2004
Pfc. Holly J. McGeogh
Hometown: Taylor, Michigan, U.S.
Age: 19 years old
Died: January 31, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army, A Company, 4th Forward Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Tex.
Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near her convoy on the highway between Kirkuk and Tikrit.
Pfc. Holly J. McGeogh aimed for the Army from early in high school. She spent four years as a cadet with the JROTC
before joining up after she graduated in 2002. "She was totally dedicated to going into the Army --that was her
destiny," said her high school guidance counselor, William Teller. Teller said the uniform she wore to school once a
week was festooned with medals. The 19-year-old light-truck mechanic from Taylor, Mich., was killed Jan. 31 when
her vehicle struck a homemade explosive device near the northern Iraq city of Kirkuk. She was stationed at Fort
Hood, Texas. "Holly is another reminder that our freedom truly is not free. Holly and her friends paid the ultimate
price for all of us, without complaint or regret," the family said in a statement.
Army Pfc. Holly J. McGeogh
Died January 31, 2004 serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom
19, of Taylor, Mich.; assigned to Company A, 4th Forward Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Division (Mech),
Fort Hood, Texas; killed Jan. 31 when her vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device in Kirkuk, Iraq.
*****
Friends, family mourn Michigan woman killed in Iraq
By Sarah Karush
Associated Press
WYANDOTTE, Mich. — Pfc. Holly J. McGeogh, a 19-year-old Michigan woman killed in Iraq, was
remembered Monday as someone who loved the outdoors and was dedicated to serving her country.
“She died for a cause she believed in,” the Rev. T.J. Moloney said during the service at St. Joseph Catholic
Church. “Her death reminds us that freedom is not free.”
McGeogh, from the Detroit suburb of Taylor, was one of three people killed Jan. 31 by a roadside bomb
about 27 miles south of Kirkuk. She was a light-truck mechanic assigned to Company A, 4th Forward
Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, from Fort Hood, Texas.
Moloney said McGeogh’s friends remembered her as a person with a great sense of humor who enjoyed
hunting with her father.
“And like all teens, she loved shopping,” he said.
McGeogh graduated in 2002 from Truman High School in Taylor, where she was a cadet in the Junior
ROTC.
Brig. Gen. Donald F. Schenk, who represented the Army at the funeral, addressed the mourners on behalf
of the family.
He recounted how McGeogh called home in October, two days after a female soldier was killed in Tikrit,
where she was based. The call put to rest the family’s fear that it had been McGeogh who was killed.
McGeogh told her parents that the soldier who died had been her good friend and roommate.
“She said if she were to die we should remember that she died for a reason,” Schenk said. “Holly will always
be remembered as a very, very brave soldier.”
Bishop John Quinn of Detroit thanked McGeogh’s family “for giving us such a brave daughter that should
serve our nation in this way.”
The other two soldiers killed in the explosion with McGeogh were identified by the Defense Department as
Sgt. Eliu Miersandoval, 27, of San Clemente, Calif., and Cpl. Juan C. Cabral-Banuelos, 25, of Emporia,
Kan.
*****
Pfc. Holly J. McGeogh aimed for the Army from early in high school. She spent four years as a cadet with
the JROTC before joining up after she graduated in 2002.
“She was totally dedicated to going into the Army — that was her destiny,” said her high school guidance
counselor, William Teller. Teller said the uniform she wore to school once a week was festooned with
medals.
The 19-year-old light-truck mechanic from Taylor, Mich., was killed Jan. 31 when her vehicle struck a
homemade explosive device near the northern Iraq city of Kirkuk. She was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas.
“Holly is another reminder that our freedom truly is not free. Holly and her friends paid the ultimate price for
all of us, without complaint or regret,” the family said in a statement.
*****
TV special casts light on soldier’s devotion, family’s grief
Associated Press
TAYLOR, Mich. — Paula Zasadny hopes that by sharing her daughter’s final letters home through a TV
special, she will make sure the fallen 19-year-old will not be forgotten.
Spc. Holly McGeogh, of Taylor, became Michigan’s first female soldier killed in the war in Iraq on Jan. 31
when a homemade roadside bomb exploded as her convoy drove past in Kirkuk. She was assigned to
Company A, 4th Forward Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Hood, Texas.
At Christmas last year, McGeogh sent her mother and stepfather cards that urged them to celebrate the
holidays for her. The cards arrived a few days after her funeral.
“She had told me that there was a Christmas box coming home and that she had gotten me a really cool
Iraqi rug,” Zasadny told the Detroit Free Press for a Wednesday story. “I never got that box. I have a feeling
that the box was in her vehicle when it exploded.”
As part of the recently aired HBO special “Last Letters Home,” an HBO crew spent a day with the Zasadnys
in July, taping them as they read McGeogh’s letter and talked about their love for her.
“At first I didn’t want to do it, but when I learned that the show wouldn’t be political or anti-war, I changed my
mind,” Zasadny said. “I wanted to make sure she wasn’t forgotten. It was very difficult to watch because she
had been gone for so long already. Watching it was reality, and everyone now and again, I guess, we need
that reality.”
McGeogh joined the Army immediately after graduating from Truman High School in Taylor in 2002, where
she was a cadet in the Junior ROTC for four years. She planned a career in Army intelligence or
psychology. She also was planning to continue her education.
“She absolutely loved the Army,” Zasadny said. “One time she told me: ‘Mom, you have to understand that I
am doing exactly what I want to do and if I die doing it, I will die doing something I believe in.’
“Those are her words that I will remember.”
Mother remembers her “Willy” killed in Iraq
By Hugo Kugiya
Associated Press
Willy was what Paula Zasadny called her baby girl, Holly. It was the random result of a silly rhyming game
she played with her daughter. “Holly, wolly, bolly” eventually became “Willy” and for some reason the name
stuck.
To the day Spc. Holly J. McGeogh died — on Jan. 31, at age 19, victim of a roadside bomb near Kirkuk —
she was Willy, if only to her mother.
That is how she signed the Christmas card last year — “Love Willy.” It arrived about two weeks after she
died, in a box with other items.
“It was devastating,” said Zasadny, who lives in Taylor, Mich., “but at same time it was comforting because I
knew she had touched everything in the box.”
Willy was her youngest child and only daughter. She was a fearless kid who always wanted to ride the
newest, biggest, fastest roller coaster at Cedar Point, and did not flinch when she tried bungee jumping.
She was 5-foot-1 and the company commander in Junior ROTC.
In Iraq, she was a meticulous truck mechanic and drove a troop transport truck with a grenade launcher
mounted on the back. She eagerly volunteered for every mission and patrol and was disappointed when
she was not picked. She once apprehended a fleeing man in a dark alley, threatening to shoot him dead if
he didn’t stop, then throwing him against a wall.
But she also taught Iraqi kids the game duck-duck-goose, and gave them licorice. She could never get her
mom to mail enough candy. Or hot sauce from Taco Bell. Willy put it on everything. Unable to convince her
local Taco Bell to sell her a box of hot sauce, Zasadny ate there everyday, collecting enough packets to
mail to Iraq.
When Willy helped bring running water to a village, she splashed and played in the spray.
Like the kid she was, not that long ago.
From: http://www.theyhavenames.com/heroes/holly_mcgeogh.html
"When Holly arrived in Iraq in the beginning of April we didn't get our first phone call from her until the end
of May. I remember asking her if she was afraid and she told me 'NO.' I told her that she had a lot more
balls than me because I would be lying in the middle of the desert crying, 'I want my Mom.' We laughed so
hard on the phone. That was the first time that I told Holly that she was 'My Brave Little Soldier.' Since that
day in Iraq she has been known to many as my brave little soldier." Paula Zasadny (Holly's Mother)
Holly J. McGeogh was born on August 29, 1984 in Dearborn, Michigan. As a baby, her mother Paula
nicknamed her "Willy," a special name they would continue to use even when Holly was in Iraq. She was
quick, fearless, and got into everything when she was a little girl. One day around the age of 2 1/2 or 3, she
decided that one of the family's Chinese fighting fish might make a tasty treat. In the minute or two that
Paula turned to fold clothes in the living room, she managed to catch the fish from a 10-gallon tank and give
it a quick taste test-she bit it in half and ate the back part. She then ran to her mother and, rubbing her
tummy, let out a huge, "Mmmmmm." Paula couldn't believe it and called Poison Control (she joked that this
was something she had to do often with Holly, and she knew the number by heart and even a few of the
names of people working there). It turned out that the fins could be poisonous and after some ipecac syrup,
Holly was ok.
Throughout her childhood, Holly continued to show a remarkable sense of courage and toughness. Her
stepfather, Michael, who she called "Daddy," recalled a hunting trip they took in South Branch, Michigan
when Holly was around 13 years old.
Michael: "We got to the cabin late Friday night and by the time we got the fuel burner running and the cabin
warm it was time for bed. On Saturday morning I woke Holly at 5:30 AM to get ready for the hunt. There
was probably about 8" of snow on the ground. We dressed pretty warm and headed for the woods.
I told Holly that there are two ways to hunt squirrels, finding a good spot and waiting for the squirrels to
come to you, or walking all day looking for squirrel areas. I like to walk so that is how we proceeded. I told
her what to watch for and what to listen for. The whole morning she was watching me and learning. We
were probably in the woods about 20 minutes when I shot my first squirrel. Holly thought that was pretty
cool, she never even saw the squirrel. So I explained to her what I heard and what I was looking for and I
told her that squirrels like acorns and big trees and that you had to look at a spot and say if I were a squirrel
this is where I would want to live.
I probably shot two more that she never even saw until after I shot. I just kept re-explaining what I heard and
saw. She saw one and it was running and she wasn't moving very fast with the gun or even at all so I killed
it. I told her when she sees a squirrel that close she has to aim and fire as quickly as possible because they
are not going to stick around to see if you are going to kill them.
Later in the morning the squirrels weren't moving very much so we were just walking through the woods
talking and I saw one quite a ways away in the crook of an oak tree, Holly couldn't see it and I was trying to
point it out to her but she still could not locate it and after awhile I wondered if it was even a squirrel myself,
or maybe I was seeing things. So I took a shot at it, guess what? It was a squirrel. Holly said, 'this isn't as
easy as I thought it was going to be.'
We went and got some lunch then headed back out into the woods but in a different area where I knew
there would be some big squirrels. We ended up walking there for about two hours and saw nothing. We
were getting ready to go to a different spot. I was about 20 yards from Holly when I saw the biggest fox
squirrel of my life. Holly was too far behind me and it was moving through some white pines so I shot that
one. We probably walked for about another hour, no squirrels. On our way out of the woods a black squirrel
ran right in front of us and ran up a bank on a down tree and Holly raised her gun and shot it without even
thinking. She said, 'Daddy, did I get it?' I told her hell yeah you got it. So we went over to the down tree and
the squirrel was just on the other side of it dead. Holly was pretty excited and cold but she did all that
without thinking, just hunting......
When we returned to the cabin it was time to clean the squirrels and I thought Holly would have a problem
with that. I was wrong. After showing her how to clean one squirrel she had it down-some questions while
doing it but no problems doing it. She cleaned her own and two of mine. I was proud of her because I know
a lot of men who couldn't clean an animal the first time without any problem.
It was a fun weekend and it was nice being able to teach Holly something. It was amazing how willing she
was to go out in the cold, walk all day, and end it pulling guts out of an animal. She was about 13 years old
at this time. The quality time with her was great. This is a weekend that I will never forget and cherish. Every
time I am out in the woods squirrel hunting I think about her and sometimes I hunt the same spots for her."
With her endless courage, the military seemed like a place Holly was destined to be. Upon entering Truman
high school in Taylor, she joined Junior ROTC (JROTC) and was in it every year until her graduation. It
seemed that JROTC was her passion and she excelled in these classes, doing much better than in her
regular studies. She looked up to her mentors, SGT Maj Brown, MAJ Ingham, & MSG Myers, and admired
them greatly. When she graduated, she was the Company A commander.
Holly first openly expressed an interest in the military in tenth grade, but her mother responded, "oh hell no.
Absolutely not!" She persisted throughout high school and after 9/11, was pushing her mother hard to join
the Army. Paula finally agreed when Holly suggested, "Mom, you have always told us that you didn't care
what we did as long as we did something, enjoyed doing it and we gave it our all." She knew Holly was
right, so she signed the parental consent form for early enlistment and Holly joined at 17 years old.
But joining the Army was not as easy as she would have hoped. Holly had poor vision in her right eye and it
took several opinions from different Ophthalmologists before she was given the 'ok' to enlist after she
graduated from high school. And then came the long wait from the Army. Holly was nervous and upset
about the possibility of not being able to join, but she was finally approved.
Before Holly left for basic training, she and her mother made plans for a weekend together. They went to
Great Lakes Crossing, a large mall in Michigan about an hour away from Taylor. Paula recalls, "We headed
to the mall on Friday after work, we were able to get a Hotel room about 1/2 mile from the mall. We went to
dinner on Friday night and shopped until the stores closed. We got up Saturday morning, got some
breakfast and headed back to the mall, where we spent the day. We ate dinner in the Rain Forest Caf�,
which was really cool. I think we headed home Sunday morning. This is a VERY cool weekend. We talked a
lot about the Army, her boyfriend, and a lot of just girl talk. It was GREAT !!!!! We had a great time
together."Holly left for basic training at Fort Jackson on August 22, 2002, and according to many people,
was one of the few soldiers who found basic training fun. Holly was a model soldier in basic training,
mentoring and encouraging other soldiers. Upon graduation, her Drill SGT told Paula that Holly was one hell
of a soldier and if it weren't for her, their company would not have graduated. Apparently, she was teaching
the others how to get their lockers in order to pass inspection. Paula laughed and told the Drill SGT that he
must not be talking about her Holly because he had never seen her room at home.
Holly stayed at Fort Jackson for Advanced Individual Training (AIT) as a light wheeled mechanic and was
made assistant class leader. On January 31, 2003 Holly was assigned to the 4th Infantry division, A
Company, 4th forward support Battalion at Ft. Hood, Texas. This was to be Holly's first permanent duty
station. Michael said that when Holly first went into the service she told him that her goal was to help other
people. During one of their last phone conversations, Michael told her that she had already met her goal.
She didn't understand what he meant and he told her that she had already helped millions of people. She
said, "you know Daddy, you are right, I have." He told her that she would have to come up with a new goal.
She was excited about meeting her goal and told him that she still wanted to get out of the Army in 2005
and get an associate's degree and go back to Officers school to either be in intelligence or psychology.
Holly received her deployment orders during the first week she was at Ft. Hood. They were to deploy by mid
February. During the first week in February, Paula, Michael, and Holly's grandfather visited her before
deployment. This would be the last time they would see her.Holly was deployed on April 2, 2003 to Tikrit,
Iraq at one of Saddam Hussein's palaces. It would be about five or six months until they were able to
establish proper restroom and shower facilities, but Holly never complained and even joked about it. She
told her mom, "It's no big deal, Mom. We all smell the same." Her only complaint was that too many of the
older, male soldiers were looking out for her and that she had too many fathers in Iraq. This was because
Holly was always getting in trouble, trying to sneak in vehicles on raids and missions. She volunteered for
everything and never wanted to be left out, even if it meant risking her own life.
Six months after being in Iraq, Paula heard on the news that a female soldier was killed in Tikrit from the 4th
ID, outside of the palace gates by an IED. She did not know if this was Holly, and also knew that there were
not a lot of female soldiers in her unit. She spent three days in fear. But on a Friday, she received a call at
work from Holly. Paula ran outside so that she could hear and immediately started crying because Holly
was alright. She could not help herself and cried on the phone. Holly became very stern and said, "Mom,
stop it. If I die, you have to remember that I died doing something that I truly believe in, I died doing exactly
what I want to do." And that was the end of Paula's tears. But then Holly began crying a little-the only time
that her mom heard her cry while she was in Iraq. The day she called was the day that they had the
memorial service for the young woman who was killed, her name was PFC Analaura Esparza Gutierrez.
She was Holly's battle buddy (room-mate).Holly tried to call or e-mail as much as she could, and her mom
will always remember a special phone call in November.
