thedrifter
12-28-06, 07:39 AM
Marine, 22, persevered when enlisting, then while serving
Death is small city's 2nd in Iraq, 2 years apart
By MEG JONES
mjones@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Dec. 27, 2006
Two years to the day after the small central Wisconsin city of Loyal learned one of its native sons had been killed in Iraq, the same terrible news arrived again.
Josh Schmitz, 22, a Marine who played on Loyal's high school football team all four years, was killed the day after Christmas.
Two years ago, Staff Sgt. Todd Olson, 36, a local banker who was a member of the Loyal School Board and the Chamber of Commerce, died Dec. 26 when he was hit by a roadside bomb in Samarra, Iraq.
Two deaths two years apart have stunned the community of 1,300, former Mayor Arthur Olsen said Wednesday.
"It's a really sad day for Loyal," Olsen said.
Schmitz joined the Marines shortly after he graduated in 2003 from Loyal High School and was on a second tour in Iraq. The Green Bay Packers fan, joker and drummer returned home on leave for a few weeks when his father, Mark Schmitz, a furniture-business owner in Loyal, hurt his hand.
His second cousin Kristie Schmitz said he had a problem with his feet that could have prevented him from joining the military, but Schmitz persevered and was accepted into the Marines.
"I just remember he has curly hair and he was really excited about going in the military because he could shave his head and get rid of the curls," said Kristie Schmitz, who was in the same Loyal graduation class as her cousin.
A man who answered the phone at Schmitz's home directed questions to Marine Capt. Tony Mitchell, who said he could not comment because the Defense Department had not reported the death.
The details of Schmitz's death were not disclosed Wednesday. He is the 67th Wisconsin military member to die in the war.
Schmitz, who had four brothers and two sisters, played drums in a band that performed at an annual fair in Marshfield and at weddings. He was also a drummer in his high school band and sometimes helped a friend work as a disc jockey.
Joe Anderson, chorus director at Loyal High School, saw his former student in July, and they spoke for about an hour about Iraq. Anderson said Schmitz knew, as a Marine, that he had a duty to perform.
"I really feel bad he's gone. That's one thing about being a teacher," Anderson said. "It hurts a lot to see students pass on before you. It's very sad, for sure. . . he was just an A-1 super kid."
Schmitz is the fourth Wisconsin military member to die in Iraq this month. Army Pvt. Evan Bixler, 21, of Racine died Sunday. Marine Capt. Kevin Kryst, 27, of West Bend was fatally wounded Dec. 18. And Marine Lance Cpl. Jesse Tillery, 19, of Vesper died Dec. 2 from wounds suffered during combat in Anbar province.
Kristie Schmitz said her cousin loved the Marines.
"He was just a great person. That pretty much sums it up," Kristie Schmitz said. "He really deserved to live a long life. It's sad he didn't get to do that."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Ellie
Death is small city's 2nd in Iraq, 2 years apart
By MEG JONES
mjones@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Dec. 27, 2006
Two years to the day after the small central Wisconsin city of Loyal learned one of its native sons had been killed in Iraq, the same terrible news arrived again.
Josh Schmitz, 22, a Marine who played on Loyal's high school football team all four years, was killed the day after Christmas.
Two years ago, Staff Sgt. Todd Olson, 36, a local banker who was a member of the Loyal School Board and the Chamber of Commerce, died Dec. 26 when he was hit by a roadside bomb in Samarra, Iraq.
Two deaths two years apart have stunned the community of 1,300, former Mayor Arthur Olsen said Wednesday.
"It's a really sad day for Loyal," Olsen said.
Schmitz joined the Marines shortly after he graduated in 2003 from Loyal High School and was on a second tour in Iraq. The Green Bay Packers fan, joker and drummer returned home on leave for a few weeks when his father, Mark Schmitz, a furniture-business owner in Loyal, hurt his hand.
His second cousin Kristie Schmitz said he had a problem with his feet that could have prevented him from joining the military, but Schmitz persevered and was accepted into the Marines.
"I just remember he has curly hair and he was really excited about going in the military because he could shave his head and get rid of the curls," said Kristie Schmitz, who was in the same Loyal graduation class as her cousin.
A man who answered the phone at Schmitz's home directed questions to Marine Capt. Tony Mitchell, who said he could not comment because the Defense Department had not reported the death.
The details of Schmitz's death were not disclosed Wednesday. He is the 67th Wisconsin military member to die in the war.
Schmitz, who had four brothers and two sisters, played drums in a band that performed at an annual fair in Marshfield and at weddings. He was also a drummer in his high school band and sometimes helped a friend work as a disc jockey.
Joe Anderson, chorus director at Loyal High School, saw his former student in July, and they spoke for about an hour about Iraq. Anderson said Schmitz knew, as a Marine, that he had a duty to perform.
"I really feel bad he's gone. That's one thing about being a teacher," Anderson said. "It hurts a lot to see students pass on before you. It's very sad, for sure. . . he was just an A-1 super kid."
Schmitz is the fourth Wisconsin military member to die in Iraq this month. Army Pvt. Evan Bixler, 21, of Racine died Sunday. Marine Capt. Kevin Kryst, 27, of West Bend was fatally wounded Dec. 18. And Marine Lance Cpl. Jesse Tillery, 19, of Vesper died Dec. 2 from wounds suffered during combat in Anbar province.
Kristie Schmitz said her cousin loved the Marines.
"He was just a great person. That pretty much sums it up," Kristie Schmitz said. "He really deserved to live a long life. It's sad he didn't get to do that."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Ellie