DOB/DOD: March 21, 1924 (Bristol, CT) – April 20, 1944; 20 years old MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried LOCAL ADDRESS: 25 Williams Street, Bristol SERVICE NUMBER: Z-423678
FAMILY: Born to Boleslaw E. “William” (1884-1953) and Mary B. Smolenski Ardzienski (1891-1989). Both parents were born in Poland. Two sisters, Eugenia L. “Jennie” Ardzienski Sepko Weinstock (1913-2004) and Helen M. Ardzienski Camire (1920-2007). Two brothers, Henry (1914-1992) and Theodore E. (1916-1976).
CIRCUMSTANCES: Edwin served as a Radio Officer, SS Paul Hamilton, U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II. On her fifth voyage, the SS Paul Hamilton left Hampton Roads, Virginia, on April 2, 1944, as part of convoy U.G.S. 38, carrying supplies and the ground personnel of the 485th Bombardment Group and the 5th Reconnaissance Group of the United States Army Air Forces to Italy.
On the evening of April 20th, the Hamilton and other ships in the convoy were attacked 30 miles (48 km) in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Cape Bengut near Algiers by 23 German Ju 88 bombers.
One aerial torpedo struck the Paul Hamilton and detonated the cargo of high explosives and bombs, and the ship and crew disappeared within 30 seconds. A total of approximately 580 men were lost.
DECORATIONS: Posthumously awarded the Mariner’s Medal and the Combat Bar with a Star
Bristol (CT) High School, Class of 1942 yearbook
1941 soccer team
1942 soccer team
From ww2today.com
One of the iconic images of the war was the picture of the SS Paul Hamilton being blown up after being struck by a German glider bomb. It was used extensively during the war to illustrate the hazards of supplying the front lines by convoy. However, the authorities did not want the whole truth to be told, and much of the story remained classified for the next fifty years. Many of the relatives of the men who died that night never lived long enough to learn the true circumstances of their fate.
None of the 8 officers, 39 crew, 29 armed guards from the Paul Hamilton, and 504 USAAF personnel aboard – including 154 officers and men of the 831st Bombardment Squadron and 317 officers and men of the 32nd Photo Reconnaissance Squadron – survived. Only one body was recovered.
DOB/DOD: August 31, 1971 (New Haven, CT) – January 17, 2005; 33 years old MARITAL STATUS: Engaged to be married to Nerina A. Giolli (1976-). LOCAL ADDRESS: Meloy Road; West Haven ENLISTMENT: May 30, 1990, in the Marine Corps, then later transferred to the Army. MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 11B30; Infantryman UNIT: C Company, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment; Fort Carson, Colorado
FAMILY: Born to Gaetano T. [U.S. Navy veteran] (1933-2012) and Inger L. Stang Vitagliano Severine (1932-). One sister, Tammy Vitagliano Ronan (1969-). One brother, Erik (1973-).
DECORATIONS: Awarded the Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with device, Army Achievement Medal with device, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal with device, Southwest Asia Service Medal with device, Global War on Terrorism Medal (Expeditionary), Global War on Terrorism Medal (Service), Korean Defense Service Medal, Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon with “2” device, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon with “2” device, Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, Kuwaiti Liberation Medal (Emirate of Kuwait), Combat Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge (Basic), and the Navy Unit Commendation.
CIRCUMSTANCES: Staff Sergeant Vitagliano was killed in Ramadi, Iraq, when a bomb in a vehicle detonated near his position. Also killed in this incident:
Army Private First Class George Geer; Cortez, CO
Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, VA) Class of 1989
Photo, two above, from TogetherWeServed.com. Photo, above, contributed by CTHM (Connecticut Trees of Honor Memorial).
Citation to accompany the award of the Silver Star Medal
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously)
TO
Staff Sergeant Thomas E. Vitagliano United States Army
FOR
Conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Company C, 1st Battalion, 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2d Brigade Combat Team, 2d Infantry Division, during combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 17 January 2005 in Iraq. On that date, Staff Sergeant Vitagliano saved two of his Soldiers’ lives by selflessly placing himself between the Soldiers and the blast of an explosive-laden taxi. His heroic actions are in keeping with the highest standards of selfless service and reflect great credit upon himself, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 503d Infantry Regiment, Multi-National Corps Iraq, and the United States Army.
From The Record-Journal (Meriden, CT) on January 28, 2005
WEST HAVEN, Connecticut — About 300 mourners gathered Thursday to remember the life of Staff Sergeant Thomas E. Vitagliano, who died last week in a bombing in Iraq while living the military life he dreamed about as a child. Vitagliano, 33, of New Haven, was buried with full military honors at St. Lawrence Cemetery in West Haven following a funeral service at Holy Infant Roman Catholic Church in Orange. After a 25-vehicle cortege led by a military and police motorcade arrived at the church, six Marine reservist pallbearers carried Vitagliano’s flag-draped casket inside for a private Mass. At the church, military officials presented Vitagliano’s family with four medals awarded posthumously to Vitagliano, said Lieutenant Colonel John Whitford, a spokesman for the Connecticut National Guard. The medals included the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, and Combat Infantry Badge. “He touched a lot of people,” Whitford said. The church deacon, John Hoffman, quoted family members in a eulogy. “Even in all our pain, we can’t help but remember his smile. He had a childlike side that was contagious, magnetic, bigger than life,” he said. Hoffman quoted Vitagliano’s mother, Inger Lise Severine, as saying, “You always looked out for the underdog … I thank you for trying to make this a better world.” The soldier’s father, Gaetano Vitagliano, added, “My pride in who you are cannot be hidden, even in my heartbreak.” At the cemetery, Army reservists presented American flags to Vitagliano’s mother and father, who once served in the military. Vitagliano was killed on January 17 when a car bomb detonated near his position in Ramadi, Iraq. Private First Class George Geer, 27, of Cortez, Colo., was also killed. He and Vitagliano were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, based at Camp Casey, South Korea. During the funeral, an e-mail from Colonel Gary Patton, Vitagliano’s brigade commander, was read. It describes Vitagliano’s bravery just before his death. Patton wrote that when Vitagliano realized an approaching vehicle was manned by a suicide bomber, he pushed one soldier to safety. The soldier was injured in the attack, but because of Vitagliano’s actions, he will live, Patton said. “Even in his last breath and action, Tommy was taking care of his soldiers,” he said. Vitagliano was the 23rd person with Connecticut ties killed in Iraq or Afghanistan since March 2002 and the first this year. Stars and Stripes, which covers the military, reported that Vitagliano’s unit has been working on civil projects, handing out food, and trying to avoid suicide bombers in Ramadi. The soldiers have suffered frequent attacks from insurgents in the city of 400,000, which is in the volatile region sometimes called the Sunni Triangle. At least 10 soldiers in Vitagliano’s battalion have been killed in Ramadi since November. Vitagliano, who grew up in Orange and West Haven, went to Notre Dame High School in West Haven until his sophomore year, then transferred to a military school. He went on to join the Marines and fight in Operation Desert Storm in 1991. He later left the Marines, worked briefly for American Express, and returned to teach Marine cadets for a year. He then joined the Army.
From The Associated Press By Hugo Kugiya
Sergeant who saved lives remembered as ‘Superman’
Thomas Vitagliano was Sergeant V to some, Superman to others, and Kindergarten Sarge to a few who had occasion to notice his rapport with small children. To his nephews and nieces, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound uncle was a moveable jungle gym. All four would grab a leg or climb up an arm as Vitagliano walked, all of them clinging to him like he was a carnival ride. He joined the Marines after one year of college. He enlisted in the Army five years later, joining the Rangers. He was born to the military, his family said. He was a military history buff growing up, played military board games, and attended the military academy. But at age 33, he was looking at retirement when he might work in his family’s real estate business and start a family of his own. Superman was a principled guy who showed his heart with actions more than words. He did not exactly have “the gift of gab,” said his wife, Nerina Giolli. When the collection plate came his way at church, he always left a roll of bills, never letting Nerina see exactly how much he gave. When others passed by a stalled car with an elderly driver, he stopped, pushed the vehicle into a lot, and gave it a jump start. While on patrol in Ramadi on January 17, he noticed with suspicion a taxi circling the area oddly, apparently headed toward a group of 36 soldiers, said his sister, Tammy Ronan. Vitagliano approached the taxi with two other men. Realizing it was a suicide attack, he tried to protect and shield his men and lost his life. For this, he was awarded the Silver Star [Medal]. “He surprised that car bomber,” Ronan said. “That bomb wasn’t intended for him. The car was heading up the street for the other guys. If it weren’t for my brother, 36 men would have died.”
At that moment, and always, he was Superman.
From an unknown newspaper or press release
Portion of Route 34 To Be Named in Honor of Fallen Hero Staff Sergeant Thomas E. Vitagliano Highway To Be Dedicated At Ceremony In Orange
ORANGE – On January 17, 2005, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Thomas Vitagliano made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of his country. Killed in action in Ramadi, Iraq, by an improvised explosive device, the New Haven soldier became the 23rd person with Connecticut ties to lose his life in Iraq or Afghanistan since March 2002. He was thirty-three years old. This week, a portion of Route 34 will be named in honor of Vitagliano in a brief ceremony at the Orange Town Hall. Staff Sergeant Vitagliano grew up in Orange and West Haven… “It is a small gesture, but an important one that says we will never forget Thomas Vitagliano or the sacrifice he made in the defense of our freedom,” said Representative Themis Klarides, who introduced the legislation naming the portion of the highway. The ceremony will take place at Orange Town Hall at 1:00 p.m. on August 31st. Vitagliano’s family will be presented with a replica of the Route 34 sign.
Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
Memorialized with a monument on West Haven Town Green, Main and Campbell Avenue, West Haven, Connecticut.
Photos by Jeff DeWitt
“V,” as we called him, Marine Corps boot camp was my bunk mate; he slept on the bottom and myself on the top bunk. If you know anything about the Marine Corps and our boot camp, “V” was our platoon guide. I retired from the Marine Corps in 2010 and was in Iraq when “V” died in 2005, although I was in the Baghdad area at the time. Obviously, he was a big dude, but he wasn’t a bully, although, with his size, he surely could have been one. It saddens me to think back on the times, conversations, and memories that I still have of him. What he did in saving lives doesn’t surprise me. Hopefully, one day, he and I will meet again and share our memories of a summer spent in South Carolina!! By the way, in these times when people of different political stripes are at each other’s throats, “V” was from the North, and me from the South. We never spoke about that or questioned each other; I had his back, and he had mine. I miss the big guy.
— Stephen “Corey” Davis
Staff Sergeant Vitagliano is buried in Saint Lawrence Cemetery, 280 Derby Avenue, West Haven, Connecticut; Mausoleum Level 1W, Row R, 18.
DOB/DOD: March 1, 1964 (Waterbury, CT) – December 29, 2009; 45 years old MARITAL STATUS: Married Betty J. Collier (1959-). CHILDREN: Stepdaughter, Kandice S. Collier Presley (1985-2011). LOCAL ADDRESS: Sherman Avenue; Waterbury ENLISTMENT: October 5, 1993 MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 91C; Practical Nurse UNIT: 274th Forward Surgical Team, 44th Medical Command; Fort Bragg, North Carolina
FAMILY: Born to James A. Sr. (1930-2020) and Rita A. Spino (1934-). Two brothers, James A. Jr. (1952-) and Glen J. (1953-). One sister, Marianne (1954-)
DECORATIONS: Awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with device, Army Achievement Medal with device, Army Good Conduct Medal with device, National Defense Service Medal with device, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two devices, Iraq Campaign Medal with device, Global War on Terrorism Medal (Expeditionary), Global War On Terrorism Medal (Service), Korean Defense Service Medal, Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon with “2” device, Army Service Medal, Army Overseas Service Medal with “4” device, NATO ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) Medal – Afghanistan, Parachutist Badge (Basic), Rifle Marksman Badge, and the Medical Badge.
CIRCUMSTANCES: Staff Sergeant Spino was killed by an Afghan soldier who also wounded two Italians when he opened fire at a base in Bala Morghab. The Afghan soldier was captured and would be tried in a military court, the result of which is unknown.
Holy Cross High School (Waterbury, CT) Class of 1982. He was also a graduate of Post University (Waterbury, CT) Class of 1986. A photo was not available.