Paula: "Holly called in the middle of the night. All phone calls that we received from her were between 2
and 6 AM. She called about 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning and we were talking about her brother, Rob, and I
was telling her a funny story. Holly had a really nice car stereo that she had gotten before she went into the
service. Of course, she had the big speakers and amps in the trunk of her car-you know, the ones that
shake the windows as they drive by. Anyway, Rob had taken her stereo and put it in his car. I did not know
this, however, Michael must have caught him doing this or seen the stereo in Rob's car and he started
yelling at Rob to get it out of his car and put it back because he had not asked Holly if it was okay to take it
and use it. He also told Rob that you don't take things that do not belong to you unless you ask first. So Rob
took the stereo out of his car and put it back. This was what I was telling Holly on the phone in the middle of
the night. Holly tells me to take $200 out of her bank account and get Rob a stereo for his car and that
would be the Christmas present to Rob from her. I told her that she needed to tell Rob that herself, so I
woke him up and gave him the phone. Of course, I only heard his side of the conversation but this is what I
heard. 'Are you for real, Swweeeeet, that is awesome.' They talked for a few more minutes because Rob
had asked her what it was like in Iraq. Then I heard the words that made me cry. 'I love you.' There was 3
years between Holly and Rob and they fought ALL of the time. I believe this was the first and only time that I
heard my two kids say I love you to each other. I tried so hard to stop crying before I got back on the phone
with Holly. We didn't usually have very long on the phone when she was able to call and I'm sure she did
not want her to hear me cry. Rob still has that car stereo and I think it really means a lot to him. We are a
very close family and I love you is used ALL of the time. This was how I raised my kids and it was always
said before bed, at the end of phone conversations, and sometimes for no reason at all. Neither of my kids
were/are afraid to say I love you even in front of their friends, but I had never heard the two of them say I
love you to each other."
The caring and loving side of Holly extended to all those she would meet, especially the Iraqi women and
children. She would constantly ask for candy to give to the kids and one afternoon taught a group of Iraqi
children how to play duck, duck goose. When a group of soldiers had been asked to secure a building, Holly
and a Sergeant were asked to keep the 15 or so kids inside while they searched the rest of the building.
Holly and the Sergeant had all of the kids who did not speak a word of English so the communication was
difficult, but Holly and the Sergeant taught the kids how to play duck, duck goose. When she told her mom
this story on the phone she was so excited you could hear it in her voice. She said the kids were smiling
and laughing, and she said that she had so much fun with them that afternoon. The kids began calling the
game, duck, duck ali babba. When they were done playing, the kids came up to her and reached for her
sunglasses and Kevlar, so she let the kids take turns wearing her stuff. It made her feel so good to bring
smiles and joy to these young kids even if for only a short while.
On January 31, 2004, Holly volunteered for a 60-mile trip to Kirkuk to pick up parts. Her truck was the last
vehicle in a five-vehicle convoy. An IED was planted in the middle of the road and exploded as Holly's
vehicle went over it. She was killed in the attack along with CPL Juan C. Cabralbanuelos, 25, of Emporia,
Kansas, and SGT Eliu Miersandoval, 27, of San Clemente, California.
Paula recounts how she heard the news, "It was the lightest tap on my door that I have ever heard in my
life. I opened the door and I saw the man in the dress greens and I knew. I immediately knew. But I thought
that if as long as I didn't let him in, he couldn't tell me. And then none of that would have happened. So he
kept saying, 'Ma'am I need to come in.' And I kept telling him, 'I'm sorry, but you can't come in.'
And then I finally looked at him and stared crying and I said, 'she's wounded isn't she? She's wounded.' And
he said, 'Ma'am, I have to come in.'
He told us that the Humvee that she was driving rolled over an IED and they detonated it with a garage door
opener. And I remember all I cared about at that time-those first few days-was that at least she was going to
come home.
At least I was going to get to see her, I hadn't seen her in a year. I couldn't wait to twirl her hair in my
fingers. Then the Army told me it was impossible, that I couldn't see her. The casket had to be closed. So I
never got to even say good-bye to her, I had to say good-bye to a casket."
The funeral Mass for Holly took place at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wyandotte, Michigan with Bishop
John Quinn, the Rev. T.J. Moloney of St. Joseph and the Rev. Festus Ejimadu of St. Aloysius Catholic
Church in Romulus-where McGeogh was baptized-officiating. She is buried at Our Lady of Hope Cemetery
in Brownstown Township.
Holly was to be promoted to Specialist on February 1, 2004, the day after she was killed. She was
posthumously promoted, and her mother was presented with the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Michigan
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm ordered that United States flags throughout the state of Michigan and on
Michigan waters be lowered on Thursday February 5, 2004, in honor of Holly.Two week after she was killed
the Zasadny's received cards from Holly. The couple was later interviewed for the HBO documentary, Last
Letters Home, where they read the following letters.
Holly's Card to Michael: Dad, Hi Daddy! How's it going? I'm doing good. I want you to know that I couldn't
ask for a better father. I don't think it's possible. I want to say thank you for everything that you have done.
You mean the world to all of us. I know things have been hard for all you guys and I'm sorry for that. But this
is my job and what I live for. I know that you understand that. When I get home I would like to go up north,
just me and you. Like before when I left to go. We can go hunting or canoeing, depending on the weather.
Well, just remember-you are best dad in the world. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Love
always, Holly.
Holly's Card to Paula: Mom, Hey Momma. I just want to say that I hope you do have a good Christmas and
a Happy New Year. I know it won't be the same. It is gonna be different for me-my first Christmas ever by
myself. I gotta be strong and so do you, so please put on the Santa hat and have some fun. If you decide to
get drunk, drink some Captain Morgan's spiced rum and doctor pepper for me, ok? Remember, when I get
back we are going to go shopping and get pampered. A whole week together and you are not gonna need
those pills anymore, so we can throw them out, ok? But anyways I love you with all my heart and I couldn't
ask for a better mom because I've got the best one in the world already. Have a Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year. I love you with all my heart, Willy.
Paula and Michael are the embodiment of good-natured people, and it is easy to see where Holly got her
strength, courage, and sense of love towards others. After the interview with the HBO crew, the Zasadnys
cooked them all dinner.
Since Holly's death many friends and family have reflected on what a special young woman she was. The
following quotes are taken from blogs and Internet sites where people have left messages for Holly.
"Holly, I really do not know what words could express my empathy for your family and friends. You were
dedicated to the service even in high school. Those are memories I myself will not forget. You are a true
and honorable person. Brave, courageous, and dedicated. God Bless You and all those like you."Jennifer
O'Shay of Taylor, MI USA
"Holly I still remember the first day I met you in 9th grade in homeroom, I was new to Truman and you were
just so nice to me. I remember all the times when our lockers were next to each other when I was upset
about something you always made me laugh I miss that and I miss you, you were so brave and I will never
forget you. To a very brave soldier you are missed"Tiffany of new boston/taylor
"God bless you Holly! I just heard of the ultimate sacrifice you made for our country. I remember you since
Ft. Jackson with that funny looking smile. Class 05 B Delta Dogs LEAD THE WAY! God Bless the ones you
left behind. You will never be forgotten Girl." SGT. Luis Avendano 1-143 Field Artillery 40th ID of
Sacramento CA
"Dear Private First Class McGeogh,First of all, I want to thank you for the sacrifices you have made for your
country, family, friends and unit. I want to tell you that your death was not in vain. Because of you, the 4th
SB and the 4th ID have implemented a completely new type of training to deal with the threat of IEDs. I am
currently assigned to Aco. 4th Support Battalion as you were. As we get nearer to our redeployment to Iraq,
we go there with more training and knowledge on all subjects. For that, I especially want to thank you. I
have one of the most dangerous jobs in the unit. I am the Battalion's 6 Delta. I am glad that I had the
opportunity to receive the training, that if it weren't for you, would never have happened. Please know that
most of your NCOs are still here and mention you often. You will forever be remembered here at the
Packhorse. "PACKHORSE SUPPORT""PFC Barbuch PH6D of Aco.4SB, 4ID Ft. Hood, TX
"Hey Holly I miss you so much, it has been 1 year 3 months and 2 days since you died. There is not a day
that goes by that I don't think about you. I still get very angry that you left me even though it isn't your fault. I
just wanted to have Army stories with you. Hell I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. I still wonder how I am
going to make it without you. I still cry, not as much, but I do. You were my best friend and I was yours. No
one has ever cared for me as much as you did. I just miss talking to you so much. I miss all our crazy
adventures we used to go on trying to find Frank and Shane and all the guts you use to have that I didn't. I
miss the fact that you were never scared to make Frank mad, and how you use to think I was dumb for
caring what Shane thought. I miss you so much, you made me a strong person. I thank you so much for all
you have given me. I wish you were here. I will see you soon. I remember all the days we skipped school to
do nothing we really didn't even have a reason to skip we just did. I miss you and love you so much Holly,
no one here knows how much!"Helena (Hollys Best Friend) of Babenhausen, Germany and Taylor, MI
"To the Zasadny/McGeogh Family,I was the second senior ranking person on the convoy that took your
daughter's life. Since that fateful day in January, not a single day has gone by that I do not think of SPC
McGeogh, SGT Cabral, and SGT Sandoval and I always second guess if there was anything we could have
done to prevent what happened. When I picked up the pictures that Holly always carried with her I could not
help but be overcome with emotion on how proud a family Holly belonged. From the pictures I could tell that
you not only supported your daughter but you supported what she was doing, and that is rare in these ages,
I commend you for you patriotage. I thank you for raising such a brave and dedicated young woman. Since
the day I met her, 4 weeks before the convoy, you could tell that she prided herself on accomplishing her
mission and helping her fellow soldiers. Ma'am words cannot begin to express the sorrow I feel for you and
your family; I am proud to have served with your daughter. Sincerely,"John Lopez of Killeen, TX
"Holly,You were the greatest girl I've ever met. You always pushed me to do my best in JROTC. If not for
you I don't think that I would have come as far as I have. I mean, you gave me my first push ups. I miss you
so much, thank you for every thing that you have done. You're one of the bravest people I know. Your family
will always be in my prayers. And to Paula and Mike, you guys did an awesome job raising your daughter,
God bless you" Nikki Campbell of Taylor, MI
"To the family of Holly McGeogh:I was in Tikrit with your daughter. I remember taking her on a mission with
us. It was so hot and I was in my vehicle, miserable with all the flies and sand around me- but I could hear
Holly's laughter in the very next vehicle enjoying just talking with one of our soldiers. It was infectious. She
was such a happy girl and will be missed. God bless you all." SGT LeAndra Pedersen of Woodland Hills,
CA
"Holly and I grew up together. She was a great person always happy and joking around. She was so fun to
be around. I am so proud of everything that she has done. She is one of the bravest people I know. We are
lucky to have people like her serving our country. Holly is and will forever be my hero. Holly I love you and
will forever miss you." Miranda of Novi, MI
"Dear Holly J McGeoghI don't know where to begin. I remember you walking though the halls of Truman
High School and in class with me as if it were yesterday. Then we both joined the United States Army, you
as a mech. and me as a Military Police Officer, which takes a lot to do. Especially to go to war and defend
the world from terrorism. Plus I can remember the last time I saw you at the chow hall in Tikrit Iraq. Seeing
you smiling and joking with me about our time at Truman High School and how our lives were going in the
Army. I will never forget you as a brave soldier and as a friend in school. Rest in Peace and God Bless your
family through this hard time.Peace, Love, and RespectYour friend and Fellow SoldierPFC Anthony L.
Boike Truman c/o 2002" PFC Anthony L. Boike of Taylor MI, depolyed in Tikrit Iraq
From Holly's boyfriend, SPC Sergio Cardenas, in an e-mail to Paula:Paula, Hey it's me Sergio, just got off
the phone with you and your husband. I'm sorry sorry that this happen and I wish that I would turn back the
hands of time to keep Holly here with us. I miss her so much that it hurts every time that I think about her.
She was a very close friend and I loved her a lot and miss her even more. She was one of those girls that
came into your life and changed it for you. I just wanted to thank you for having a great daughter and
blessing me to meet her. She had plans that she wanted to do and she always told the one thing that she
wanted to do was get out of the Army and go to school and have a great time being in school, and coming
back to the army as an officer so she can change a lot of things that she didn't like. I'm so sorry that this
happened to a great and beautiful girl like her. If I could, I would give myself to the LORD so she could
come back. Paula, she said that you were the best parents the she had and always talked about you and
your husband. I will never forget the beautiful smile that lit the room up and the laugh that she had that I
love to hear. The way she would try to say my name in Spanish but couldn't say it right because she could
roll her R's. I just want to thank you once again for bringing her in to this world and letting me meet her and
have shared my heart with her. I thank you with all my heart. One more thing Paula, you have to be strong
and know that she is with you every min. every hour, every day of your life and she will always be with us
looking over us and keeping us safe. Your friend Sergio
In an e-mail, Paula said, I cannot even begin to tell you how much I miss Holly. I am left with having a huge
emptiness in my heart and the excruciating pain of missing my baby. I know that there is nothing in life that
will take the pain away or end the missing of her. That is the part that sucks. I am grateful that I had 19
GREAT years with my daughter and I also know that I was very fortunate to have her for 19 years; some
parents lose their kids when they are very young. I would give anything to be able to get a hug from Holly or
to hear the words "I love you Mom". I am very proud of my daughter for her sacrifice to our great nation. I
thank our troops for ALL their sacrifices and for watching over my family and me day and night, keeping us
safe. I am very proud to be American. My daughter and all of our fallen are my HEROES !!!!!
The license plate on her truck is a military plate that reads, "W1LLY."
In May 2007, the city of Taylor, Michigan presented the "Lest They Be Forgotten" Memorial in front of City
Hall, dedicated to Holly. Paula has worked with the Lest They Be Forgotten organization, helping fund, and
dedicate memorials to other fallen soldiers.
The following poem, Tribute to Courage, by James Elston, seems like a fitting way to honor Holly's sacrifice,
Tribute to Courage Courage is doing what is right Without having to be told Courage is manning up When
you know you've done something wrong Courage is looking the enemy in the eye And telling them to just
bring it Courage is having fear But still staying strong Courage is facing adversary But being able to
overcome it Courage is leaving your family behind To defend the country you love Courage is being a
soldier In the greatest Army in the world Thank you for this courage That lets us live free May God bless
you And come home safely to your families
Holly did not come home, but her courage did. Rest in peace "brave little soldier," you are a lasting example
to inspire those who seek courage, sacrifice, and love.
Her family released the following statement on Feb 2, 2004:
"Holly is another reminder that our freedom truly is not free.
Holly and her friends paid the ultimate price for all of us, without complaint or regret.
Please stand behind our soldiers and their families and show your support."
Spec. Richard K. Trevithick
Hometown: Gaines, Michigan, U.S.
Age: 20 years old
Died: April 14, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army, 9th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany
Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near his vehicle in Balad.
When Spc. Richard Trevithick learned he would be posted in Iraq, he moved up his wedding to his
high school sweetheart, Kristin, 21. "He thought the world of me, and I thought the world of him,"
Kristin Trevithick said. The couple married Dec. 12 while Richard Trevithick, 20, was on leave from his
base in Schweinfurt, Germany. "He said that if anything happened (to him), he wanted to know that
he was married to the woman he loved," said his father, Richard Trevithick. The Gaines, Mich., soldier
was killed April 14 by an explosive near his convoy vehicle in Balad, Iraq. He graduated from high
school in 2002 and enlisted in the Army after deciding he wasn't ready for college. He wanted to go
to college after his discharge and pursue a career in law enforcement. The young soldier had
arranged for his wife to receive a bouquet of roses if anything happened to him. The flowers arrived
April 15. "He talked to her the day before he died and told her he'd spoil her when he got home," his
father said.
Richard Kennedy Trevithick
TREVITHICK, Richard Kennedy -Age 20, of Gaines, died April 14, 2004 serving his country in Balad, Iraq. Funeral
Services will be held 1 PM Friday, April 23, 2004 at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 6273 Miller Road, Swartz Creek,
Pastor James Nelson (father-in-law), Pastor Clarence Kennedy (grandfather) and Pastor Richard Coss will officiate.
Interment will follow at Sunset Hills Cemetery, Flint. Visitation will be held 11 AM - 3 PM and 6-9 PM Thursday at
Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, 8138 Miller Road, Swartz Creek. . Online condolences or tributes may be
shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com
Published in Flint Journal from April 20 to April 22, 2004
Room named in U.S. Army Spc. Richard K. Trevithick's honor
Published: Monday, June 01, 2009, 8:00 AM Laura Angus | Flint Journal
TROY, Michigan — When men and women enter the military at the processing station in Troy, they will
raise their right hand and take their oath of service in a ceremony room named for U.S. Army Spc. Richard
K. Trevithick.
"It gives me goose bumps to think about it," said Trevithick's sister, Rachel Trevithick, 21.
Richard Trevithick, 20, was a Swartz Creek High School graduate who died April 14, 2004, months after he
was deployed to Iraq.
The room at the Detroit Military Entrance Processing Station was dedicated May 21. Rachel Trevithick said
her brother would have been honored to have the room named after him. He always wanted his family to be
proud of him, she said.
"He's definitely done more than that," she said.
Swartz Creek Mayor Richard Abrams attended the dedication ceremony and talked about Trevithick's
service during Tuesday's City Council meeting.
"We felt very honored to have been there," he said.
U.S. Army Spc. Raymond Revoir, who serves at the station, nominated Richard Trevithick for the honor. He
attended Swartz Creek High School and knew Trevithick.
"When they said it had to be someone from Michigan, Rich's name was the first one to pop into my head," he
said.
