Tag: Dodge County Wisconsin

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Johnson, David A.
Army 1st lieutenant

David A. Johnson, age 24, from Horicon, Wisconsin, Dodge county.

Service era: Afghanistan

Spouse: Myeshia Johnson

Schools: Evangel University (2010)

Military history: 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

Date of death: Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Death details: Died of injuries suffered after encountering an improvised explosive device while conducting a dismounted patrol in Afghanistan

Source: Department of Defense, Military Times, New York Times

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Gassen, Jacob A.
Army Private 1st class

Jacob A. Gassen, age 21, from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, Dodge county.

Parents: Greg Gassen

Service era: Afghanistan
Schools: Beaver Dam High (2008), University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Military history: 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Date of death: Monday, November 29, 2010
Death details: Died in Nangarhar Province when an Afghan border policeman opened fire on U.S. troops during a training session. Killed in the attack: Barry E. Jarvis, Curtis A. Oakes, Matthew W. Ramsey, Jacob A. Gassen, Austin G. Staggs, Buddy W. McLain.

Source: Department of Defense, Jackson County Times Journal, Beaver Dam Daily Citizen, Military Times

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Cantafio, Ryan Joseph
Marines Private 1st class

Ryan Joseph Cantafio, age 22, from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, Dodge county.

Service era: Iraq
Military history: G Co, 2D Bn, 24Th Mar, (24Th Meu, 1St Mar Div), 4Th Mar Div, Madison, Wi

Date of death: Thursday, November 25, 2004
Death details: Hostile; Lutifiyah, Iraq

Source: Department of Defense, Military Times

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Bosveld, Rachel Krista Heather
Army Private 1st class

Rachel Krista Heather Bosveld, age 19, from Waupun, Wisconsin, Dodge county.

Service era: Iraq
Military history: 527Th Military Police Company, V Corps, Apo Ae 09169

Parents: Mary and Marvin Bosveld

Date of death: Sunday, October 26, 2003
Death details: Hostile; Baghdad, Iraq

Source: Department of Defense, Legacy

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Straseskie, Kirk Allen
Marines Sergeant

Kirk Allen Straseskie, age 23, from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, Dodge county.

Parent: John Straseskie

Service era: Iraq
Schools: Beaver Dam High (1988)
Military history: 1St Bn, 4Th Mar, 1St Mardiv, Camp Pendleton, California

Date of death: Monday, May 19, 2003
Death details: Drowned while attempting to rescue crewmembers of a Marine CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter that went down in the Shatt al Hillah Canal in Iraq

Source: Department of Defense, Military Times

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Wanke, Patrick A.
Army Private 1st class

Patrick A. Wanke, age 20, from Watertown, Wisconsin, Dodge county.

Parents: Edward N. Wanke and Marie

Service era: Gulf War
Schools: Watertown High (1989)
Military history: 101st Airborne Division

Date of death: Monday, March 25, 1991
Death details: Died in Iraq of a gunshot wound to the head from his own weapon at Tallil Airfield in Iraq. Army said it was self-inflicted and could have been an accident.
Cemetery: Saint Henry’s in Watertown

Source: White House Commission on Remembrance, Department of Defense, Associated Press (1991), Minneapolis Star Tribune (1991)

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Schliewe, Floyd Abner
Army Specialist 4

Floyd Abner Schliewe, age 22, from Lebanon, Wisconsin, Dodge county.

Parents: Melvin R. Weiss
Spouse: Michele F. Schilewe

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Tuesday, October 20, 1970

Source: National Archives, Associated Press (1970)

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Zirbel, Ronald Max
Army Private 1st class

Ronald Max Zirbel, age 19, from Dodge County Wisconsin.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Monday, July 31, 1950
Death details: On July 26, 1950, the 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, and 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, were defending a section of the Poun-Hwanggan Highway from North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) elements advancing toward Kumch’on. On July 30-31, supported by tanks, the NKPA launched heavy attacks against the American battalions. After a hard-fought delaying action, the 7th Cavalry Regiment received orders to withdraw to support other units at Kumch’on, and the 8th Cavalry Regiment provided cover as they withdrew. Soon after, the 8th Cavalry Regiment withdrew to new positions as well. Though the action was largely successful in delaying the NKPA advance, the area still fell under North Korean control and prevented the recovery of any American remains until U.S. forces retook the area in mid-September. Corporal Ronald Max Zirbel entered the U.S. Army from Wisconsin and served in E Company of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He went missing during the fighting on July 31, 1950, and is believed to have been taken as a prisoner and marched north to Seoul, where his last name appeared on a blackboard inside a schoolhouse that was used to house prisoners. The prisoners he was with were later marched further north to P’yöngyang, though there is no evidence that CPL Zirbel made it that far and was believed to have died during the journey. He was not identified among the remains returned to the U.S. following the armistice, and further attempts to recover his remains have been unsuccessful. Today, Corporal Zirbel is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Hull, Jerold Roger
Marines Reserves Private 1st class

Jerold Roger Hull, age 21, from Waupun, Wisconsin, Dodge county.

Parents: Garret Hull

Service era: World War II

Date of death: Saturday, November 20, 1943
Death details: From November 20 through 23, 1943, the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy conducted a large-scale amphibious assault on the Japanese-held atoll of Tarawa as part of Operation Galvanic, the Allied capture of the Gilbert Islands. Located 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii, Tarawa was a crucial stepping stone in the planned U.S. offensive across the central Pacific toward Japan. The Japanese garrison on Tarawa’s main island of Betio was well-entrenched with hundreds of bunkers and gun positions behind formidable beach obstacles. The first wave of Marines approaching the shore encountered lower-than-expected tides, forcing them to leave their landing craft on the reef and wade the hundreds of yards to the beach under intense enemy fire. The heaviest number of U.S. casualties were suffered during this phase of the landing. Eventually, rising tides allowed U.S. warships to maneuver closer to shore and support the troops with effective naval gunfire. More Marines landed on the second day, launching attacks inland from the beaches and seizing the Japanese airfield on the island. However, the enemy launched vicious counterattacks and two more days of intense fighting were needed to secure Betio. The last enemy strongpoints were taken on the morning of November 23. The fighting on Betio cost the Marines nearly 3,000 casualties but enabled U.S. forces to press further across the Pacific and yielded valuable tactical lessons that reduced U.S. losses in future amphibious landings. Private First Class Jerold Roger Hull, who joined the U.S. Marine Corps from Wisconsin, was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. He was killed in action during the Battle of Tarawa on November 20, 1943. He was buried in Cemetery #33, Main Marine Cemetery, but after the war his remains were not located. Today, Private First Class Hull is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency