Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Henry. Petithory Hometown
Plymouth recognizes fallen soldiers before Thanksgiving football game
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Alex Jones / For The Patriot Ledger Denise Sherman embraces her daughter Meredith during a ceremony at the start of Thursday's Plymouth North vs. Plymouth South football game to honor Plymouth graduates killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Army Paratrooper Benjamin Sherman, a 2006 graduate of Plymouth South, died earlier this month while serving in Afghanistan. At right is Jennifer Bliss, sister of Marine Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Burgess, a 1997 graduate who was killed in 2004 while serving in Iraq. Also present was the family of Army Pfc. Kevin James King, a 2006 graduate. By Jennifer Mann
PLYMOUTH — As the bands marched across the field and the Plymouth North and South high school football teams finished their pregame drills, three bouquets of yellow roses protruded from a metal bucket on the sidelines. As the rat-tat-tat of the drum ebbed, and a fevered crowd of students, parents, and alumni grew hush, six members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1822 honor guard strode solemnly out to the 50-yard line. It was a moment of pause and reflection for the four Plymouth soldiers who have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, three of them graduates of Plymouth South. Army Sgt. Benjamin Sherman, Plymouth South Class of 2006, died in Afghanistan two weeks ago while trying to rescue a fellow soldier from a river. Army Pfc. Kevin James King, Plymouth South Class of 2006, was killed during a live-fire training exercise in 2007. Marine Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Burgess, Plymouth South Class of 2001, was killed in Iraq five years ago during an attack on his convoy. Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Matthew A. Pucino, who grew up in Plymouth before moving with his family to attend high school in Dartmouth, died this week when an improvised explosive device ravaged his vehicle in Afghanistan. Plymouth South Principal Patty Connors approached each serviceman’s family, presenting them with the yellow roses. Accepting them were Burgess’ sister; King’s mother, father and brother; and Sherman’s mother and sister. Pucino’s family is in Delaware, where his body is being brought home from Afghanistan. As the crowd cheered, the honor guard returned to the sidelines and the football players readied to retake the field, the families left in a group, some receiving hugs from friends, while others dissolved in tears. Denise Sherman, who buried her son Friday, recalled her son’s days of peewee football and Pop Warner. “All of his coaches have always stood by him,” she said. “I’m just grateful he had people like that in his life.” Jennifer Mann may be reached at jmann@ledger.com.
Spec. Peter G. Enos 
Hometown: South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, U.S. Age: 24 years old Died: April 9, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany Incident: Killed on patrol when a rocket-propelled grenade hit his vehicle in Bayji.
Army Spc. Peter G. Enos 24, of South Dartmouth, Mass.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in Schweinfurt, Germany; killed April 9 when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his patrol vehicle in Bayji, Iraq. 
Soldier’s wife says husband died for ‘lost’ cause By Jay Lindsay Associated Press BOSTON — The wife of an Army specialist killed in Iraq said Tuesday that her husband was killed by “an ungrateful people” as he fought for a cause “that has lost all meaning.” Spc. Peter Enos, 24, died on Friday in Bayji, Iraq, when his patrol vehicle was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade. Bayji is in the “Sunni Triangle,” an area north and west of Baghdad where Iraq’s Sunni Muslims are dominant and most attacks against U.S. forces have taken place. Shannon Enos, 22, last spoke to her husband last Wednesday, when he expressed doubts about the mission in Iraq. “The people there seemed to be so ungrateful for all the things the Americans are doing for them,” Shannon Enos said. “I feel that Peter’s life was taken by an ungrateful people and for a cause that has lost all meaning.” Peter Enos is the son of Joseph and Deborah Enos. He and Shannon had a 6-month-old son, Marcus. “He was a great child, he was a fantastic person, a wonderful person,” Deborah Enos said of her son. Peter Enos was a kind husband and father, his wife said. He was extremely handy, she said, and loved to take things apart to see how they worked. “He was loved so much and his loss has left an unrepairable hole in my heart and his parents’ as well,” she said. Shannon Enos said her husband believed in his country and was willing to undertake any mission he was assigned. Before he left for Iraq about two months ago, he was convinced that the military was serving a noble purpose there. But he became disillusioned during his time there, she said. Shannon Enos said she hoped to hear President Bush discuss his exit strategy from Iraq during a press briefing scheduled for Tuesday night. “My hope is I want to hear that the troops are coming home,” she said. “I want to stop hearing about extensions.” Enos was assigned to the Army’s 1st Battalion, Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, based in Schweinfurt, Germany. Enos is at least the 13th Massachusetts resident to die in the war in Iraq. As of Tuesday, 671 U.S. service members had died since the beginning of operations in Iraq last year, according to the military. DARTMOUTH, Mass. — An Army specialist from Dartmouth died when the patrol vehicle he was riding in was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade, the Department of Defense announced. Spc. Peter G. Enos, 24, died Friday in Bayji, Iraq, which is about 120 miles north of Baghdad. Bayji, a city of about 80,000 people, is in the so-called “Sunni Triangle,” an area northwest of Baghdad where Iraq’s Sunni Muslims are dominant and most attacks against U.S. forces have taken place. Enos is the son of Joseph and Deborah Enos. He also was married. “He was a great child, he was a fantastic person, a wonderful person,” his mother said on Monday. Enos was assigned to the Army’s 1st Battalion, Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division based in Schweinfurt, Germany. — Associated Press
He is survived by his wife, Kimberly, his daughter, Camryn, and his parents, Sidney and Madlyn Darling. Fallen Soldier Honored in Poignant Presentation Widow, daughter of soldier who died in Iraq receive presentation. 
GEORGE AYCRIGG | NEWS CHIEF CAMRYN DARLING, daughter of Pfc. Norman Darling, who was killed in action in Iraq, receives the medals for his valor and service from Ted Russell of the Fallen Heros Foundation. By DONNA KELLY NYT REGIONAL MEDIAL GROUP Published: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 10:56 p.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 10:56 p.m. WINTER HAVEN | Amy Prince smiled and wiped away tears as her 9-year-old daughter, Camryn Darling, grasped a frame bearing the military medals earned by her father. "We're very proud of your dad's service," said Ted Russell, vice president of Our Fallen Heroes Foundation, who presented the display to Camryn on Monday during an informal ceremony in the office of Wells Investments. "This is our way of telling you we are proud," he told her. She also received the flag - now nestled in a wood-and-glass triangular frame - that had draped her father's casket before his burial at Bourne National Cemetery in Cape Cod, Mass. This was given to Camryn by Patti Wells, the organization's treasurer. "That's beautiful," Prince said as she gingerly took the medals from her daughter. PFC Norman Darling was among several soldiers killed when an explosive device blew up a car they were searching in Baghdad, Iraq, on April 29, 2004. He received the Bronze Star for valor, the Purple Heart for sacrificing his life, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and two ribbons - the Army Service Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbon. "That being in his honor, I can't even explain it," she said, overwhelmed. "It's amazing how many people do care and they don't forget." Camryn, who was 3 1/2 years old when her father died, mainly remembers him through stories her mother shares. "I was proud," she said, describing how she felt when she received the flag and medals. "He was nice and caring," she said of her father, who once did push-ups while she was perched on his back. Norman Darling, who served as a combat medic in Iraq, was a native of the Bahamas who received his citizenship posthumously from then-Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetttes. "That he was a combat medic shows he wanted to protect, serve and save," Prince said. "Everybody loved him. He was 'the Great American Hero' by way of the Bahamas." Prince, who lives in Davenport, said it is important to remember all who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. "They are giving up a whole lot to protect and serve the country," she said. Prince looked at her daughter, saying "She gave her dad and that shouldn't be forgotten." Prince asked Russell to explain the meaning of valor to Camryn. "(The medals) symbolize the fact that he served honorably and the fact he received the two medals at the top (Bronze Star and Purple Heart) recognize his valor and his sacrifice - the fact that he died for what he believed in," Russell said. Jim Wells, president of the foundation, nodded. "Your daddy was very brave. Your daddy was very honorable," Wells said. Our Fallen Heroes Foundation, a Winter Haven-based non-profit, was founded in 2004 by Jim and Patti Wells to provide support to the families - specifically widows and children - of those who lost their lives serving in military operations since the terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. Since then, they've helped five families from Lakeland, Auburndale, Davenport and Tampa. They expect to serve two additional families by the first of the new year. Support comes in the form of gift cards for gasoline and food, school supplies, Christmas presents, emergency home repairs and providing outings. Once, Wells helped a widow get a large hospital medical bill reduced. For more information about the organization, visit WWW.ourfallenheroes.org. Contributions should be sent to Our Fallen Heroes Foundation, 521 W. Central Ave., Winter Haven, FL 33880. Pfc. Norman Darling was an "outgoing, bright, happy person" who joined the military hoping to provide a better life for his 3-year-old daughter, a friend says. Diane McCarey said she exchanged e-mails with Darling during his time in Iraq and said he seemed to enjoy being in the military. "He found himself there," she said. Darling, 29, of Middleboro, Mass., was killed April 29 in a car bombing on his convoy south of Baghdad. He was based in Baumholder, Germany. Darling grew up in the Bahamas and moved to the United States after high school. He became a citizen when he got married, and later got divorced. He worked as an account administrator before joining the Army. His daughter lives with her mother in Florida. "She is a beauty and I love her to death," said his father, Sidney Darling. "She is the closest thing to me now because my son is gone. She is the only one to remind me."
