A Heavy Toll for Virginia Reservists

Vicki and Nathan Strong talk about their son, Sgt. Jesse Strong. "He joined the military to help pay his college and to serve his country," she said. (Toby Talbot -- AP)

She last heard from him Saturday.

"He was just telling us they were getting ready for the elections and it was going to be a busy week," she said. "The last words I said to him were, 'Stay safe, Jess. I love you.' "

Weaver graduated from Chancellor High School with honors in 1998 and from Virginia Tech in December 2002 with a degree in history.

A chat room for the Theta Xi fraternity at Virginia Tech, where Weaver was a member, filled with remembrances of him.

Allan Mandelstamm, the chapter's adviser, said, "He was extremely well liked."

Mandelstamm read one of the computer notes as an example. "He truly left Virginia Tech a legend," it said. "A tear is rolling down my cheek for you, Chris."

Bowling, who hoped to become a state trooper, had been working as a police officer in Martinsville.

Velma McFarling, the mother of Bowling's girlfriend, Tonya, said Bowling was a deeply religious man who wanted to serve his country. The couple were introduced about a year ago and had contemplated marriage, she said. But first, Bowling felt he had to do his duty.

Tonya McFarling had surgery this month, her mother said, and Bowling called often to check on her.

"He believed in taking care of people. He was just a loving person," Velma McFarling said. "It's just a loss for every person here. It's not going to be the same."

The unit was called to active duty in June, Wagner said, and shipped out to Iraq in September.

It was due home this spring.

Staff researcher Bobbye Pratt and staff writer Clarence Williams contributed to this report.