R.I.P. - Staff Sgt. Robert A. Massarelli, Sgt. Michael J. Strachota

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.

---

from todaysthv:

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.
--

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.”

--------
 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.

Posted in: 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), 4th Sustainment Brigade (United States), Afghanistan, fallen heros, Fort Hood, Kandahar, Operation Enduring Freedom