A college graduate who worked at a financial firm, Andrew J. Zabierek volunteered for the military after the 2001 terror attacks, which affected him deeply, his father said. Stephen Zabierek said his son chose enlisted duty rather than being an officer. "His point was, how do you lead a grunt if you don't know what a grunt goes through every day?" said Zabierek, who served in the Navy in the 1970s. Andrew Zabierek, 25, of Chelmsford, Mass., also has a brother in the Air Force and their grandfather was a bombardier in World War II. Zabierek, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., was killed May 21 when he was struck by a vehicle in Iraq's Anbar province. Stephen Zabierek said his son had a difficult life in the Middle East, but he enjoyed talking to Iraqi children and said they would flock around him and ask questions about America and his family. Andrew Jonathan Zabierek CHELMSFORD - Lance Cpl. Andrew Jonathan Zabierek, 25, a Chelmsford resident who joined the Marines to aid America's campaign against the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, died Friday, May 21, while responding to a mortar attack during a patrol in the province of Al Anbar, south of Baghdad, Iraq. The infantryman was struck and killed by an Iraqi truck driver and the Pentagon continues to investigate the incident, which has been ruled as a hostile action. Born in Lowell on May 30, 1978, he was a son of Stephen A. and Judith M. (Sorbello) Zabierek of Chelmsford. He graduated from Chelmsford High School in 1996, and received a bachelor's degree in financial management from Clemson University in 2000. In a story in Monday's editions of The Sun, Mr. Zabierek's parents said their son was deeply motivated to serve in the military after the attacks on America on Sept. 11, 2001. They recalled how he postponed a promising career in finance to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps. Mr. Zabierek served as an infantryman and Arabic interpreter with the U.S. Marine Corps., 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Battalion, 3rd Platoon, Fox Company, based at Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, N.C. Before he entered military service, he was a financial advisor at American Express in Waltham. He enjoyed camping and fishing. While growing up in town, he was a member of the Chelmsford Baseball Little League, Pop Warner Football and the Cub Scouts. In addition to his parents he is survived by a brother, Air Force Lt. Mark Zabierek, stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas; his maternal grandparents, George and Josephine (Sgroi) Sorbello of Chelmsford; several aunts and uncles and their spouses, including, Patricia and Richard Franklin of Orlando, Fla., Ann Marie and Robert Martin of Lowell, Stanley and Louise Zabierek of New Ipswich, N.H., Bo and Sue Zabierek of Sherman Mills, Maine, Walter Zabierek of Littleton, Linda Johnson of Derry, N.H., Pamela Walton and Larry Ercolani, both of Dracut. He also leaves numerous cousins, as well as countless close friends and fellow Marines. He was also the nephew of the late James Zabierek, a West Virginia resident who died in 1980. Published in Lowell Sun on May 26, 2004 Marine Lance Cpl. Andrew J. Zabierek 25, of Chelmsford, Mass.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C, attached to I MEF; killed May 21 by hostile action in Anbar province, Iraq.
