thedrifter
07-19-08, 05:50 AM
Three Marines
Mike Jacobs
LUXEMBURG-CASCO - When a Marine's uniform is on display at his high school, it's a sign of honor. It's also a symbol of sacrifice.
Cpl. Jesse Thiry, a graduate of tiny Luxemburg-Casco High School, was killed in Iraq in 2004. Two years later, his classmate, Sgt. Luke Zimmerman died in Iraq. This year, a third graduate, Lance Cpl. Dean Opicka, was killed.
Tom Giachino coached all three young men.
"We probably, unfortunately, lead the state of Wisconsin in graduates killed. But we may even be as far as nationally," he says.
Luxemburg-Casco, east of Green Bay, has fewer than 700 students. The two small towns are a world away from Iraq, but the war has hit terribly close to home.
"When Dean was killed and it came back to the community, not only was everyone mourning dean at that time and very sad about the situation, but it brought back you know everyone's thoughts about Luke and Jesse also," Giachino recalls.
Jesse Thiry is buried close to his home. Luke Zimmerman is buried at Arlington. Dean Opicka is buried less than a mile from his home.
Vince Legreve is an American Legion Commander.
TODAY'S TMJ4's Mike Jacobs: "How is this community doing, having lost three marines to the war in Iraq?"
Legreve: "It hurts, I think everyone in a community we're so small, we're so close, everyone knows everyone and it hurts hard."
For some, it hurts especially hard. But Donna Opicka prefers to remember the good times. Her son was quarterback of the football team, homecoming king, engaged to be married, taught school in Milwaukee...and, he was a U.S. Marine.
"He just had a strong sense of country, God and country and just felt he wanted to serve," Donna explains.
Dean Opicka loved kids. He spent a lot of time with them in Iraq. But in April, he was killed by a roadside bomb. Once again, this small Wisconsin town had to bury one of its own.
"It doesn't seem possible that out of all the large numbers of servicemen, that a little place like Luxemburg-Casco should have so many," she says.
She adds, "You wonder sometimes why...why it would happen that way, but nobody really knows so..."
Donna Opicka has another reason to be concerned. Her younger son, Darren, is also a Marine. He has served two tours of duty in Iraq, and he's going to be headed to Afghanistan soon.
Ellie
Mike Jacobs
LUXEMBURG-CASCO - When a Marine's uniform is on display at his high school, it's a sign of honor. It's also a symbol of sacrifice.
Cpl. Jesse Thiry, a graduate of tiny Luxemburg-Casco High School, was killed in Iraq in 2004. Two years later, his classmate, Sgt. Luke Zimmerman died in Iraq. This year, a third graduate, Lance Cpl. Dean Opicka, was killed.
Tom Giachino coached all three young men.
"We probably, unfortunately, lead the state of Wisconsin in graduates killed. But we may even be as far as nationally," he says.
Luxemburg-Casco, east of Green Bay, has fewer than 700 students. The two small towns are a world away from Iraq, but the war has hit terribly close to home.
"When Dean was killed and it came back to the community, not only was everyone mourning dean at that time and very sad about the situation, but it brought back you know everyone's thoughts about Luke and Jesse also," Giachino recalls.
Jesse Thiry is buried close to his home. Luke Zimmerman is buried at Arlington. Dean Opicka is buried less than a mile from his home.
Vince Legreve is an American Legion Commander.
TODAY'S TMJ4's Mike Jacobs: "How is this community doing, having lost three marines to the war in Iraq?"
Legreve: "It hurts, I think everyone in a community we're so small, we're so close, everyone knows everyone and it hurts hard."
For some, it hurts especially hard. But Donna Opicka prefers to remember the good times. Her son was quarterback of the football team, homecoming king, engaged to be married, taught school in Milwaukee...and, he was a U.S. Marine.
"He just had a strong sense of country, God and country and just felt he wanted to serve," Donna explains.
Dean Opicka loved kids. He spent a lot of time with them in Iraq. But in April, he was killed by a roadside bomb. Once again, this small Wisconsin town had to bury one of its own.
"It doesn't seem possible that out of all the large numbers of servicemen, that a little place like Luxemburg-Casco should have so many," she says.
She adds, "You wonder sometimes why...why it would happen that way, but nobody really knows so..."
Donna Opicka has another reason to be concerned. Her younger son, Darren, is also a Marine. He has served two tours of duty in Iraq, and he's going to be headed to Afghanistan soon.
Ellie