thedrifter
01-08-07, 10:56 AM
Vassar Marine gets last salute
Saturday, January 8, 2007
LaNIA COLEMAN
THE SAGINAW NEWS
VASSAR -- A lone Canada goose honked four or five times as it flew over a crowd of mourners huddled against the cold outside Vassar High School.
Minutes later Sunday, six U.S. Marines carried their fallen brother, Cpl. Christopher E. Esckelson, out of the auditorium.
A group of motorcycle enthusiasts, dressed in leather jackets and chaps, proudly held American flags flanking the Marines' path.
Veterans, young and old, some in uniform, saluted the young warrior.
Red-nosed and puffy-eyed, young men and women exchanged hugs and words of comfort.
It was an honorable and respectful tribute befitting the 22-year-old who died Dec. 28 in Fallujah, Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
Two days before his 23rd birthday, the 2002 Vassar High School graduate, the leader of a 12-man squad involved in an intense firefight, was helping a wounded Marine to safety when enemy fire struck him, family members said. He died from a direct hit to his torso.
The battle took down six men, killing three, family members have said. Lance Cpl. Nicholas A. Miller, 20, of Clifford in Lapeer County, and Lance Cpl. William D. Spencer, 20, of Paris, Tenn., also died.
Esckelson and Miller served with the Marine Forces Reserve's 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division in Saginaw. Spencer's unit was the Marine Forces Reserve's 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division in Nashville.
A funeral for Miller took place Saturday at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in North Branch.
Esckelson joined the Marines in October 2002. Between graduation and enlistment, he attended Delta College, where he maintained a 4.0 grade point average. He had planned a career as a doctor.
Esckelson shipped out to Iraq at the end of September and was scheduled to return in April.
Vince Levielle, Esckelson's former football coach, said the Marine approached sports the same way he approached life -- with gusto.
"He played with great passion and a lot of heart," Levielle said, adding he felt honored to have coached such a dedicated athlete.
Vassar Public Schools Superintendent Randy A. Middlin described Esckelson as "a man of honor" who was eager and excited to serve his country.
"Chris always had a smile and a glimmer in his eye that made you wonder what was going on," Middlin said. "As a community, we share in the family's grief."
He said the loss of Esckelson creates a great void in the heart of the community. However, Middlin urged residents to band together because sharing hugs and memories will patch the cleft.
"Let us honor him today and through all our free tomorrows," Middlin said.
Esckelson was a sports enthusiast who played baseball, football and basketball for the Vulcans. He enjoyed camping and fishing and was an accomplished artist and hunter. After bagging deer and turkey, Esckelson had set his sites on bigger game and planned to go bear hunting with his father and brother.
Esckelson leaves his father, David E. Esckelson, 48; mother, Michelle "Mitzi" M. Hill, 48; brother, Craig E. Esckelson, 19; sister, Kerry M. Esckelson, 17; niece, Hailee M. Esckelson; and stepsisters Rachel and Laurin Hill.
He had attended St. Michael Lutheran School in Richville before transferring to Vassar. He had worked at Zehnder's Restaurant in Frankenmuth and Abercrombie & Fitch at Fashion Square Mall in Saginaw Township, plus Wolverine Human Resources in Vassar.
He received burial with military honors at Riverside Cemetery on Frankenmuth Road in Vassar Township.
Esckelson was one of eight mid-Michigan soldiers and Marines who died in 2006 in Iraq.
Meanwhile, the remains of Army Pfc. Alan R. Blohm of Kawkawlin arrived Sunday at MBS International Airport near Freeland. The 21-year-old soldier died Dec. 31 in Baghdad when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit while on combat patrol.
Blohm received a police escort to Rivertown Funeral Chapel, 209 S. Huron in Kawkawlin, where he will remain until his funeral Wednesday at St. Bartholomew Lutheran Church.
He was a member of the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division assigned to Fort Richardson, Alaska. He deployed to Iraq on Oct. 1. v
LaNia Coleman is a staff writer for The Saginaw News. You may reach her at 776-9690.