Camp Lejeune Marine dies in Iraq Associated Press BOSTON — A Marine corporal has died in Iraq less than two weeks before his 26th birthday. Cpl. Andrew Zabierek, 25, died Friday south of Baghdad while serving in the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Battalion, according to a statement released Saturday by U.S. Congressman Marty Meehan. The 2nd Marine Division is based at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Zabierek, who arrived in Iraq in March, was patrolling the Al Anbar province of the country when he was struck by a vehicle, possibly driven by an Iraqi resident, Meehan told The Sun of Lowell, Mass. His father, Stephen Zabierek, told the newspaper he expected to learn more details on Tuesday. Zabierek, a Clemson University graduate, worked for American Express Financial Advisors in Waltham before volunteering for military service after the Sept. 11 attacks, which affected him deeply, his father said. “Andrew could have been an officer, but he chose to start out as an enlisted soldier,” he said. “His point was, how do you lead a grunt if you don’t know what a grunt goes through every day?” Stephen Zabierek said his son had a difficult life in the Middle East, but he enjoyed talking to Iraqi children and said they would flock around him and ask questions about America and his family. Andrew Zabierek’s grandfather was a World War II bombardier and his father served four years in the Navy in the early 1970s. His younger brother, Mark Zabierek, is a second lieutenant and intelligence officer in the Air Force. Andrew Zabierek, of Chelmsford, Mass., was almost halfway through his four-year commitment to the Marines, The Sun reported. “I am deeply saddened by the loss of Andrew. He was a brave young man,” Meehan said. “Andrew answered his call to duty and made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom of the United States, Iraq, and the world. We owe him all a debt of gratitude.” Meehan said he spoke with the Zabierek family early Saturday and “assured them that I will get all the information I can as soon as possible.” Zabierek’s death is under investigation. Zabierek is at least the 17th Massachusetts resident to die in the war in Iraq. His funeral will likely be at Dolan Funeral Home and St. John the Evangelist Church in North Chelmsford, his father said. He will be buried with military honors at a military cemetery. The location has not been determined.
The Andrew J. Zabierek Foundation was formed in 2004, following the death of Lance Corporal Andrew J. Zabierek, a Marine from Chelmsford, MA. Lance Corporal Zabierek was killed in action in the Al Anbar province of Iraq while responding to a mortar attack outside his camp. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and was honored by the town of Chelmsford with their Guardian Award in May of 2007. He was also awarded The Medal of Valor by the Chelmsford Elks in June of 2008. In an effort to create something positive from his passing, members of his family and community leaders created the foundation which bears his name in the hope of continuing the legacy of sacrifice and service that Andrew's memory inspires.
If you would like to help outstanding veterans, please send your donation to: Andrew J. Zabierek Foundation c/o Enterprise Bank 185 Littleton Road Chelmsford, MA 01824 Make checks payable to: "Andrew J. Zabierek Foundation". If you would like to donate specifically to the Andrew J. Zabierek Memorial Scholarship at Chelmsford High School, please write "CHS" in the "For" Section of your check. The CHS scholarships are given annually through the Chelmsford High School Alumni Association to two Chelmsford High School seniors for outstanding achievement in community service. The Zabierek family and the trustees of the Andrew J. Zabierek Foundation would like to sincerely thank all of the individuals and businesses that have donated to our Foundation. It is because of your continued kindness and support that we have been able to transform Andrew's passing into something positive by awarding scholarships to noble young people who are continuing Andrew's legacy of service.
