Marine Died in Iraq Rescuing Helicopter Crash Victims

AP ^

[TheOtherOne]

Wisconsin Marine Died in Iraq Rescuing Helicopter Crash Victims, Family Says
By Todd Richmond Associated Press Writer
Published: May 20, 2003

BEAVER DAM, Wis. (AP) - A third-generation serviceman who promised to make his father proud by following in his footsteps died after he jumped into an Iraqi canal to rescue victims of a helicopter crash, his family said.

Marine Infantry Sgt. Kirk Straseskie, 23, died Monday after he tried to rescue the crew of a Sea-Knight helicopter that went down into a canal shortly after takeoff in Hillah, about 60 miles south of Baghdad. Four Marines on the helicopter were killed.

"We told him not to be a hero," said his grandmother, Jan Helmer. "But that was Kirk."

Capt. Joe Kloppel, a Marine Corps spokesman at the Pentagon, said officials had not released names of the Marines who died. The cause of the crash was under investigation, but the military said it appeared to be an accident.

Straseskie graduated from Beaver Dam High School in 1998 and immediately joined the Marines, said his father, John Straseskie, 51. He said both he and his father had served in the U.S. Army, and Kirk wanted to do the same by joining the military. His son chose the Marines because he "was a fighter," he said.

"He told me he was going to match my ribbons," said John Straseskie. "He matched them and more."

Kirk was the youngest of four brothers. His older brother, Ryan, also serves in the military as a lieutenant in the Army National Guard's 724th Engineer Battalion, which was deployed to the Middle East region earlier this month.

Mary Schreiber, Ryan and Kirk's aunt, said no one in the family knew Ryan's location, but he had been told of his brother's death and was on his way home.

AP-ES-05-20-03 2305EDT

[Mind-numbed Robot]

May God bless them all.

[ladyinred]

God Bless you Kirk, you died a hero along with all of the others who gave their all for this country.
RIP.

[Norse]

I'm really sick of all these Helicoptor accidents. I just cringe for hours every time I hear of one

[gatorbait]

Thank Bill Clinton's years of neglect for that .No parts, no money for maintenance, no new equipment, and curtailed training. This young man transcended any petty garbage that the Caligulas and their henchmen dealt.


Dave

[kayak]

Prayers for a hero! May God comfort his family and give them strength in the coming days.

[Rockitz]

Is there a list of the fallen from this war?

[kayak]

I found this on the FOX News web site ..... it does not include the ones from this week.

Fallen Heroes of Operation Iraqi Freedom

[fly_so_free]

Prayers for his family. This is another sobering reminder that many, many soldiers are still in Iraq and in danger. They need us to continue to Pray for them and Pray that things will go smoothly in the transtion to a new goverment for Iraq. Pray that the Iraqi people will be patient, and not be fooled by those who do not want them to have freedom, who are trying to stir up chaos and anger among them. Pray that the plans of those who are trying to cause the new government to fail will be revealed and thwarted. I ask in the Name of Jesus- Amen

[Kathy in Alaska]

RIP Sgt Straseskie

[KSCITYBOY]

courage bump

[RaceBannon]

I am not being offensive, but this is what a Marine will do, he will risk his life for his fellow Marine, just as any good Soldier or Airman or Sailor would too.

We do it for our brothers. We do it for family. And sometimes when we do it, we do it non-chalantly, not expecting any danger to us, only the saving of those in peril. Bringing our brothers hoe is all that matters.

Semper Fi.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

[Dick Bachert]

To fallen soldiers let us sing
Where no rockets fly nor bullets wing
Our broken brothers let us bring
To the Mansions of the Lord

No more bleeding, no more fight
No prayers pleading through the night
Just divine embrace, eternal light
In the Mansions of the Lord

Where no mothers cry and no children weep
We will stand and guard though the angels sleep
Through the ages safely keep
The Mansions of the Lord

[Dutchy]

Another example of heroism and self sacrifice...

[Area51]

http://www.saintsandheroes.com/oneday1/

[Michele3355]

My cousin was one of the Marines that Sgt. Straseskie tried to save. My entire family would like to let his family know that we thank him and ask God to shower His blessings upon him for his heroism in thinking of saving his fellow Marines before thinking of his own safety. I am so sorry for Sgt. Straseskie's loss, as I am for the loss of my cousin and the other Marines on the helicopter. Please pray for them, all.

[Aaron0617]

Marine Kirk Straseskie, 23, seen in this undated photo, died Monday after a Sea-Knight helicopter crashed into a canal shortly after takeoff in Hillah, about 60 miles south of Baghdad.(Associated Press photo/Los Angeles Times, Rick Loomis)

Beaver Dam native dies a hero in Iraq

(Above is another article, but in this one the father bashes Bush.)

[Mind-numbed Robot]

(Above is another article, but in this one the father bashes Bush.)

I have some friends here in Dallas who are from Wisconsin and they are Democrats. They spout the usual DNC talking points and refuse to discuss it further when you engage them with facts. This father is probably the same, since what he said is right out of the DNC. Regardless, God bless him and his.