Photo contributed by Heather DelPriore, Administrative Assistant/Advancement, Holy Cross High School
Photo from WRAL.com
From the Waterbury Republican-American on December 24, 2010
Four days after Christmas last year, a man and a woman in impeccable U.S. Army uniforms knocked on Betty Collier-Spino’s door in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Collier-Spino is a U.S. Army sergeant, now retired. At the time, it was her job to notify military families when a loved one had died. Still, every military family knows to dread a visit from two people in “Class A greens.”
Collier-Spino was told her husband of 16 years — Army Sergeant Ronald Spino — had been shot in the back by a Taliban insurgent as he unloaded a helicopter at a base in Afghanistan.
Over the past year, a different, somewhat more heroic picture has emerged of the last moments for Spino, a Waterbury native. An Army investigation and chance meetings between Spino’s family and his Army comrades at memorial events have created a new narrative.
Spino “saved the lives of many U.S. and coalition forces,” according to an Army report cited by a Spino family member.
A heavily redacted version released to the Republican-American under a Freedom of Information Act request does not include this assertion. Army public affairs officers referred questions to Spino’s outfit, the 274th Forward Surgical Team. Army Major Evonne Heib and Captain Yolanda T. Benson confirmed Spino’s last brave moments.
Spino and a group of soldiers were unloading a helicopter at Forward Operating Base Todd in Bala Morgdab when an Afghanistan National Army soldier approached and leveled his rifle at them.
Muhammad Saleh chambered a round into his AK-47 rifle and pointed it at the soldiers, witnesses said. He was shouting and panting. His eyes were bloodshot. Saleh kept pointing at the helicopter and then at the sky. Some soldiers thought he was telling them to leave.
Sergeant Spino stepped forward, trying to talk and calm him. Then he was shot. He was 46. Two Italian soldiers were wounded as well.
At least one Afghan soldier jumped on Saleh’s back. Accounts vary as to whether firing began before or after a fellow Afghan soldier tried to restrain Saleh. American and Italian soldiers joined in the struggle for Saleh’s weapon, which discharged a few more times before it was wrested away. One soldier shot Saleh in the leg during the struggle. Saleh was later tried and hanged by Afghan authorities.
Heib and Benson both credit Spino with saving their lives.
“He literally bought us time to get away,” Benson said. “I feel he is a hero. He died facing adversity rather than running away. He was so sincere. He wanted to help. Even after (Saleh) locked and loaded, he went closer to try and talk him out of whatever he was going to do.”
Spino was shot three times in the abdomen and chest. His team had only been in Afghanistan for five days. He was their first patient at Forward Operating Base Todd. Heib, an operating room nurse, held his hand, telling him he was not alone.
The 20-member 274th was approaching the end of a tour. They had spent the previous eight months in Iraq, then were to spend about a month in Afghanistan before going home. The team was split; Spino’s half landed in a drab, muddy base of tents run by an Italian Army unit, with help from the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division.
Spino was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star with valor, the Purple Heart, and a Combat Action Badge.
He grew up in Waterbury, graduated from Holy Cross High School, and worked a clerical job at Waterbury Hospital. He tried working as a mechanic but really came alive after joining the Army at age 29. There, he found his calling as a nurse, gained a passion for parachuting, and met his wife. He was a late bloomer.
Spino’s comrades describe him as dependable, very reserved, and very quiet. He kept his eyes low and talked softly, almost mumbling. His nickname around the 274th was “Eeyore,” after the sullen donkey from the Winnie the Pooh stories. It was a running joke, but Spino didn’t mind. With four tours under his belt, he was viewed as something of a father figure as well.
When others complained about weekly mortar attacks on their base in Iraq, Spino said at least they had new concrete bunkers. While others grumbled about getting shipped to Afghanistan for the last month of their tour, Spino reminded them they at least got a few weeks’ notice to prepare. Others often weren’t so lucky.
Spino never complained, Benson said. He didn’t want to spread negativity among his soldiers.
While his usual manner might have been subdued, he came alive in the medical theater, a confident voice projecting to others, Benson said. He loved to teach soldiers about medicine and had a way of explaining complex topics in simple terms.
Spino would take on tasks nobody else wanted or noticed, said Army Colonel Randall Espinosa, who led the 274th in Iraq and retired in 2008. Espinosa recalled that it was Spino who arranged to have the unit’s Humvees properly outfitted with armor. He also arranged for a flagpole to be built and erected in the 274th’s corner of a base in Iraq. Spino and Espinosa raised, saluted, lowered, and folded dozens of U.S. flags to send to schools and other supporters back home.
Espinosa, now retired from the military and an orthopedic specialist in Spokane, donated a case in which to display a set of Spino’s medals at the 274th’s home at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. There have been several tributes over the past year, and it was at these that some members of Spino’s family learned of his last sacrifice.
Hundreds of people from far and wide attended Spino’s funeral in North Carolina last January, including one woman who pulled Glen Spino aside. Her son had been at the camp in Afghanistan, she said.
“He just wanted me to tell you your brother’s actions saved lives,” she said.
“That’s the first time I heard anything other than my brother was shot in the back,” Glen Spino said.
On Veterans Day, Spino’s family members attended the dedication of a classroom in his honor at the Army Trauma Training Center at the Gordon Center for Research in Medical Education in Miami, Fla. It was here that Glen Spino met Heib and Benson, who told him what they saw that day.
Knowing has given some peace, Glen Spino said, though it’s not complete.
“It’s still just as painful now as it was a year ago,” he said. “You learn to cry inside sometimes. There’s nothing you can do. You just have to find a way to live with it. I think part of that, for me, was setting the record straight.”
After Spino’s death, well-wishers from across the country sent his wife letters and gifts, homemade prayer rosaries, and prayer blankets. Betty Collier-Spino didn’t plan to celebrate Christmas, not without her husband. But she recently received five cards from well-wishers and resolved to bring them to his grave to read on Christmas Day.
“I just wanted to thank people for their outpouring of support,” Collier-Spino said. “Ron was treated like the president or governor. I still get thank you cards and people saying thank you. It’s been a year, and I’m still getting them. It’s just so wonderful. People have got their own problems, and they still take time for me.”
Collier-Spino agrees with her brother-in-law that people should know how her husband lived and died.
“To me, personally, he was a hero from day one,” Collier-Spino said. “It’s important for people to know he was a giving soldier and was selfless.”
From The Hartford Courant on September 15, 2021
As a paratrooper and nurse, Sergeant 1st Class Ronald Jay Spino’s job was to help the wounded.
But no one could save the Waterbury native Tuesday when he was fatally shot while serving with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, his family said.
Spino, 45, was shot in the back while unloading medical supplies, his cousin, Judi Van Alstyne of Berlin, said Wednesday.
He leaves his wife, Betty – whom he met in the military – and a stepdaughter, Kandice, 24. His parents, Rita and James Spino, raised him in Waterbury with his brothers, Glen and James Jr., and his sister, Marianne. His home with Betty is in Fayetteville, North Carolina, near Fort Bragg.
Spino graduated from Holy Cross High School and Teikyo Post University, now known simply as Post University. He worked in the records room of Waterbury Hospital, where his mother also worked.
There, Spino was known as a conscientious but quiet worker, said Kathy Mancini, a fellow records employee, through hospital spokesman Matt Burgard. If someone needed information, Burgard said, “he’d go out of his way to help.”
His mother said, “I was outgoing, but my son was quite shy. He blossomed when he joined the service. It was his true love.”
Spino joined the Army in 1993 at age 29. At first, he was a medic, his mother said. Then he became a nurse, then a paratrooper, and, finally, a paratrooper/nurse, trained to parachute into war-torn areas and help injured soldiers.
This was his fifth assignment, she said; he was transferred from Iraq to Afghanistan two weeks ago.
His body is scheduled to be flown to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Friday, his mother said.
“He’ll be coming home on New Year’s Day.”
From ObitsMassLive.com
I never met Ronald in person. I was assigned to perform a 15-6 (investigation) after he lost his life. I spoke with many people where he was. It became so clear to me how special he was and how he took care of people around him. It also seemed clear to me that he was a peacemaker and likely saved other lives that day. Like I said, I never met him, but I often think about him. Your son was definitely a hero who cared for those around him. I wish you all the best.
— Jerrod W. Killian, Colonel, U.S. Army (retired)
My deepest condolences for your loss. Staff Sergeant Spino was truly a remarkable soldier. I had the honor of deploying with him in ’05 with the 274th, and in his quiet demeanor, we always knew we could count on him to always be there for his fellow soldiers, never turning away from a soldier in need. He will be missed and always remembered by the soldiers of the 274th FST. May God bless you and your family.
— Staff Sergeant Mirna I. Velez
Honored on the City of Waterbury (CT) Global War On Terrorism Memorial
Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
Staff Sergeant Spino’s brother Glen has a flagpole in his front yard in honor of his brother.
Photo by Glen Spino.
Staff Sergeant Spino is buried in Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery, 8220 Bragg Boulevard, Spring Lake, North Carolina; Section 8A, Site 732.
Photo from FindAGrave.com. Photo credit to contributor Larry Gaylord.
Also memorialized at Our Lady of Lourdes Garden of the Resurrection, 1301 Center Road, Venice, Florida.
Photo from FindAGrave.com. Photo credit to contributor Lois Walker.
DOB/DOD: October 16, 1990 (Bridgeport, CT) – June 14, 2011; 20 years old MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried LOCAL ADDRESS: Soundview Drive; Woodbridge ENLISTMENT: May 10, 2010 MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 13F10; Fire Support Specialist UNIT: Battery B, 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division; Fort Carson, Colorado
FAMILY: Born to Michael J. (1956-) and Donna Johnson Soufrine (1957-). One brother, Joshua D. (1982-). One sister, Rebecca L. [U.S. Army veteran] (1985-).
DECORATIONS: Awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with device, Global War on Terrorism Medal (Service), Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) Medal – Afghanistan, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the Combat Action Badge.
CIRCUMSTANCES: Private First Class Soufrine was killed when the vehicle he was riding in hit an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at a river crossing in the Shewan Garrison Village, Afghanistan.
Graduated from Amity Regional High School, Class of 2009.
Thanks to the Woodbridge Library. The bottom photo is from the 2007 yearbook.
Photo from Infantry.org
Photos contributed by Donna Soufrine. The photo two above was taken at Fort Benning [now Fort Moore], Georgia, on July 10, 2010, at Eric’s boot camp graduation. Sister, Rebecca (left), mother, Donna 2nd from left, Eric, and father, Michael, far right. Photo above taken at the Hamden Fish & Game Club, where Eric was a member
From Gazette.com on July 13, 2011 By Tom Roeder
1st BCT’s last casualty in war tour remembered as ‘gentle giant’ Private First Class Eric D. Soufrine was so close to home.
The soldier in Fort Carson’s 1st Brigade Combat Team was on a mission to train troops who were taking over his platoon’s job — scheduled to be one of his final missions after six months in Afghanistan.
Family members were looking forward to his coming home in two short weeks. His whole unit was dreaming about the embraces they’d receive in Colorado Springs.
“The loss of Private First Class Soufrine has had a devastating effect on our formation,” his battalion commander, an emotional Lieutenant Colonel Craig Berryman, told a crowd of mourners in the pews of Soldiers Memorial Chapel on the post Wednesday.
The 20-year-old Connecticut native died June 14 in Farah province when his convoy was hit by a roadside bomb. His death was the 14th and final loss for the 1st Brigade, which brought the last of its 3,800 soldiers home over the weekend.
“It was a tragic loss,” said Sergeant Jacob Kape, who was Soufrine’s boss for a two-month stretch.
At 6-foot-5, Soufrine was a towering young man whose presence was hard to ignore. He joined the Army in May 2010 and trained as a forward artillery observer.
He got to Fort Carson in October and went through a quick training program before flying to Afghanistan, where the soldiers in his new unit were fighting as infantry in a desert-like stretch of western Afghanistan near the Iranian border.
There, he and his comrades, separated from the rest of their Kandahar-based brigade, patrolled alongside Afghan, Italian, and Spanish troops.
Berryman said insurgents were scarce in the agricultural region. But bombings were always a threat.
In camp, Soufrine didn’t seem worried about the threats. He was learning fast and fitting in faster.
He became known as a competent machine gunner and a better wide receiver in pick-up football games on the compound.
“He was a beast,” Kape said after the service.
Family members knew him as a gentle giant, said Captain Joseph Moffitt, a chaplain who presided over the service. He was the big guy who volunteered in nursing homes, Moffitt said.
