Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Army National Guard Sgt. Joshua V. Youmans

Army National Guard Sgt. Joshua V. Youmans, 26, Flushing, Michigan

Sgt Youmans Died at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, on March 1, 2006, from injuries sustained when a roadside bomb detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Habbaniya, Iraq on November 21, 2005.

THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION

Little blue-eyed, blond-haired MacKenzie recently got to meet her father in person for the first time as he recovered at a Texas hospital from injuries suffered in the war.

On Saturday, nestled in a pink- and green-striped blanket, the 5-month-old sat in a relative's arms in the front row at her father's funeral.

MacKenzie always will know what a hero her father was, Youmans' wife, Katie, told the crowd that filled nearly all of the 600-plus seats at St. Robert Catholic Church.

"His impact on the world will never be forgotten," said an emotional Katie, who had been married to Youmans nearly six years.

Later, as her husband was buried at Flushing Cemetery, she bent down to kiss his coffin, clutching the folded American flag that had blanketed it during the funeral.

Joshua Youmans was 26 when he died nearly two weeks ago at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He had spent the past four months there receiving care after a Humvee he was riding struck a land mine, leaving him severely burned.
He was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service.

Katie Youmans spoke of the last few memories she shared with her husband before he died, such as when she told him President Bush was paying him a visit at the hospital, and he balked at the news.

"When (the president) walked in and said 'Hi Josh,' he said, 'Wow, you weren't kidding,'" Katie said, drawing laughter.

Or how nurses at the hospital were amused by his "tough guy" act when he refused pain medication, only to regret it soon after.

But she will also treasure their ordinary times together, such as eating barbecue wings during dinners out and playing with their dog, Sweetie.

Or how at night she'd always say "Sleep tight," and he would respond with "Don't let the bed bugs bite."

"Josh and I completed each other," she said. "He was my soul mate and the love of my life. We knew how lucky we were to have found each other.

"I am so grateful to have been a part of his life."

She said people who knew him remember his "crazy laugh," "wicked sense of humor," playfulness and loving, caring nature.

He joined the Army National Guard more than two years ago because he had such great respect for the job, she said.

She said after learning he was going to be deployed to Iraq, he told her he wanted to go "to protect our country" and the freedoms of his then-unborn child.

In the time he was there, the two would meet regularly online to chat, which made him late to duty at least one time.

And even though he couldn't physically be in the delivery room the day MacKenzie was born, he listened on the phone until he heard her newborn cry.

He loved to watch his daughter on the Web video camera after she was born.

"Just so he could see her being a baby," Katie said.

She spoke of the stories he shared with her, such as playing with Iraqi children in a village.

"Even though his life was lived way too short, he made the most of it," she said. "He was so proud to be a part of the infantry. He truly was an American hero."

Katie's tribute was followed by the country song "American Soldier." Meanwhile outside the church, the low tunes of "Hero" and "Born in the USA" wafted out of a white pickup truck painted in red and blue stripes and stars.

Army National Guard Sgt. Joshua V. Youmans, died 03/01/06.
Cpl. Nyle Yates III



Hometown: Lake Odessa, Michigan, U.S.

Age: 22 years old

Died: March 16, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unit: Army, 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Incident: Killed when he came under small arms fire by enemy forces during combat operations in Bayji.

Soldier from western Michigan was humorous, straightforward

LAKE ODESSA, Mich. — A soldier from western Michigan, who was remembered for being humorous and straightforward, has died while serving in Iraq, his former high school principal said.

Lakewood High School Principal Mike O’Mara told The Grand Rapids Press that he learned of the death of Nyle Yates from the soldier’s family on Thursday. Yates was a 2002 graduate of the Lake Odessa school.

“He was a quiet kid who did what he was supposed to do in school,” O’Mara said. “He came as a baby-faced freshman all of 5’5” and left as a 6’1” senior who always had a smile on his face.”

Yates joined the Army in 2002 and was on his second tour in Iraq, the newspaper reported Saturday.

