they won’t need to use these new skills and weaponry.

Debbie Galbraith

editor

East Penn Press

Salisbury Press