DOD Identifies Army Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
They died June 24, in Kandahar, Afghanistan. They were assigned to the 96th Transportation Company, 180th Transportation Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), Fort Hood, Texas.
Killed were:
Staff Sgt. Robert A. Massarelli, 32, of Hamilton, Ohio, and
Sgt. Michael J. Strachota, 28, of White Hall, Ark.
For more information, media may contact the III Corps and Fort Hood Public Affairs Office at 254-286-5139.
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Sgt. Michael Strachota of Pine Bluff killed in Afghanistan
PINE BLUFF, Ark. (KTHV) - A Pine Bluff soldier is dead after an accident in Afghanistan.
Sgt. Michael Strachota was killed in Kandahar in Afghanistan over the weekend. He was stationed at Ft. Hood with the Army.
According to his father, government officials say Strachota was
driving a truck and there was some kind of accident. He was scheduled to
come home July 5 for his son's third birthday.
He is survived by his wife and his son. His body is being taken to Dover Air Force Base from Afghanistan.
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White Hall Native Dies in Support of Operation Enduring Freedom
WASHINGTON
– U.S. Congressman Mike Ross, D-Prescott, today issued the following
statement in response to the passing of
Sergeant Michael Strachota, who
died on June 24, 2012, in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom. According to initial reports, Sgt.
Strachota died of injuries sustained from a non-combat related
incident.
Sgt. Strachota was assigned to the 96th Transportation
Company, 180th Transportation Battalion, 13th Sustainment Command
(Expeditionary), Fort Hood, Texas. Sgt. Strachota’s wife and son reside
in Killeen, Texas. His mother resides in Star City, Arkansas, and his
father and grandmother reside in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
Statement from U.S. Congressman Mike Ross of Prescott:
“Our
state and nation lost a true patriot in the passing of Sergeant Michael
Strachota. His passing comes much too soon and he will be deeply
missed. All Americans owe Sergeant Strachota their eternal gratitude
for his service to our nation. There is no way we can ever thank
Sergeant Strachota or his family enough for his service, but we can
honor his legacy and life and pledge together to support all of our men
and women in uniform who heroically serve this great country of ours. My
thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, son, parents, grandmother, and
the rest of his family and friends during this very difficult time.”
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from
kypost:
HAMILTON, Ohio - Family members have confirmed that
Staff Sgt. Robert A. Massarelli died in Afghanistan over the weekend.
According to his mother, Mary Massarelli, the 32-year-old Hamilton native died on Sunday, June 24 in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
He is survived by his parents, Pat and Mary Massarelli, and brothers Mike and Ben.
Services are pending, according to the Colligan Funeral Home.
--
from
journal-news:
By Ed Richter and Hannah Poturalski,
Staff Writers
9:49 PM Friday, June 29, 2012
A soldier with Hamilton ties was remembered for his dedication and his sense of humor.
Staff
Sgt. Robert A. Massarelli, 32, whose parents live in Hamilton, was
reportedly in a truck when it was hit by an improvised explosive device
in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and died June 24 after being evacuated to
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, according to a Facebook
post from the 96th Transportation Company.
Massarelli grew up in Michigan, but listed his parents’ home in Hamilton as his residence.
He is the son of Pat and Mary Massarelli of Hamilton. Massarelli also had two brothers, Mike and Ben Massarelli.
The
Department of Defense had not released the official notice of
Massarelli’s death as of Friday afternoon. His mother confirmed her
son’s death on Thursday night and the family has declined further
comment.
Massarelli grew up in Kentwood, Mich., a suburb of Grand Rapids, and was a 1998 graduate of East Kentwood High School.
He
was assigned to the 66th Transportation Company based in
Kaiserslautern, Germany and also served in the 96th Transportation
Company, 180th Transportation Batallion, 4th Sustainment Brigade that is
based at Fort Hood, Texas.
Massarelli was apparently one of two
soldiers who were killed in the attack, the other being Sgt. Michael
Strachota of Pine Bluff, Ark., according to the Grand Rapids Press.
The
two men were flown stateside this week and their bodies were
transferred to their respective families at Dover Air Force Base in
Delaware, according to the Grand Rapids Press.
Sgt. Laura Bulvas
said in past years she worked in the same platoon as Massarelli with the
66th Transportation Company. She said Massarelli always maintained a
sense of humor.
“Sgt. Massarelli wasn’t the type of guy that
wanted to be in the spotlight, he was often in the background but
everyone knew him for his quirky sense of humor,” Bulvas said. “Sgt.
Massarelli was truly a genuine guy, he always had good intentions in
everything that he did. He will truly be missed.”
Michael
Zoerhoff, assistant superintendent of human resources for Kentwood
Public Schools in Michigan, said Robert Massarelli was an East Kentwood
Falcon his entire life from elementary school through high school.
“We’re saddened about his death and grateful for his service,” Zoerhoff said.
Zoerhoff
said Massarelli was a dedicated student that rarely missed a day.
During high school, Massarelli was a part of the school’s residential
construction program to build a home for the community.
“He was one of those good, hard-working kids; like a soldier,” Zoerhoff said.
Masarelli
is the third man with Butler County ties to die in Afghanistan this
year. Marine Sgt. John P. “JP” Huling, 25, of West Chester Twp. died May
6, and Army Cpl. Nicholas Olivas, 20, of Fairfield, died on May 30.
Services are pending at the Colligan Funeral Home in Hamilton.
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