In Afghanistan, Soufrine picked up the nickname “Surefire” after the band of flashlights GIs have attached to their rifles and a play on the new guy’s last name.
Soufrine was a gunner seated in the turret atop an armored truck on his last convoy, which was returning to base, Berryman said after the service.
The bombers just got lucky.
Kape said the pain is still raw.
“We were so close to home.”
From the New Haven Register on June 18, 2011
Eric Daniel Soufrine, beloved son of Michael J. Soufrine and Donna Johnson Soufrine of Woodbridge. Brother of Joshua (Jessica) Soufrine of Johns Creek, GA, and Army (SPC) Rebecca Soufrine of Woodbridge, currently stationed at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Beloved grandson of Bettyanne and Sanford Soufrine of Woodbridge and the late Edward and Nan Johnson of Hamden. Eric will be deeply missed by many aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, “Army brothers,” his girlfriend Paige Woodward, and his faithful and loving dog, Emma. Eric was born on October 16, 1990, and was a graduate of Amity Regional High School, class of 2009. Eric proudly and honorably joined the Army in May 2010 and graduated from Army basic training in July 2010. Eric then attended advanced individual training in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and graduated as a Fire Support Specialist in September 2010. Eric was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado, previous to his deployment to Afghanistan, where he joined his unit 4-42 FA in December 2010. Eric was awarded a promotion to Private 1st Class during his deployment, and on May 28th, 2011, Eric received an award for Soldier of the Month. He also received the Army Achievement Medal (AAM). Eric’s family has a history of serving the USA through military service. Both of his grandfather’s proudly served in the USMC, as well as many uncles and cousins. He also has a cousin currently serving in the Army. Eric was a true outdoorsman; he loved boating, water skiing, and hunting. Eric was a long-time member of the Hamden Fish & Game Club, where he shot skeet with his father in a league for many years. Funeral Services at Congregation Mishkan Israel, 785 Ridge Road, Hamden, Sunday morning at 11:00 o’clock, with Interment Services to follow at Mishkan Israel Cemetery, Jewell Street, New Haven. Visitation with family will commence at 10:00 o’clock. A Period of Mourning will be observed at the home of Michael & Donna Soufrine on Sunday following the service through 5 p.m. and Monday from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m., & Tuesday from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
From KRDO.com on May 24, 2012
A special ceremony on Thursday morning to honor soldiers who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice for their country in the global war on terrorism. Outside Gate One at Fort Carson, off Highway 115, there are nine stone tablets to honor these soldiers. This new group means the total of Fort Carson heroes is 366 on the memorial stones.
Friends, family, and fellow soldiers gathered to pay their respects to this group. Here is the list of men who were honored today. They include Staff Sergeant Lex Lee Lewis, Master Sergeant Charles Levan Price, The Third, Captain Drew E. Russell, Captain Joshua S. Lawrence, Specialist Christopher L. Mendonca, Staff Sergeant Allen R. McKenna, Jr., Staff Sergeant Daniel J. Brown, Private First Class Eric D. Soufrine, and Sergeant Ken K. Hermogino.
The family didn’t want to talk because they were still grieving their loved ones. Two Fort Carson soldiers did talk with me about their friends, mentors, and fellow comrades in arms.
Captain Andrew Cairns wanted you to know more about his friend and roommate, Captain Drew Edward Russell. He said, “Drew was always playing with GI Joes while he was growing up. He always dreamed of being an Army man, joining the Army, being an Army officer, and leading soldiers in combat.” Cairns said, “Drew’s sense of humor was priceless. He could provide levity during some pretty stressful situations.”
Staff Sergeant John Hammill wanted you to know more about his former platoon leader and mentor, Master Sergeant Charles Levan Price, III. He said, “Charles would do anything for his soldiers, on duty and off duty.” Hammill added, “In our line of work, in combat, we don’t know if we’re coming back day to day. We think about who we’re doing it for and why we’re doing it. A soldier goes out every morning doing it for his family, for his soldiers, and to make sure his soldiers come back. If he has to give up his life to do it, he’ll do it.”
Memorialized on Route 63 from the intersection of Burnt Swamp Road north to Route 67 in Woodbridge, Connecticut.
Photo by Jeff DeWitt
Memorialized at Woodbridge Town Hall, 11 Meetinghouse Lane, Woodbridge, Connecticut.
Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
From Legacy.com
My husband, PFC Justin Quinton, and I had the honor of knowing PFC Soufrine here at Fort Carson. There are no words that can express the heartbreak of losing such an amazing person. Eric was the best at everything he did. He loved what he did and held himself in such a respectful and honorable manner. Every time we look at the flag, we will think of him, his bravery, and his selfless love for the country. He is a true American hero. And we all are mourning the loss of a great friend and fellow brother. Your family will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers.
— Nicole Quinton
Private First Class Soufrine is buried in Congregation Mishkan Israel Cemetery, 701Whalley Avenue, New Haven, Connecticut; Plot CW12.
DOB/DOD: October 22, 1976 (New Haven, CT) – October 2, 2009; 32 years old MARITAL STATUS: Engaged to be married to Beth Segaloff (1973-). LOCAL ADDRESS: Santa Fe Avenue; Hamden COMMISSIONED: 2003 MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 38A; Civil Affairs Officer UNIT: Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 422nd Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve; Greensboro, North Carolina
FAMILY:Born to Gary (1950-) and Laura S. Mintz Sklaver (1950-). One brother, Samuel (1980-). One sister, Anna “Annie” M. Sklaver Orenstein (1984-).
DECORATIONS: Awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with device, Global War on Terrorism Medal (Expeditionary), Global War on Terrorism Medal (Service), Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) Medal – Afghanistan, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge (Basic), and the Civil Affairs Badge.
CIRCUMSTANCES: Captain Sklaver died in Murcheh, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when a suicide bomber attacked him. Also killed in this incident:
Army Private First Class Alan H. Newton, Jr.; Asheboro, NC
Hamden High School Class of 1995
Photos from the 1995 yearbook contributed by Elisa James, Ph.D., Library Media Specialist, Hamden High School.
Tufts University Class of 1999, School of Arts and Sciences. Also received a Master of Arts degree in International Relations, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Class of 2003.
From The Associated Press in The Day (New London, CT) on October 6, 2009 By Pat Eaton-Robb
Dad: Soldier wanted to win hearts of Afghans
HARTFORD, Connecticut — Army Captain Benjamin Sklaver was a humanitarian who lived and died trying to fix whatever he found broken in the world, his friends and family said Monday.
The 32-year-old reservist had worked on refugee issues in Africa and started a nonprofit organization that brought clean drinking water to thousands. He was killed Friday in southeastern Afghanistan when his civil affairs unit was ambushed by a suicide attacker.
“Ben was a patriot, loved his country, and loved serving,” said friend Jake Herrle. “But he also saw his job in the Army to be a combatant for peace. He saw the Army as a way to do greater good.”
Sklaver, a Hamden native, was almost finished with his reserve commitment and was engaged to be married when he was recalled to duty this spring and sent to Afghanistan.
His job there was to help the military establish better relationships with the Pashtun people so fewer would join the Taliban, said his father, Gary Sklaver. He would meet with village elders to find out if they needed schools, a hospital, or clean water, and then he would help them get it. Often, he would not know whether the people he was working with were sympathetic to the enemy.
“The people who are there doing good, such as my son, are the biggest threat to the Taliban because if they win over the hearts and minds of the population, then the Taliban doesn’t have the recruiting points they would have if the soldiers just came in, knocked on doors and killed people,” his father said.
Ben Sklaver had a history of winning people’s hearts and minds, Gary Sklaver said.
After graduating with a master’s degree in international relations from Tufts University, he went to work for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and traveled to Malawi in Africa to work on international hunger and refugee relief issues.
In 2006, his reserve unit was sent to the Horn of Africa. He ended up in northern Uganda, where his mission was to help refugees re-establish communities after 20 years of civil war. Most of his work involved finding new sources of clean water, helping dig wells, or creating protected springs, his father said.
He was so moved by the suffering he saw that he founded the nonprofit Clearwater Initiative when he got home, recruiting friends to help him continue the work in Uganda.
“It was totally volunteer. He had a full-time job with the CDC and spent about 30 hours a week of his own time working on this,” his father said.
The organization allows donors to contribute to specific projects, such as repairing a well at a school. They can then follow online as the project they funded is completed.
Since it began, the Clearwater Initiative has provided access to clean water for more than 6,500 people, said Herrle, who volunteers and serves on the charity’s board. Sklaver’s goal was to increase that to 250,000 within 10 years.
“He was a tremendously bright and caring person,” Herrle said. “He could have very easily just coasted along on his talent, looking out for himself. But because of the way he saw the world and saw his place in it, he always tried to improve it.”
Sklaver had just begun a job in New York with the Federal Emergency Management Agency when he was called back to active duty in the spring.
At the time of his death, his friends were preparing a giant care package to send to him for Thanksgiving. Everyone who donated to the package also made a donation to his nonprofit.
His family is requesting that mourners contribute to the charity instead of sending flowers.
Sklaver’s funeral is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Congregation Mishkan Israel in Hamden.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell has ordered state flags to remain at half-staff until Sklaver has been interred.
From the Jewish Journal on May 26, 2022 By Rich Tenorio and Linda Matchan
WE DON’T WANT THEIR NAMES TO BE FORGOTTEN: Jewish War Veterans To Be Remembered On Memorial Day
Newtown attorney Harvey Weiner is a decorated Vietnam War veteran and a former national commander of the Jewish War Veterans of the USA. While stationed in South Vietnam’s Mekong Delta in 1969, he experienced everything from night ambushes and rocket attacks to small raids and sniper fire. He was involved in a roadside bombing when a land mine blew up a jeep driving just ahead of his own vehicle.
So, every year around this time, Weiner undertakes a self-imposed special mission. He urges rabbis to honor the memory of every Jewish service member who has died in combat since Sept. 11, 2001 – the date of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington – asking them to recite their names on the Shabbat before Memorial Day.
He said he was once told about a Jewish teaching that human beings die twice: Once when the body dies and once when their names are no longer mentioned. Though he doesn’t know the source, the idea resonates with him deeply.
“We don’t want their names to be forgotten,” he said.
As of this year, the number of known Jewish service members who have died in combat since 2001 stands at 58: two women and 56 men. They range in age from 19 to 43 and represent 27 states. Their hometowns are urban, suburban, and rural.
They served in Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn) and in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel). “They seem to be Jews from all walks of life,” Weiner said. “All ranks, from private to major, all the different branches of the service.”
One of these servicemen had a Massachusetts connection. Army Captain Ben Sklaver was 32 in 2009 when he was killed in Muscheh, Afghanistan, by a suicide bomber waiting silently behind a building as Sklaver rounded the corner.
Sklaver, from Hamden, Connecticut, attended Tufts University in Medford, where he earned an undergraduate degree in international relations and a master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, focusing on security studies and humanitarian assistance. While attending Tufts, he enrolled in ROTC.
“He was very much a humanitarian who just wanted to help people and make the world a better place,” said his younger sister, Annie Sklaver Orenstein, who is writing a book based on her brother’s life and diaries. “Always a Sibling” is expected to be released in late 2023 or early 2024.
“He felt the military had the infrastructure and resources available to it to access communities in need – more access than an NGO [non-governmental organization] would have,” she said.
In an earlier deployment, Sklaver had served in northern Uganda, which opened his eyes to the problems endemic in regions beset by violence and civil unrest. He developed a passion for bringing clean water supplies to such areas.
“He was interested in boosting infrastructure and local resources,” said Orenstein. “He was really moved and impacted by the effect that building a well could have in a community that didn’t have safe drinking water and where kids couldn’t go to school because they had to go get water.”
When he was 30, Sklaver founded the ClearWater Initiative, a nonprofit working to supply clean drinking water to rural Ugandans.
After her brother died, she read his journals and wrote about them in a 2020 essay for Time magazine. In one entry, Sklaver referenced the anonymity of men and women in the military:
2/6/98 Geneva, Switzerland
Went to the Red Cross Museum today and got a needed reminder of the faces behind the war. Not the numbers we talk about, but the faces … [It] made me wonder: Why don’t people learn war kills? Can this be changed? Is war human nature? No. Human nature is a desire for security, food, and shelter. So, does a solution exist? Help. Seems like the only choice for now. Just go in and help.
