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Brent W. Koch

    
Tuesday, June 20 2006 @ 02:10 AM EDT
Contributed by: River97
Views: 1,592
Individuals USwww.kare11.com -- A National Guard member from Morton was killed in Iraq when an explosive device detonated near his military vehicle, the Minnesota National Guard announced Sunday.

Spc. Brent W. Koch, 22, died Friday in Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq, the Guard said. Two other Minnesota soldiers were injured in the explosion.

"(Koch) was the kind of kid that you would want with you if you were over there fighting a war. He was committed and mature beyond his years," Cedar Mountain School District Superintendent Bob Tews said.

Koch graduated in 2002 from Cedar Mountain High School, where he played football and basketball, Tews said.

In Morton, members of the local American Legion post put up American flags along the streets of the southwestern Minnesota town in Koch's honor.


"He was a very good kid and he wanted to go into the military and serve for our country," said Dave Mude, as he took a break from hanging flags from utility poles.

Koch enlisted in the Guard four years ago and was serving as a combat engineer. His unit's job was providing convoy security.

Maj. Kevin Olson, a spokesman for the Minnesota National Guard, said Koch was unmarried and had no children.

Koch's family members were not taking calls from the media on Sunday but issued a statement through the Guard.

"We are very grateful for the overwhelming amount of support from our family, friends and the community," they said in a statement read by Lt. Col. Kevin Gutknecht. "Thank you for your thoughts and prayers at this time."

Olson did not release the names of the injured soldiers. He said one received shrapnel wounds to the upper body, and the other received shrapnel wounds to the lower body. They were being
transferred to a U.S. military hospital in Germany.

Olson also said there were no indications that any Minnesotans are among the service members recently captured in Iraq.

Koch was assigned to the Minnesota Army National Guard's Company E, 2nd Battalion, 136th Infantry Combined Arms Battalion in Redwood Falls. Another 79 members of the company are due to remain in Iraq through next Spring.

His unit was part of a deployment in March of 2,600 other Minnesota Guard members for a 12-month tour of duty, the Minnesota Guard's largest deployment since World War II.

"We are focusing our efforts on helping the family members cope through this difficult time," Maj. Gen. Larry Shellito, Minnesota's adjutant general, said in a statement. "Additionally,
our thoughts and prayers are with those who serve with this honorable soldier."

Jeff Gay, a family support coordinator for the Guard in Redwood Falls, was there the day Cook enlisted and praised him as a dependable soldier.

"Specialist Cook was fired up about coming into the Guard, it seemed like," Gay said. "Very well liked among the other soldiers. Anytime anything needed to be done, extra duty, he was always there to help us."

Koch is the 39th person with Minnesota ties to die in connection with the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was the fourth Minnesota National Guard fatality in Iraq, Olson said. Funeral arrangements were pending.
 
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Brent W. Koch
Authored by: anonymous on Tuesday, June 20 2006 @ 10:45 PM EDT
To the Koch family from the Wahl family. BRENT, thank you for your service to our COUNTRY! You have not died in VAIN! You are an AMERICAN HER! AN obviously, much more to everyone that knew and loved you. healing is a very sloaw process. Take it one day at a time. You all loved Brent very much. An he loved you! So reflect one the very fond and precious memories you EACH shared together with BRENT! He is in a better place resting now. Still he is with YOU! You only need to refect oh him, place your hand over your heart. Brent would not want his love one's unhappy! Brent will never ever be forgotten, not today, tomorrow, or ever! We will remeber Brent in Gatlinburg, Tennessee July 3rd. As we will honor everyone of our fallen soldiers. At the Gatlinburg Annual midnight Parade. Brent thank you for being a military brother to our son: as I ssure you he felt of you. you are both together with all our fallen soldiers. Brent is somebody's someone and he is someone to every fallen family. We hope that those reading this other then family. Realize Brent is someone to you. So please leave a message. It's important to the Koch family! father of fallen soldier US Army Sgt. Gregory L. Wahl KIA Balad, Iraq 05-03-04.
  • Brent W. Koch - Authored by: anonymous on Friday, June 23 2006 @ 11:24 PM EDT
  • Brent W. Koch - Authored by: anonymous on Sunday, June 25 2006 @ 11:15 PM EDT
  • Brent W. Koch - Authored by: anonymous on Thursday, July 13 2006 @ 12:04 PM EDT
Brent W. Koch
Authored by: anonymous on Friday, June 23 2006 @ 12:58 PM EDT
Brent,
I would like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for our Country. And to your family, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

"Rex Montis"(King Of The Hill)136th Inf. Motto
Brent W. Koch
Authored by: anonymous on Tuesday, August 15 2006 @ 02:41 PM EDT
my deepest sympathy to the koch family, i met spc. koch in m.o.s. school and he was not only a great soldier but a great human being. i know that he believed in what he was doing, and was a very brave young man. i will never forget my military brother nor will my family forget his sacrifice. sgt. garcia , 1457th eng.
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