Freedom Remembered

Born: September 11, 1983 in Moose Lake, Minnesota
Died: September 25, 2007 in Baghdad, Iraq

Staff Sergeant Tomczak was the son of Blaise Edward and Mary Kathyrn (Jarvis) Tomczak. He moved to Huron South Dakota when he was a toddler. He lived in Wisconsin and Minnesota during his early teen years, and came back to Huron in 2000 to live with his father. He was a 2002 graduate of Huron South Dakota High School where he played fullback on the football team, wrestled and was active in the school’s journalism department. Having a knack for mechanical things and strong carpentry skills, he also worked in construction during school. Zachary was a quiet young man, never caused any trouble; he did not rile easily and was very easy to get along with. He joined the Army in June 2002, completed the Infantry One Station Unit Training in September 2002, the Basic Airbourne Course in November 2002, and Ranger School in 2007. Zachary took his service in the military very seriously and graduating from Ranger School was one of his proudest moments. He was assigned as a combat infantryman and squad leader to the 2nd Battalion, 325th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was on his fourth tour of duty in Iraq and he was planning on leaving the military in December of 2008 to settle down with his wife and start a family. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, 4-wheeling, paint-ball, model cars, cooking, and watching football on television, especially the San Francisco 49er’s Professional Football team. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal with two clasps, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with number 2, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge and the Ranger Tab. He is survived by his wife of three years, Beth Ann; his father, Blaise (Jackie) Tomczak; his mother, Mary (Mike) Flowers; 4 sisters, Megan McGillvrey, Siera Tomczak, Andrea Flowers, and Tatum Tomczak; 1 brother, Nathan Tomczak; his grandparents; Richard and Karen Hamman and Theodore Tomczak; and 1 nephew, Tyjion Tomczak. He was preceded in death by grandparents; Celia Martha Tomczak, and Pete and Irene Jarvis.

Burial: Saint Martin Cemetery, Huron (Beadle County) South Dakota

Birth: Dec. 4, 1977 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Death: Jun. 30, 2007 in Baghdad, Iraq

Staff Sgt. Robb Rolfing of Sioux Falls, South Dakota graduated from Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., in 2000. Robb was a member of the inaugural Sioux Falls SpitFire soccer team during the 2001 season in the Premier Development League, according to news reports from that year. The league is the highest level of amateur men’s soccer in the U.S. and Canada. But the former Curry College coach whose dream of playing pro soccer proved no match for his love of country. So he enlisted in the Army in January 2003 as an infantryman. In 2004, he was selected to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course at Fort Bragg, to become a Special Forces engineer. He earned the Green Beret and Special Forces tab in 2005 and was assigned to the 10th SFG(A). He was 29. On November 7, 2009 a statue was unveiled at Sioux Falls Veterans Memorial Park honoring Staff Sgt Rolfing and all those who have lost their lives in combat.
Army
Bravo Company
2nd Battalion
10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Fort Carson, Colorado

Burial is at Woodlawn Cemetery, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Birth: November 11, 1981 in Custer, South Dakota
Death: May 31, 2006 in Roy, Washington

Dusty graduated in 2000 from Custer High School and worked and enjoyed a few months in Boulder, Montana before his enlistment in the Army in March of 2001. His life as a Ranger had just begun the numerous adventures that took him overseas four times to the front line in Afghanistan and Iraq. On Sept. 11, 2003, Dusty was in a horrible accident while performing parachute exercises in preparation to return once again to Iraq. No one knew that recovering from the head injuries Dusty sustained from the accident would be the greatest battle of his life. His family knew that the strength deep within Dusty would pull him through the tough days ahead of him. He proved them right. Dusty recovered and returned to join his unit, the 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment, in Iraq in February 2004 just five months after his accident. His adventures continued back and forth overseas until April 2005 when he was forced to return to the U.S. for more surgery. Dusty was discharged from the 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment on May 30, 2006, with an Honorable Discharge. He had received numerous awards for his military service. Dusty lived life on the edge and to its fullest. He was bigger than life. When he walked into a room, he took charge! He was very proud to be a Ranger and serve his country for all to enjoy the freedoms we have today. Tragically, Dusty’s life was ended in an auto accident while he was getting ready to return home the next day to start yet another new adventure. Survivors include his mother and father, Dave and Tori Mayer; a brother, Travis Mayer; David Bland and family; grandparents, Cliff and Pat Goodro; Franklin and Florence Mayer. Dusty was 24.
Army
2nd Battalion
75th Ranger Regiment