“The military was how he died, not how he lived,” Orenstein said. “I think there is this narrative that people just join the military to get the bad guys. I think he was so far from that. For him, it wasn’t about the bad guys. It was about people who didn’t have the resources.”
The Jewish War Veterans organization is participating in several commemorative events across the state for Memorial Day.
U.S. Representative Jake Auchincloss of Newton, a Jewish Marine Corps veteran who served in Afghanistan and Panama, described JWV as a very important organization, one of a constellation of Jewish civic organizations “that make American Jewish life so vibrant.”
In Eastern Massachusetts, JWV members will plant flags at cemeteries, including on the North Shore. The planting of flags to remember veterans is a major undertaking and a challenging one.
Korea veteran Alan Lehman, commander of the JWV North Shore Post 220 in Peabody, was looking to have over 1,000 graves of Jewish veterans flagged at cemeteries in Lynn, Danvers, and Peabody by Memorial Day.
His wife Donna Lehman, herself an Iraq War veteran, said flagging is hard work for those who help out, many of whom are elderly. Sometimes, they have to plant flags in the rain.
“We need new members,” she said. “It’s hard to get people to join.”
The North Shore post will join its fellow members of the Peabody Veterans Council for a Memorial Day service at Cedar Grove Cemetery on Sunday, May 29, at 9:30 a.m. The post will then march in Peabody’s Memorial Day parade.
Barry Lischinsky, the JWV national chief of staff who is affiliated with North Shore Post 220, was focusing on Pride of Lynn Cemetery in Lynn, where he expected American flags would be planted at the gravesites of 261 Jewish veterans.
The second annual memorial service at Pride of Lynn will take place on Sunday, May 29, at 10 a.m.
Lehman said anyone who has a relative who was a veteran and whose grave is not marked with a flag should contact the cemetery. “Every veteran,” he said, “deserves a flag.”
The Legacy of the ClearWater Initiative
On January 1, 2016, ClearWater Initiative (CWI) formally merged with the International Lifeline Fund. As a result, these two separate organizations became a single legal entity under the Lifeline name. ClearWater was founded in 2007 by the late Benjamin Sklaver, a graduate of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and a U.S. Army captain assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division’s civil affairs unit. Serving a two-year tour in Uganda that began in 2006, Ben watched sorrowfully as young children drank filthy water from stagnant pools and learned of the horrifying health consequences: over 20,000 kids were dying each year from preventable water-borne diseases. Determined to do something to prevent this needless tragedy, Ben returned to his home in New Haven, spread the word of what he had seen, mobilized friends and family, raised funds, and established CWI to provide clean water infrastructure to remote villagers in Northern Uganda’s war-torn Gulu district. As a result of his efforts, more than 13,000 people across the region gained access to fresh drinking water, and Ben earned the affectionate moniker of “Moses Ben.” Following the conclusion of his tour in Uganda, Ben was hired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct disaster planning for the New York tri-state area. Two years later, in 2009, he was redeployed to Afghanistan, where he was killed by a suicide bomber while on patrol near the Afghan border. Ben was survived by his fiancé, Beth Segaloff, with whom he was to be wed that summer, and his parents, Gary and Laura Sklaver. But while Ben is no longer with us, through the merger between Lifeline and CWI, his legacy of ensuring access to clean water to Uganda’s rural poor lives on to this day. With the merger of the two organizations, Lifeline embedded the core elements of ClearWater’s approach – namely, direct community engagement, coordination with local government, and reliance on indigent talent – into its own. As a direct result, our two organizations have been able to achieve far more together than we could have possibly achieved separately and, hence, are doing more to honor Ben’s profound legacy than ever before.
A testimonial from Beth Segaloff, Ben Sklaver’s fiancée.
I met Ben in July 2008 and immediately knew he was who I had been waiting for. He was an extraordinary man. He was strong and compassionate, kind and brilliant, thoughtful and loyal- his presence made me feel safe.
Six weeks into our relationship, Ben said to me, “I have good news and bad news. The good news is that we’re getting married next summer on the beach. The bad news is that I’m deploying.”
He deployed in July 2009 and was killed on October 2, 2009. The pain was unbearable.
It’s been 15 years. There is no timeline in grief. So, while I am not in mourning, grief can be present because love is always there.
Our time together was far too brief. I grieve Ben’s death, and I grieve the life we had planned. And yet—I hold deep meaning from the time we shared. That time was FULL. The greatest gift was that we experienced true love.
While we did not get to share our life together as planned, I continue to carry the lessons and wisdom from Ben—lessons from our relationship and even from my grief. There are qualities of Ben’s that I strive to embody in my own life: leadership, pursuing peace, and tikkun olam (Hebrew for “repairing the world”).
I feel confident in saying that if you knew Ben, he had a lasting effect on you. It’s my hope that Ben’s legacy lives on through others striving for goodness in the world and living authentic lives.
Soon after Ben died, someone asked me about his legacy. Fifteen years later, I feel the best way I can honor Ben’s legacy is to live my life with more love, more joy, more laughter, and more peace. I try to do this every day with my relationships, with my community, and with my work.
A eulogy written and posted to TogetherWeServed.com by Captain Thoreen of Blackwatch 6.
“Ben Sklaver was my friend. I didn’t know him long, but I had come to know him as well as a man could in the time we spent together from the Arghandab Valley during Opportunity Hold to the back roads of Maywand. His enduring smile, friendly insistence in having everyone call him “Ben”- just Ben, and his desire to make a difference in the world are just a few of the things that defined him in Blackwatch. He saw hope here in Afghanistan when so many others did not. He loved to say we were going to bring “goodness and light” to Maywand- not in the naïve sense, but with a smirk and a laugh, fully knowing the obstacles, pitfalls, and frustrations we’d face. Yet, he was bound and determined that one way or another, we would make a positive difference here.
Ben dedicated his life to helping others, both in and out of the Army. In Uganda, they called him “Moses Ben” for the work he did there with CA, and then went on to found Clearwater, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing clean water to rural villages in Uganda. In the private sector, he worked for the CDC and then FEMA, doing humanitarian relief at home and abroad. Here, he was going to do all he could to leave this district a better place.
The night before Ben was killed, we sat out behind his room smoking cigars and talking, avoiding work and simply sharing our ideas about the future. It was our way to get away. I got to know his fiancée, Beth, and stepson and heard about his travels through Israel, Europe, the Horn of Africa, and his relief work right at home during Hurricane Katrina. He had done an amazing amount in his 32 years and was one of the most generous, caring, and genuinely selfless people I’ve met. It is tragically ironic that the very people he was trying to help took him from us.
If our lives are judged on how we’ve touched the lives of others and made a difference in the world around us, there are few that can match Ben. He was an intellectual, humble, and dedicated humanitarian who improved the lives of thousands and will surely continue to touch the lives of thousands more for years to come. Ben will live on in our memories, showing all of us what a man can do and the difference he can make, proving that he can bring goodness and light to even the darkest places.”
Captain Sklaver is buried in Farband Jewish Cemetery, 157 East Street, Morris, Connecticut; Section 3, Row I, Plot 385.
DOB/DOD: September 4, 1983 (Carmel, NY) – May 11, 2005; 21 years old MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried LOCAL ADDRESS: North Beech Tree Road; Brookfield ENLISTMENT: November 4, 2003 MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 0351; Infantry Assaultman UNIT: I Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Regimental Combat Team-7, 1st Marine Division), 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
FAMILY: Born to John T. Schmidt Jr. (1960-) and Barbara A. Backlund Schmidt Jimenez (1962-). Stepfather, Eric Jimenez (1955-). One stepbrother, Dan Jimenez (1987-).
DECORATIONS: Awarded the Purple Heart Medal. Other medals and ribbons are unknown.
CIRCUMSTANCES: Lance Corporal Schmidt died in Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, on May 11, 2005, from wounds received on January 30, 2005, in Fallujah, Iraq. He had been in Iraq less than two weeks before being wounded.
Graduated from Oviedo (Florida) High School, Class of 2002.
Photo from FindAGrave.com. Photo credit to contributor Elizabeth Reed.
Photo contributed by CTHM (Connecticut Trees of Honor Memorial)
From The Hartford Courant on May 14, 2005
MARINE FROM BROOKFIELD DIES
A U.S. Marine from Brookfield died Tuesday of wounds he suffered while serving in Iraq earlier this year, state and military officials said Thursday. Lance Corporal John T. Schmidt III, 21, suffered severe burns to his face and lungs when a mortar shell ruptured a tank of ammonia in Al Anbar Province on January 30. Schmidt was transferred to the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, for treatment in February. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Schmidt’s unit was attached to the 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, according to the Department of Defense. In an interview with the Danbury News-Times this year, Schmidt’s grandfather, Richard Backlund, said his grandson was a “typical teenager” who grew up in Danbury and moved to be with his mother in Florida, where he graduated from high school. He then returned to Connecticut for a year with his mother before surprising his family and telling them he wanted to enlist in the Marines, his grandparents said. Schmidt had been in Iraq less than two weeks when he was wounded, the News-Times said.
From the Orlando (FL) Sentinel on May 14, 2005 By Robert Perez | Sentinel Staff Writer
MARINE JOHN T. SCHMIDT III, 21, WAS ‘TOTALLY FOCUSED’ ON MISSION IN IRAQ
It was a day of triumph in Iraq when millions of people voted in the country’s first free election in decades. But for U.S. Marine Lance Corporal John T. Schmidt III, the events of January 30 ultimately led to his death. Schmidt, 21, was one of five Marines seriously burned when a rocket or mortar shell landed in his barracks and ruptured an ammonia tank. Schmidt, a 2002 graduate of Oviedo High School, suffered extensive burns to his skin, esophagus, and lungs. He died Wednesday from complications of his injuries at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. The final months of Schmidt’s life were difficult, said his aunt, Denese Richmond of Winter Springs. He was on a respirator and had to use hand signals or written messages to communicate, she said. “He was dejected because he just continued to have complications,” she said. “His lungs were so damaged he was never able to recover.” That was a far cry from the fun-loving, outgoing young man who spent two years in Central Florida. Schmidt was interested in computers, computer graphics, cartooning, and ice hockey, Richmond said. “He was always playing hockey at the RDV (Sportsplex) center,” she said. After graduating from high school, he enrolled at Seminole Community College but soon decided to enlist. Richmond said. He completed a peacekeeping tour in Haiti and returned knowing his next deployment would be to Iraq, she said. “He was totally focused and committed to go do this,” Richmond said. “He never expressed any regrets.” Schmidt, a member of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, had been in Iraq for less than two weeks, providing security for the elections, when he was wounded. Schmidt is also survived by his parents, Barbara Jimenez of Danbury, Connecticut, and John T. Schmidt Jr. of Bunnell; one brother, Dan Jimenez of Danbury; and grandparents, Richard and Jean Backlund of St. Augustine Beach. Schmidt will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on May 25. A memorial service is scheduled for Thursday in Danbury.
From The Daytona Beach News-Journal on May 27, 2022 By Frank Fernandez | The Daytona Beach News-Journal
PALM COAST HONORS FALLEN MARINE BY DEDICATING FIRE ENGINE IN HIS MEMORY
John Schmidt Jr. looks at the name of his son, fallen Marine Lance Corporal John T. Schmidt III, which was placed on a Palm Coast fire truck in honor of the Marine. Photo by Palm Coast Fire Department.
A Palm Coast fire truck will honor the memory of a fallen Marine with Flagler County links as it rolls on calls throughout the city. The Palm Coast Fire Department honored Marine Lance Corporal John T. Schmidt III during a recent Gold Star dedication ceremony at Fire Station 21 at 9 Corporate Drive, according to a press release from the city. “John’s engine will be first in and last out to all the calls for one of our busiest zones and second due to everywhere in the city,” stated Fire Chief Jerry Forte. “We will send John’s truck to ease the pain, suffering, and anxiety of those in distress or perhaps just make their day better, just as he set out to leave this world a better place by his willingness to defend this great nation. We’re forever grateful for his supreme sacrifice.” The 2021 Pierce Enforcer fire engine was delivered to the fire department earlier this year and is based at Fire Station 21, which is known by firefighters as “The Lion’s Den,” according to the press release.