It's more meaningful to have the room named for Trevithick instead of a veteran of a historic war, he said.
"This is from a current battle and a current war, rather than somebody who maybe has already received
honors from a previous war," he said.
Pfc. Richard H. Rosas
Hometown: St. Louis, Michigan, U.S.
Age: 21 years old
Died: May 25, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army, 3rd Battalion, 62nd Air Defense Artillery, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
Incident: Killed by a makeshift bomb while on patrol in Fallujah.
Spc Richard Homero Rosas
August 24th, 2010
Born: August 24, 1982 in Michigan
Died: May 25, 2004 in Fallujah, Iraq
Spc. Richard H. Rosas of Saint Louis, Michigan is a 2001 graduate of St. Louis High School
where he played guard on the basketball team and was a receiver on the football team. He
loved to fish and play sports. Serving in the military ran in his family. Two grandfathers had
served in World War II and one also went on to Korea. An uncle fought, and was killed in
Vietnam. Richard joined the United States Army, and was an expert machine gunner who
never stopped smiling, even while on duty in Iraq. He was an energetic soldier who was wellliked by everybody and had planned to enroll in a police academy when he left the military.
His Awards and Decorations include, the Purple Heart and Bronze Star and a second Purple
Heart awarded to him. The first one was awarded in November after attackers shot at his
Humvee, causing shards of glass to cut his face. Richard probably could have returned to the
United States, but decided to stay. Richard was a new father but died before meeting his 2
month old daughter. He had two months left on his yearlong stay in Iraq. He was killed at age
21 when an improvised explosive device hit his patrol in Fallujah, Iraq.
Army
3rd Battalion
62nd Air Defense Artillery
10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry)
Fort Drum, New York
Burial is at Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Lansing, Michigan
Boxing Show is Memorial for Fallen Soldier
Posted: July 9, 2010
by Kevin Walters
Saturday’s mid-Michigan amateur boxing show is a memorial for a young man in uniform who died too
young.
The show, jointly conducted by Bailey’s Old Skool Boxing Club and the Clinton County Boxing Club, at Club
Rox in Alma, just south of Mt. Pleasant, is a tribute to Army PFC Ricky Rosas who was killed in Iraq six
years ago.
Rosas, twenty-one years old at the time of his death, of nearby Saint Louis (just east of Alma) has several
young cousins and nephews who will be boxing on the card and his brother, Gilbert Liguez, is one of
Bailey’s coaches. Rosas also boxed off-and-on as a pre- and early teen, out of Lansing’s Crown Boxing
Club.
“He trained more than he fought,” Gilbert Rosas said, adding that he and his younger brother had wanted to
open a boxing gym someday.
The show starts at 6:00 pm at Club Rox, 7900 N. Alger Road in Alma.
______________ ______________
U.S. Army Private First Class (PFC) Richard Homero Rosas, assigned to the
3rd Battalion, 62nd Air Defense Artillery, 10th Mountain Division (Light
Infantry), out of Fort Drum, New York, died May 25, 2004 in Fallujah, (Anbar
province) Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his
vehicle. PFC James Lambert was also killed in the attack, which severely
injured two other soldiers.
In a tragic coincidence, he and Lambert were also both injured six months
earlier, in November, 2003, according to Captain Bradd Schultz, his
commanding officer. Injuries to their face and neck from shrapnel were not
life threatening and both returned to their unit.
Rosas joined the Army a year after high school with the memory of 9/11
fresh in his head. Alma is a small town in an economically depressed state,
there seemed few better prospects than the military and Rosas and a friend
were joining together on the “buddy plan.” When something happened and
the buddy did not join up, Rosas honored his commitment and entered basic
PFC Richard "Ricky" Rosas, a
training..
former amateur boxer, was killed
He had last been home in February, three months before his death, when he in service to our nation in Iraq.
saw an ultrasound of his unborn daughter and heard her heartbeat, as Tracy Saturday's boxing show is in
memory of Rosas. Photo
Burton wrote in the Midland Daily News at the time, “but he would never
courtesy of Department of
meet her.” Skye was born a month after he returned to Iraq.
Defense.
Rosas, described by fellow soldiers as always smiling, is remembered by
Schultz as “easy going and soft spoken.” The young soldier who, he said, always helped others also ran a
lot, even in the desert heat. “He was always running.”
Running is something Rosas did before joining the Army, according to his
older brother, Gilbert Liguez, who said Ricky ran cross country and played
on the high school basketball team. Gilbert believes Ricky lettered in both
sports.
“He was a very likeable kid, a
stand-up soldier,”
Gunnery Sergeant Jesus
Jacquez, USMC
Tragedy Strikes
Rosas’ open platform Humvee was one of six vehicles on a commonly travelled road, or MSR (main supply
route) in Army-speak, on a bright, hot day in late May, 2004, enroute to a “target.”
PFC James Lambert was driving and twenty-one year old Rosas was sitting behind him, serving in the role
of gunner, one, according to Capt. Schultz, reserved for very reliable soldiers. It was Rosas’ usual
assignment. His task that day was to provide convoy and perimeter security for then-Marine Corps SSgt
Jesus Jacquez’s team. The convoy shared the road that morning with heavy local traffic, some twenty
minutes after leaving camp near Fallujah in Iraq’s Anbar province. At about 11:00 am, tragedy struck.
An improvised explosive device (IED) attached to a tree exploded. Its massive destructive force hit Rosas’
vehicle without warning.
Jacquez, now a gunnery sergeant in the reserves and a full-time police
officer in Chino, California, who was in the vehicle ahead, rushed back to
help. He rendered aid to those he could but young Rosas was not one of
them. He was sitting in place, holding his rifle, killed instantly. A Marine
corpsman, and Alabama paramedic, pronounced him dead at the scene and
then focused his efforts on the three injured. Lambert would not live much longer, however, and efforts
shifted to the two remaining. Both survived but with horrific, life altering injuries.
To date, 4,412 U.S. service
members have died in Iraq
and 1,162 more have died in
Afghanistan.
“It was our biggest hit up to that point,” Jacquez told Sportssummary, referring both to the size of the IED
and the number of casualties. The placement of the explosive was also new, he said. Usually IEDs were
placed in vehicles or buried in the ground. This one had been attached to a tree, several feet off the ground.
Rosas was described by his fellow soldiers as always smiling. More than any other description. Everyone
said he smiled a lot. One hopes that six year old Skye will remember her father that way. Always smiling.
(c) 2010, Sportssummary.com
Sgt. Aaron C. Elandt
Hometown: Lowell, Michigan, U.S.
Age: 23 years old
Died: May 30, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany
Incident: Killed when his vehicle hit a makeshift bomb in Musayyib.
Michigan soldier killed in Iraq
Associated Press
PORT HOPE, Mich. — A Michigan man was killed in a land mine blast in Iraq, the Department of
Defense and his family said.
Sgt. Aaron Elandt, 23, of Port Hope, died Sunday evening when the Humvee he was in struck a
land mine while responding to a mortar attack, his brother Matt Elandt said. The explosion
happened in Musayyib, Iraq, south of Baghdad.
“My favorite word for him was irreverent,” his mother, Linda Elandt, told the Detroit Free Press for a
Wednesday story. “He did his own thing.”
Elandt was a cavalry scout with the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division and
had been in Iraq for about 14 months. Lt. Col. Diane Battaglia, with the Army Public Affairs office,
said Elandt’s death will be investigated, as is the case with every soldier’s death in Iraq.
The youngest of four children, he joined the military in 2000 after graduating from Harbor Beach
High School in 1999.
He followed a family tradition started by his father, Paul Elandt, who served two years in Vietnam.
His older sister and two older brothers also served in the Army.
Paul Elandt, 58, said he encouraged his son to travel and broaden his horizons.
“Linda said, ‘I can’t stand another one in the military.’ I told them get out of Huron County and see
a bit of the world,” he said.
Harbor Beach Community Schools Superintendent Ron Kraft called Elandt “a courageous young
man” dedicated to serving his country.
“He was a solid young man as a student and as a citizen,” Kraft told the Huron Daily Tribune of
Bad Axe. “Our prayers and condolences go to his family during this very trying time.”
At the bar in the Port Hope Hotel, residents of the tiny community in Michigan’s Thumb mourned
the death of one of their own.
Jim Hunley, 56, of Port Hope, said his son graduated from high school with Elandt.
“I’m just shocked, but that’s what he wanted to do and he gave it his all. He was a good kid. He
never got into trouble. He just said, ‘It’s my time to go and serve my country,”’ Hunley said.
Funeral arrangements were pending Tuesday.
HTTP://WWW.MYSPACE.COM/AARON3BIRD3
Sgt. Aaron Elandt Tribute Page's Blurbs
About me:
O.K. So I made this page it Tribute of my good friend
Aaron C. Elandt. This May will be three years since he
was taken from us. I know he is with His Family an
Friends Every day. Elant will never be forgotten. This
page is a place for his Family Friends and Any
Supporters of Sgt. Aaron C. Elandt. This is a place to
post any memories of Elandt. I felt like it was the thing
to do. Elandt Loved Jimmy Hendrix and music in
general! Jimi Hendrix-Star Spangled Banner, Purple Haze
Sgt Aaron Cutler Elandt
Birth:
Nov. 13, 1980
Bad Axe
Huron County
Michigan, USA
Death:
May 30, 2004, Iraq
Sgt. Aaron C. Elandt of Port Hope, Michigan graduated from Harbor Beach High School in
1999. The youngest of four children, he joined the military in April 2000 following a family
tradition started by his father, Paul Elandt, who served two years in Vietnam. His older sister
and two older brothers also served in the Army. It was through Aaron's leadership ability that
he quickly rose to the rank of Sergeant. He served at Camp Garry Owen in Korea and
returned back to the United States shortly before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He
then went to Fort Hood, Texas, where he served for just over a year. From there, he was
assigned to Germany, and after a few months, he was sent to Baghdad in April of 2003. He'd
been there for a little more than one year. Some of his duties included securing and preparing
ammunition on scout vehicles, performing navigation during combat, loading, clearing and
firing individual and crew-served weapons, gathering and reporting information on terrain,
weather, and enemy disposition and equipment, collecting data to classify routes, tunnels and
bridges and other tasks. Cavalry scouts must be in top physical and mental shape and must
be ready to accept challenges and face danger. He was a solid young man as a student and as
a citizen and didn't like much fuss made about him. Rather, he enjoyed the simple things in
life, such as fishing and spending time with the family and friends he cherished most.
At his funeral service his family was presented with the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal in
honor of his heroism while fighting the war in Iraq. He is survived by his parents Paul and
Linda Elandt of Port Hope and adult siblings Steve, Matt and Paula. He was preceded in death
by maternal grandparents Leslie and Fern Hazzard. Aaron and Capt. Robert C. Scheetz Jr.
were killed when their Humvee struck by an improvised explosive device in Al Musayyib, Iraq,
south of Baghdad. Aaron was 23.
Army
1st Battalion
6th Infantry Regiment
1st Armored Division
Baumholder, Germany
Burial:
Saint Joseph Cemetery
Rapson
Huron County
Michigan, USA
Maintained by: Zoe Jane
Originally Created by: Ghostrider9
Record added: Jun 08, 2004
Find A Grave Memorial# 8887917
Sgt. Aaron C. Elandt
Sgt. Aaron C. Elandt, 23, of Port Hope, passed away on Sunday, May 30, 2004, in
Iraq.
He was born on November 13, 1980 in Bad Axe, son of Paul and Linda
(Hazzard) Elandt.
He was a member of the Harbor Beach High School Class of
1999 and the Port Hope AmVets Post No. 115. He served in the U.S. Army since
April of 2000, arriving in Iraq in April of 2003.
He is survived by his
parents, Paul and Linda Elandt, of Port Hope; two brothers, Stephen Elandt, of
Ann Arbor, Matthew Elandt and his wife, Dawn, of Chelsea; one sister, Paula
Blanchard and her husband, Brad, of Bad Axe; paternal grandparents, Henry and
Dorothy Elandt, of Bad Axe; four nieces, Lauren Hild, Stephanie Blanchard,
Ashley Blanchard, and Moira Blanchard; one nephew, John Hild; and several
aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by maternal grandparents, Leslie and Fern Hazzard.
A
Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 10,
2004, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in
Rapson. Officiating will be Fr. James Carlson, pastor. Burial will be in the
church cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday and from 1 to
9 p.m. on Wednesday at the Kaufman Funeral Home
in Bad Axe, and from 10 a.m. until the service time at 11 a.m. on Thursday. A
scripture service will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral
home. If necessary, additional parking for visitation will be made available at
the Thumb Office Supply, Colonial Beauty Salon, and Northstar Bank. They are
located just north of the Kaufman Funeral Home at the corner of South Van Dyke
and Westland
Drive in Bad Axe.
Memorials may be offered to the Aaron Elandt Memorial
Scholarship at any Huron County Chemical Bank or at the Kaufman Funeral Home.
http://www.huroncounty.com/foundation/index.php?page_id=47
Spec. Craig S. Frank
Hometown: Lincoln Park, Michigan, U.S.
Age: 24 years old
Died: July 17, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army National Guard, 1775th Military Police Company, Army National
Guard, Pontiac, Mich.
Incident: Killed when his convoy hit a makeshift bomb in Baghdad.
Craig S. Frank was an avid reader who joined the military because he wanted to serve his country and help pay off
student loans. "He didn't want to burden us with payments," said his father, Timothy Frank. His son was studying
education at Eastern Michigan University. Frank, 24, of Lincoln Park, Mich., was killed near Baghdad when his convoy
vehicle hit an explosive device. He was assigned to the Army National Guard in Pontiac, Mich. Linda Frank described
her son as an avid reader, who took 15 books with him when he went to Iraq. "The guys would tease him and say
they hadn't read 15 books in their entire lives," she said. "He would read anything that had words," said his older
brother, Tim Frank. Frank had returned home from June 10 to July 3 to be with his father, who was undergoing openheart surgery. He returned to Iraq for his second extension of duty and was scheduled for return to the United States
on Aug. 11.
Sudden trip home to see dad was his last
February 12, 2005|By Sean D. Hamill, Stefanie Dell'Aringa and Shia Kapos, Special to the
Tribune.
When Spec. Craig S. Frank was told last year that his father was about to go through open-heart
surgery back home in Lincoln Park, Mich., he promised to be there even though he was stationed
to Iraq
"He said he'd come home if he had to walk," said his brother, Timothy.
It took some bureaucratic wrangling, with assistance from the Red Cross, and a plane ticket paid
for by his parents to get it done, but eventually Frank was granted an emergency three-week leave
from June 13 to July 3.
The sudden trip home proved to be precious.
Two weeks after he returned to Iraq, Frank, 24, died on July 17, near Baghdad, when his convoy
vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. Frank was assigned to the Army National Guard's
1775th Military Police Company from Pontiac, Mich. His family said he was posthumously
promoted to sergeant.
A swimmer and runner in high school, Frank was an avid reader who devoured books from science
fiction to mythology to the classics whenever he got a chance. He was enrolled in Eastern
Michigan University and hoped to teach history.
Frank's father is doing well after surgery, Timothy Frank said, a fact that was helped by his son's
returning home.
"It worked out that we all had a chance to spend some alone time with him," his brother said. "I
treasure that time we had together. We all do."
Would-be animator: U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Shawn A. Lane had a knack for drawing and one
day hoped to become a cartoon character animator. He also talked about opening a coffee shop
with his wife, Jennifer.
He once shared his portfolio with Don Bluth, the well-known former Walt Disney animator, over
dinner. Bluth "looked at his drawings, and he thought he was terrific," his father, John, said.
Lane, 33, formerly of Corning, N.Y., died July 28 during enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
He was assigned to Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force,
based at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
A Marine who was five years away from retirement, Lane fought in the Gulf War, Iraqi Freedom
and Iraqi Freedom II. He was a skilled radio communications man who studied the subject before
and during his military career.
Raised in Corning, N.Y., he graduated from East High School, where he played baseball and
football.
As a Marine Security Guard stationed in Hong Kong, he guarded the American Consulate and,
while there, met his wife. They were married in 1998 and had a son who is now 5.
Sgt. 1st Class David A. Hartman
Hometown: Akron, Michigan, U.S.
Age: 41 years old
Died: July 17, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army Reserves, 401st Transportation Company, U.S. Army Reserve, Battle Creek, Mich.
Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb struck his vehicle in Bayji.
David A. Hartman was a 21-year veteran of the military and a dedicated family man. "My
brother was a family man, a hard worker, very dedicated to the military. It was his job," said
Bill Hartman. "He was one of those people you could call and you could count on being there
when you called." Hartman, 41, of Akron, Mich., was killed July 17 when the vehicle he was
driving was hit by an explosive device in Beiji. He was stationed at Battle Creek, Mich. A truck
driver for an agricultural company in civilian life, Hartman was a veteran of the first Gulf War.