Petty Officer 1st Class Brian J. Ouellette 
Hometown: Needham, Massachusetts, U.S. Age: 37 years old Died: May 29, 2004 in Operation Enduring Freedom. Unit: Navy, Navy Special Warfare Group Two, Little Creek, Va. Incident: Killed when their vehicle struck a land mine in Kandahar. Brian J. Ouellette Of Virginia Beach, VA, formerly of Waltham and Maynard, in the Service of his Country, in Afghanistan, May 29, 2004. Son of John J. "Jack" & Margaret H. (Desmond) Ouellette of Maynard. Brother of John C. of Amelia Island, FL, Michael D. of Uxbridge, Kenneth D. of Boxboro, Marie Tucker & Dennis R. both of Maynard, James P. of West Boylston & David A. of Reading, Grandson of Margaret E. (Teletchea) Desmond of Co. Clair, Ireland, formerly of Watertown and the late Daniel J. Desmond & Clarence & Edme Ouellette, also survived by 9 nieces & nephews and many aunts, uncles, cousins & friends. Relatives & friends are invited to attend the Funeral at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 8, from The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main St., (Rte 20) WALTHAM, followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Lukes Church, 132 Lexington St., Belmont, at 11 a.m. Burial will be in St. Patricks Cemetery, Watertown. Visiting hours Monday 4-9 p.m. A Military Memorial Service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 10, at the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, Norfolk, VA and at 4 p.m. the same day a Memorial Mass will be offered at the Church of the Holy Family, North Great Rd., Virginia Beach, VA. Memorial donations may be made to the Brian J. Ouellette Fund at the Jimmy Fund, 10 Brookline Pl. West, 6th Flr, Brookline, MA 02445. Late member Navy Special Warfare Group Two, Little Creek, VA. For complete obituary, guestbook and directions please visit www.joycefuneralhome.com
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A Navy SEAL based in Virginia Beach was one of four U.S. special forces members killed in an explosion in Afghanistan, Navy officials said. Petty Officer 1st Class Brian Ouellette and three other service members traveling in a Humvee were killed in Zabul province, about 240 miles southwest of Kabul, the nation’s capital. The four were members of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force Afghanistan. Ouellette, 37, was a member of Navy Special Warfare Group Two at Little Creek Amphibious Base and is the fifth SEAL from Virginia Beach to die in Afghanistan. Naval Special Warfare spokesman Chief Petty Officer Tom Jones said that Ouelette was on a mounted patrol near the cities of Jahak and Seleh. A native of Needham, Mass., Ouellette enlisted in the Navy in 1990 and became a SEAL in 1991, the Navy said. Ouellette grew up in Waltham, Mass., and graduated from Waltham High School, but his mother now lives in Maynard, Mass.. He was remembered at Memorial Day ceremonies in both communities. “It’s devastating,” the Rev. Kenneth Quinn said at a small ceremony at St. Bridget’s cemetery in Maynard. “This brings home what’s going on.” In Waltham, Ouellette was remembered as a dedicated member of the SEALs, an elite fighting force that undergoes some of the toughest military training in the world. “Once he got in there and got a taste of it, he wouldn’t be denied,” Jim Stanley, a friend and former roommate told WBZ-TV. “That’s really what he wanted to do.” Ouellette was one of eight children and the family remained in seclusion over the weekend. His mother, Peg, said she was too distraught to talk when contacted by The Associated Press on Sunday and would only say “I loved him dearly.” The other Special Forces soldiers who died in the incident, according to the Pentagon, were Army Capt. Daniel W. Eggers, 28, of Cape Coral, Fla.; Staff Sgt. Robert J. Mogensen, 26, of Leesville, La.; and Pfc. Joseph A. Jeffries, 21, of Beaverton, Ore. At least 89 American service personnel have died in and around Afghanistan since the start of the U.S. war on terrorism following the Sept. 11 attacks, including 55 killed in action. Navy SEAL from Massachusetts killed in Afghanistan WALTHAM, Mass. — Memorial Day services in two Massachusetts communities were made even more somber on Monday with news that a Navy SEAL with ties to those towns had died fighting the war of terror in Afghanistan. Petty Officer 1st Class Brian J. Ouellette, 37, a 15-year Navy veteran, was one of four servicemen who died when the Humvee he was in ran over a mine. Ouellette grew up in Waltham and graduated from Waltham High School, but his mother now lives in Maynard. He was remembered at ceremonies in both communities. “It’s devastating,” the Rev. Kenneth Quinn said at a small ceremony at St. Bridget’s cemetery in Maynard. “This brings home what’s going on.” In Waltham, Ouellette was remembered as a dedicated member of the SEALs, an elite fighting force that undergoes some of the toughest military training