Memorialized with a bridge on Route 133 and Route 7 in Brookfield, Connecticut
Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
From Legacy.com
I knew Johnny from a very early age as we both attended the YMCA during the summers in Bethel. We lost touch with each other, and we happened to enlist around the same time and attended pool functions together. We are both infantry Marines, and despite trying to prepare for the loss we are sure to encounter in time of war, one can never truly prepare, especially when it happens to a friend of yours… I still have his face in my head when we would spend hours playing kickball at the field in the summer after the afternoon swim. My heart goes out to his family, and I can only hope that I can make him proud when it is my turn to fight as he did for us.
— LCpl Ron Lienhardt
The day before it happened, I was checking on Schmidt at his post on OP 2. I climbed up to the rooftop to see if he needed some water; he said I’m good, Corporal. It’s nice out here and quiet. I stayed up there with him to keep him company, and we talked for an hour or two; we talked about how we wanted to go home, and I told him about my girlfriend and how upset she was. He told me that I’d see her soon enough and that I had to keep my head up. He said what he missed the most was his family and everyone he loved; he just missed being home. But he’ll see them again. Before I left to check on the other Marines, he held the ladder for me so it wouldn’t shake, and I ended up falling. I said thanks and looked up and asked if he wanted some water or anything. He said, “No, I’m good. Thanks, corporal”, and he smiled. Like a smile of content, I’ve never seen anyone happy just to be out there. I’ll see you soon, John; hold the ladder for me so I can climb up to where you and everyone are when my time here is over. I always think about you and everyone. So many people have told me that I was a hero for doing what I did. I’m not a hero. Heroes are those who can smile through despair and give hope when everything seems hopeless. Heroes are those who lay down their lives for those they fought for. You’re that Hero, not me. Semper Fidelis, I’ll see you soon.
— 3/8 [signed like this; no name given]
Lance Corporal Schmidt is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, 1 Memorial Avenue, Arlington, Virginia; Section 60, Site 8113. NOTE: The symbol in the top center of the headstone represents the United Methodist Church.
DOB/DOD: February 18, 1991 (Hartford, CT) – April 11, 2012; 21 years old MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried LOCAL ADDRESS: Fuller Road; Pleasant Valley ENLISTMENT: June 2010 MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 11B10; Infantryman UNIT: Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division; Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington
FAMILY: Born to Erik M.B. Schiller (1967-) and Robin G. Sipe Schiller Larsen (1959-). One sister, Courtney (1987-).
DECORATIONS: Awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with device, Global War on Terrorism Medal (Service), Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) Medal – Afghanistan, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
CIRCUMSTANCES: Specialist Schiller was killed by small-arms fire while on patrol in Afghanistan.
The Colony High School (Texas), Class of 2010.
Photo above: JROTC D Company.
The photo two above is from FindAGrave.com and contributor Lance Ramsey-Roberts. The above is from Army.TogetherWeServed.com.
From The Hartford Courant on April 17, 2012 By Christine Dempsey
FALLEN SOLDIER HONORED FOR BRAVERY
Specialist Philip Schiller, Formerly Of Connecticut, Killed In Afghanistan
Even after he was wounded by enemy fire in Afghanistan, Specialist Philip C.S. Schiller kept firing, his father and aunt said Monday. “He did his job,” said Erik Schiller said on Monday. “He did his best to protect his unit.” “He continued to cover his squad even after he was hit,” Ellen Schiller Gilbert said. “That prevented the rest of his squad from being killed.” For that, Schiller, a former Connecticut resident, was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medals. “He took his military service very seriously, and he became a man in the service,” Gilbert said. The 21-year-old died on April 11 in Kandahar province, according to officials at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in the state of Washington. Schiller lived in the Pleasant Valley section of Barkhamsted, in West Hartford, and in Winsted before moving to The Colony, Texas, a few years ago, Gilbert said. He graduated in 2010 from The Colony High School, where he had joined the Junior Officers’ Reserve Corps, according to a school spokeswoman.
From The Dallas Morning News on April 21, 2012
U.S. Army Specialist Philip Channing Sipe Schiller was born February 18, 1991, in Hartford, Connecticut, and was killed April 11, 2012, while on duty in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Philip was active in ROTC at The Colony High School, where he graduated. He is survived by his father, Erik Schiller; his mother, Robin Larsen; his sister, Courtney Schiller; and many other loving family members and friends. Visitation will be from 6:00 – 8:00 PM on Monday, April 23, 2012, at Jeter & Son. The funeral service will be Tuesday, April 24, 2012, at 1:00 PM at Jeter & Son Chapel. Internment with military honors will follow at the Dallas / Fort Worth National Cemetery.
From JeterandSon.com
My love and deepest sympathy to your family. I’m Scott Farnsworth’s Mom; the boys served together. Now, they’re both partying with all the other warriors in Valhalla. Philip will NEVER be forgotten!
— Pat Farnsworth
I work in Afghanistan. We feel your pain every day that we lose a hero over here. We mourn with you in every way. He did not die in vain. His loss is our loss as well. May GOD bless you and keep you. [obits.dallasnews.com]
— A. Holcombe
Philip had so many wonderful qualities. Even though he was his sister, Courtney’s little brother, he was her big brother whom she loved so very much. His smile and laughter were infectious, and he would always say, “I love you more.” Philip would give you the shirt off his back and stand beside you no matter what. He was so full of life and took things head-on; that’s just who he was. [CarryTheLoad.com]
A U.S. Army carry team transfers the remains of Army Specialist Philip C. S. Schiller of The Colony, Texas, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, April 14, 2012. Schiller was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo/Adrian R. Rowan)
Specialist Schiller is buried in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, Texas; Section 88, Site 16.
DOB/DOD: May 10, 1982 (New London, CT) – May 25, 2010; 28 years old MARITAL STATUS: Married Yesenia M. Hidalgo (1978-) on August 11, 2005 in East Hampton, CT CHILDREN: Three sons, Edwin Jr. (2003-2004), Rolando M. (1998-), and Lorenzo (2006-). LOCAL ADDRESS: Millstone Road; Waterford ENLISTMENT: 2002 MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 11B30; Infantryman UNIT: Company A, 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), 87 Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division; Norwalk, CT
FAMILY: Born to Ceferino (1953-) and Gladys Mercedes Rivera (1955-). Two sisters, Naomi (1977-) and Miriam Rivera-Farrar (1979-).
DECORATIONS:Awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three devices, Global War on Terrorism Medal (Service), Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon with “2” device, NATO ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) Medal – Afghanistan with device, Parachutist Badge (Basic), Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon with device.
CIRCUMSTANCES: Staff Sergeant Rivera died on May 25, 2010, at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, from wounds received on May 20, 2010, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using indirect fire at Contingency Outpost Xio Haq, Afghanistan.
Waterford High School, Class of 2000.
The photo is from the 1999 yearbook and was contributed by Matthew Cadorette, Librarian at Waterford High School.
Photos from TogetherWeServed.com.
From The Hartford Courant on May 27, 2010 By Rinker Buck
A SOLDIER’S ‘DUTY’ Wounded In 2nd Afghan Tour, State Resident Dies
Last summer, six months before he was deployed to Afghanistan for the second time, infantry Sergeant Edwin Rivera sat in his car in the driveway of his parent’s house in Waterford and explained to his mother why he was returning to war. It was the sad faces of the children he had seen in Afghanistan during his first tour there in 2006, he said, faces that still reminded him of why American soldiers were there. “When the U.S. soldiers drive by,” Rivera told his mother, Gladys, that night, “the children will scramble like mad in the dust just to get thrown a simple pencil from us. They don’t even have pencils. I was born for this. It’s my duty to protect those families over there.” Now, there is chilling immediacy to her memories, for Rivera has paid a high price for returning to those Afghan faces. Rivera died Tuesday night at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, of wounds he received in a firefight in Laghman Province on May 20. Rivera, a 2000 graduate of Waterford High School, left for Afghanistan in early January with the 1st Battalion of the 102nd Infantry Regiment, a Connecticut National Guard unit based in New Haven. Many of the soldiers, like Rivera, were on their second and third deployments to Afghanistan or Iraq. Rivera’s 700-member deployment group, which included the 250th Engineer Company of New London, was the largest deployment of the Connecticut Guard since the Korean War. Rivera’s family lives on a winding street of modest, meticulously kept houses about a mile from the New London line. His parents are hardworking Puerto Ricans who moved here in the 1970s, raised a family, and were proud to have their only son assert his identity as an American soldier, even after they faced the hardship of his first deployment in 2006 being extended from a promised 12 months to 15 months. Rivera, his mother said, returned from that long posting in Afghanistan personally subdued and doubtful about the progress American troops were making there. But he gradually recovered his old cheer and, after returning to his job as an evening shift security guard at the Millstone nuclear power plant, dove back into family routines. Rivera’s wife, Yesenia, usually leaves home early for her job in a dental office, so Rivera dressed and feeds their two sons, sees them off to the school bus, and picks them up after school before reporting for his shift at the nuclear plant. After he learned he would be deployed a second time, Rivera bought a webcam for his computer at home so he and Yesenia could see each other on his occasional calls home. Those routines changed after Rivera left in January. His children got off the bus at their grandmother’s. On weekends, his father, Ceferino, performed all the chores and mowed the lawn at Rivera’s house. “The center of the family shifts back to my house when Edwin is gone,” Gladys Rivera said. “I take the boys after school and, of course, am overjoyed to have them. But it’s also a daily reminder that Edwin is gone, so far away in a hard country. And now, of course, there are the faces and lives of other children to consider — two American children. Last November, while Rivera was preparing for deployment to Afghanistan at a training base in Indiana, Gladys found his son, Lorenzo, lying on the couch in her living room, staring at a photograph of his father in his Army uniform. Lorenzo was 4. When his grandmother asked him what he was doing, Lorenzo said, ‘I’m just looking at Daddy. I miss him already.”
From The Day (New London, CT) on May 31, 2010 By Julianne Hanckel | Day Staff Writer
VIGIL HONORS SOLDIER FROM WATERFORD, OTHERS WHO FELL Holiday Service Remembers Those Who Defend U.S.
NEW LONDON — Staff Sergeant Edwin Rivera’s parents accepted a certificate of honor on his behalf during the Memorial Day Candlelight Vigil Sunday night at Waterfront Park. Rivera, 28, was wounded by indirect fire in a May 20 attack at Contingency Outpost Xio Haq, Afghanistan. Last Tuesday, Rivera died of his wounds at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Rivera comes from a large family with more than 60 family members in New London County, said Rivera’s aunt, Gloria Sotomayor, who was at Sunday’s vigil. “We did make a sacrifice to be here, but we are very grateful for today’s ceremony,” Sotomayor said. “He was a happy child, a happy man, and we will miss him. His children will miss him, his wife will miss him, and his mother and father will miss him. We’ve been supporting each other from day one since we got the news,” she said. As the sun set over the Thames River, 100 people gathered to pay tribute to the men and women of the community who have served in the armed forces. “This is a wonderful, touching ceremony. There’s never enough done for the veterans,” vigil coordinator Donna Vendetto said. White paper bags with candles lit inside of them were lined along the shelf. The illuminated bags, which burned through the ceremony, were decorated with names, pictures, and brief passages to loved ones who had served their country. Jenn Milukas, 7, and her sister Alaina, 12, of Quaker Hill, sat at a picnic table decorating their luminary bag. “I drew a flag of the United States and a heart because that’s the symbol of the U.S.,” Jenna Milukas said. “The soldiers help protect me and make me feel safe.” Nearby, Jack Russell, 88, sat in a wooden chair with a white flower pinned to his shirt. Russell, who served in the Navy for parts of five decades, attended the ceremony to remember his late wife, who served in World War II. They were married for 50 years. “This is very important to me. It means an awful lot,” Russell said. The vigil was the culmination of Hope Week, an initiative sponsored by the New London public schools. “Take a moment and look around you. Do you see what a beautiful sight this is?” said Val Tomano, administrative aide for the Superintendent of Schools. “Once in a while, people tend to forget the meaning of Memorial Day. Feel the connection, the love, and the patriotic duty here tonight.”