His brother said he developed Gulf War Syndrome and could have asked for a medical
discharge. "But he didn't try to get out," Bill Hartman said. "When he saw all the people who
were going over there, he told me he wanted to join them, and lead by example." He leaves
behind a wife, Robbin; a 21-year-old son, Benjamin; and an 18-year-old daughter, Heather.
David A. Hartman
Hartman, SFC, David A. Akron-Fairgrove, Michigan Funeral service will be on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 at 11:00 a.m.
at First Baptist Church, 1145 W. Center Rd. (M-25) in Essexville. Rev. Paul A. Castle will officiate. Burial with full
Military Honors will follow in Demorest Cemetery in Akron. Friends may call at Penzien-Steele Funeral Home on
Tuesday from 1-9 p.m. He will lie in state at the church on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Memorial
contributions can be made to The David A. Hartman Memorial Fund in care of Chemical Bank & Trust, 5002 W.
Center, Fairgrove, MI 48733. Penzien - Steele Funeral Home 608 N. Madison Avenue Bay City, Michigan
Published in Bay City Times on July 27, 2004
David A. Hartman
Hartman, SFC, David A. Akron-Fairgrove, Michigan Funeral service will be on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 at 11:00 a.m.
at First Baptist Church, 1145 W. Center Rd. (M-25) in Essexville. Rev. Paul A. Castle will officiate. Burial with full
Military Honors will follow in Demorest Cemetery in Akron. Friends may call at Penzien-Steele Funeral Home on
Tuesday from 1-9 p.m. He will lie in state at the church on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Memorial
contributions can be made to The David A. Hartman Memorial Fund in care of Chemical Bank & Trust, 5002 W.
Center, Fairgrove, MI 48733. Penzien - Steele Funeral Home 608 N. Madison Avenue Bay City, Michigan Published in Bay
City Times on July 27, 2004
Pfc. Nicholas H. Blodgett
Hometown: Wyoming, Michigan, U.S.
Age: 21 years old
Died: July 21, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, Schweinfurt, Germany
Incident: Killed when his vehicle hit a makeshift bomb in Abdalluyah.
When the deli where Nicholas Blodgett worked went out of business, he looked for a job in
security. "But they wanted people with military experience," said Paula Blodgett, his stepgrandmother. "He'd always wanted to either be in the military or a cop, so he joined the Army."
Blodgett, 21, of Wyoming, Mich., was killed July 21 in Abdalluyah, Iraq when his patrol vehicle hit
an improvised explosive device. Six other soldiers were injured in the blast. Blodgett was a quiet
leader at his high school, playing in the school band and taking tae kwon do lessons with his
parents Rita and Robert Blodgett Jr. and his brother, Matthew, 20. "What I remember about him is
that he returned the year after graduation to help out with the color guard," said school principal
Steve Passinault. "He wanted to find a way to stay involved." Blodgett, who was stationed in
Schweinfurt, Germany, had been home for a visit in November and was excited about going
overseas. His family had been looking forward to another visit in August.
PFC Nicholas Henry Blodgett
BLODGETT - PFC Nicholas Henry Blodgett, aged 21, of Wyoming, died fighting for his country in
Iraq. He will be lovingly remembered by his parents, Robert and Rita Blodgett; brother, Matt
Blodgett; grandparents, Charles and Adele Zygas, Phyllis Blodgett, Paula Blodgett; aunts and uncles,
Betty Stelter, Theresa and Albert Burton, Casimira and Robert Krause, Maria Huyck, Vida Stengel,
Luci and Mark Anderson, Joseph and Vicki Zygas, Mark Blodgett, Marjorie and Robert Bartlett,
Craig Blodgett; many cousins and special friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday
10:00 a.m. at Holy Name of Jesus Church, 1630 Godfrey SW, Wyoming, with Fr. Stephen Dudek,
Celebrant. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made
to the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. Relatives and friends may meet the family at MatthysseKuiper-DeGraaf Funeral Home (Grandville), 4145 Chicago Dr., Grandville on Sunday from 2 to 4 and
6 to 9 p.m.
The Nick Blodgett Memorial Group
http://eu-es.facebook.com/group.php?gid=15077650017&ref=share
Spec. Donald R. McCune
Hometown: Yplsilanti, Michigan, U.S.
Age: 20 years old
Died: August 5, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army National Guard, 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, 81st Brigade Combat Team, Army National
Guard, Moses Lake, Wash.
Incident: Died in Landstuhl, Germany from injuries sustained on August 4 when a makeshift bomb exploded near
his patrol in Balad.
Donald R. McCune II
Tuesday, August 10 2004 @ 08:28 AM MDT
Contributed by: tomw
FREE PRESS -- On Wednesday, five days before her 37th birthday, Darcy Lewis of Ann Arbor found out
that her son Spec. Donald R. McCune II had been injured by an explosive device detonated near his patrol in
Balad, Iraq, and was hospitalized in Germany.
The next day, Lewis, en route to Germany, was sitting in a Northwest Airlines plane on the
tarmac at Washington Dulles Airport. She was taken from the plane and told that her 20-year-old son was
dead.
McCune of Ypsilanti will be buried Sunday in Chelsea.
"He felt this was something he needed to do, and I'm very proud of what he wanted to do," Lewis said. "He
was in a unit and got released to go with a unit to Iraq."
McCune, the 29th Michigan soldier to die while serving in Iraq, was assigned to the Army National Guard's
1st Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, 81st Brigade Combat Team, stationed in Moses Lake, Wash.
Previously, he served with an Army Reserve unit based in Fraser for almost two years.
"Us being over there is for a cause -- to give those people new freedom and a quality of life like we have in
this country," said Rick Monier, McCune's maternal grandfather. "It's sad he had to pass away -- he or any
other soldier -- but it was for freedom, and he believed in the cause."
After bouncing between high school in Indiana, where he lived with his father, and Huron High School in
Ann Arbor, where his mother lives, McCune earned his high-school equivalency diploma in 2002. He
enjoyed hunting, fishing, rooting for the Red Wings, country music and cars.
"He liked working on cars," Monier recalled. "He was always driving something different. He would play
with something and then sell or trade it."
According to McCune's friend Brian King, 20, the fallen soldier wanted to own a classic car.
"He always had plans to work on a '69 Camaro," explained King, who joined the National Guard last month.
"That's what he wanted when he got back. He wanted it as a cruiser. He wanted to race. He wanted to restore
the interior and the exterior and beef it up."
The two shared that and other dreams as they spent their free time in their Ypsilanti apartment, playing video
games and watching television all night.
The quiet, thin 6-footer was inspired to enlist by his uncles and cousins who were in the military. His greatgrandfather served in World War II, and his great-great-grandfather was an infantryman during World War I.
McCune even named his pets after characters in the fighter-pilot movie "Top Gun"; his black Lab was named
Maverick, his cat, Viper.
McCune's stepfather, Sgt. Benjamin Lewis, a member of the Michigan Army National Guard, 156th Signal
Battalion, returned home three months ago -- a week after McCune left for Iraq, where he was to remain until
May.
Benjamin Lewis will bring McCune's remains back from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
McCune's mother said she wished she could've flown to Germany.
"I knew there was a possibility from the extent of the injuries that he could die when I was en route," she
recalled, crying. "I would've been able to see him at that point, spend some time with him."
Darcy Lewis said her son knew the risks of fighting and had even talked about returning to Iraq after his stint
was over and doing security work. She now has the memories of her son and the pride she feels in his
accomplishments.
McCune is also survived by his father, Donald McCune; a 17-year-old sister, Casandra Karczewski; a 13year-old brother, Josh McCune; his maternal grandmother, Gladys Gilbert; his maternal step-grandmother,
Dianne Ronier, and a maternal great-grandmother, Beth Gilbert.
Arrangements are incomplete. Visitation will be Saturday at the Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, 901 N.
Main in Chelsea, and the funeral is scheduled for Sunday.
Staff Sgt. Donald N. Davis
Hometown: Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.
Age: 42 years old
Died: August 24, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army Reserves, 660th Transportation Company, U.S. Army Reserve, Zanesville, Ohio
Incident: Killed when a tractor and tanker rolled over an embankment in Fallujah.
A postcard that Donald N. Davis wrote to his wife Linda's coworkers arrived just hours after they got
word of his death. In it, he thanked them for a care package of Kool-Aid, gum and snacks. Then he
added a P.S.: "Take good care of Linda, she's one of a kind." Davis, 42, of Saginaw, Mich., died Aug. 24
when a tractor and a tanker trailer rolled over an embankment. He was based in Zanesville, Ohio. The
father of two teenage girls, Davis had been in Iraq since late last year. "He was a very dedicated
family man," his brother Alan Davis said. "Whatever it took to make kids happy, he did it." Davis came
from a military family and enlisted after graduating from high school. His father, Bill Davis, is a
veteran, as are many of his siblings. "We are a very patriotic family that believes in serving in the
military," Alan Davis said. "We may not be the best Americans, but we believe we're good
Americans."
2004-2005 Honorees:
Military Hero
Staff Sgt. Donald N. Davis
"The Memory Lives On"
U.S. Army Reserve Staff Sergeant Donald N. Davis was much more than a
soldier. Just ask his wife, kids, parents or friends. Donald was a husband, a
son, a father, a brother, and a friend. To all who knew him, he was that "salt
of the earth" kind of guy, who would tell it like it is, and never let a friend
in need down.
When he lost his life in Fallujah, Iraq last August, after serving 24 years in
the military, the lives of the people he left behind were forever changed.
"I swear, he was the most perfect man to walk the face of the earth," says
his widow, Linda. "He was the best father and best husband. Donald was
completely devoted to his family." Married just 13 - months, Linda knows
that there will never be another man that can fill the void left by Donald's
death.
According to Linda, if Donald was here, the first thing he would say is that
he didn't deserve this honor. "He was an extremely private and humble
person, and never wanted attention for just doing his job."
Linda believes that before Donald left for this last tour, he knew he wasn't coming home. "He knelt down
with the kids and told them, "just remember, if anything happens and I don't come home, I was doing this to
protect you. And I'll never be as far away as your heart."
Pfc. Mark A. Barbret
Hometown: Shelby Township, Michigan, U.S.
Age: 22 years old
Died: October 14, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army, 44th Engineer Battalion, Camp Howze, South Korea
Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near their convoy in Ramadi.
When the job market got tight, Mark Barbret joined the Army to help provide for his 3-year-old son,
Christian. Explaining Barbret's death to the boy has been difficult. When a sergeant came to deliver
the news, Christian thought the visitor was "daddy." "He doesn't really understand," said the boy's
mother, Nicole Hale. "I've told him that Daddy is watching over him and he will see him again one
day." Barbret, 22, of Shelby Township, Mich., died Oct. 14 when his Humvee was hit by a bomb. He
was based at Camp Howze, South Korea. A quiet man with a fondness for cars, Barbret left for the
military on Jan. 30, 2003, his son's birthday. Barbret and Hale ended their relationship about a year
ago, but remained close. She said she will keep his memory alive for their son. "We're going to make
sure there are plenty of tapes and photographs around for him, so that there are lots of memories,"
she said.
Michigan soldier killed in Iraq
Associated Press
SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The Pentagon has confirmed the death of a 22-year-old Macomb
County soldier who was in a vehicle that hit a roadside bomb in Iraq. Another soldier died in the
blast.
Pvt. Mark A. Barbret of Shelby Township, north of Detroit, was killed Thursday when the vehicle he
was riding in hit a bomb near Ramadi, Iraq, the Defense Department said in a news release.
Barbret was a member of the Army’s 44th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division. Family
members were notified of Barbret’s death Friday.
Barbret and Nicole Hale had a 3-year-old son, Christian.
The Army mechanic attended Utica Eisenhower High School. He served a year in Korea before his
unit was transferred to Iraq about six weeks ago, said his father, Kim Barbret.
http://www.cfsrf.org/grants/awarded.html
Pfc. Dennis J. Miller Jr.
Hometown: La Salle, Michigan, U.S.
Age: 21 years old
Died: November 10, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Army
Army Pfc. Dennis J. Miller Jr.
Died November 10, 2004 serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom
21, of La Salle, Mich.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp
Casey, Korea; killed Nov. 10 when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his M1A1 Abrams tank in Ramadi,
Iraq.
Southern Michigan soldier killed in Iraq
Associated Press
ERIE, Mich. — A soldier and young husband deployed overseas in September was killed in Iraq.
Family members of Pfc. Dennis Miller Jr., 21, were notified of the death Thursday morning. They said
details were not immediately available.
“He just felt honored he could serve our country, especially during war,” his wife of 13 months, Kimberly,
told The Monroe Evening News. “I don’t think there was anything more honorable. He just loved life.”
Miller was a 2001 graduate of Mason High School and studied history at Monroe Community College. His
mother said her son loved hunting with his father and uncles, and was an avid golfer.
“He was a great kid,” Kathy Miller said. “He never was in any trouble.”
Gordon Smith, Kimberly’s uncle, said she and her in-laws were expecting to meet with Army personnel later
Thursday. The military told them Miller’s body would be returned to the United States in about five days.
The Defense Department had not announced the death and a message left at the department was not
immediately returned.
At Miller’s old elementary school, an hour-long Veterans Day assembly Thursday morning took on an even
more somber tone as Principal Sharon Brighton announced his death to about 450 elementary school
children and guests.
“I stood up and said, ‘We have a Mason graduate who was a veteran and has given everything, so we’re
going to observe a moment of silence for him,’ And there was absolute silence. Absolute,” Brighton said.
Miller was the 33rd member of the military with known Michigan ties to die in Iraq.
He graduated from basic training and completed M1 tank training in September 2003 at Fort Knox, Ky., and
was stationed in Korea. He was home on leave for two weeks in June and reported to Iraq on Sept. 8.
Laura Imhoff, owner of Capt. Harry’s Storehouse Pizza in LaSalle, said Miller had worked for about a year
at her business.
“He was a wonderful, wonderful kid,” she said. “You couldn’t ask for anyone better. He’d do anything for
anyone. He helped us learn how to make pizzas,” she added.
“Denny was obsessed with Michael Jackson. He was a big fan of his and wasn’t afraid to say so,” she said,
adding that he liked to moonwalk around the pizzeria.
“He would make anyone smile,” she said.
PFC Dennis J. Miller, Jr.
April 01, 1983 ~ November 10, 2004
My son, PFC DENNIS J. MILLER JR., Not a day goes by, my son, my only son, that I long to hear
your voice, to hug you, to tell you I am very proud of you for all that you have accomplished in your
short lived life. You are always in my heart and on my mind. I know one day I will see you again,
then we will laugh, hug, cry, and remember all the silly things we have done. Little Denny you are a
true hero in every way. You gave yourself unselfishly in hopes of a better world. I miss you with
each passing day. My heart will never heal. I know that you are now a soldier in Gods army.
~I love you~
PROUD MOTHER OF PFC DENNIS J MILLER JR
Denny you never knew how much you mean to us. We are so proud of you. We miss you so much. I will
never forget taking you and Ann on your field trips to the zoo. It was so much fun. I have so many
memories of you and it's just like it was yesterday that it all happened. I know that one day we will see
each other again. I hope you know that we love you and will never forget what you have done for us..
We love and miss you dearly
Uncle Scott and Aunt Monster & Kids
Camp Red Cloud honors 2nd Brigade Combat
Team soldiers killed in Iraq
By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, November 26, 2004
CAMP RED CLOUD, South Korea — Twenty poster-sized photographs of U.S. soldiers hung at the front
of the Camp Red Cloud chapel on Wednesday.
Some of the soldiers in the photographs smiled; others frowned. Some wore tan desert camouflage;
others had on their green, battle-dress uniforms. Their ages ranged from 19 to 41.
Most were Caucasian but there were Asian-Americans, an African-American and a Puerto Rican among
them.
All lost their lives in the last few months fighting with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team (Strike Force) in
Iraq, and all were honored at ceremonies throughout Warrior Country on the eve of Thanksgiving.
Secretary of the Army Francis J. Harvey, U.S. Forces Korea commander Gen. Leon J. LaPorte, 2nd
Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. George A. Higgins and numerous other high-ranking U.S. and
South Korean officers attended the Camp Red Cloud ceremony. But few in the audience had served
alongside the fallen soldiers in the desert.
One who had, 2nd ID safety officer Denver McClintock, who returned from Iraq last week, said the
ceremony brought back memories of six of his friends who were among those honored.
The speeches at the ceremony were good but they did not stir McClintock’s emotions like the words
spoken by the dead soldiers’ comrades in Iraq, the Department of the Army civilian said.
“I was not as emotional [at the South Korean ceremony] as I was when I first heard about the deaths
or when I heard the soldiers from the units talk about it when I was in Iraq. Then it came from the
heart and it really affected me. I cried a lot back in Iraq. Here it is not the same type of environment,”
he said.
The Vietnam veteran attended two ceremonies for dead Strike Force soldiers while in Iraq, but stopped
going to them because “it was almost way too personal,” he said.
