thedrifter
04-05-09, 07:43 AM
Marine from Export happy, proud to serve his country
By Jerry Vondas
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Hap Writt was a Marine who proudly served his country on the battlefields of Iraq and considered himself a brother to the men who fought and sometimes died by his side.
"As a Marine, Hap felt strongly about serving in Iraq," said his mother, Kathy Schrecengost of Export. "He wanted to do what his country wanted him to do and that was to serve where his country needed him.
"Upon his return to Camp Lejeune (South Carolina) after his deployment in Iraq, Hap was eager to return to that part of the world and volunteered to serve his country in Afghanistan."
Marine Pfc. James E. "Hap" Writt of Export, Westmoreland County, died of injuries he suffered in an automobile accident in Spartanburg County, S.C., on Saturday, March 29, 2009. He was 21.
Mr. Writt's wife, Jennifer, is in the Army and undergoing basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. His brother, Daniel, also is in the Army and serving in Iraq. James "Bo" Hickey, Mr. Writt's best friend and his wife's twin brother, is in the Marines and in basic training at Camp Lejeune, Schrecengost said.
"As a family, we've always been proud to serve our country, she said.
Born and raised in Export, James Writt was one of five children in the family of Kathy Kaufman Schrecengost and Mark J. Writt, both of Export.
"Hap was always a happy kid, who had a lot of charm and a great sense of humor," said his mother. "Hap's kindergarten companions first gave him the name Happy. Hap cut it down to Hap, and it stuck."
His mother also recalled how her son, prior to graduating from Greensburg Salem High School in 2005, worked at McDonald's after school and on weekends and also did work for a tree-cutting service. He also made time to participate in sports, said his mother, playing soccer at the Greensburg YMCA and basketball with the youth group at Cornerstone Ministries in Murrysville.
In addition to his mother, Kathy Schrecengost, Mr. Writt is survived by his wife, Pvt. Jennifer Hickey Writt of Ft. Jackson, S.C.; a daughter, Hope Nichole Writt of Export; his father, Mark Writt of Export; his brothers, Mark J. Writt of Export, Spc. Daniel J. Writt, serving in Iraq, and Jonathon R. Schrecengost and Christopher L. Schrecengost, both of Export; and his grandparents, Harold and Meryle Kaufman of Greensburg.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. today and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the VAIA Funeral Home Inc., 463 Athena Drive, Delmont.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday in the funeral home with the Rev. H. Clifton Foster of Congruity Presbyterian Church, New Alexandria, officiating.
Interment with full military honors will follow in Congruity Cemetery, New Alexandria.
Jerry Vondas can be reached at jvondas@tribweb.com or 412-320-7823.
Ellie
By Jerry Vondas
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Hap Writt was a Marine who proudly served his country on the battlefields of Iraq and considered himself a brother to the men who fought and sometimes died by his side.
"As a Marine, Hap felt strongly about serving in Iraq," said his mother, Kathy Schrecengost of Export. "He wanted to do what his country wanted him to do and that was to serve where his country needed him.
"Upon his return to Camp Lejeune (South Carolina) after his deployment in Iraq, Hap was eager to return to that part of the world and volunteered to serve his country in Afghanistan."
Marine Pfc. James E. "Hap" Writt of Export, Westmoreland County, died of injuries he suffered in an automobile accident in Spartanburg County, S.C., on Saturday, March 29, 2009. He was 21.
Mr. Writt's wife, Jennifer, is in the Army and undergoing basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. His brother, Daniel, also is in the Army and serving in Iraq. James "Bo" Hickey, Mr. Writt's best friend and his wife's twin brother, is in the Marines and in basic training at Camp Lejeune, Schrecengost said.
"As a family, we've always been proud to serve our country, she said.
Born and raised in Export, James Writt was one of five children in the family of Kathy Kaufman Schrecengost and Mark J. Writt, both of Export.
"Hap was always a happy kid, who had a lot of charm and a great sense of humor," said his mother. "Hap's kindergarten companions first gave him the name Happy. Hap cut it down to Hap, and it stuck."
His mother also recalled how her son, prior to graduating from Greensburg Salem High School in 2005, worked at McDonald's after school and on weekends and also did work for a tree-cutting service. He also made time to participate in sports, said his mother, playing soccer at the Greensburg YMCA and basketball with the youth group at Cornerstone Ministries in Murrysville.
In addition to his mother, Kathy Schrecengost, Mr. Writt is survived by his wife, Pvt. Jennifer Hickey Writt of Ft. Jackson, S.C.; a daughter, Hope Nichole Writt of Export; his father, Mark Writt of Export; his brothers, Mark J. Writt of Export, Spc. Daniel J. Writt, serving in Iraq, and Jonathon R. Schrecengost and Christopher L. Schrecengost, both of Export; and his grandparents, Harold and Meryle Kaufman of Greensburg.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. today and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the VAIA Funeral Home Inc., 463 Athena Drive, Delmont.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday in the funeral home with the Rev. H. Clifton Foster of Congruity Presbyterian Church, New Alexandria, officiating.
Interment with full military honors will follow in Congruity Cemetery, New Alexandria.
Jerry Vondas can be reached at jvondas@tribweb.com or 412-320-7823.
Ellie