From The Day (New London, CT) on June 2, 2010
WATERFORD — Staff Sergeant Edwin Rivera, 28, beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and soldier, passed May 25, 2010, from wounds sustained in combat. With an adventurous spirit and a zest for life, Staff Sergeant Rivera joined the Connecticut Army National Guard in 2002, initially as a chemical weapons specialist, eventually transferring and becoming a combat infantryman. Staff Sergeant Rivera was proud to serve with Apache Company, 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), located in Norwalk, during his second deployment to Afghanistan. Staff Sergeant Rivera’s professional achievements include graduating from the U.S. Army’s Airborne and Mountain Warfare schools along with the Warrior Leader’s Course. Staff Sergeant Rivera possessed a passion for his family and helping people, especially his soldiers. He always made it known that he considered his friends as family. His infectious attitude, sense of humor, and bright smile could easily light up a room. In fact, he was always trying to make people laugh because he was just naturally funny. Everything that Staff Sergeant Rivera did, he did with pride and lots of love. He was extremely compassionate and empathized with people easily. He loved hard and loved deeply, always wearing his heart on his sleeve. Staff Sergeant Rivera was born May 10, 1982, in New London, the son of Ceferino and Gladys Rivera. He was a graduate of Waterford High School and was employed by Securitas Security Services at Millstone Power Station. In addition to his parents, Staff Sergeant Rivera is survived by his wife, Yesenia; sons Rolando and Lorenzo; two sisters, Naomi and Miriam Rivera; and nephews, Marquis Rivera and Elias Jovani Dervos. He was predeceased by his son Edwin Rivera Jr., two nieces, Maya and Mikayla Sousa, and his grandmothers, Patria Rodriguez and Anna Vargas. While he will be greatly missed, we are consoled by the fact that he leaves behind two bright lights in his wonderful sons, Rolando and Lorenzo, ages 11 and 4. A fund has been established for the children of Staff Sergeant Edwin Rivera. Donations may be made to the “Staff Sergeant Edwin Rivera Children’s Fund” and may be mailed to Chelsea Groton Bank, Staff Sergeant Edwin Rivera Children’s Fund, c/o Anne L. Ogden, 157 Boston Post Road, Waterford, CT 06385. Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, June 4, at Nett Hall, Camp Rell, Niantic. Staff Sergeant Rivera’s funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 5, at Nett Hall, Camp Rell, Niantic. Burial with full military honors will follow in Jordan Cemetery, Boston Post Road, Waterford.
Memorialized at Camp Nett, 38 Smith Street, Niantic, Connecticut. The memorial brick with his name is the far-right brick in the 2nd row.
Photos by Jeff DeWitt.
From NorwichBulletin.com on June 6, 2010 By Paul Petrone
Mourners pay last respects to slain Waterford Guardsman
Nearly 1,000 mourners came to Camp Rell Saturday morning for a final goodbye to Connecticut Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Edwin Rivera. The 28-year-old Waterford resident died May 25 from injuries he suffered May 20 in Afghanistan.
Members of the Patriot Guard, a group that attends funerals of military members nationwide, surrounded the entrance of Nett Hall with hoisted flags as family members, dignitaries, and veterans poured into the funeral service. Rivera’s parents, wife, and children entered the building, with Gov. M. Jodi Rell behind them.
“It touches you,” Vietnam veteran Thomas Burke, of Griswold, said of the funeral. “It’s phenomenal that this many people came to show their support, show their patriotism.”
The hall, with a seating capacity of 300, quickly filled, forcing many to stand for the services. Another building behind Nett Hall was opened, and it filled with people who watched the funeral on a giant TV screen.
“This was bigger than most any other (funeral) I have gone to,” said Maj. Charles Jaworski, a spokesman for the Connecticut National Guard, who has attended several similar ceremonies. “The community support we have received for him has been almost unprecedented.”
The service featured singers and a eulogy from a former co-worker of Rivera at Millstone Power Station in Waterford. It was translated into Spanish because Rivera’s family is from Puerto Rico. During the service, his family accepted the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge awarded to Rivera.
“It was sad but great,” said Sia Gonzalez, a friend of Rivera. “There were too many people crying. It was hard to pay attention to the stories.”
After the service, Army pallbearers carried Rivera’s coffin to a waiting hearse for the trip to Jordan Cemetery in Waterford, where he was buried with full military honors.
Hundreds of people lined the sides of the road between Camp Rell and the cemetery, waving flags as the funeral procession passed. Police officers blocked traffic so the procession could travel to the cemetery unhindered.
“It’s difficult to find any good in it,” Patriot Guard member Bob Stone said. “I certainly believe the community support does help; people are doing something.”
Rivera, a 2000 graduate of Waterford High School, was shot by indirect fire on May 20 in Afghanistan’s Laghman Province. He was taken to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, where he died May 25.
He is survived by his wife, Yesenia, and two children, a stepson Rolando, 11, and a son Lorenzo, 4. Rivera is the fourth Connecticut National Guardsman to die since September 11, 2001, and the second to die in Afghanistan.
“It really forces you to remember we are a country at war,” Jaworski said. “We train for conflicts like this and hope we are not called, and obviously, sometimes we are called.”
From obits.mlive.com
Hello Rivvy. I am sure by now you know your brother, Sergeant Kenneth “Saavy” Saavedra, has joined you in heaven. He loved you no different, as if you were brothers related by blood. He could not ever reconcile that you were gone. His love was as deep as the pain he suffered over your passing right to the very day he passed, July 15, 2012. I think when he met you, he finally met a kindred spirit. Not just because you both served together in Afghanistan, but because you and he had so many similar characteristics. You were both two very good men. Both of you were good to people, made people laugh, loved a lot, and basically had wonderful qualities. This world has definitely sent home two angels and is a less better place. But now you are together, which is good, because we can only imagine how happy you two were to be reunited with one another and your loved ones that went on before you. Our heart and pain aches tremendously over the loss of our son Saavy, but we find comfort in knowing you two are together again. Take care of each other, continue to love one another, and know that one day, we will all be reunited again. Please give my son a huge hug from me and let him know he was truly one of the lights in my world that has gone out forever.
— Evelyn Huneke
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Rivera and family, I have known Ed for about 5 years, and that very first time I met him, I knew he had a loving, kind, and giving heart. After I got to know Ed, I learned that if he wanted to do something, no matter what it was, he put 200% into whatever he did. he always did whatever he did with pride and dignity, with his head held high like he knew exactly what he had to do. I admire Ed for all of his qualities, which are way too many to list. He stayed calm in a bad situation and, when needed, at the perfect time, diffused the situation with his level head and calm demeanor. I met Ed through my boyfriend, now ex-boyfriend (Chad), his brother (Jon), his sister (Brandi), and Sue and Nick at the time. I was living with the family, but what surprised me was every time without fail he never had to knock to come in like he was a part of the family. Soon after that, I learned he was and always will be for all of eternity!!
Dear Yesenia and boys, I hope that since I dropped the sympathy cards off for Mrs. Rivera and you and the boys that it’s gotten easier every day. There are no words to express how much Ed loves you and the boys, and he always will. I was at your wedding (which you looked gorgeous by the way). I was at your New Year’s Eve party, and Ed was always around when I had my two beautiful babies. It seems like he was always around. My son, who is 4 years old, called Edwin “Uncle Ed.” They got along like my son (Chad Jr) trusted Ed with his life. I could never know how you feel, but just know that when you look at little man, it’s Edwin staring back at you. He will and has already shown signs he’s going to grow up to be just like Edwin. My deepest Sympathy goes out to you, the boys, and the rest of the family.
— Stephanie
I have known Edwin since he was a young boy. He has been friends with my daughter since grade school. I will always remember his lovely face and sweet smile. I am so very deeply saddened that his physical body is not here any longer to receive the gracious, respectful hugs I would get EVERY time I would see him. I know that Edwin’s spirit remains. I would like to send his family, from the depths of my heart, my utmost sympathies. My heart greatly aches for all of you. Words could never say enough. May our wonderous God pour his grace and love down on you and give you peace that surpasses all understanding. With love, Dawn
— Dawn Donovan
Memorialized on the 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry Monument, Long Wharf Drive, and Sargent Drive, New Haven, Connecticut.
Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
Photo from TogetherWeServed.com
Staff Sergeant Rivera is buried in Jordan Cemetery, 240 Boston Post Road, Waterford, Connecticut; Section 2010, Lot 11.
DOB/DOD: July 7, 1984 (Kingston, Jamaica) – March 20, 2007; 22 years old MARITAL STATUS: Married Katana Khadeen (1981-) CHILDREN: One daughter, Iyana (2006-). One son, Stephen Jr. (2007-). LOCAL ADDRESS: Park Avenue; Bridgeport ENLISTMENT: August 24, 2005 MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 11C10; Indirect Fire Infantryman UNIT: Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division; Fort Riley, Kansas
FAMILY: Born to Cedric S. Hamilton (1963-) and Jacqueline Hamilton-Carby (1966-). Stepfather Ruel (-). Two stepbrothers, Craig and Noel. One brother, Huntley (-).
DECORATIONS: Awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with device, Global War on Terrorism Medal (Expeditionary), Global War on Terrorism Medal (Service), Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) Medal – Afghanistan, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
CIRCUMSTANCES:Killed in action when a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle in Iraq. Also killed in this incident:
Army Sergeant Wayne R. Cornell; Holstein, Nebraska
Bassick High School (Bridgeport, CT) Class of 2002. Photo from the 2000 yearbook.
Photo from FindAGrave.com and contributor Elizabeth Reed.
From The Record-Journal (Meriden, CT) on March 23, 2007
BRIDGEPORT SOLDIER IS 38TH FROM STATE TO DIE IN IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN
HARTFORD (AP) — Governor M. Jodi Rell ordered U.S. and Connecticut flags lowered to half-staff Thursday in honor of a soldier from Bridgeport killed this week in a roadside bombing in Iraq. Army Private First Class Stephen K. Richardson, 22, died Tuesday when the bomb exploded near his vehicle, the Department of Defense said Wednesday. The blast also killed another soldier in his unit. They were soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry, 4th Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, based in Fort Riley, Kansas. He’s the 38th person with Connecticut ties who has died since March 2002 in Iraq and Afghanistan. “Private Richardson and thousands upon thousands of brave men and women like him serve our nation every day,” Rell said. “Our gratitude runs deep, especially when such a young life is ended so soon. On behalf of all of Connecticut, I extend condolences and prayers for comfort to his family — here in Connecticut, his wife and daughter in Kansas, and his relatives in Jamaica.” Flags will remain at half-staff until Richardson is buried. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced. Richardson, an indirect fire infantryman, enlisted in the Army in 2005 and began serving with the 1st Infantry Division in 2006, according to Fort Riley. It was his first deployment in the war. He was born in Jamaica and moved to Connecticut when he was 12 or 13, said Lieutenant Colonel John Whitford of the Connecticut National Guard. Richardson was a student for one semester at the University of Bridgeport in 2004. Professor Edward Geist, Richardson’s adviser there, said Richardson wanted to be a business major and study international business. Geist remembered a placement essay in which Richardson wrote that he wanted to return to Jamaica and use his education to bring about positive changes. “He would have done that, too,” Geist said. Bridgeport Mayor John Fabrizi extended his city’s sympathy to Richardson’s family. “Private Richardson served our country with courage and conviction,” Fabrizi said. “Every time we lose a soldier in combat, it’s heartbreaking, but it is even more so when it’s one of your own and when it is someone so young.”
From The Jamaica Observer (Kingston, Jamaica) on April 10, 2007
STEPHEN RICHARDSON LAID TO REST
Stephen Karl Richardson, the Jamaican who was killed last month by a roadside bomb in Iraq, was buried yesterday with military honours.
The 22-year-old soldier, who migrated to the United States in 1999 and later enlisted in the US Army, was killed on March 20 when a bomb exploded near his vehicle. The explosion also killed another member of his unit.
Yesterday, the Richardson family remembered their loved one as “a man who, in his death, has brought honour to his family, to his country, and to the United States of America.”
Richardson’s wife, Katana, told scores of mourners who crammed into the Chisolm Avenue Seventh Day Church of God in Kingston that her husband was a hero.
“My husband was a hero,” she said resolutely when she went to the microphone.
“Nothing bad was said about my husband; he was a soldier. “Today, I walk, and I hold my head high,” she said.
Richardson was honoured with the Purple Heart, a United States Military decoration to those who die or are wounded, serving the country, a Bronze Star for meritorious service, and a Good Conduct Medal.
General Charles Cleveland, who gave the tribute on behalf of the US Military, said Richardson’s platoon leader called him a “man of many talents and abilities.” Richardson, who was known to members of his platoon as ‘Jamaica,’ was also remembered for being the eternal comic.