The Camp Red Cloud ceremony made McClintock feel lucky, he said.
“Through sheer luck of the draw I wasn’t killed. I missed getting killed by about 50 feet,” he said.
During the ceremony, 2nd ID commander Higgins stood in front of the photographs and the traditional
tribute to fallen U.S. soldiers — a pair of combat boots, an M-16 rifle and a helmet.
The Pentagon has confirmed 21 dead from 2nd Brigade; the 20 honored at the ceremonies were
soldiers whose deaths were directly related to combat operations, 2nd ID officials said.
The Strike Force soldiers who died in Iraq answered the call to duty “as patriots” without hesitation,
Higgins said.
“Each of these men became a soldier along a different path. … They came as artillerymen, infantrymen,
engineers, tankers and truck drivers. They left behind parents, wives, brothers, sisters, children and
friends. All those who love them so dearly.”
Contrary to what some might believe, the soldiers did not die in vain, Higgins said.
“I deny that they died for anything. Truth is they lived for something and they knew that the way they
chose to live their lives, in service of others, carried with it great personal risk.
“They lived and, as a consequence, died because they had the courage to step forward and make a
commitment to something larger than themselves. They refused to abandon their buddies to their left
and to their right.
“They have pledged and given their lives so we and generations to come might live as free men and
women. They were not the sort of men to sit by while others watched. They were ready and willing to
act to preserve … peace, liberty and prosperity,” he said.
After the general spoke, the U.S. and South Korea national anthems were sung, soldiers read passages
from the Bible, members of the 2nd ID band and a lone bagpiper played and a firing party gave the
soldiers a final salute.
Second ID Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Sgt. Mark Kauffman called each fallen
soldier’s name twice while their photographs were projected on a large screen.
The dates of the soldiers’ deaths were also projected on the screen, bringing home to the audience that
three months ago all of the soldiers were alive and some died as recently as last week.
For 2nd ID band member Pfc. Derrick Gilbert, 27, of Little Rock, Ark., who sang the national anthem at
the ceremony, the images of his dead comrades constituted a reminder of his own mortality.
“I had a lot of thoughts that it could have been me. I’m older than a lot of the guys who were up on the
projector,” he said.
The ceremony also reinforced Gilbert’s own motivation for joining the military, he said.
“I was living in New York when the World Trade Center fell. Knowing the history behind this war and
seeing these things [at the ceremony] is very humbling,” he said.
2nd Brigade deaths in Iraq
Spc. Omead H. Razani, 19, of Los Angeles died Aug. 27 in Habbaniyah of noncombat-related injuries.
Razani was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment.
Staff Sgt. Gary A. Vaillant, of the 2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor Regiment, was killed Sept. 5 when his
tank ran over an anti-tank mine near Khaldiyah. Vaillant, 41, was from Trujillo, Puerto Rico.
Pfc. Jason Lee Sparks of the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, was killed by enemy fire Sept. 8
in Fallujah. Sparks, 19, from Monroeville, Ohio, was killed by sniper fire when his squad was ambushed.
1st Lt. Tyler H. Brown, 26, of Atlanta died Sept. 14 in Ramadi when his unit was attacked by smallarms fire. Brown was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment.
Spc. Robert Oliver Unruh, of the 44th Engineer Battalion, was killed by small-arms fire Sept. 25 in Al
Anbar province. Unruh, 25, was from Tucson, Ariz.
Capt. Eric L. Allton, 34, was killed Sept. 26 in Ramadi by a mortar round. A Houston native, Allton
was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment.
Pfc. Joshua K. Titcomb, of the 2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor Regiment, was killed Sept. 29 in Ramadi
when an improvised explosive device was detonated near his vehicle. Titcomb, 20, was from Somerset,
Ky.
Pvt. Jeungjin Na Kim, 23, of Honolulu, died Oct. 6 in Ramadi when his patrol was attacked by smallarms fire. Kim was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery.
Pfc. James E. Prevete, 22, of Whitestone, N.Y., died Oct. 10 in Habbaniyah when his military vehicle
encountered white-out conditions and the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle. Prevete was
assigned to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment.
Pfc. Aaron J. Rusin, 19, of Johnstown, Pa., died Oct. 11 in Baghdad of injuries sustained Oct. 10
when his vehicle came under fire. Rusin was assigned to the 44th Engineer Battalion.
Spc. Christopher A. Merville, 26, of Albuquerque, N.M., was killed Oct. 12 in Baghdad when his unit
came under fire. Merville was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery.
Staff Sgt. Omer T. Hawkins II, 31, of Cherry Fork, Ohio, was killed Oct. 14 when an IED struck his
convoy in Ramadi. Hawkins was assigned to the 44th Engineer Battalion.
Spc. Bradley S. Beard, 22, of Chapel Hill, N.C., was killed Oct. 14 when an IED struck his convoy in
Ramadi. Beard was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment.
Pfc. Mark A. Barbret, 22, of Shelby Township, Mich., was killed Oct. 14 when an IED struck his
convoy in Ramadi. Barbret was assigned to the 44th Engineer Battalion.
Pfc. Stephen P. Downing II, 30, was killed Oct. 28 by small-arms fire in Ramadi. Downing, of
Burkesville, Ky., was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery.
Sgt. Maurice Keith Fortune, 25, was killed Oct. 29 in Ramadi by a car bomb. Fortune, of Forestville,
Md., was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery.
Sgt. John B. Trotter, 25, of Marble Falls, Texas, was killed Nov. 9 in Ramadi when his patrol came
under attack by small-arms fire. Trotter was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment.
Pfc. Dennis J. Miller Jr., 21, of La Salle, Mich., was killed Nov. 10 in Ramadi when his M1A1 Abrams
tank was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. Miller was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor
Regiment.
Staff Sgt. Sean P. Huey, 28, of Fredericktown, Pa., was killed Nov. 11 in Habbaniyah when a car
bomb detonated near his Humvee. Huey was assigned to 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment.
Staff Sgt. Marshall H. Caddy, 27, of Nags Head, N.C., died Nov. 16 in Khaldiyah when his vehicle
struck another vehicle. Caddy was assigned to 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment.
1st Lt. Luke C. Wullenwaber, 24, of Lewiston, Idaho, died Nov. 16 in Khaldiyah when a car bomb
detonated near his vehicle. Wullenwaber was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment.
— Staff reports
Pfc Dennis James Miller Jr
Born: April 1, 1983
Died: November 10, 2004 in Iraq
Pfc. Dennis J. Miller of La Salle, Michigan was a 2001 graduate of Mason High School and studied history at Monroe
Community College, and he loved hunting with his father and uncles, and was an avid golfer. He graduated from
basic training and completed M1 tank training in September 2003 at Fort Knox, Ky., and was stationed in Korea.
He was home on leave for two weeks in June and reported to Iraq on Sept. 8. Denny was obsessed with Michael
Jackson. He was a big fan of his and wasn’t afraid to say so. A former student at MCCC, Dennis withdrew from his
courses to enlist in the Army. A history major while attending MCCC, he became friends with Dr. Jim DeVries,
professor of history at MCCC. Dennis planned to return to the College to finish his degree and become a history
teacher after he completed his term of service. At the request of Dr. DeVries, the Board granted Dennis alumni
status at its January 24, 2005 meeting. On Tuesday, March 29, 2005 upon the recommendation of MCCC President
Dr. David E. Nixon, the Board passed a Resolution of Commendation recognizing Pfc. Miller’s actions as
demonstrating distinguished service above self and honored him by granting a posthumous Associate of Science
degree. This is the highest honor the MCCC Board of Trustees can grant to an individual like Pfc. Dennis Miller,
whose extraordinary actions serve as an example for students and others. In honor of his commitment to
education, the family and friends of Dennis have established the Dennis J. Miller Jr. Memorial Scholarship to assist
students majoring in history at MCCC. He was killed when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his M1A1 Abrams tank
in Ramadi at age 21. He was the 33rd member of the military with known Michigan ties to die in Iraq.
Army
2nd Battalion
72nd Armor Regiment
2nd Infantry Division
Camp Casey, Korea
Burial is at Roselawn Memorial Cemetery in La Salle, Michigan
Pfc. Dennis J. Miller Jr. Memorial Scholarship
Donor:
Family & Friends
Eligibility: Major in history and/or planning to teach history, minimum 3.0 GPA, enrolled at least threequarter time, co-op/internship at Monroe County Historical Museum
The Foundation Contact Information
Telephone: (734) 384-4206
FAX: (734) 457-6008
Postal Address: 1555 South Raisinville Road, Monroe, MI 48161
Electronic Mail: swetzel@monroeccc.edu
http://www.monroeccc.edu/foundation/foundation-donor-form.pdf
Lance Cpl. Justin D. Reppuhn
Hometown: Hemlock, Michigan, U.S.
Age: 20 years old
Died: November 11, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Marines, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force,
Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Incident: Killed during the U.S. assault on Fallujah.
In phone calls home, Justin Reppuhn talked about the Iraqi people he had met, his battles and
his unwavering support for the war. "Of course, we had concern from back home," said his
father, Dan. "But he was upbeat, so we were upbeat. He was very proud to serve and we were
proud of him." Reppuhn, 20, of Hemlock, Mich., died Nov. 11 in a hostile attack in Anbar
province, Iraq. He was based at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Reppuhn, known as J.D., played
football in high school and joined the Marine Corps shortly after graduating. He was a popular
student well known among the student body. "He was just a very likable young man," said his
principal, Rudy Godefroidt. He studied history at Monroe Community College and shipped out
to Iraq earlier this fall. "He wanted to do what he's doing," Dan Reppuhn said. "He wanted to
fight for freedom. He wanted to fight for his country." Reppuhn is also survived by his mother,
Terri.
Justin D. "J.D." Reppuhn
Reppuhn, Lcpl. Justin D. (J.D.), Hemlock, Michigan. The funeral service will take place at 1:00 p.m. Saturday,
November 20, 2004 at the W.L. Case & Co. Funeral Chapel, 201 N. Miller Rd. Chaplain Lt. Commander Tom Taylor will
officiate with military committal services at Roselawn Memorial Gardens. Friends may call at the chapel from 2:00 to
5:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Friday. A memorial service will take place 2:00 p.m. Sunday at Hemlock High School
Gymnasium. In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy are encouraged to write a letter or make a
donation to the four wounded Marines that were with Justin in care of Terri Reppuhn. Envelopes and the address will
be available at the funeral home and memorial service.
Published in Saginaw News on MLive.com on November 19, 2004
Michigan Marine killed in Iraq
Associated Press
DETROIT — A young Marine from Saginaw County has been killed in Iraq.
Family members of Lance Cpl. Justin D. Reppuhn, 20, of Hemlock, were notified of his death
Thursday morning.
The Defense Department had not released any information on his death as of Thursday night.
Reppuhn’s family said he was serving with the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st
Marine Division, in Iraq’s Anbar province.
He was assigned to motor transport duties and was killed this week while fighting in Fallujah, they
told The Saginaw News.
“He wanted to do what he’s doing,” said his father, Dan Reppuhn. “He wanted to fight for freedom.
He wanted to fight for his country.”
Reppuhn, known as J.D., joined the Marine Corps shortly after graduating last year from Hemlock
High School. He shipped out to Iraq earlier this fall.
Students at Hemlock High School were holding a Veterans Day candlelight vigil when they learned
of Reppuhn’s death.
“This took a weird twist all of a sudden this morning,” Principal Rudy Godefroidt said of a cafeteria
display that included military photos of students’ relatives.
About 8 a.m., students read the names of family members who served in the military. Nobody
mentioned Reppuhn. Shortly after word reached the students, someone added to the display a
photo of the popular former student in Marine garb. On it was written “1984-2004.”
Godefroidt offered Reppuhn’s family use of the high school’s gym for a memorial service.
“We wanted to be proud when he came home,” Dan Reppuhn said. “We were proud when he left
and I want to be proud when he comes home.”
Lance Cpl. Justin M. Ellsworth
Hometown: Mount Pleasant, Michigan, U.S.
Age: 20 years old
Died: November 13, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Marines, Combat Service Support Battalion 1, Combat Service Support
Group 11, 1st Force Service Support Group, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force,
Camp Pendleton,
Incident: Killed during the U.S. assault on Fallujah.
The last time Justin M. Ellsworth's grandparents saw him was at their 50th wedding
anniversary party in July. Ellsworth left in September for Iraq and was killed Nov. 13 by a
roadside bomb in Fallujah. "It's really hard to accept," his grandmother, Sue Ellsworth, said,
"He was so sure everything was going to be fine. ... He was doing what he believed in. He said,
'We're saving lives every day.'" Ellsworth, 20, of Mount Pleasant, Mich., was assigned to Camp
Pendleton, Calif. Ellsworth played football and hockey in high school and enjoyed riding horses
and bulls and skiing in the Rocky Mountains. He was proud of his role in the U.S. assault on
Fallujah, his father said. "The last few weeks, he had been pulled out of his platoon and placed
with a reconnaissance unit," Ellsworth's father, police Sgt. John Ellsworth, said, "Justin was
very proud of the fact that he was chosen for this special duty." He is also survived by his
mother, Tracy Ross.
LCpl. Justin M. Ellsworth, U.S.M.C. (KIA)
(reprinted from CM-news.com, December 5, 2004)
Marine Ellsworth killed during combat in Iraq
Lt. Gov. Cherry orders flags at half-staff Friday
By Michelle Graves
and Jamie Linari
Central Michigan Life
December 05, 2004
Lance Cpl. Justin M. Ellsworth posted a message on his family’s Web site Oct. 16
telling them “I love you all and I can’t wait to see you again.”
The 20-year-old Mount Pleasant man was killed Saturday fighting in Al Anbar
Province, Iraq after joining the Marine Corps in September 2003.
“We were very fortunate — even though it was only 20 years — to have him in our
lives,” said his aunt Jill Ellsworth, who lives in Eaton Rapids.
Jill Ellsworth said Justin’s father, John Ellsworth of Wixom, was about to update the
family on the Web site, http://www.bruneau.us/michelle/family, when tragedy struck.
“My brother had just started to sit down and write ‘no news is good news in the
Marines’ when the Marines knocked on his door,” Jill Ellsworth said Tuesday.
She said his family always supported his decision to go into the service.
“I’d probably change what happened to him,” Jill Ellsworth said. “But I wouldn’t
change what he did.”
Justin Ellsworth is remembered by his friends adorned in a cowboy hat, a pair of boots
and a smile.
“There was something about the cowboy culture he liked,” said Al McNeil, a counselor
at Mount Pleasant High School. “He was always getting into trouble for wearing that
hat in school. The hall monitor always nailed him for it.”
Ellsworth was a 2003 graduate of Mount Pleasant High School and is the 35th soldier
with known Michigan ties to die in Iraq.
He was a combat engineer assigned to Combat Service Support Battalion 1 of the 1st
Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Pendleton, Calif.
The military said Sunday nearly 40 U.S. troops had been killed and 275 wounded in
the operation to gain control of Fallujah.
Rosebush resident Ryan Gross said Ellsworth was like a brother to him. Gross said
Ellsworth cared for everyone.
“Justin always wanted to go into the Marines. I supported him on it, it was his
decision,” Gross said. “I’m proud of him and I respect him a lot for doing it. It’s going
to be hard though. I’m going to miss him.”
Ellsworth was a trained demolition expert but the special reconnaissance unit he was
chosen for would be sent ahead into the city to save lives, the Associated Press
reported Tuesday. Ellsworth’s job was to go from house to house to warn civilians
about the pending raid and then help them evacuate.
Kelly Schmus’ son Jason used to hang out with Ellsworth at the recruiting office after
school. Ellsworth would stay for dinner and hunt rabbits with her son.
“When my son was mouthy with me, Justin would say, ‘Don’t talk to your mother like
that, it’s not nice,’” Schmus, Rosebush resident said. “I said, ‘Jason, I like this kid.
You should bring him around more often.’”
Jason Schmus graduated a year before Ellsworth and joined the Marines in June. The
two kept in touch even after Ellsworth joined the Marines. Schmus is at Camp
Pendleton finishing infantry training.
McNeil said a big part of Ellsworth’s motivation was that he knew he wanted to go into
the military.
Ellsworth was an “avid” hockey and football player, his father said.
Lt. Gov. John Cherry ordered U.S. flags to be lowered to half-staff Friday in
remembrance of Ellsworth.
Visitation is Friday at Estes Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel, 325 W. Washtenaw St. in
Lansing. A full military funeral will be begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Mt. Hope Church,
202 N. Creyts, in Lansing.
Vandals Destroy Monument to Fallen Hero - We NEED Your Help!
Vandals in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan have, for the second time, targeted a memorial to
LCPL Justin Ellsworth, KIA Fallujah, Iraq- 2004. (Before and After Pictures Below) The
first time the vandals ripped the American flag off the pole, poured gasoline on it, and
burned the flag atop the boots, rifle, and helmet.