in the world. “Once he got in there and got a taste of it, he wouldn’t be denied,” Jim Stanley, a friend and former roommate told WBZ-TV. “That’s really what he wanted to do.” Ouellette was one of eight children and the family remained in seclusion over the weekend. His mother, Peg, said she was too distraught to talk when contacted by The Associated Press on Sunday and would only say “I loved him dearly.” Steve Duffy, head lacrosse coach and assistant football coach at Waltham High, played football with Ouellette in the mid-1980s. “He was a great teammate, a year older, and always good to the younger guys,” Duffy told The MetroWest Daily News of Framingham. “He was just a tough, no-nonsense type of guy who would smack you in the mouth between the whistles. A tough guy.” Ouellette was assigned to the Naval Special Warfare Group Two based in Little Creek, Va., according to the Navy, which announced the death on Monday. The Special Forces soldiers who died in the incident, according to the Pentagon, were Army Capt. Daniel W. Eggers, 28, whose home town was listed as Cape Coral, Fla., but who was originally from New Hampshire; Staff Sgt. Robert J. Mogensen, 26, of Leesville, La.; and Pfc. Joseph A. Jeffries, 21, of Beaverton, Ore. At least 89 American service personnel have died in and around Afghanistan since the start of the U.S. war on terrorism following the Sept. 11 attacks, including 55 killed in action. Ouellette is the third Massachusetts resident to die in Afghanistan. Army Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Petithory, 32, of Cheshire, was killed on Dec. 5, 2001 along with two other soldiers when a U.S. bomb landed about 100 yards from their position. Pfc. Evan W. O’Neill, 19, of Haverhill died Sept. 29. Funeral arrangements for Ouellette are still pending. -- Associated Press VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. - Navy Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SEAL) Brian Ouellette, 37, was killed early Saturday morning (approximately 2:17 a.m. EST) while conducting a mounted patrol in the vicinity of Jahak and Seleh Afghanistan. A 14-year Navy and SEAL veteran, Ouellette was conducting operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom when the vehicle he was in struck an enemy ground emplaced munitions - either a land mine or improvised explosive device, but exact details are unavailable at this time. Originally from Maynard, Mass., Ouellette enlisted in the Navy in February 1990 and entered Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training in San Diego and graduated in 1991, Class 173. He was assigned to Naval Special Warfare Group TWO, which is located on Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia Beach, VA. The wake/visitation for Brian will be held between 1600-2100 at Joyce Funeral Home on Monday, 7 June. The Funeral Home address is 245 Main Street, Waltham, MA 02453; phone number, (781) 894-2895. The funeral will take place at ST Luke Catholic Church, 132 Lexington Street, Belmont, MA on Tuesday, 8 June at 1100. For further detail contact Joyce Funeral Home at (781) 894-2895. A memorial service for Brian will be held at NAB, Little Creek Chapel, Norfolk, VA 10 June at 1000. Military uniform is summer whites. Teammates and friends are encouraged to attend the service. Pfc. Markus J. Johnson 
Hometown: Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S. Age: 20 years old Died: June 1, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Unit: Army, D Battery, 4th Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery, 1st Infantry Division, Kitzingen, Germany Incident: Killed when his vehicle rolled over in Anbar province. Markus J. Johnson joined the Army days after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in hopes that his service would help him realize his dream of becoming a state trooper. A big fan of the Chicago Bulls, Johnson also hoped to live in Chicago some day. "He said, Dad, that would give you a place to visit," recalled his stepfather Lawrence Thomas Jr. Johnson, 20, of Springfield, Mass., was killed June 1 when his vehicle rolled over in the Anbar province of Iraq. He was based in Germany. Johnson played in the high school band and sang tenor in the church choir. "He always had a smile," said Celeste Budd-Jackson, his high school principal. Survivors include his parents. Markus J. Johnson 1983-2004 SPRINGFIELD - Markus James Johnson, 21, of 59 Lowell St., Spfld., departed this life on TuesdayJune 1, 2004 in Iraq. He was born in Springfield, MA on January 19, 1983 and was the son of Craig L. Williams and Sandra (Johnson) Thomas. He was a graduate of Central High School, class of 2001, where he played drums for the school band. Markus was a member of the Shiloh Church of God In Christ where he was a member of the choir, the Sunday school, and the Bible band. He leaves to cherish his memory, his father, Craig L. Williams