Burial is at Custer Cemetery in Custer, South Dakota

Born: June 12, 1984 in Germany
Died: February 7, 2006 in San Antonio, Texas

Sgt. Allen D. Kokesh, Jr. of Yankton, South Dakota was born in Germany while his father served in the United States Army. As a junior in high school, he joined the same South Dakota National Guard unit in which his father had served. He attended Yankton High School where he was selected by his teammates as the most valuable player on special teams for the Yankton Bucks’ championship team his senior year. He also wrestled for the Bucks, who won the Eastern South Dakota (ESD) Conference championship during the same year. The Bucks football team won the ESD title during his junior and senior years, and he was also a member of the U-19 state runner-up boys soccer team. Even in high school, Kokesh was dedicated to the military. He continued a long family military tradition when he joined the South Dakota National Guard during his junior year at YHS. He completed his basic training during summer 2002. Allen died at age 21 at Brooke Army Medical Center of injuries sustained Dec. 4 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee in Baghdad. His funeral reflected his life, including his love of music. He was buried holding a compact disc from the band Green Day, and the funeral contained both sacred music and contemporary songs such as “Hands” by Jewel and “Wind Beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler. His passion for sports was also reflected in a number of photos. One photo showed a celebration on the DakotaDome turf as the undefeated Bucks football team won the State 11AA title with a 13-0 mark in 2002. He was selected by his team as the most valuable player on special teams for the championship game. The Purple Heart, the symbol of his ultimate sacrifice, was awarded Feb. 10 and showcased on a table. Next to the Purple Heart were two photos of President Bush paying a New Year’s Day visit to Kokesh’s bedside at Brooke Army Medical Center.
Army
National Guard
1st Battalion
147th Field Artillery
Yankton, South Dakota

Burial is at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Yankton, South Dakota

Born: November 29, 1965
Died: December 04, 2005 in Baghdad, Iraq

Sgt. 1st Class Richard L. Schild, 40, of Tabor, S.D.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery, South Dakota Army National Guard, Yankton, S.D.; killed Dec. 4 when improvised explosive devices detonated near his Humvee during convoy operations in Baghdad. Also killed was Staff Sgt. Daniel M. Cuka.

Burial is at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Yankton, South Dakota

To be updated…

Born: July 10, 1977 in Rapid City, South Dakota
Died: December 24, 2003 in Balad, Iraq

Captain Christopher F. Soelzer of South Dakota graduated from Sturgis High School in 1995 and graduated from Kemper Military Junior in May 1997, earning a commission as 2nd LT. He was a platoon leader and detachment commander for Bravo Company, 153rd Engineers. Chris was a 2001 graduate of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology with a degree in chemical engineering. He was commissioned a Captain March 2003. Chris enjoyed hunting, especially antelope. He loved the ranch and never tired of helping his dad, whether it was building fences, stacking hay or working cattle. When he e-mailed home, his first question was always, “How are the cows?” Discipline defined Chris’s life in both his job and his personal life. His faith was important to him, and he demonstrated it through the care and concern he showed for others. He loved his family, and he never missed an opportunity to be together and would travel hundreds of miles for a family gathering, and particularly enjoyed showing up unannounced on a family member’s doorstep. Chris was devoted to his many friends. He was an encourager and made anyone he was with feel special touching the lives of anyone he met. He had a great sense of humor, and he enjoyed laughing, four-wheeling, riding horseback, and caring for his animals. Chris believed in what he was doing; he was proud to serve his country. Survivors include his parents, Steve and Cathy Soelzer, and Alan and Delain Johnson; his grandparents, Duane Crisp, Dorothy Collingwood, and Elsie Johnson; two brothers and their wives, Josh and Beth Soelzer, and Tim and Amanda Soelzer; one stepbrother and his wife, Travis and Misty Puckett, Black Hawk; and four stepsisters, Trin Puckett, Melissa Sheppard and her husband Chris, Christina Thompson and her husband, Barry, and Sarah Price and her husband, Adam; a special aunt, Sherry Solberg. Chris was preceded in death by his grandparents, Frank and Helen Soelzer, Joy Crisp, Leonard Collingwood, Murlene Crisp, Dr. Edward Johnson, and aunt, Lynne Welbig. He was 26.
Army
5th Engineer Battalion
1st Engineer Brigade
Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri

Burial is at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, South Dakota – Sec D Site 1410