Justin’s father, John Ellsworth, has been a vocal supporter of our troops and is now
the President of Military Families United, the nation’s leading military family advocacy
organization in Washington, DC. Military Families United has been an outspoken voice
for our troops and their missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as advocating for
strong national defense policies and increased funding for our troops.
We need your help to stand up to the politically motivated dishonoring of America’s
heroes. Families United has started a fund that will collect money to repair memorials
vandalized by those that seek to disgrace the service and sacrifice of our American
Heroes. The Families United Memorial Restoration Fund will work to quickly repair and
restore the monuments to our Fallen Heroes, not just Justin, but every fallen Hero.
Families United is committed to making sure that the American people know about
these heinous and disgraceful acts. CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE FUND
A letter from John Ellsworth, LCPL Justin Ellsworth’s father is below:
[blockquote]For those of you that do not know me, my name is John Ellsworth and I
am the Vice President of Families United. My son made the ultimate sacrifice for his
country when he was killed while serving in Iraq in 2004. To honor my son, the
citizens of the City of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan erected a monument in September of
2005. The citizens of Mt. Pleasant collected the funds and paid for the monument and
the city provided the area near the Michigan Vietnam Memorial. In July of 2007,
vandals tore down the flagpole and burned the American Flag over the monument.
This happened again on Monday night when hateful vandals tore apart my
son’s monument and stole the bronze inverted rifle and kevlar.
My family and I are absolutely devastated at this action and feel like we are mourning
his loss all over again. These vandals have taken an honorable and elegant monument
to our son and made it a focal point of their hatred and destruction. They have not
only dishonored the memory of my son, but also the service and sacrifice of every
American veteran that has risked their life in defense of this country.
John Ellsworth, Proud Father of LCPL Justin Ellsworth, KIA 11/13/04[/blockquote]
Families United needs your help to rebuild this monument to restore honor to LCPL
Ellsworth’s service and sacrifice. In order to send a message to these criminals, we
want to replace the destroyed and stolen pieces of the monument as soon as possible.
And that is why we need your help today! Please consider making a tax deductible
donation to the Families United Memorial Restoration Fund - so we can rebuild
this monument which serves as a tribute to those that have served and died
defending our country. Your contribution will help us stand up for our veterans,
military families and active duty troops against this type of unbelievable, illegal and
disgraceful vandalism.
Your tax-deductible contribution to this fund will ensure that our fallen heroes or
their families never have to worry about political activists trying to dishonor their
service to this country.
Whether it’s a contribution of $25, $50 or $100, we would be grateful for
your help today. If you want to donate more, that would be even more
helpful.
Before
After
Ken's note: Donation sent. This cowardly and disgusting act hits rather close to home
for me. My Grandfather, Cpl. Anthony J. Giorno, 129th Inf. 65th Inf. Bde. 33rd Inf.
Div., was a WWI combat veteran. A monument was erected, by the American Legion,
in the center of Western and Grand avenues in Chicago. The monument, a large
sculpted concrete dais with a Renault tank atop (which “went to war” in WWII and
was replace by the USA with a Stuart later), had a bronze plaque affixed to it with the
names of all the veterans from the post. Starting in the 70’s, when the neighborhood
“turned”, the placard was repeatedly stolen and sold for scrap. Luckily, it was retuned
every time but the last. It was always a wish of mine to be driving past during the
commission of this despicable act…perhaps it was best this never occurred.
Take Care and Stay Safe,
Ken
http://www.corpsstories.com/memoriam-Ellsworth.htm
Saturday, November 13, 2004
Marine Lance Cpl. Justin M. Ellsworth
Remember Our Heroes
Marine Lance Cpl. Justin M. Ellsworth, 20, of Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
Lance Cpl Ellsworth died as a result of enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to
Combat Service Support Battalion 1, Combat Service Support Group 11, 1st Force Service Support Group, I
Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.
Ellsworth grew up in Wixom and Mount Pleasant, where he has relatives.
John Ellsworth said his son's life was "fun-filled and adventurous." "He was always up to a challenge," his
father said. "He wasn't afraid to try something to see if he could do it. He was a wonderful son and
brother.
"He will be a hero to the thousands of lives he touched on this earth."
Justin Ellsworth had always wanted to be a Marine, his father said, and arranged to join the Marine Corps
before he graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in June 2003. Shortly after graduation he enlisted.
Ellsworth was assigned to Combat Service Support Battalion of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
In recent weeks, Ellsworth, who was trained in handling explosives, was part of a reconnaissance force
that helped to evacuate civilians from Fallujah, his father said. "He was going into the night with a group
of other soldiers to (rescue civilians)," said his father.
"He was actually saying lives. He would say he could see the look on their faces (that they were relieved
to see them). That made me very proud."
The last time John Ellsworth talked with his son was on Nov. 3 when Justin Ellsworth called him on a
telephone.
"He called to say `Dad I love you,'" his father said.
Besides his father, the Marine is survived by mother Tracy; who lives in Colorado, his step-mother
Deborah and three brothers and a sister.
Marine Lance Cpl Justin M. Ellsworth was killed in action on 11/13/04.
“Not for fame or reward, not lured by ambition or goaded by necessity, but in
simple obedience to duty.”
--Inscription at Arlington Cemetery
"Each of these heroes stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared
to die that freedom might live and grow and increase in its blessings."
-- Franklin Delano Roosevelt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwoXmXA8BvY&feature=player_
embedded
Rank:
Name:
Recommended Award:
Action Period:
Status:
Last Updated By:
Last Forwarded To:
Final Approved Award:
Date Approved:
Approved By:
LCPL
ELLSWORTH, JUSTIN M
BV
20041113-20041113
Completed
Michael E Hjorten on 02/18/2005 02:41:57 PM
HQMC Military Awards Branch on 02/18/2005
BV
02/18/2005 12:22:05 PM
John F Sattler, LtGen, CG, I MEF
Summary Action: Service member receiving IDP. Combat distinguishing device is
authorized.
Lance Corporal Justin Ellsworth was in receipt of imminent danger pay during this period and is
enthusiastically recommended for the Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Device POSTHUMOUSLY
for his heroic actions while serving as a Combat Engineer, 2d Platoon, Company A, 2d Reconnaissance
Battalion, 2d Brigade Combat Team, 1st Marine Division in combat operations against the enemy during
Operation Iraqi Freedom II on November 13, 2004. Many of the successes of 2nd Platoon and Company A
have been a direct result of Lance Corporal Ellsworth's intuitiveness and keen awareness. He has set an
example of courage for all to emulate that has been an inspiration for the platoon as well as his fellow
Marines.
At approximately 1130 on November 13, 2004 a seven-man reconnaissance patrol left a platoon patrol base
to interdict insurgent activity in the vicinity of Al Sadan, Iraq. Lance Corporal Ellsworth was assigned to the
patrol in order to provide engineering capabilities in locating and destroying weapons caches. As the patrol
was returning to the patrol base, Lance Corporal Ellsworth received an initial reading on his metal detector
indicating the potential for a possible Improvised Explosive Device buried along an unimproved road.
Realizing that a possible explosive device was only 50 meters away from the patrol base and numerous
Marines were in the near proximity, he immediately focused his efforts to identify and neutralize the threat to
his unit. Demonstrating a complete disregard for his own personal welfare he selflessly moved forward
clearly exposing himself to the potential effects of the explosive. The object uncovered was determined to be
a homemade explosive device. Once Lance Corporal Ellsworth positively identified the location of the
improvised explosive device, determined that there were not wires and that it that was in all probability a
remotely controlled device, he immediately sounded the warned for his fellow Marines to clear the area. He
determined that the object consisted of three homemade explosive cylinders taped together with a cord
running to a cell phone adjacent to the explosives. By this time, there were seven Marines within the
immediate vicinity of the improvised explosive device and another four Marines were approximately 20-30
meters away. Shortly after discovering the cell phone, the explosive was detonated, mortally wounding
Lance Corporal Ellsworth. At the time of the detonation, Lance Corporal Ellsworth was positioned directly
over the improvised explosive device. His body directly absorbed a large portion of the detonation. Many
Marines lives were spared and several others escaped severe injuries as a direct result of Lance Corporal
Ellsworth's initiative and courageous actions.
Lance Corporal Ellsworth's selfless dedication and personal bravery in the face of grave danger were heroic.
His sacrifice prevented the serious injury or loss of further life among his fellow Marines. Lance Corporal
Ellsworth actions and service are deserving of recognition consistent with that of the Bronze Star Medal with
Combat Distinguishing Device. His courageous actions and exceptional dedication reflected great credit
upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and United States Naval
Service.
The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.
Recommended Citation:
For heroic achievement in connection with combat operations against the enemy as Combat Engineer, 2d
Platoon, Company A, 2d Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force on
13 November 2004, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II. While conducting a dismounted combat
patrol, Lance Corporal Ellsworth received an initial reading on his metal detector indicating the potential for
a possible improvised explosive device. He realized that the potential explosive device was only 50 meters
away from the patrol base and numerous Marines were in the near proximity. He immediately focused his
efforts to identify and neutralize the threat to his unit. Demonstrating a complete disregard for his own
personal welfare, he selflessly moved forward exposing himself to the potentially lethal effects of the
explosive. Once he positively identified the location of the improvised explosive device, determined that it
was not wired and that it was in all probability a remote controlled device, he immediately warned his fellow
Marines to clear the area. Only seconds later, the improvised explosive device was detonated by the enemy,
mortally wounding Lance Corporal Ellsworth. There were a total of 15 Marines within 30 meters of the
detonation. His courage and decisive actions placed him in a position in which he absorbed the majority of
the blast and prevented further loss of life or injury to the members of his team and platoon. By his zealous
initiative, courageous actions, and exceptional dedication to duty, Lance Corporal Ellsworth gallantly gave
his life for his country and reflected great credit upon him self and upheld the highest traditions of the
Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
The Combat Distinguishing Device is authorized.
Below Is The official wording of the award:
Lance Corporal Ellsworth's selfless dedication and personal bravery in the face of grave danger were heroic.
His sacrifice prevented the serious injury or loss of further life among his fellow Marines. Lance Corporal
Ellsworth actions and service are deserving of recognition consistent with that of the Bronze Star Medal with
Combat Distinguishing Device. His courageous actions and exceptional dedication reflected great credit
upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and United States Naval
Service.
For heroic achievement in connection with combat operations against the enemy while serving as Combat
Engineer, 2d Platoon, Company A, 2d Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division in support of
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II on 13 November 2004. While conducting a dismounted combat patrol,
Lance Corporal Ellsworth, received an initial reading on his metal detector indicating the potential for a
possible improvised explosive device. He realized that the potential explosive device was only 50 meters
away from the patrol base and numerous Marines were in the near proximity, he immediately focused his
efforts to identify and neutralize the threat to his unit. Demonstrating a complete disregard for his own
personal welfare, he selflessly moved forward exposing himself to the potentially lethal effects of the
explosive. Once Lance Corporal Ellsworth positively identified the location of the improvised explosive
device, determined that it was not wired and it that it was in all probability a remote controlled device, he
immediately sounded the warning for his fellow Marines to clear the area. Only seconds later, the improvised
explosive device was detonated by the enemy mortally wounding Lance Corporal Ellsworth. There were a
total of 11 Marines within 30 meters of the detonation, and another four Marines within 30 meters. Lance
Corporal Ellsworth courage and decisive actions placed him in a position in which he absorbed the majority
of the blast and prevented further loss of life or injury to the members of his team and platoon. By his
zealous initiative, courageous actions and exceptional dedication to duty, Lance Corporal Ellsworth reflected
great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval
Service.
John and Debbie Ellsworth
Gold Star Parents to Fallen Hero
Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Mark Ellsworth
John and Debbie’s son Marine Lance Corporal Justin M. Ellsworth, fell on November 13, 2004 as a result of enemy action in Al
Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to Combat Service Support Battalion 1, Combat Service Support Group 11, 1st Force
Service Support Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. He joined the service September of 2003.
John Ellsworth is a Command Sergeant in the Wolverine Lake Police Department. His lawsuit with Yahoo! to recover his son’s
wartime emails made international headlines in January and February of 2005.
FROM A NEWS REPORT:
Until the death of his son in Iraq, John Ellsworth considered himself just a "little country boy" who worked as a police officer,
went to church and just enjoyed spending time with his family. "I didn't plan on becoming an activist, " Ellsworth, 41, of Wixom,
said Tuesday.
That change came Nov. 13, when Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Mark Ellsworth, 20, of Mt. Pleasant was killed by a roadside bomb in
Fallujah. His platoon did construction work, including building schools for Iraqi children. He received the Bronze Star with valor
for helping save the lives of 11 of his fellow soldiers.
That's why it bothered John Ellsworth when Cindy Sheehan, a founder of Gold Star Families for Peace, an antiwar group, grabbed
national headlines as a grieving mother against an unjust war.
Ellsworth and his family also grieve deeply, but they believe there is good being done in Iraq because Justin believed that.
"We wanted to make sure people knew she didn\'t speak for us," said Ellsworth, who is part of Families United For Our Troops
and Their Mission. Detroit Free Press, 10/26/05
"He was proud of the job he was doing," said his father, John Ellsworth. "In my many conversations with him he would get mad at
what was being reported to the public. He would say 'Dad we are making a difference to these people. " Detroit News, 11/15/04
John and Debbie Ellsworth
Read more about Lance Corporal Ellsworth and visit his memorial page:
http://www.justinellsworth.net/
Lance Cpl. Michael W. Hanks
Hometown: Gregory, Michigan, U.S.
Age: 22 years old
Died: November 17, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Marines, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine
Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Incident: Killed by enemy action in Fallujah.
Michael Hanks had a reputation in high school for standing up for himself _ and his friends. That
reputation stuck through two tours in Iraq, where he was known as a joker who was always willing to
keep up morale. "He was always standing up for the guys there," said Melissa Gladstone, his sister.
"He had everyone's back _ that sums it up." Hanks, 22, of Gregory, Mich., was killed Nov. 17 in an
attack outside Fallujah. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Ed Alverson, the superintendent
of the school Hanks attended, described him as a "high-energy kid" who had always wanted to serve
in the military. Don Buggia, his high school principal, agreed and said he was not surprised that Hanks
joined the Marines _ or volunteered for a second tour. "Once he made up his mind on something, he
stuck with it," Buggia said.
Michael Wayne Hanks
Hanks,LCpl Michael Wayne Gregory, MI LCpl Michael Wayne Hanks, age 22, was killed in action in Iraq
on Wednesday, November 17th, 2004. For visitation and service times, call MacDonald's Funeral Home, 315
N. Michigan Ave, Howell, MI. 517-546-2800.
Published in AnnArbor.com on November 22, 2004
Flags ordered lowered in honor of Marine
Associated Press
LANSING, Mich. — Lt. Gov. John Cherry ordered that flags across the state be lowered to halfstaff on Wednesday in honor of a Marine from Gregory who was killed in Iraq.
Lance Cpl. Michael W. Hanks, 22, was killed last Wednesday during enemy action in Iraq’s Anbar
province. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine
Expeditionary Force.
Hanks had served one tour of duty in Iraq and was commended for saving the life of an Iraqi
civilian. He signed up for a second tour in June and was set to come home just after the new year,
according to his family.
http://turbine.legacy.com/legacy/MT/Tribute.aspx?TributePersonID=1500
1458&download=&TributeDownload=&Cobrand=LEGACY
Cpl. Gentian Marku
Hometown: Warren, Michigan, U.S.
Age: 22 years old
Died: November 25, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Marines, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp
Lejeune, N.C.
Incident: Killed by enemy action in Fallujah.
Gentian Marku's immigration to the U.S. at the age of 14 transformed him. In Albania, the teenager had been a
troublemaker. In Warren, Mich., he quickly grew into a diligent and responsible young man. "Everything changed
when I got to the United States," he said in a profile posted on the Pentagon's Web site in 2003. "I started studying. I
stayed out of trouble, and I got my first job as a busboy." The 22-year-old was killed on Thanksgiving in Iraq's Anbar
province. He was assigned to Camp Lejeune, N.C. Marku joined the Marines because he thought it would improve his
chances of becoming a police officer. As a student, he befriended Dale Malesh, a police resource officer at the school.
"His character was that he loved people and always seemed to be there to want to help," Malesh said. "I feel proud
to have been so close to him. He was a great kid and fine American." He is survived by his parents.
Marine Cpl. Gentian Marku
Died November 25, 2004 serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom
22, of Warren, Mich.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; killed Nov. 25 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.
Albanian immigrant who became Marine dies in Iraq
Associated Press
WARREN, Mich. — An Albanian immigrant who arrived in the United States at 14 and who joined the
Marines in 2002 with hopes it would help him become a police officer has been killed in fighting in Fallujah,
Iraq.
