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vets4ever
Member
35 Posts |
 Posted - 02/17/2009 : 04:18:55 AM
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Body Of Leominster Soldier Brought Home From Iraq
LEOMINSTER (WBZ) ¯
Army Private Jonathan Roberge, 22, was one of four American soldiers who were killed Monday in Mosul, when a suicide car bomber hit their patrol.
Jonathan Roberge, 22, was killed when a suicide bomber pulled alongside his Humvee in Mosul, Iraq. The army private was one of four American soldiers killed in the worst attack on U.S. forces in nine months. "He just wanted to serve his country," Jonathan's mother, Pauline, told WBZ. "He promised he'd be OK."
Jonathan, the oldest of four children, had been sent overseas just seven weeks ago. "He's a super kid," his dad, John Roberge said. "I'm so proud of that boy. He worked so hard to get where he is. He tried. He really tried hard."
Jonathan fixed cars for a Ford dealership in Ayer after graduating from the technical wing of Leominster High School back in 2005, but grew increasingly restless. Last January, he surprised his family by joining the Army, something they say transformed him from a cocky, short-tempered kid into a young man with confidence and purpose.
During his training at Fort Hood, Texas, Jonathan was trained to drive a tank – a vehicle that is virtually indestructible. "They've thrown everything they can at a tank and haven't blown one up yet," John reassured his wife. "He'll be safe."
But when Jonathan was deployed to Iraq just before Christmas, he was sent to Mosul. The streets there are simply too narrow for tanks, so Jonathan was reassigned to a Humvee – far more vulnerable and dangerous. His family cringed. "I knew in the back of my head and so did everyone else," John said. "That the switch wasn't a good thing."
"But he loved life, and he believed in what he was doing," his mom added, clutching the locket he gave her before heading overseas. "He thought he would make a difference."
Jonathan's body will arrive in Leominster Tuesday morning, and will travel down Mechanic and West Streets before heading to the Brandon Funeral Home at 305 Wanoosnoc Road in Fitchburg. Leominster's Mayor Dean Mazzarella is trying to gather people to line the streets to honor Jonathan.
Jonathan's wake will be at Leominster City Hall on Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. The funeral will be on Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. Cecilias Church on Mechanic Street in Leominster.
A candlelight vigil will be held for Jonathan on Monday night at Leominster City Hall from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Jonathan leaves his parents, two sisters and a brother.
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 02/17/2009 : 10:03:23 PM
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Staff Sgt. Alex Jimenez
Jimenez, Fouty remains
buried together
Last Edited: Tuesday, 17 Feb 2009, 9:18 PM EST
Created On: Tuesday, 17 Feb 2009, 9:18 PM EST
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) - The remains of two soldiers from Massachusetts and Michigan who were killed in Iraq were buried Tuesday in a single casket at Arlington National Cemetery.
Staff Sgt. Alex Jimenez of Lawrence, Mass., and Specialist Byron Fouty of Waterford, Mich., were kidnapped by insurgents in May 2007. After their remains were recovered last July, Jimenez was buried in Long island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, N.Y., while Fouty was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in Texas.
Because some of their remains could not be identified as belonging to one or the other, the Army buried them together Tuesday with full military honors in a grave that will be marked by one stone.
The men were members of the Fort Drum, N.Y.-based 10th Mountain Division.
Meanwhile, two Massachusetts communities will bury native sons who died in the war on terror.
A funeral service for Marine Lance Cpl. Kevin Preach of Bridgewater will be held Wednesday. Preach died in a hospital earlier this month of injuries suffered in Afghanistan in January.
The body of Army Pfc. Jonathan Roberge was scheduled to return to his hometown of Leominster on Tuesday. Roberge was killed in Iraq a week ago.
Copyright Associated Press, Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast |
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TAPS: Private Jonathan Roberge