The tributes poured in from St George’s College, where Richardson, who was also known as “Itchy,” spent his early high school years; the YMCA, where he participated in summer camps; from organisations with which he was associated; and, of course, from family.
Richardson’s father, Cedric Karl Richardson, remembered his son in a tribute read by Aunt Eulah Powell.
“He was a son of moral, respect and humility,” who had left behind a to-do list, which had as its main item a charge not to “forget my life,” the tribute for the elder Richardson read.
Richardson’s mother, Jacqueline Hamilton-Carby, quickly cautioned those who might have thought she was too composed when she took to the lectern to pay tribute to her “cute, intelligent, unique child.”
“It is not me, Jackie, standing here talking to you. It is the blessed holy spirit who was sent to strengthen me. My strength is absolutely gone,” Hamilton Carby said.
The youngest member of the family, Richardson’s 10-month-old daughter Iyana Richardson, was a picture of childhood carefreeness during the service as dressed in her lavender dress and white shoes and socks, she moved in her baby half steps around the church.
Occasionally, the child would return to the arms of her mother, whose demeanour was the opposite of her daughter’s.
Katana was a picture of agony. Agony, as a result of the one thing her 10-month-old toddler’s mind was not yet capable of recognition.
Iyana could not know that she was at her father’s funeral service or that Private First Class Stephen Ron Oneil Karl Richardson’s name had gone down in history with thousands of other ‘braves’ before him.
But the pregnant Katana knew more than her children did that their father would not be around to teach them to ride their bicycles or share jokes with them.
Katana’s shrill wails of sadness, which started during a rendition of ‘When the Last Teardrop Falls,’ by a friend of Richardson’s, filled the church.
“It’s so hard to lose the one you love/To finally have to say goodbye/You try to be strong, but the pain keeps holdin’ on/And all that you can do is cry,” Jodi Beckford sang.
And cry Katana did, only no tears came. She screamed. And when someone accidentally knocked over a photograph of Richardson, she hurried from her seat, picked it up, and put it back in place.
She did not return to her seat immediately but stood with knitted brows. Perhaps the fallen photograph had reminded her that she would have to create memories of her husband through images for their children.
From The Weekly Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) on April 12, 2007
SLAIN JAMAICAN-BORN US SOLDIER HAILED AS HERO
The death of Jamaican-born soldier Stephen Richardson of the United States Army is another indication that the U.S.-led war in Iraq is not yet won, and remote countries such as Jamaica are paying dearly. Specialist Richardson was killed in the line of duty while fighting in Iraq on March 20. He joined the U.S. military in August 2005 where he enlisted with the First Infantry Division based in Kansas. He was sent to Iraq in February. On Sunday, April 8. A throng of family, friends, colleagues, and well-wishers gathered at the Jamaica Council Seventh-day Church of God at 54 Chisolm Avenue. Kingston 13 to bid farewell to a Jamaican here and a “Georgian Gem,” as described by the vice-principal of St George’s College, Valerie Virgo. While attending St. George’s (1996-2001), Ms. Virgo said excellence was Richardson’s forte. She remembered him as a top-10 student who was always punctual, disciplined, and helpful. It was those qualities that led him to serve in the U.S. Army, attributes which were also recognised by his peers and superiors in the military. He was given an official funeral by the U.S. Army. Specialist Richardson was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart Medal for meritorious service and wounds sustained in the war against terrorism. “His commitment contributed to our nation’s continuing war on terror, and his actions represented his dedication to the security of the United States of America.” Acting Secretary of the U.S. Army. Pete Geren stated in a message read at the funeral Sunday. He was also given the Good Conduct Medal “for exemplary behaviour, efficiency, and fidelity,” Geren said. Brigadier General Charles Cleveland, who paid tribute on behalf of the U.S. Army, described the 22-year-old soldier as an “exceptional man … and soldier”. He said Specialist Richardson did not only want to make a difference for the U.S. but also for Jamaica and the rest of the world.
However, some family members were incensed that he was killed in the controversial Iraq war. One irate man, who said he was a cousin, voiced his anger aloud, quarreling that the U.S.-led war in Iraq was “foolishness.” “Mi use to hold him in mi hand as a baby, and look deh now, him dead,” lamented the relative, who appeared to be in his early 30s. “Weh (George) Bush nuh go send him daughter ah Iraq?” he continued while other relatives added to the chorus. Four American soldiers were killed in attacks south of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on April 8, while another two died from wounds suffered. More than 3,200 U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq in four years of war, and thousands more have been wounded, the lead factor in why many Americans are ready to wind down the U.S. involvement in Iraq. Specialist Richardson is survived by his pregnant wife, Katana, and young daughter, Iyana. He was buried in the Port Maria Cemetery, St. Mary Parish.
From Obits.Pennlive.com
My beloved son was taken from me this year; it will make 11 years, and what a time it has been! To say I have missed him is really an understatement. However, it has been a time when God showed up in extraordinary ways. Thank you, Lord.
I miss him immensely and will always do, but his family, my beautiful daughter-in-law, and 2 grandchildren have been a tower of strength. So together, we continue the journey as life goes on but without the ‘SPECIAL CROWNED ONE.’
— Stephen’s very Proud mom
PFC Stephen “Itchie” Richardson. Words honestly cannot explain how I feel. All I can remember is the glory days of St. George’s College and our Rugby games, both school and representing Jamaica. I honestly know that you were dedicated to your work, but it is sad to know that you are gone. R.I.P. We will meet again. You will always be remembered in everything I do! Gone, but not forgotten!
— Huntley Anderson
To PFC Stephen K. Richardson’s wife, children, mother, and family. I just saw an episode of “A Baby Story,” and I cried the whole time and still am. Your story touched my heart so much that I just had to find you. I pray that as the days, weeks, and months go by that God will give your heart more joy and comfort and less and less sorrow. This man was truly loved. May God bless you deeply. Please give the children a big hug from me, all the way from Bermuda. Hugs for all.
— Jennifer Simmons
Memorialized with a street naming at the corner of Noble Street and Richardson Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
Private First Class Richardson is buried in Port Maria Public Cemetery, 9422+XCP, Port Maria, Jamaica.
A gravesite photo could not be obtained by the publishing date. Attempts were made through e-mails to the local government office in Jamaica as well as Port Maria related Facebook groups.
DOB/DOD:May 22, 1971 (Solon, OH) – June 28, 2005; 33 years old MARITAL STATUS: Married Jill Bennett Blue (1973-) on March 19, 2005. LOCAL ADDRESS: Scofield Hill Road; Washington Depot COMMISSIONED: May 1993 MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 15A; Aviation Officer UNIT: Company B, 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) [The Night Stalkers]; Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia
FAMILY: Born to Raymond W. (1938-) and Mary S. Reich (1949-). Two sisters, Megan J. Reich George (1973-) and Ann M. (1977-).
DECORATIONS: Awarded the Bronze Star Medal with two devices, Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with device, Air Medal with “V” device for Valor, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with two devices, National Defense Service Medal with device, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with device, Global War On Terrorism (Expeditionary) Medal, Global War on Terrorism (Service) Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) Medal – Kosovo, Combat Action Badge, Aviator Badge (Senior), Parachutist Badge (Basic), Air Assault Badge, Valorous Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award with device, and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.
CIRCUMSTANCES: Major Stephen C. Reich was killed in eastern Afghanistan near Asadabad when his MH-47D (Chinook) helicopter “Turbine 33” was shot down by an enemy Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG). The mission was to rescue a four-person Navy SEAL team surrounded by Taliban insurgents in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar province as part of Operation Red Wings. The mission was the subject of a book by Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient, Marcus Luttrell, and a subsequent movie called Lone Survivor. Others killed in this incident:
U.S. Army’s 3rd Battalion, 160th Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne); Hunter Army Air Field, GA
Army Chief Warrant Officer Chris J. Scherkenbach; Jacksonville, FL Army Chief Warrant Officer Corey J. Goodnature; Clarks Grove, MN Army Sergeant 1st Class Marcus V. Muralles; Shelbyville, IN Army Sergeant 1st Class Michael L. Russell; Stafford, VA Army Staff Sergeant Shamus O. Goare; Danville, OH Army Sergeant Kip A. Jacoby; Pompano Beach, FL
U.S. Army’s HQ & HQ Company, 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment (Airborne); Fort Campbell, KY
Army Master Sergeant James W. Ponder III; Franklin, Tennessee Navy’s SEAL Team Ten; Virginia Beach, VA Navy Lieutenant Commander Erik S. Kristensen; San Diego, CA Navy Lieutenant Michael M. McGreevy, Jr.; Portville, NY Navy Chief Petty Officer Jacques J. Fontan; New Orleans, LA Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffery A. Lucas; Corbett, OR Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffrey S. Taylor; Midway, WV Navy’s SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One; Pearl Harbor, HI Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Daniel R. Healy; Exeter, NH Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric S. Patton; Boulder City, NV Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class James Suh; Deerfield Beach, FL
Shepaug Valley High School; Class of 1989. As a left-handed pitcher, he led his school to the Class S state championship in baseball in his sophomore year, 1987. Two-time All-State selection in 1988 and 1989. Posted a 27-4 career record with 130 strikeouts and nine walks.
United States Military Academy at West Point; Class of 1993. 19 career wins. A career ERA of 2.49 is the sixth-best in Army history. ECAC all-star in 1993. Named Patriot League Pitcher of the Year in 1993. The Baseball Room at West Point is named in his honor.
Photo contributed by CTHM (Connecticut Trees of Honor Memorial)
Named to Team USA baseball in 1993. He carried the American flag in the opening ceremonies of the 1993 World University Games in Buffalo, New York. He made 17 appearances for Team USA, playing in Italy, Nicaragua, and Cuba and at the World University Games.
Photo from MajorReichAward.com
The photo two above is from FindAGrave.com and contributor Renae. The photo above is courtesy of Fox Sports.
From USABaseball.com on May 24, 2024 By Ethan Bakogiannis
Duty, honor, country.
While the words of West Point’s motto have echoed through the heads of cadets for over 125 years, Major Steven Reich lived them — both while on the mound for USA Baseball and in the cockpit of a helicopter for the United States Army.
A fierce competitor, a selfless leader, and a loyal serviceman, Reich graduated from West Point in 1993, the same year he pitched for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team. Picked by his team to carry the American flag when walking out for national team games, the Army graduate left a lasting impression on those around him during his time on the team, including his manager, now Minnesota head coach John Anderson.
“He was selfless, a leader, compassionate, driven, internally motivated, he was a critical thinker, he was always able to see the bigger picture — not just himself,” Anderson said. “So selfless — always interested in helping others and making the team and the organization and the world a better place, and he always had that quality about him.”
That impression, though, later turned into a legacy.
Twelve years after his time with Team USA, Reich made the ultimate sacrifice while leading a rescue mission during Operation Enduring Freedom for the Army. Reich was 34 when he and 15 other soldiers were shot down in their helicopter by enemy fire in Eastern Afghanistan.
Anderson and those around him described Reich as selfless, driven, and passionate. Above all else, Reich was a leader, so much so that although saddened, Anderson was not shocked when he learned his former player died for his nation while leading a rescue mission.
“So I wasn’t surprised because he always cared about others and put others ahead of himself — he’s a selfless person,” Anderson said. “That part didn’t surprise me, but I was very, very saddened to learn of his passing. We lost a tremendous human being, a person that I think was willing to serve our country for the rest of us and our freedoms and democracies.”
The Connecticut-born [Webmaster correction: Ohio-born} lefty passed on a lasting legacy with his sacrifice, one of dedication to his country and unwavering leadership, no matter the type of uniform he was wearing.
“I think he led by example because he was a hard worker, he was committed, he had integrity,” Anderson said. “You can’t be a strong leader, you can’t impact change, you can’t impact others unless you have great integrity, because you walk the talk every single day. You can’t do that unless your actions match your words, and he was one of those people who did that obviously very consistently.”
While he was always passionate about serving his country, Reich was determined to carve out a career as a pitcher. Reich pitched 36.3 innings in 17 games in the summer of 1993 while sporting a 2.48 ERA and flaming 38 strikeouts.
Reich’s name is also dotted across the record books at West Point. While his name is still revered at the academy for his intangible qualities and strength of character, the pitcher holds the program record for most career strikeouts with 259 and flamed a whopping 17 Ks against Air Force in his final collegiate game. He also sported an undefeated 6-0 record in service academy games.
