chicagotribune.com
Crash victim was an Iraq vet

By Jo Napolitano

Tribune reporter

11:01 PM CDT, April 1, 2008


Marine Cpl. Scott Biesterfeld had just returned from his second tour of duty in the Middle East and wanted nothing more than to resume an ordinary life with his family, his father said.

The 26-year-old did well on a firefighter's exam and was excited about the possibility of landing a position with a suburban fire department, Robert Biesterfeld said Tuesday. But then Scott's marriage unraveled and he considered a return to the military.

On Sunday, Scott Biesterfeld was killed in a car crash in North Aurora.

Biesterfeld, of the 2400 block of Ridge Avenue in Aurora, was driving north on River Road when he crossed into the southbound lane, hitting another vehicle head-on. A father and son in the other car were injured, police said.

Biesterfeld, whose name was misspelled in initial reports, was inspired to join the Marines after the Sept. 11 attacks, his father said.

Military records show that he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in February 2003 and served two 6-month tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The first, which took him to Kuwait, ended in February 2005. His second tour, in Al Asad, Iraq, ended on Jan. 7. Military officials say he served in combat zones.

During his first tour, his future mother-in-law, Jean Blasius, was secretary to the principal of North Elementary School in Villa Park and arranged for about 50 students to correspond with the soldier. When Biesterfeld returned, he visited the school to meet his pen pals and answer their questions.

According to a Tribune story about the visit, the 5th-graders marveled at the 6-foot-3-inch Marine, who showed up in full dress uniform and wowed them with a crisp salute. He thanked the children for all their letters, saying he was the envy of other soldiers.

Asked what he missed the most, he told them, "being able to do what you want . . . hot showers . . . good food."

Robert Biesterfeld said his son was upset about his marriage ending and started to question whether he should stay in the area or re-enlist.

"I told him, 'You'll find somebody who loves you,' " his father said. " 'You can start anew with somebody that cares for you.' "

He said that he saw his son the morning of the crash and that he seemed in good spirits although he hadn't been sleeping well.

"I guarantee you he fell asleep," the father said about the crash.

Police have not yet completed their investigation. They would not say how fast Biesterfeld was driving when the crash occurred.

A spokeswoman with the Kane County coroner's office said that it had not yet ruled on a cause of death, but that preliminary findings revealed Biesterfeld suffered blunt chest, abdominal and pelvic trauma. Toxicology reports are pending.

George Mejia, 43, who was injured in the crash Sunday evening, went home from Provena Mercy Medical Center on Monday. His 11-year-old son was scheduled for release Tuesday. The two have expressed their condolences to Biesterfeld's father, he said.

Robert Biesterfeld said his son's wake will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in Damar Kaminski Funeral Home and Crematorium, 7861 S. 88th Ave., Justice. His funeral will be at 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

jnapolitano@tribune.com

Ellie