Cpl. Gentian Marku, 22, of Warren, died on Thanksgiving, the Defense Department said Tuesday. He was
one of six Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., killed in Iraq last week.
Marku was a 2001 graduate of Warren Woods Tower High School.
“I wrote him that week ... I wonder if he got it. He died on my birthday,” said Dale Malesh, a police resource
officer at the school.
According to a profile posted last year on the Pentagon’s Web site, Marku said moving to America
transformed him from a trouble-making teen to a respectful, responsible person.
“Everything changed when I got to the United States,” he said. “I started studying. I stayed out of trouble,
and I got my first job as a busboy.”
The Big Boy restaurant where Marku worked was frequented by police officers, and he always filled their
glasses with water with a large smile, Malesh told The Detroit News for a story Wednesday.
“His character was that he loved people and always seemed to be there to want to help,” Malesh said. “I
feel proud to have been so close to him. He was a great kid and fine American.”
Marku had wanted to be a Warren police officer but could not do so until he was 21.
He thought that joining the Marines might give him an advantage in the police academy, said Jere Green, a
Warren police officer who is president of the Warren Woods School Board.
“He was a great kid,” Green said. “He was really proud to be a Marine.”
“One of the things he’d always talk about was how thankful he was for America and all they did in all the
years of strife in Eastern Europe,” school principal Robert Livernois told the Detroit Free Press. “I think he
felt a pretty deep conviction to serve in our military.”
Marku’s father won the U.S. State Department’s Diversity Visa Lottery, an immigration program that allows
randomly selected foreign applicants to migrate to the United States.
The Marines awarded him medals for good conduct, humanitarian service, combat action and other
activities, according to the Macomb Daily of Mount Clemens.
Marku was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary
Force.
The family plans to bury Marku in Albania.
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Gentian Marku
Bravo Company Infantryman Returns Home to Albania
By Gunnery Sgt. Mark E. Bradley, 26th MEU (SOC) Public Affairs
ABOARD USS IWO JIMA - When Lance Cpl. Gentian Marku arrived in the U.S. from Albania nearly six
years ago, the only English phrases the 14-year-old boy knew were, "Hello, how are you? Fine, thank you.
And you?"
Marku recently returned to Albania during the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit's (Special Operations
Capable) two-week amphibious landing exercise, ADRIATIC PHIBLEX 3-03. An assistant automatic
rifleman in Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, Marku demonstrated his present day
English language proficiency by serving as the MEU's principal Albanian linguist.
"I never thought I would come back here as a Marine," Marku said. "It makes me proud to be here and do
something for both my countries." Marku's language skills were in high demand during the training exercise.
For example, Marku translated for the Marine and Albanian guards manning the gates to the Tirane-Rinas
Airfield, the site of the MEU combat operations center, enabling the Marine and Albanian guards to
communicate with one another and members of the local populace approaching the gate. By translating
Albanian newspaper articles and television broadcasts each day, Marku advised the 26th MEU (SOC) leaders
of the local community's support for the Marines' exercise there. Additionally, Marku accompanied and
translated for the MEU commander during an official visit with several Albanian military and civilian
leaders.
Marku said that watching the surprised reactions of the Albanian citizens and military leaders when they first
heard him speak to them in nearly perfect Albanian was one of his most memorable experiences. "I feel that
the Albanians have a lot of respect for me for being a U.S. Marine," he said. "I also enjoyed meeting people
in town and seeing how things have changed since I left."
In particular, Marku noticed the increased physical presence of the Albanian military. Marku left the former
Soviet republic of Albania in the late 1990s, at the height of civil unrest. A government scandal left the
already impoverished country bankrupt. The bankruptcy caused widespread unrest and Albanians lashed out
at the government and overran military installations, causing the country's government to collapse. Marku
said that before he and his family fled Albania in 1997, Albanian military arsenals were looted, leaving the
Albanian military presence virtually ineffective.
Marku's path to becoming a Marine began in 1997 when his Albanian father won the U.S. State Department's
Diversity Visa Lottery and moved his family to Warren, Mich. This immigration program affords randomly
selected foreign applicants, like Marku's family, the opportunity to migrate to the U.S. in search of better
opportunities.
Marku said that this welcome opportunity resulted in positive changes in his behavior. As a teenager in
Albania, Marku was a troublemaker and was suspended from school for throwing an eraser at a new teacher,
he said. Marku recalled the unrest that gripped Albania at that time, and said that as a youth he often did not
attend school and chose instead to spend time with his friends.
"Everything changed when I got to the United States," he said. His father enforced stricter rules than Marku
had previously been accustomed to. With his limited English skills, Marku initially had difficulty making
new friends. "I started studying. I stayed out of trouble and I got my first job as a busboy at a Bob's Big Boy
restaurant. I had never worked before in my life," he said.
Marku's father, a former 'first captain' in the Albanian military police, had a favorable impression of the
Marines, after having participated in a 1995 Marine training exercise in Albania. Upon learning of his son's
interest in U.S. military service, Marku's father recommended that he join the Marine Corps, and his father's
recommendation was a significant factor in Marku's decision to join the Marines in April 2002. After
completing recruit training and the School of Infantry, Marku joined Bravo Company in August 2002, where
he was assigned to Third Platoon.
Six years after leaving Albania via the Tirane-Rinas International Airport, Marku stood at the airport again as
he prepared for the challenging two-week training exercise. Although his extended family in Albania had no
idea that Marku was coming home, his favorite uncle, Ndue Marku, began to piece together the clues and
made his way to the airport to meet his nephew. Ndue explained that his local television news program
announced that U.S. Marines were landing in Durres, Albania for a military exercise. When the report
indicated that the Marines were from North Carolina, Ndue said that he became very emotional and thought
his nephew could possibly be one of the Marines. He was overjoyed when he learned that his hunch was
right.
"Six years ago, a kid left Albania and today a man stands before me who is part of the greatest military force
in the world," Ndue said. "I am happy he decided to join the Marines. It shows me that he is very proud of the
country where he now lives."
Gentian Marku
Wednesday, December 01 2004 @ 07:56 AM MST
The Detroit News -- WARREN -- U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Gentian Marku began making
an impact on his adopted hometown of Warren as a teenager working as a busboy at a local
restaurant.
Marku, who immigrated to Warren with his family from Albania when he was 14, worked at
a Big Boy restaurant frequented by police officers and always filled their glasses with water with
a large smile, said Dale Malesh, school resource officer at Warren Woods High School.
He continued to impress police officers, school officials and his native countrymen as he made his
way through school and served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Marku, 22, a 2001 graduate of Warren Woods Tower, died on Thanksgiving Day in Iraq as his unit
fought in Fallujah. The exact cause of his death was not available from the Department of Defense.
"I wrote him that week ... I wonder if he got it. He died on my birthday," said Malesh, who added
that Marku's death has affected not only family and friends, but also Warren police officers who
knew him.
"His character was that he loved people and always seemed to be there to want to help," an
emotional Malesh said. "I feel proud to have been so close to him. He was a great kid and fine
American."
Marine Corps Capt. Jason Pace said the family has asked not to be contacted by the media, and
said funeral arrangements have not yet been determined.
He joined the Marine Corps in February 2002 and joined his unit in August 2002.
In 2003 he returned to his native Albania during a two-week exercise where he served as a
translator. His duties included translating for Marine and Albanian guards so they could
communicate with one another and with residents. Marku also met with his family in Albania.
"It makes me proud to be here and do something for both my countries," Marku said in a
Department of Defense profile in 2003 of his deployment to his homeland. "The best part of being a
Marine is the honor associated with it. There are many out there who would like to call themselves
'Marine,' but few have the courage to try it."
Marku also stated that his future plans included becoming a Warren police officer.
"He was very grateful for the United States helping his homeland," said Dr. Robert Livernois,
Warren Woods Tower principal, who added that Marku was able to make the transition into the
United States through the district's English as a second language program.
"He was a tremendously respectful kid."
Birth:
Sep. 17, 1982, Albania
Death:
Nov. 25, 2004, Iraq
Cpl. Gentian Marku of Warren, Michigan began making an impact on his adopted hometown of Warren
as a teenager working as a busboy at a local restaurant. He immigrated to Warren with his family from
Albania when he was 14, worked at a Big Boy restaurant frequented by police officers and always filled
their glasses with water with a large smile. He continued to impress police officers, school officials and
his native countrymen as he made his way through school and served in the Marine Corps. He was a
2001 graduate of Warren Woods Tower and his character was that he loved people and always seemed
to be there to want to help. He joined the Marine Corps in February 2002 and in 2003 he returned to
his native Albania during a two-week exercise where he served as a translator. His duties included
translating for Marine and Albanian guards so they could communicate with one another and with
residents. He also met with his family in Albania. "It makes me proud to be here and do something for
both my countries," he said in a Department of Defense profile in 2003 of his deployment to his
homeland. "The best part of being a Marine is the honor associated with it. There are many out there
who would like to call themselves 'Marine,' but few have the courage to try it." He also stated that his
future plans included becoming a Warren police officer. He was a tremendously respectful kid. He was a
son of Zef and Sate Marku. Albania's government upon the proposal from the premier Fatos Nano,
soldier Gentian Marku was declared a Martyr of his Homeland. He was 22.
Marines
1st Battalion
8th Marine Regiment
2nd Marine Division
II Marine Expeditionary Force
Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Burial:
Tirana Park Memorial Cemetery
Tirana
Tirane County, Albania
Created by: Sweet Adeline
Record added: May 21, 2005
Find A Grave Memorial# 11002232
Albania to send more soldiers to Iraq
arabtimesonline.com ^ | 26th Feb 2005 | (Reuters)
Posted on Saturday, February 26, 2005 4:12:24 AM by M. Espinola
IRANA (Reuters) - Albania will increase the number of its soldiers in Iraq to 120 from the
current 70, a government spokesman said on Friday.
The decision takes effect in April, when soldiers currently serving a six-month stint under U.S. command
return home.
Albania has been a staunch supporter of the United States since Washington led a NATO bombing campaign
against Serb troops accused of killing and expelling ethnic Albanian civilians in Kosovo.
Albanian public opinion supports its contribution to the U.S.-led force in Iraq, where two Albanian-born U.S.
Marines have been killed.
(File photo) Two Albanians in traditional dress flank an Albanian military officer and a U.S. non-commissioned officer who are
carrying their respective national flags. [State Dept. photo by Robert Manga, U.S. Embassy Tirana, April 14th, 2003]
Albanian immigrant who became Marine dies in Iraq
Associated Press
WARREN, Mich. — An Albanian immigrant who arrived in the United States at 14 and who joined the
Marines in 2002 with hopes it would help him become a police officer has been killed in fighting in
Fallujah, Iraq.
Cpl. Gentian Marku, 22, of Warren, died on Thanksgiving, the Defense Department said Tuesday. He
was one of six Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., killed in Iraq last week.
Marku was a 2001 graduate of Warren Woods Tower High School.
“I wrote him that week ... I wonder if he got it. He died on my birthday,” said Dale Malesh, a police
resource officer at the school.
According to a profile posted last year on the Pentagon’s Web site, Marku said moving to America
transformed him from a trouble-making teen to a respectful, responsible person.
“Everything changed when I got to the United States,” he said. “I started studying. I stayed out of
trouble, and I got my first job as a busboy.”
The Big Boy restaurant where Marku worked was frequented by police officers, and he always filled
their glasses with water with a large smile, Malesh told The Detroit News for a story Wednesday.
“His character was that he loved people and always seemed to be there to want to help,” Malesh said.
“I feel proud to have been so close to him. He was a great kid and fine American.”
Marku had wanted to be a Warren police officer but could not do so until he was 21.
He thought that joining the Marines might give him an advantage in the police academy, said Jere
Green, a Warren police officer who is president of the Warren Woods School Board.
“He was a great kid,” Green said. “He was really proud to be a Marine.”
“One of the things he’d always talk about was how thankful he was for America and all they did in all
the years of strife in Eastern Europe,” school principal Robert Livernois told the Detroit Free Press. “I
think he felt a pretty deep conviction to serve in our military.”
Marku’s father won the U.S. State Department’s Diversity Visa Lottery, an immigration program that
allows randomly selected foreign applicants to migrate to the United States.
The Marines awarded him medals for good conduct, humanitarian service, combat action and other
activities, according to the Macomb Daily of Mount Clemens.
Marku was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine
Expeditionary Force.
The family plans to bury Marku in Albania.
Cpl. In C. Kim
Hometown: Warren, Michigan, U.S.
Age: 23 years old
Died: December 7, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Marines, 9th Communications Battalion, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Incident: Killed in a vehicle accident in Anbar province.
Everyone describes In C. Kim as a shy young man who tried hard to fit in. "He was quiet and
daydreaming," said his uncle, Christopher Kim. "Once I saw a picture he drew. It was a boy lying down
on the grass and looking at the sky and daydreaming." Kim, 23, of Warren, Mich., died Dec. 7 in a
vehicle accident in Iraq's Anbar Province. He was assigned to Camp Pendleton. After growing up in
Seoul, Kim moved to Michigan with his family five years ago. His parents named him In Chul because
"In" means "merciful" in Korean and "Chul" means "pride." One day, military recruiters piqued his
interest with talk of benefits and travel. He took a test and scored especially high in mathematics. He
was a Marine by August 2001, a few months after graduating high school. One of the attractions of
the service was its ability to help him learn more about American culture and help with his English.
"First of all, he wanted to learn English, then he wanted to learn about America," said his father,
Chang Kim. "He wanted to serve his country." He also is survived by mother, Kyoung Kim.
Marine from Warren killed in Iraq
Associated Press
Everyone describes In C. Kim as a shy young man who tried hard to fit in.
“He was quiet and daydreaming,” said his uncle, Christopher Kim. “Once I saw a picture he drew. It
was a boy lying down on the grass and looking at the sky and daydreaming.”
Kim, 23, of the Detroit suburb of Warren, Mich., died Dec. 7 in a vehicle accident in Iraq’s Anbar
province. He was assigned to Camp Pendleton.
After growing up in Seoul, South Korea, Kim moved to Michigan with his family five years ago. His
parents named him In Chul because “In” means “merciful” in Korean and “Chul” means “pride.”
One day, military recruiters piqued his interest with talk of benefits and travel. He took a test and
scored especially high in mathematics. He was a Marine by August 2001, a few months after
graduating high school.
Kim spent six months in Iraq last year. Two months ago, he returned for another six-month stint.
He was awarded the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism
Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment
Ribbon and the National Defense Service Medal.
Kim’s father, Chang Kim, said one of the attractions of military service was its ability to help him
learn more about American culture and help with his English.
“First of all, he wanted to learn English, then he wanted to learn about America,” his father said.
“He wanted to serve his country.”
In C. Kim also is survived by his mother, Kyoung Kim, and an older sister, Sun Kim.
In an undated photo released by the United States Marine Corps Cpl. In C. Kim is shown. Kim, of the Detroit
suburb of Warren, Mich., died Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2004 after what the military described as a non-hostile
vehicle incident in Iraq's Anbar province. His cousin, Kevin Cho, said the family was told it was a truck
accident. Kim was assigned to the 9th Communications Battalion, First Marine Expeditionary Force, in
Camp Pendleton, Calif. (AP Photo/United States Marine Corps)
Staff Sgt. Jason A. Lehto
Hometown: Mount Clemens, Michigan, U.S.
Age: 31 years old
Died: December 28, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Unit: Marine Reserves, Marine Forces Reserve's Marine Wing Support Group 47, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Mt.
Clemens, Mich.
Incident: Died in a non-hostile incident in Anbar province.
Mich. Marine 'Wanted to Be There'
Specialist in Disposing of Ordnance Volunteered for Iraq Duty
Michele Lehto left her 11-year-old son's side yesterday and, with her hand covering her mouth, walked alone
toward her husband's coffin.
Dozens of mourners, wrapped in winter coats and uniforms, quietly looked on as Lehto, 31, stood for a
moment next to the metal coffin. She leaned over and kissed it, paying her final respects.
Lehto's husband, Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Jason A. Lehto, 31, of Warren, Mich., was the 111th casualty of
the Iraq war to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery's manicured hills. Yesterday, under a gray sky and
winter chill, his coffin was placed in the middle of a row of white marble headstones.
Jason Lehto's stepson, Nathan, 11, sat next to his mother during the funeral. The couple's two younger
children, Joseph, 3, and Joshua, 2, stayed behind with family members in Michigan, said Lehto's stepfather,
Chuck Walsh, 56, of Clinton Township, Mich.
Lehto, a reservist, died Dec. 28 in Anbar province, Iraq, in what the U.S. Department of Defense described
as a nonhostile incident. Lehto was killed in an accident while "doing his job" at Al Asad Air Base, Walsh
said.
Lehto was an ordnance disposal technician assigned to Marine Wing Support Group 47, 4th Marine Aircraft
Wing of the Marine Forces Reserve at Mount Clemens, Mich. He was trained to defuse everything from pipe
bombs to nuclear warheads, Walsh said. But "something went off unexpectedly as they were defusing an
explosive device," he said.
While the work thrilled Lehto, it had caused a great deal of worry for his family, Walsh said. During the
summer, family members had even tried to persuade Lehto not to volunteer for deployment.
"[It wasn't] because we didn't want him to serve in Iraq," Walsh said. "We just knew how dangerous what he
did was. The nature of the beast was the greater the amount of [weapons] you're around, the greater the
chance of something happening."
But Lehto, who enlisted in the Marines in 1992 after graduating from Clintondale High School in Clinton
Township, remained steadfast.
"He wanted to serve," Walsh said. "He wanted to be there, he wanted to try and make a difference in a
positive way there."
Lehto's unit had been activated from January 2003 to January 2004 and was ready to go to Iraq, but instead
was held at Camp Lejeune, N.C., most of that time.
Lehto volunteered to serve in June, and was deployed with another unit in August.
Walsh said Lehto lost his mother, Priscilla, to complications stemming from congestive heart failure in April,
and he and other family members believed that she was "over his shoulder" protecting him.
"We were hoping that would be the extra bit of advantage to bring him home," he said.
Lehto had hoped to return home in March and was making plans. Just a few hours before he died, he emailed his wife, saying that he'd found a home for sale online in the Detroit suburbs closer to his job as a
utility lineman.
"If it was still available, they were going to look at it," Walsh said.
Walsh described his stepson as a "vivacious young gentleman" who "just floated through life just enjoying
everything there was about it and everything about everybody."
He was very close to his brother, Anthony, and sisters Angela and Liane, and had many friends and cousins
with whom he hung out all the time, Walsh said.
He's a loving brother, son, husband and father, Walsh said, referring to Lehto in the present tense.
"I'm not going to speak of him in the past," Walsh said, "because I'm never going to think of him as gone."
Jason Allen Lehto
Staff Sergeant, United States Marine Corps
NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense
No. 1329-04
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec 29, 2004
Media Contact: Marine Corps Public Affairs - (703) 614-4309 Public/Industry Contact: (703)4280711
DoD Identifies Marine Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was
supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Staff Sergeant Jason A. Lehto, 31, of Warren, Michigan, died December 28, 2004, in
a non-hostile incident in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Lehto was assigned to Marine
Forces Reserve’s Marine Wing Support Group 47, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Mt.
Clemens, Michigan.
For further information related to this Marine contact Marine Wing Support Group
47 at (586) 273-2089.
December 31, 2004
By Mitch Hotts
Courtesy of the Macomb Daily
Funeral arrangements for a Macomb County Marine who was killed in Iraq are in
limbo until his family can determine when the body will arrive in the United States,
said his father.
Charles Walsh said the Department of Defense this week had the body of his stepson, Staff Sergeant Jason Allen Lehto, flown to Kuwait as the first part of the
journey to fly the body to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware before arriving in
Michigan for a funeral with military honors.
The process could take up to seven days, Walsh said.
"Jason was an outstanding young man who died doing his job, serving our great
country and trying to keep the world safe and secure for us," Walsh said Thursday.
"There is nothing political about this. It was his decision to join the Marines, he
volunteered to go over there to Iraq and fight for freedom."
Lehto, 31, who was raised in Clinton Township and most recently resided in Warren,
enlisted in the U.S. Marines after graduating from Clintondale High School in
Clinton Township in 1992. He served in active duty until 1996, and then joined the
reserves.
He leaves behind his wife, Michele Lehto, and sons, Nathan, 11, Joseph, 3, and
Joshua, 2. He was employed as a service technician for SBC Communications in
Trenton before he left for Iraq. SBC has helped supplement the income for his
family, Walsh said.
"SBC sent them an extra check around Christmas, which we are very grateful for,"
Walsh said. "And the AMVETS Post 57 in Harper Woods and the AMVETS Post 14
in Hamtramck have helped out also."
Lehto was assigned to the Marine Forces Reserve Marine Wing Support Group 47,
4th Marine Aircraft Wing, housed at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison
Township.
The Department of Defense has not revealed how Lehto died. A news release issued
by the military said only that he died in a non-hostile incident. The family knows the
circumstances of his death but doesn't want to disclose the details, calling it only a
"total accident," Walsh said.
Lehto was trained by the military in defusing explosives.
"Unfortunately, he had a very dangerous mission," Walsh said. "We were worried
about him and what he had to do over there, but he always walked to the beat of a
different drummer. Even when he joined the military, he just walked in one day and
said, 'Mom, Dad, I joined the Marines.' We were stunned."
His death came as an additional blow to his family, which earlier this year endured
the death of his mother, Priscilla Lehto-Walsh, who died in April at age of 62 of
cancer.
Family, friends say good-bye to Marine from Warren
January 7, 2005
By Jameson Cook
Courtesy of the Macomb Daily
When a friend offered condolences to Charles Walsh for the loss of his stepson and
admitted he didn't know what to say, Walsh told him his presence provides comfort
but nothing could soothe him enough.
"The only thing I can say is I wish I could take his place," Walsh told his friend
Thursday shortly after the funeral Mass for Jason Lehto, 31, of Warren, who was
killed last week in Iraq.
The Mass was held at St. Mark's Catholic Church in Warren following a military
service at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons in Sterling Heights, including a 21-gun salute,
playing of taps, and flag folding and presentation. A military burial will take place
Tuesday at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia near Washington D.C.
"I told his Michele (Lehto's wife) that there are no words I can say to you that will
make you feel better," said a teary-eyed Walsh. "It's been nine days and it hasn't
gotten any easier, and it's not going to get any easier."
Staff Sgt. Lehto, who defused explosives, was killed December 28, 2004, on an air
base about 100 miles from Baghdad while trying to defuse a bomb on the base with
another soldier, who was wounded in the incident.
He is the fourth military person and fifth person overall from Macomb County to die
in Iraq since October.
More than 200 people attended the funeral Mass, many of them wiping away tears
from their cheeks as they left the church. About 50 Marines, Marine reserves and
other military members attended in uniform.
Before leaving, family, friends, relatives and fellow soldiers passed by the casket and
placed their hand or hands on it as a sign of "love and respect," said Mike Wujek of
the funeral home. Some people gently placed their hand on the casket and solemnly
held it for a moment; others patted or tapped as if they were telling him so long, but
they would see him later.
During the Mass, the Rev. Robert Ruedisueli compared Lehto's efforts to "restore"
Iraq -- its freedoms, traditions and customs -- to God's efforts.
"This is God's work, the work of restoration," he said.
Wujek suggested to the congregation they "keep the memories alive" of Lehto by
contacting the family and telling them "stories" about him.
Lehto's father-in-law, Francis Gordon, sang, "How Great Thou Art."
Lehto lived in Hamtramck until age 12 when the family moved to Clinton Township,
where he graduated from Clintondale High School in 1992. In high school, he
became fond of electronics and computers, Walsh said.
Many of his friends from his youth attended Thursday's Mass and the luncheon
afterward at Post 57 Amvets Hall in Grosse Pointe Woods, where Lehto was a
member.
The Amvets also conducted a service Wednesday night at the funeral home,
including presentation of a Bible and letter of appreciation to Michele Lehto.
After high school, Lehto surprised family members by joining the Marines, where he
served on active duty until 1996. He then became a Marine Reserve.
Lehto decided to be trained in explosives in 1998 in hopes of later working as a
Michigan State Police trooper or federal officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco
and Firearms, Walsh said.
He worked as a technician repairman for SBC Communications but still had plans to
working in law enforcement, Walsh said.
A member of Marine Wing Support Squadron 471, which is based in Minneapolis
and has a detachment at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township,
he volunteered to go to Iraq with another unit, MWSS 472.
"We tried to talk him out of going but he wouldn't do it," Walsh said. "He didn't go
for political reasons. He wanted to go there to serve the Marines and his country. He
told us this was his job as a Marine and he wanted to help and make a difference. As
parents it was not our position to question. We were there to support him."
Lehto is survived by an 11-year-old stepson, Nathan, and sons Joseph, 3, and Joshua,
2, as well as his father, Bob, and siblings, Angela, Anthony and Liane. His mother,
Priscilla Walsh, died in April.
Lehto was due to return home in March, and he and Michele had discussed looking
at a house in the downriver area.
Family members described Lehto as outgoing and helpful, and a great father,
husband, son, friend, cousin.
Michele Lehto told family that Jason often engaged in friendly conversations with
strangers, such as while waiting in line at a grocery store.
"He'd do anything for anybody," said Judy Krug, whose son, Kristopher, is married
to Lehto's sister, Angela. "He was a big helping hand to the family and will be missed
very much.
"He's a Marine and stands tall."
CWA Mourns Member's Death in Iraq
By CWA, ILCA Member
Courtesy of the Communications Workers of America
CWA has learned of the first reported death of one of its members serving in Iraq.
U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant Jason Lehto, 31, died on December 26, 2004 in what the
Department of Defense classified as a "non-hostile incident" in Al Anbar Province.
So-called non-hostile actions, according to DOD statistics issued Jan. 6, have
accounted for more than 21 percent of 1,340 service-related deaths in that country
since Operation Iraqi Freedom began on March 19, 2003.
"All of our hearts go out to Jason's family during their time of grief," said CWA
President Morton Bahr. "Words cannot express our gratitude for Jason's service to
his country or our sorrow at the loss of a union brother."
"It's ironic that such a high percentage of U.S. military deaths in Iraq do not come as
a result of facing enemy fire," said CWA District 4 Vice President Jeff Rechenbach.
"But that in no way diminishes the courage or sacrifice of service members like
Jason who pay the ultimate price to make our world more secure."
Officers and members of Local 4018 attended a funeral Mass held for Lehto Jan. 6 in
St. Mark's Parish in Warren, Michigan, where Lehto's family lives. His interment in
Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, D.C., had not yet been scheduled
at Newsletter press time.
Lehto joined the Marine Corps immediately after completing high school in 1992
and served four years of active duty before joining the reserves.
He met his wife, Michele, while detailed for explosive ordnance disposal training in
Maryland, reported the Detroit Free Press. They were married almost four years
ago.
That was around the time he joined SBC as a service technician. Lehto worked out of
the Trenton Garage near Detroit along with Local 4018 President Todd Lekity. Each
technician is assigned a service number for identification in SBC's computer system.
Lekity said the company retired Lehto's number 511 in his honor.
A member of Marine Wing Support Squadron 471 in Harrison Township, Mich.,
where he was-well liked on base because of his charisma and sense of humor, Lehto
volunteered for deployment to Iraq with a different unit several months ago. Trained
to disarm explosives, his job there was to help maintain an airfield in hostile
territory.
While the family declined to discuss the details of his death, his stepfather, Chuck
Walsh, told Free Press reporter Alexa Capeloto it was a "total accident" during a
routine mission. "Unfortunately, something just went off."
In addition to his wife, Lehto is survived by three sons: Nathan, 11, Joseph, 3 and
Joshua, 2.
Michigan Marine 'Wanted to Be There'
Specialist in Disposing of Ordnance Volunteered for Iraq Duty
By Michele Clock
Courtesy of the Washington Post
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Michele Lehto left her 11-year-old son's side yesterday and, with her hand covering
her mouth, walked alone toward her husband's coffin.
Dozens of mourners, wrapped in winter coats and uniforms, quietly looked on as
Lehto, 31, stood for a moment next to the metal coffin. She leaned over and kissed it,
paying her final respects.
Gunnery Sgt. Barry Baker presents an American flag to Michele Lehto, wife of Marine Staff Sergeant Jason A.
Lehto, who was killed December 28, 2004, in Iraq. With her are her son Nathan, 11, Jason Lehto's father, Bob
Lehto, and his brother, Anthony.
Lehto's husband, Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Jason A. Lehto, 31, of Warren,
Michigan, was the 111th casualty of the Iraq war to be buried in Arlington National
Cemetery's manicured hills. Yesterday, under a gray sky and winter chill, his coffin
was placed in the middle of a row of white marble headstones.
Jason Lehto's stepson, Nathan, 11, sat next to his mother during the funeral. The
couple's two younger children, Joseph, 3, and Joshua, 2, stayed behind with family
members in Michigan, said Lehto's stepfather, Chuck Walsh, 56, of Clinton
Township, Michigan.
Lehto, a reservist, died December 28, 2004, in Anbar province, Iraq, in what the U.S.
Department of Defense described as a nonhostile incident. Lehto was killed in an
accident while "doing his job" at Al Asad Air Base, Walsh said.
Lehto was an ordnance disposal technician assigned to Marine Wing Support Group
47, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing of the Marine Forces Reserve at Mount Clemens,
Mich. He was trained to defuse everything from pipe bombs to nuclear warheads,
Walsh said. But "something went off unexpectedly as they were defusing an
explosive device," he said.
While the work thrilled Lehto, it had caused a great deal of worry for his family,
Walsh said. During the summer, family members had even tried to persuade Lehto
not to volunteer for deployment.
"[It wasn't] because we didn't want him to serve in Iraq," Walsh said. "We just
knew how dangerous what he did was. The nature of the beast was the greater the
amount of [weapons] you're around, the greater the chance of something
happening."
But Lehto, who enlisted in the Marines in 1992 after graduating from Clintondale
High School in Clinton Township, remained steadfast.
"He wanted to serve," Walsh said. "He wanted to be there, he wanted to try and
make a difference in a positive way there."
Lehto's unit had been activated from January 2003 to January 2004 and was ready
to go to Iraq, but instead was held at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, most of that
time.
Lehto volunteered to serve in June, and was deployed with another unit in August.
Walsh said Lehto lost his mother, Priscilla, to complications stemming from
congestive heart failure in April, and he and other family members believed that she
was "over his shoulder" protecting him.
"We were hoping that would be the extra bit of advantage to bring him home," he
said.
Lehto had hoped to return home in March and was making plans. Just a few hours
before he died, he e-mailed his wife, saying that he'd found a home for sale online in
the Detroit suburbs closer to his job as a utility lineman.
"If it was still available, they were going to look at it," Walsh said.
Walsh described his stepson as a "vivacious young gentleman" who "just floated
through life just enjoying everything there was about it and everything about
everybody."
He was very close to his brother, Anthony, and sisters Angela and Liane, and had
many friends and cousins with whom he hung out all the time, Walsh said.
He's a loving brother, son, husband and father, Walsh said, referring to Lehto in the
present tense.
"I'm not going to speak of him in the past," Walsh said, "because I'm never going to
think of him as gone."
LEHTO, JASON ALLEN
SSGT US MARINE CORPS
DATE OF BIRTH: 10/31/1973
DATE OF DEATH: 12/28/2004
BURIED AT: SECTION 60 SITE 8091
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
Photo Courtesy of Holly, August 2005
Posted: 7 January 2005 Updated: 14 January 2005 Updated: 21 August 2005
Macomb County Marine dies in Iraq
Associated Press
WARREN, Mich. — A Marine from the Detroit area has been killed in Iraq’s Anbar province, the
military said Wednesday.
Staff Sgt. Jason A. Lehto, 31, of Warren died Tuesday in what the Defense Department described
as a non-hostile incident.
“We are very sad that he is gone,” Lehto’s sister, Angela Krug of Clinton Township, told The
Macomb Daily of Mount Clemens.
Lehto was assigned to the Marine Forces Reserve’s Marine Wing Support Group 47, 4th Marine
Aircraft Wing, based in Macomb County’s Harrison Township. The military originally identified
Lehto as being from Mount Clemens.
Lehto enlisted in the Marines after graduating from Clintondale High School in Clinton Township in
1992. He served on active duty until 1996, when he joined the reserves.
Before leaving for Iraq in August, Lehto worked as a service technician for SBC Communications in
Trenton, his family said.
He was trained by the military to defuse anything from a pipe bomb to an atom bomb, said his
stepfather, Chuck Walsh.
“He was an outstanding young man who loved his family,” Walsh told The Detroit News for a
Thursday story. “He was gung-ho military and gung-ho American.”
The family preferred to keep the details of his death private, but Walsh called it a “total accident”
during a routine mission. “Unfortunately something just went off,” he said.
Left behind are Lehto’s wife, Michele Lehto, and sons Nathan, 11, Joseph, 3, and Joshua, 2.
Joseph and Joshua are “too little to comprehend. They have no idea,” Michele Lehto, 31, told the
Detroit Free Press as she stood outside the family’s small tan home trimmed with Christmas lights.
The house was the first the Lehtos bought as a married couple. A small swing set sits in the
backyard. Above the garage in bold letters is the Marine Corps motto, “Semper Fi.”
Three hours before his death, Lehto and his wife happened to access their e-mail accounts at the
same time and exchanged messages. He wrote about a house he had found online that was closer
to his job in Trenton.
“He told me he found the perfect house for us to move into when he got home” in March, Michele
Lehto said.