of Springfield; his mother, Sandra (Johnson) Thomas and step-father, Lawrence Thomas, both of Springfield;three brothers, Dwayne A. Johnson, Nathan L. Johnson and Craig L. Johnson, all of Springfield; one sister, Laura Nicole Marie Thomas, of Springfield; three step-brothers, Lawrence Thomas III, Duane Thomas and Maurice Thomas, all of Springfield; his maternal grandparents, Sadie Johnson and Danny Johnson, both of Springfield; his paternal grandmother, Hattie Goolsby; his uncle, Gregory Goolsby; his favorite aunts, Katherine D. Johnson, and Theresa M. Jones, bothof Springfield; two favorite cousins, Anitra Y. Goldson and Shanell M. Jones; four best friends, Alexis Garcia, Justin Smart, Danny Duncan and James Baron; great aunts, uncles, cousins, and several nieces and nephews. The Funeral service will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Springfield Symphony Hall, Court St., Spfld., followed with burial in MA Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. A Calling hour will precede the service from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. at the Hall. Published in The Republican on June 10, 2004 Army Pfc. Markus J. Johnson 20, of Springfield, Mass.; assigned to D Battery, 4th Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery, 1st Infantry Division, Kitzingen, Germany; killed June 1 when an Avenger air defense vehicle rolled over in Anbar province, Iraq.
We Will Never Forget … (The following tribute to Pfc. Markus Johnson was written by a member of his unit ministry team. — Ed.) By Cpl. Travis Runnels Battalion Chaplain’s Assistant, 4/3 ADA, 1st Infantry Division As we finish the final stage of the memorial, we begin to move on and accept what has happened. For most of the Soldiers in 4/3 Air Defense Artillery, this is one of our first experiences with the ultimate price of war, and all too often we forget that things like this can happen. It serves as a reminder of how fragile life is and how we must live every day to the fullest. Now that we have lost one of our brothers, the war turns more personal for us as, unfortunately, we are now forced to reflect on our losses and not just our accomplishments. Personally, this was my first time dealing with the loss of a Soldier and, I hope, the last. The tremendous outcome and the overwhelming love that was expressed at the memorial showed the type of people soldiers and Americans are. The theater was packed, soldiers came from everywhere imaginable. Whether they knew PFC Marcus Johnson or not, Americans and Soldiers came to pay their respects. It was a simple ceremony designed to help the Soldiers in the unit prepare to move on with the mission and respectfully say good-bye to a dear friend and a fellow Soldier. It is sad that it often takes an event like this to help us to remember how great being a Soldier really is. The sacrifices we have made as Soldiers bring us together, and it shows the immense love and compassion we share for each other in a time like this. There was not a dry eye in the ceremony, whether you knew him or not. We all came here together, served here together and are supposed to leave here together. There is a never-ending bond that only Soldiers will know; the loss of a brother is never accepted, and will always be honored. There is something special that happens as you progress through the ranks and “make it,” something special that allows you to consider yourself a Soldier. Many Americans don’t know the joys that come with the sacrifices we make. The pride we all feel is expressed in our own ways; it can never be compared or questioned. The Soldier that we lost died with honor and dignity and, most of all, the pride of knowing that he died making the ultimate sacrifice for his family, friends, fellow Soldiers and his country. He has moved on to be with God now; he is in a better place. We will always remember those who went all the way and helped to make this country what it is today. Today, we now must remember Private First Class Markus James Johnson and his contributions to his unit, the First Infantry Division, the United States Army, and to his fellow Soldiers. He will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Markus James Johnson, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. From one Soldier to another, “Thank you, I will never forget you.” BOSTON — A soldier from Springfield was killed in a vehicle rollover in Anbar province, Iraq, the Defense Department announced Wednesday. Pfc. Markus J. Johnson, 20, was killed when an Avenger air defense vehicle, a Humvee equipped with a missile launcher, rolled over. He was assigned to the 3rd Air Defense Artillery, 1st Infantry Division, based in Kitzingen, Germany. The incident was under investigation, the Army said. U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Mass., whose district includes Springfield, said he was “deeply saddened” to learn of the death. “No words can adequately express the profound sorrow that I have for the family and friends of this brave young man. At this difficult time, they will be in my thoughts and prayers,” he said in a statement. A Neal spokesman said the congressman’s office had not received any information about Johnson as of Wednesday evening. Family members could not be immediately located. Johnson is the second Massachusetts soldier to die in recent days while fighting overseas. Brian Ouellette, a Navy SEAL from Maynard, died in Afghanistan last week when a mine detonated beneath his Humvee. — Associated Press SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — On the anniversary of his death, a Springfield man who was killed while serving in Iraq was honored at the unveiling of an exhibit at a city museum. Pfc. Markus J. Johnson — along with Francis Lynch, a Springfield native killed during World War I — are being remembered in an exhibit at the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum. The exhibit opened Wednesday with a ceremony for Johnson, who was killed June 1, 2004, when an air defense vehicle he was traveling in rolled over in Iraq’s Anbar province. Johnson was 21 years old and had joined the Army to earn money for college. “Markus was a young man ... seeking education, seeking a way out of poverty, seeking a way out of the ghetto and the slums, and he grew up fighting his way out,” his 26-year-old brother, Nathan Johnson, said during the ceremony, the Springfield Republican reported Thursday. Johnson is among at least 26 Massachusetts natives who have died while serving in Iraq. He was assigned to the 3rd Air Defense Artillery, 1st Infantry Division, based in Kitzingen, Germany. The exhibit is entitled “In Harm’s Way: Two Soldiers, A Century Apart,” and runs through Oct. 9. It includes Johnson’s Purple Heart and a video of his visit home for the holidays in 2003. The exhibit also honors Lynch, who joined the Army at age 16 by lying about his age. He was 17 years old when he died a prisoner of war after being wounded in Germany. On display is Lynch’s prayer book. — Associated Press Lance Cpl. John J. Vangyzen IV 
Hometown: North Dighton, Massachusetts, U.S. Age: 21 years old Died: July 5, 2004 in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Unit: Marines, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif. Incident: Killed in an attack in Anbar province. Marine Lance Cpl. John J. Van Gyzen IV 21, of Bristol, Mass.; assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, at Twentynine Palms, Calif.; killed July 5 by enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq.
Massachusetts Marine killed in Iraq buried with honors Associated Press TAUNTON, Mass. — A Marine from New England who was killed in Iraq was remembered Thursday at a funeral service as a loving son and brother who hoped to make a difference by being in the military. John J. Van Gyzen IV, 21, who grew up in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, was killed on July 5 in Iraq’s Anbar province. Van Gyzen’s sister, Bethany, read aloud from a letter from their mother, Dotti Arsenault: “Twenty-one years ago God blessed me with a baby boy who came into this world a fighter and now 21 years later he has come to take him home.” “You are my hero,” the letter continued. “I regret I will not see my baby’s face or see his boyish grin or hear his wholehearted laugh for a while, but in my memories, all that remains very real.” Van Gyzen was buried with full military honors at the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery in Exeter, R.I., the Taunton Gazette reported. Rev. Elinor Carriere, of West Warwick, R.I., said she met John when he was a boy of 10 or 11. She said he believed he could make a difference by being a Marine and make the country a better place. Rev. Robert Rust, pastor at the West Congregational Church, where the funeral was held, said Van Gyzen was an “American hero.” Van Gyzen was born June 16, 1983 and died July 5, 2004. Rust said what matters is not the two dates, but the dash between them. John “spent his dash well,” Rust said. “John was a gift from God, as each and every one of us is a gift from God to one another. Today we give thanks for that gift.” Directory: files files -> Answer True False 2 points Question 2 files -> Integer programming and game theory files -> 4 Integer Programming files -> Bpa vehicle Window Repair Scenario #1 task: Procure vehicle window relacement. Objective files -> Pop Warner History files -> North Carolina Inclusion Initiative Mapping Where Children with ieps are Being Served Purpose files -> Fall 2013 Spring 2014 Program Data: Standard 1 Exhibit 4d files -> Hanban – asia society confucius classrooms network 2010 request for proposal files -> Northern England’s set-jetting locations Download 1.02 Mb. Share with your friends:
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