Born: November 13, 1982 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Died: March 15, 2007 in Guam
GMCB2 Jared D Krutke of Sheboygan, Wisconsin had a great love of his Lord, his country and his family. He had graduated from Sheboygan County Christian High School in 2001 and soon after joined the United States Navy. On December 21, 2002, he married Nicole Veldboom. Jared was a member of the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 based out of Gulfport, Mississippi. He has been stationed at Camp Covington, United States Naval base in Guam, since October 2006. He was a gunner’s mate on the ships, USS Detroit AOE4 and the USS Ashland LSD48. He attended the Handsboro Baptist Church in Gulfport, Mississippi and the Calvary Chapel in Guam. He enjoyed fishing, hiking, and stargazing while on his ship assignments. Jared was a “big kid at heart” and still enjoyed Lego’s and Star Wars. All who knew him loved him. An optimist, he was always willing to help those in need. Jared died at age 24 while serving in Guam in the United States Navy. He leaves his wife, Nicole, his daughter, Elizabeth, his mother and stepfather, Jackie and Larry Walston, his father and stepmother, Gary and Cami Krutke, two sisters, Brittany Krutke and Jasmine Walston, and a brother, Joe Krutke. Jared was buried in Hartmann Cemetery in Wilson, Wisconsin
Born: Saranac Lake, New York
Died: August 17, 2006
Lieut Jessica E Hill spent much of her life in St. Augustine, Florida and had joined the Coast Guard after she graduated from the University of South Alabama with a master’s degree in marine science. It was what she lived for. Vivacious and adventurous, she spent many hours on a sailboat traveling with her parents on their boat. Jessica had been accepted into the Navy diving school in Panama City, Florida where she had competed and surpassed many other Coast Guard and Navy enlisted personnel. She was accepted and tested in the same diving school that was popularized in the 2000 film “Men of Honor.” The intense diving program offers only a few openings each year for enlisted men and women. Acceptance into the program is determined by several factors, including command approval, physical fitness and swimming capabilities, and is extremely selective. It was very competitive, and she excelled at it. Jessica was currently serving as the Marine Science Officer on Healy since mid-summer 2004. She acted as the onboard Liaison between the science personnel and the Healy command. She also coordinated the on-load of science gear and also served as Healy’s dive officer. She leaves behind her father, William Carl Hill Jr., her mother, Dawn Ellen Zimmerman, a sister, Adrienne Hill Gullett, a brother, William Carl Hill III, stepfather, Rob Zimmerman, stepmothers, Karen Hill, and Sherri Sundberg, step brothers, Cayman Eby, David Kausch and Josh Kausch, step sister, Christina Kausch, fiance, Tim Tully. Jessica died at age 31 during a scientific expedition about 500 miles from the Alaskan coast while conducting a routine SCUBA dive from the ice at 77 12.3 N 177 35.8W.
Cremated: Ashes scattered at sea.
Born: April 2, 1974
Died: March 31, 2005 in Albania
Captain Surender D. Kothakota of Fayetteville, North Carolina formerly of Tulsa, Oklahoma is the son of Sgt. Maj. Surender and Margret Schepers Kothakota. He was a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, where he was active in Reserve Officer’s Training Corp. He spent several summers in Tulsa. His parents were currently stationed in Germany. He is the grandson of Ruth Schepers of Tulsa. Surrender and eight others died when a military C-130 airplane crashed in a mountainous area during a joint exercise. He was 30 years old. The Air Force captain was assigned to the 7th Special Operations Squadron based in Mildenhall, England.
Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 7959
Born: June 24, 1972 in Park Ridge, Illinois
Died: March 31, 2005 in Albania
Capt. James S. Cronin of Elk Grove Village, Illinois graduated from Elk Grove High School in 1991 and joined the Air Force out of college. At a very young age, James dream of serving in the military. That goal was born out of his love for airplanes. At first he wanted to be an astronaut, but in time decided that a more suitable ambition was to be a pilot in the United States Air Force. In 1992, just a year out of high school, James left his home to enlist. He completed officers training and was commissioned to the rank of captain in 1998. James served a total of 12 years in the Air Force, and was involved in the training of NATO Air Force Pilots. He is the recipient of the Meritorious Service metal from President Bush. At the time of his death, he was assigned to the 7th Special Operations Squadron, based at Royal Air Force Station Mildenhall in England. He was one of nine crewmembers flying a night training mission in Albania when the plane crashed. He is survived by his parents, James E.T. Cronin and Roxanne Galli, brother of Christopher; grandson of Virginia and the late Del De La Rosa, and Dorothy and the late Thomas Cronin. James was 32.
Burial is at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, Illinois
Born: March 30, 1973 in Phoenix, Arizona
Died: March 31, 2005 in Albania
Staff Sgt Patrick R Pentico was known to his family and friends as, “Tico.” He was born the son of Glen K. and Susie Ryan Pentico. Growing up in Hanksville, Utah he explored the mountains on his motorbike and had a fearless spirit about him. He attended Wayne High School where as a member of the wrestling team, he defeated opponents who outweighed him by 100 pounds. The team won the state title every year from 1988-92. Tico graduated in 1991. Tico was a happy person who lived life to the fullest. He loved all kinds of music, motorcycles, traveling, and water skiing at Hite on Lake Powell. On Mat 13, 2000 he married Melissa Dickey at her parents home in Orient, Washington. The couple had been living in England for more than three years while stationed at RAF Mildenhall, where he was a loadmaster on an MC130H Talon II cargo plane. Patrick was quite modest in many ways. In 2004, with one engine down and their plane heavily damaged by enemy fire, Patrick and his crew safely landed a C-130. All 58 people on board survived. But he never bragged about his accomplishments. The Airlift/Tanker Association awarded Patrick and his crew the Gen. P.K. Carlton Award for Valor for safely landing a battle-damaged C-130. The plane was transporting special operations forces during a mission in the opening days of Operation Iraqi Freedom when it received heavy enemy fire. During the mission, the plane took 19 hits from anti-aircraft artillery fire, one shell shattered the pilot’s windscreen. The plane landed with three of the four engines operating. Some of Patrick’s closest friends never knew he had received the award. He cared dearly for his many friends, family and the love of his life, Melissa. He is survived by his wife, Melissa Pentico, his parents, Susie and Kevin Hatch, and Glen Pentico, siblings, Parvonae, Cortney and Cole Pentico. He was preceded in death by his step-mother, Sherry Pentico, his grandparents, George and LaVaun Pentico; and Les Ryan and Marvel Ryan. Patrick died at age 32 while serving his country in the United States Air Force.
Air Force
352nd Special Ops Squadron
Royal Air Force base in Mildenhall, England
Burial is at Elgin Cemetery in Elgin, Utah
Born: July 16, 1970
Died: March 31, 2005 in southeast of Tirana, Albania
Capt. Todd Bracy of Murphysboro, Illinois graduated from Norwich Military College in Vermont in 1992. He attended Southern Illinois University Flight School and graduated as a civilian pilot. In 1997 he graduated from Officer Training School as a second lieutenant and entered the active duty Air Force. He was accepted into pilot school and graduated from Columbus Air Force Base, Mississppi as a military pilot in 1998. He was a quiet man and exemplified his unit’s unofficial title, ‘The Quiet Professionals’. Todd was an outstanding husband to his wife and father to his daughters. He was among five officers and four enlisted men who were the victims of a MC-130H crash in Albania
Air Force
National Guard
183rd Fighter Wing
Springfield, Illinois
Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 7960 and Site 8238