Once he graduated and finished leading Team USA to a 30-16 record, Reich played in the Orioles’ farm system. According to his parents, Reich loved baseball and adored the intensity of pitching. He also despised defeat.
“He hated to lose,” said his father, Ray Reich. “He knew that playing baseball, when you’re a pitcher, there’s far more pressure on the pitcher than other players on the team. But he always was very determined.”
But soon enough, Reich was called back into the line of service for the Army in 1996. Anderson said that he unselfishly accepted the call, citing Reich’s strong desire to protect his country.
“It speaks volumes about who he is and the risks he was willing to take because he felt like that to make the world a better place or even serve his country in a way that would make the world a better place, then that’s what he wanted to do,” Anderson said. “You’ve got to be a selfless person to take on that challenge and do it voluntarily … he was willing to take that risk.”
Reich was once again abroad representing his nation, now protecting it rather than playing for it.
However, he still couldn’t stand to leave baseball behind — Reich’s parents recalled him requesting to be deployed abroad to be away from the game. However, once stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany, Reich soon found himself as the coach and manager of a local, small-time baseball team.
Reich’s love for the game was undeniable, and once Reich passed, USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO Paul Seiler knew he had to act quickly to honor his legacy.
“So when the opportunity, or the thought, or the conversation around honoring Stephen’s sacrifice, his commitment — I don’t use the word lightly — legacy, kind of came into focus, we really chased that very quickly and aggressively to make sure that we honored him and what he did for our country and others like him,” Seiler said.
Reich’s number 20 was retired in June of 2006. Only the third number to be retired by USA Baseball, his name and number are forever enshrined in the history of both the organization and baseball. While it’s in direct remembrance of Reich, Seiler said that the retired number is a reminder of the broader appreciation of what the military does to protect our freedoms every day.
Reich embodied the qualities of selflessness, commitment, and leadership. His impact stretched from those in his hometown to his teammates on the 1993 National Team to current Army baseball players taking the field in his honor. He also has multiple awards named after him, and Reich’s parents still hear how much their son touched others’ lives.
“People reach out to us constantly — people that he served with, people that he played baseball with, and people that he went to school with, and I feel blessed to have that when they contact us,” said his mother, Sue Reich. “It’s really great, and it’s very humbling when they choose to honor Stephen with their play, or their words, or an award.”
From wearing the red, white, and blue to protecting it, Reich’s legacy is uniquely and fittingly intertwined with both USA Baseball and his service in the Army.
“Honor the sport, honor the country,” Seiler said. “When we put that uniform on, we’re honoring all of the United States of America, and we’re honoring the sport of baseball. When you look at Stephen, he did that as a national team player, and then ultimately, he took those basic responsibilities that we have here, and he upped it to a place where none of us, I think, can really understand how to get there in terms of sacrificing his life for the nation that he loves so much. We’re proud to call him an alum.”
The ultimate embodiment of both organizations’ values, Reich defined the motto of duty, honor, country — no matter what uniform he wore.
From The Hartford Courant May 25, 2015, and updated December 12, 2018
WASHINGTON, Connecticut — The display case sits in the lobby at Shepaug Valley High School, honoring the life of an alumnus.
There are baseballs, hats, pictures, and a glove that tell the story of a decorated athlete. There is a military uniform, awards and medals, and a burial flag that represent the life of an American hero.
There’s no avoiding the presence of Stephen Reich, who walked the halls of the school in the late 1980s. He was just a high school sophomore when he led Shepaug to a CIAC baseball title. He eventually pitched at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, good enough to earn a contract with the Baltimore Orioles.
But he turned away from baseball and distinguished himself in the military, earning three Bronze Stars.
Ten years ago, Reich died when his Chinook helicopter was shot down while rescuing a SEAL team in Afghanistan. Reich, who was commanding a U.S. Army Special Forces rescue mission, was one of 16 men killed during the mission.
In a small school in a small town, his legacy remains strong. So, when the Shepaug community gathered to award the Stephen Reich Memorial Award at an annual Memorial Day assembly Thursday morning, the school’s auditorium was overflowing with visitors.
Students were joined by Reich’s family and others who knew him. Teachers who had Reich as a student spoke of his character, classmates talked about his willingness to serve his country, and students listened quietly and attentively throughout.
This was no ordinary assembly. Reich’s life — from his days as a Shepaug student to his career in the Army — is used as a model.
“I think it’s had an impact on the kids,” said science teacher and baseball coach Scott Werkhoven, who was Reich’s classmate and close friend. “They do bring him up in class. The way they talk about him, you can tell that it’s meaningful to them and that they get it. They understand why we do it and why it’s important. It’s a great opportunity for them to get a perspective on what’s important.”
This year, the story of Reich also was told during a 12-minute documentary. Fox Sports spent the winter interviewing Reich’s parents, Ray and Sue, along with friends and classmates from Shepaug and West Point. Producers tracked down the Baltimore Orioles scout who signed Reich and uncovered an interview with Reich from his brief stint as a Class A pitcher in 1996.
The documentary was carried on Fox Sports over the weekend. On Monday, it will be on the Yes Network from noon to 12:30 p.m. during “Yankee Batting Practice Today.”
The Shepaug community got an advance viewing on Thursday. Reich’s parents saw the piece before Thursday, but they were still moved as they watched it in the school auditorium.
“It’s amazing,” said Ray Reich, a former teacher at The Gunnery School. “They dug up footage that we have never seen. The final scene … it was powerful.”
The final scene? Reich being interviewed in spring training in 1996, when he was pitching for High Desert in the California League.
“If there’s one thing that I’m scared of,” Reich says, “I’m scared to death of, you know, looking back on everything and saying to myself, ‘God, I should have done this. I should have taken that extra step and made that effort and taken that chance.’ And I don’t want to have anything missing in my life when it’s all over.”
This was said before Reich was called back to duty by the Pentagon and before he had to abandon his dream of pursuing a baseball career. Not that he left baseball with regret. His mother said in the documentary that it was heartbreak, but “as soon as that decision was made, he closed that door.”
Reich had been a standout athlete from the time his family moved to Washington from Ohio in 1980. A left-handed pitcher, he distinguished himself early and led his high school team to a state championship in 1987. He also played soccer and basketball, but his prowess on the pitcher’s mound drew attention before he graduated in 1989.
During his sophomore year in high school, he visited West Point and became enamored with the Military Academy. Reich continued to shine for the Army baseball team and attracted major league scouts.
He could have left the school after his sophomore year and pursued a professional career. Instead, he remained and graduated in 1993. By remaining, he was committed to a career in the military.
Reich did pitch for Team USA in the 1993 Pan-Am Games and the World University Games. That team included future major league players such as Todd Helton, Todd Walker, and A.J. Hinch.
“He was very good,” Werkhoven said. “He was competitive. He wasn’t going to back down.”
His father said in the documentary that Reich didn’t just want to play. He wanted the ball. He was among the best pitchers in the country, and scouts were interested.
Eventually, Army officials allowed him to pursue a professional career. The Orioles signed him, and he embarked on his career in 1996.
“We often hear the cliche about the ‘it’ factor,” Orioles scout Earl Winn said in the documentary. “When you saw Stephen Reich pitch, you knew that he had ‘it.’”
Four games into the season, a Pentagon official had a change of heart. The way Winn described it, the Pentagon realized it had invested money into Reich with the intention of the Cadet eventually flying helicopters.
So that’s what Reich did. He trained to become a “Night Stalker,” a helicopter pilot with the Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. These are considered elite aviators, and Reich embraced the challenge.
He was deployed to Bosnia, Albania, Kosovo, and Hungary in the late 1990s before joining the 160th. As a member of the 160th, there would be deployments to South Korea and Afghanistan.
Whenever a deployment ended, Reich returned home and hiked the Steep Rock nature preserve in Washington.
“Just for that quiet solitude,” Sue Reich said. “That was his way to transition. He was as comfortable in Army boots as he was in Birkenstocks. But he needed to have that time to have just total peace.”
Reich, married to Jill Blue in early 2005, was on his fourth deployment to Afghanistan when he led a mission to rescue a team of Navy SEALs. A grenade took down his helicopter near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
All 16 aboard died on June 28, 2005.
Ten years later, his memory lives in the school and town he loved. The Stephen Reich Memorial Award has been handed out annually since 2006, awarded to the Shepaug student who “best exemplified the characteristics Stephen demonstrated: character, service, leadership and achievement.”
The award was presented to Sebastian Taylor this year. Four of the past winners were on hand, and the rest of the student body cheered as the award was presented.
“Stephen walked the same halls that you do,” Shepaug teacher Douglas Winkel told the students. “He took classes like you do, sat in the same classrooms as you do. Joked around with his buddies and played sports like many of you do. Stephen is you.”
As the assembly ended, members of this year’s baseball team shook hands with Ray Reich. Sue Reich and her daughter, Megan, chatted with friends and well-wishers.
A school assembly turned into a celebration of an extraordinary life.
“Folks talk to folks,” Ray Reich said. “This is a small town, and people talk. But for this kind of a turnout … it’s amazing. The students are just mesmerized. Some of these kids, the seniors, have sat through this story for three years, and they never get tired of hearing it. Even though it ended badly, Stephen left quite a legacy. He packed a lot into 34 years.”
Member of the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Class of 2016
From CTInsider.com November 9, 2016 By John Nestor
NEW MILFORD – Shepaug Valley High School graduate and Army hero Stephen Reich is being honored by the Connecticut High School Coaches Association. On November 17, 2016, Reich will be inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame at the annual CHSCA Hall of Fame Induction ceremony at the Aqua Turf Club at 7 p.m. A member of the Shepaug class of 1989, Reich helped lead the Shepaug baseball team to the 1987 CIAC Class S State Championship. “Stephen was a great pitcher, one of the best in the state,” said Shepaug baseball Coach Scott Werkhoven, who was a teammate and friend of Reich’s. “He was just a sophomore when he helped us win the state title, a great, great pitcher.” Reich went on to attend the United States Military Academy, where he pitched for the Army baseball team and became one of the best pitchers in Army history. He was a three-time league all-star and was the Patriot League Pitcher of the Year in 1993. He was inducted into the Army Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. “He went on to become a great college pitcher,” Werkhoven said. “He was a great competitor.” Reich graduated from West Point in 1993 and was selected to play for Team USA. He was chosen by the entire American delegation to carry the flag in the Opening Ceremonies of the 1993 World University Games. The World University Games team included future major league players such as Todd Helton, Todd Walker, and A.J. Hinch. After completing two years of his four-year military commitment, he was granted a release to sign with the Baltimore Orioles in 1996. He pitched in two games for their Class A affiliate, the High Desert Mavericks, before being called back to the Army. Reich also could have left the school after his sophomore year and pursued a professional career. Instead, he remained and graduated in 1993. By remaining, he was committed to a career in the military. “It was the kind of guy he was and what he believed in,” Werkhoven said. “He didn’t have any regrets and was proud of his service to our country.” In 1996, Reich was ordered to Germany as a platoon leader with the 158th Aviation Regiment, where he served in Operation Allied Force in Hungary, Bosnia, Albania, and Kosovo. Reich served four tours of duty in Afghanistan with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Nightstalkers) and was killed in action on June 28, 2005, during Operation Red Wings to rescue a four-man Navy SEAL team. Reich was one of 16 troops (Nightstalkers and Navy SEALs) aboard an Army Special Operations MH-47 Chinook helicopter that was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar province. During his military career, Reich was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Senior Army Aviator Wings, Airborne, and Air Assault Badges. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, an Air Medal with Valor device, and the Combat Action Badge.
Memorialized by the Major Stephen Reich Award for Exceptional Citizenship in Washington, Connecticut. The purpose of the annual award is to recognize a Washington resident who stands out among the many people who give to the community. The plaque hangs in the lobby of Washington, Connecticut Town Hall.
Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
Major Reich was cremated, and his ashes were spread at a nature preserve called Steep Rock in Washington, Connecticut. Three miles away at Hidden Valley Preserve, there is a stone bench with a plaque at the Henry David Thoreau Bridge on the President’s Trail about 1 mile in from the parking area at 198 Bee Brook Road, Washington Depot, Connecticut. Also named for him, Reich Bridge is located in Hidden Valley Preserve.
Part of the 160th SOAR (Night Stalkers) creed
“I serve with the memory and pride of those who have gone before me, for they love to fight, fought to win, and would rather die than quit.’’