Ferol Ball, of Lake Odessa, said her son, Joey Day, was a close friend of Yates.

“(Yates) was a very straightforward, honest, loving and caring individual,” she said. “He served his country, he wanted to, and unfortunately he gave his life. But without men and women like him, it would be a more dangerous world. I have four sons and can’t imagine losing one.”

As of Saturday afternoon, the military hadn’t released any information on Yates.

The Sentinel-Stanard of Ionia reported that after Yates graduated from high school, his family moved to the Eagle-area, near Lansing. There were no telephone listings under the last name Yates in Eagle.

Funeral arrangements had not been announced, and additional details weren’t immediately available

— Associated Press

* * * * *

Michigan soldier killed in Iraq

LAKE ODESSA, Mich. — A soldier from a community located between Grand Rapids and Lansing was killed while serving in Iraq, the Department of Defense announced.

A defense department statement released Monday said Army Cpl. Nyle Yates III died in Bayji, Iraq, on Thursday “when he came under small arms fire by enemy forces during combat operations.”

Yates, a 22-year-old from Lake Odessa, was assigned to a unit that operated out of Fort Campbell, Ky.

Yates’ death was confirmed last week by Lakewood High School Principal Mike O’Mara, who said he learned of the death from the soldier’s family. Yates was a 2002 graduate of the Lake Odessa school.

— Associated Press

Nyle & His Mom

Nyle & Friend Jessica




Spec. Andrew K. Waits



Hometown: Waterford, Michigan, U.S.

Age: 23 years old

Died: April 13, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near his Humvee during combat operations in Baghdad.



Sgt. 1st Class Richard J. Herrema



Hometown: Hudsonville, Michigan, U.S.

Age: 27 years old

Died: April 25, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unit: Army, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Incident: Killed when he came under enemy fire during combat operations in Baghdad.

Richard Herrema

Sgt. 1st Class Richard Herrema, aged 27, of Hudsonville, MI, was taken home to be with his Lord after he was killed in combat during operations, April 25, 2006 in Iraq against known enemies of the United States of America. Rick was preceded in death by his grandfather, Peter VanderVeen, and his uncle, Gary Herrema. Rick is survived by his parents, Richard and Mary (VanderVeen) Herrema; his sisters, Kate and Janie Herrema; his grandparents, Richard and Lorraine Herrema and Winnie VanderVeen; his uncles, aunts and cousins, Paul and Jan Gillisse (Tony and Amanda, Letha, Ben), Brian and Denise Herrema (Nick, Rachel, Derek, Lauren), Boyd and Heide Herrema (Adam, Aubrey, Aaron), Rich and Betsy VanderVeen (Julia, William), Bruce and Lynnell Kole (Craig and Diana, Brad and Bethany (Olivia), Aleisha), Andy and Beth Gort (Andrea and JR, Michele) and his lifelong friends Dave Offringa and Ryan Roede and his Army friends Josh Woehr, Andy Bardeen, Stephen Johnson, Jason Marker and Ian Carrese. Rick was a 1997 graduate of Unity Christian High School, and was a member of the Forest Grove Christian Reformed Church. He was loved and admired by all who met him because of his strength, generosity and quite confidence. He was a leader who believed in his cause and always relied on his strong Christian faith. He was a proud soldier, ready and willing to serve his country with all of his extensive Army training. He has received numerous awards and decorations of which included Special Forces and Ranger Tabs, and Airborne and Air Assault Badges. He was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star Medal for valor, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. One of Rick's favorite Bible passages was Luke 23:42-43: "Then he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' And Jesus answered him, 'I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.'" Funeral services will be held Friday at 11:00 a.m. at the Hudsonville Reformed Church, 3950 - Highland Dr. Hudsonville, with Rev. Steven Steenstra officiating. Interment Forest Grove Cemetery. Friends may meet with the family at the VanderLaan Funeral Home Thursday 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Donations may be made to Tuition Assistance at Hudsonville Christian School and Unity Christian High School. VANDERLAAN-HUDSONVILLE