Ellie
RIP
Saturday, January 8, 2007
LaNIA COLEMAN
THE SAGINAW NEWS
VASSAR -- A lone Canada goose honked four or five times as it flew over a crowd of mourners huddled against the cold outside Vassar High School.
Minutes later Sunday, six U.S. Marines carried their fallen brother, Cpl. Christopher E. Esckelson, out of the auditorium.
A group of motorcycle enthusiasts, dressed in leather jackets and chaps, proudly held American flags flanking the Marines' path.
Veterans, young and old, some in uniform, saluted the young warrior.
Red-nosed and puffy-eyed, young men and women exchanged hugs and words of comfort.
It was an honorable and respectful tribute befitting the 22-year-old who died Dec. 28 in Fallujah, Al Anbar Province, Iraq.
Two days before his 23rd birthday, the 2002 Vassar High School graduate, the leader of a 12-man squad involved in an intense firefight, was helping a wounded Marine to safety when enemy fire struck him, family members said. He died from a direct hit to his torso.
The battle took down six men, killing three, family members have said. Lance Cpl. Nicholas A. Miller, 20, of Clifford in Lapeer County, and Lance Cpl. William D. Spencer, 20, of Paris, Tenn., also died.
Esckelson and Miller served with the Marine Forces Reserve's 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division in Saginaw. Spencer's unit was the Marine Forces Reserve's 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division in Nashville.
A funeral for Miller took place Saturday at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in North Branch.
Esckelson joined the Marines in October 2002. Between graduation and enlistment, he attended Delta College, where he maintained a 4.0 grade point average. He had planned a career as a doctor.
Esckelson shipped out to Iraq at the end of September and was scheduled to return in April.
Vince Levielle, Esckelson's former football coach, said the Marine approached sports the same way he approached life -- with gusto.
"He played with great passion and a lot of heart," Levielle said, adding he felt honored to have coached such a dedicated athlete.
Vassar Public Schools Superintendent Randy A. Middlin described Esckelson as "a man of honor" who was eager and excited to serve his country.
"Chris always had a smile and a glimmer in his eye that made you wonder what was going on," Middlin said. "As a community, we share in the family's grief."
He said the loss of Esckelson creates a great void in the heart of the community. However, Middlin urged residents to band together because sharing hugs and memories will patch the cleft.
"Let us honor him today and through all our free tomorrows," Middlin said.
Esckelson was a sports enthusiast who played baseball, football and basketball for the Vulcans. He enjoyed camping and fishing and was an accomplished artist and hunter. After bagging deer and turkey, Esckelson had set his sites on bigger game and planned to go bear hunting with his father and brother.
Esckelson leaves his father, David E. Esckelson, 48; mother, Michelle "Mitzi" M. Hill, 48; brother, Craig E. Esckelson, 19; sister, Kerry M. Esckelson, 17; niece, Hailee M. Esckelson; and stepsisters Rachel and Laurin Hill.
He had attended St. Michael Lutheran School in Richville before transferring to Vassar. He had worked at Zehnder's Restaurant in Frankenmuth and Abercrombie & Fitch at Fashion Square Mall in Saginaw Township, plus Wolverine Human Resources in Vassar.
He received burial with military honors at Riverside Cemetery on Frankenmuth Road in Vassar Township.
Esckelson was one of eight mid-Michigan soldiers and Marines who died in 2006 in Iraq.
Meanwhile, the remains of Army Pfc. Alan R. Blohm of Kawkawlin arrived Sunday at MBS International Airport near Freeland. The 21-year-old soldier died Dec. 31 in Baghdad when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit while on combat patrol.
Blohm received a police escort to Rivertown Funeral Chapel, 209 S. Huron in Kawkawlin, where he will remain until his funeral Wednesday at St. Bartholomew Lutheran Church.
He was a member of the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division assigned to Fort Richardson, Alaska. He deployed to Iraq on Oct. 1. v
LaNia Coleman is a staff writer for The Saginaw News. You may reach her at 776-9690.
Ellie
RIP