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Minnesota's war dead: They are all heroes

Last update: January 22, 2008 - 9:32 AM

For many Minnesotans with loved ones in the military, 2007 was a year of joyous homecomings. More than 2,600 National Guard members returned from an extended tour of duty in Iraq.

But 17 men with Minnesota ties died in Iraq or Afghanistan. Some were from the suburbs, others from farms or small towns. There were veterans. There were young men who loved motorcycles and who asked their families to send Goldfish crackers and Cap’n Crunch cereal.

The entire state mourned as each casket was lowered into the ground. Their sacrifice is not forgotten.

Jan. 9

Minnesota Army National Guard Sgt. James M. Wosika Jr.

Age: 24

Hometown: St. Paul.

Wosika was killed by a bomb while on foot patrol in Fallujah.

FEB. 1

Minnesota Army National Guard Sgt. Major Michael Charles Mettille

Age: 44

Hometown: West St. Paul.

Mettille died of a heart attack in Camp Adder, Iraq.

FEB. 26

Army Sgt. William J. Beardsley

Age: 25

Hometown: Coon Rapids.

Beardsley died when a bomb exploded near his vehicle in Diwaniyah, Iraq.

FEB. 28

Marine Sgt. Chad M. Allen

Age: 25

Hometown: Maple Lake.

Allen was about two months from leaving his second tour of Iraq when a bomb exploded near the light-armored vehicle he was driving in Anbar Province.

MARCH 23

Minnesota Army National Guard Sgt. Greg N. Riewer

Age: 28

Hometown: Frazee

Riewer was killed when a roadside bomb struck his vehicle while he was on patrol near Fallujah. Three other members of his Minnesota unit were injured in the explosion.

MARCH 25

Army Specialist Sean K. McDonald

Age: 21

Hometown: Burnsville and Apple Valley.

McDonald, who spent his teenage years in the Netherlands, died of injuries suffered when a roadside bomb exploded near the vehicle he was driving in Baghdad.

APRIL 2

Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel R. Olsen

Age: 20

Hometown: Eagan.

Olsen was shot in the back while on foot patrol in Anbar Province.

APRIL 7

Army Specialist Conor G. Masterson

Age: 21

Hometown: Woodbury.

Masterson was killed in Afghanistan when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle.

APRIL 14

Army Sgt. Joshua A. Schmit

Age: 26

Hometown: Willmar

Schmit was killed by a roadside bomb outside Fallujah.

MAY 6

Army Pfc. Robert J. Dixon

Age: 28

Hometown: Minneapolis

Dixon was killed when the Humvee he was riding in was hit by a roadside bomb. Dixon was the gunner atop the Humvee.

MAY 19

Army Sgt. Jason Alan (Tuba) Schumann

Age: 23

Hometown: Hawley.

Schumann was killed when a bomb exploded near his vehicle near Diwaniyah. He was on his second tour of duty in Iraq.

JUNE 21

Army Pfc. Anthony D. Hebert

Age: 19

Hometown: Lake City.

Hebert was killed when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle in Baghdad.

AUG. 6

Army Staff Sgt. Jacob Thompson

Age: 26

Hometown: North Mankato.

Thompson was killed by a bomb explosion as his unit was searching a home in Baqubah.

AUG. 29

Army Staff Sgt. Andrew Nelson

Age: 22

Hometown: Moorhead.

Nelson was killed while on foot patrol near Tikrit.

NOV. 26

Civilian security contractor Bill Juneau

Age: 36

Hometown: Rush City.

Juneau was killed by a roadside bomb that hit his convoy 50 miles outside of Baghdad. He was employed by DynCorp International of Falls Church, Va.

NOV. 28

Army Reserve Sgt. 1st Class John Tobiason

Age: 42

Hometown: Hayfield

Tobiason was shot when he stepped outside a tent in Baghdad.

DEC. 9

Army Specialist Randy W. Pickering

Age: 31

Hometown: Bovey

Pickering died in Baghdad of "injuries sustained in a noncombat-related incident." The death was under investigation.

COMPILED BY ROBERTA HOVDE

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