He lives on. His spirit, too.
Posted on 12/20/2006 5:00:22 PM PST by TexKat
A 27-year-old Marine helicopter pilot from eastern Wisconsin was killed in Iraq, only weeks after beginning his second deployment there, his mother said Tuesday.
Capt. Kevin M. Kryst, of West Bend, died Monday of injuries sustained in fighting in Anbar province, the Department of Defense said in a statement.
"He died from injuries due to being hit by a fragment of a mortar," said his mother, Elizabeth Kryst.
"We're proud of him," she said. "But we're at a loss without him."
Kryst was the oldest of six children. He had four younger brothers and a younger sister. He graduated from West Bend West High School in 1997 and the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2001. He enlisted upon graduation.
Kryst's great-grandfather had been a Marine.
"It was something he always wanted to do," Elizabeth Kryst said.
Kryst was first deployed in Iraq during 2004. "He was always very active, very busy. He had a need for speed, and that's what he got flying helicopters," Elizabeth Kryst said.
Her son was part of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, she said.
The unit's Web site had a statement posted Dec. 4, in which it said it had established its headquarters at Camp Korean Village near Rutbah and begun counterinsurgency operations to neutralize anti-Iraq forces in the province.
Patrick Gardon, West Bend West principal, issued a statement Tuesday saying that Kryst had been on the school's swimming team and part of its wind ensemble.
"He was very proud to serve his country and was a quality individual of high character, dedication and commitment, as well as an excellent student," Gardon said.
As of Tuesday, 64 military personnel from Wisconsin have died in the war in Iraq.
Semper Fi!
The family is good. The spare message doesn't tell the story. God bless that young man, I'll miss him and his spirit too.
Semper Fi to one of Gods' warriors and prayers for family and friends
Very well said.
Thanks.... my Marine son hopes has been admitted to flight school and hopes to fly helicopters....these stories really tug at my heart..... I understand the pride these families have for their fallen warriors and we all share in their grief.
Rest in Peace Capt. Kevin M. Kryst!
God Bless Capt. Kryst and his family. I wish the media would do a half hour special about this man and others like him, instead of worrying about the latest antics of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.
God Bless your Marine son, too.
I have been real pleased with our media here in Indianapolis whenever IN loses one of our own they really do a nice job of honoring the fallen.
Prayers for Capt. Kryst and his loved ones.
He lives on. His spirit, too.
I join you and everyone in prayers for this family, his Marine family, and all the folks out there who have loved ones in Iraq and anywhere else in this world serving us, their country.
Sadness,...Honor a Fallen Hero.
The few, the proud, the Marines. CAPT Kevin Kryst will be sorely missed. His heroism made a difference in the world.
Condolences to you, Kevin Kryst's family and the rest of Kevin Kryst's friends. America's finest bump!
I always pray to our fallen warriors asking them to keep an eye on America. I know God holds them close.
Sounds like the enemy got lucky by putting a round inside the compound, although the details are sketchy. This would mean that the enemy closed to within a very few clicks of the perimeter, if it was in fact a mortar round (and not a rocket.)
Another possibility (unknown) is whether KV adjoins or lies within an Iraqi population center, affording the enemy the opportunity to lob a round downrange from a nearby rooftop or yard.
Al Qa'im (up the road 100 clicks or so) had not been attacked in over a year, so perimeter sentry duty was sheer boredom to the marines. Most of the marine sentries had rotated to the main camp from the surrounding FOBS, where contact with the enemy was frequent (in comparison to AQ.)
The Korean Village area of Al Anbar province has been for the most part quiet, relatively speaking, in comparison to the rest of the province. Tough break for this marine.
Thanks for the link and the image.
'A Cobra pilot.'
"We were only told he sustained abdominal injuries from shrapnel in a mortar attack while he was on the base," his mother said. "He was not in a helicopter."
I was wondering how a pilot received mortar fragments. Now I know. The sons of bitches. I hope the marines conduct a number of search and destroy missions around the KV.
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