Killed in Baghdad,Iraq, when he came under enemy fire during combat operations.
DATE POSTED: APRIL 27, 2006 PRESS RELEASE: Special Forces Soldier dies in Iraq U.S. Army Special Operations Command Public Affairs Office FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Apr. 27, 2006) — A U.S. Army Special Forces Soldier based here died April 25, 2006, during combat operations in central Iraq. Sgt. 1st Class Richard J. Herrema was killed in combat during operations April 25, 2006, in Iraq against known enemies of the United States of America.  He was born March 28, 1979, in Grand Rapids, Mich., and graduated from Unity Christian High School in Hudsonville, Mich. He first entered the U. S. Army as an infantryman on Jan. 11, 1999. After completion of initial Basic Entry Training, he was assigned to B Company, 3rd Battalion, 327th Infantry Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky., and then as a Squad Leader in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 327th Infantry Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell. He graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course in June 2003 as an 18D SF Medical Sergeant and was assigned as an instructor in G Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C. His last assignment was as a team member assigned to the U. S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C. In addition to the Special Forces Qualification Course, he completed numerous military courses including the Air Assault Course; the Combat Lifesaver Course; the Ranger Course; the Basic Airborne Course; the Special Operations Medical Sergeant Course; the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course; the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Course; and the Military Freefall Course. His awards and decorations include two Army Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral two, and the Army Service Ribbon. During his career he had also earned, the Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge and both the Special Forces and Ranger Tabs. Herrema was posthumously promoted to Sgt. 1st Class. He was also posthumously awarded a Bronze Star Medal for valor, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He is survived by his parents, Richard and Mary Herrema, and his sisters, Katie Lynn and Janie Lynn Herrema.
Richard J. Herrema
Friday, April 28 2006 @ 06:13 AM MDT www.newsobserver.com -- A Fort Bragg soldier with one of the Army's most elite units was killed Tuesday in a helicopter assault in Baghdad. Sgt. 1st Class Richard J. Herrema, 27, of Hudsonville, Mich., died Tuesday when he came under small-arms fire, according to a Defense Department news release. Another release described his last assignment as "a team member assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command." Herrema, who in 2003 was made a Special Forces instructor after just four years in the Army, had a long list of qualifications, even by Special Operations standards. Friends and family declined to discuss his recent work or unit in detail. His father, Richard Herrema of Hudsonville, said his son's unit had received information about some insurgents and mounted an attack. Herrema was the first off the chopper and was hit almost immediately. He died later at a field hospital. Friends and relatives said he was a committed Christian. His last contact with his family was an e-mail message at Easter in which he told them he had been able to attend chapel, his father said. His mother, Mary, said he was a pleasure to raise. "He always was a special son, " she said. "He was the kind that saw work before you even asked him to do it." He placed only God above his family and doted on his younger sisters, she said, doing things such as hiring a limo for their prom. He was born in Grand Rapids, Mich., and graduated from Unity Christian High School in Hudsonville, near Grand Rapids. His high school principal, Jack Posta, said that even though Herrema had graduated in 1997, his death rocked the school. "It's a big topic with the teachers," he said. "They all loved him. "He was the kind of kid who didn't talk much, but when he did, you knew that he meant what he said," Posta said. He entered the Army in January 1999, and though he hadn't been an athlete in high school, his father said that military life seemed to come naturally to him. "As soon as he got in, he just took a liking to it and moved pretty quickly from one thing to another, always doing really well," he said. Herrema liked to work on old cars and had taken up surfing since coming to Fort Bragg, his father said. It was his first deployment to Iraq, and he had been eager to get there, his father said. Instead of the usual two-man notification team from a local base, six soldiers from Fort Bragg, including some of Herrema's friends, came to Michigan to break the bad news Tuesday, he said. Herrema was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star Medal for valor, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Purple Heart. Survivors include his parents and younger sisters, Katie and Janie Herrema.