MSG Jerak, SFC Diesing, CPL Shea, and now SFC Kolath
RELEASE NUMBER: 050827-01
DATE POSTED: AUGUST 27, 2005
Quote:
Two Bragg Soldiers, one Benning Soldier die in Iraq U.S. Special Operations Command Public Affairs
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Aug. 27, 2005) — Two Soldiers assigned here to Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Special Operations Command and one Army Ranger assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment died Aug. 25 in Husaybah, Iraq, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near their position there.
Master Sgt. Ivica Jerak, 42, and Sgt. 1st Class Trevor John Diesing, 30, both assigned to Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Special Operations Command and Cpl. Timothy M. Shea, 22, an infantryman assigned to 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Ga. were killed.
Jerak, a native of former Republic of Yugoslavia, first entered the U. S. Army as a combat medic Jan. 19, 1988 and, after completion of initial entry training, was assigned to the 690th Medical Company, Fort Benning, Ga. Since that time, Master Sgt. Jerak served in 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (airborne). His last assignment was as an assistant team sergeant assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Diesing, a native of Red Wing, Minn., entered the U.S. Army as an infantryman May 24, 1993, and after completion of initial entry training, was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment of the Minnesota National Guard. Since that time, Diesing served in 2nd Battalion, 187th Infantry Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, and 1st Battalion, 10th SFG (A). His last assignment was as a team member assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Shea , a native of Sonoma, Calif., enlisted in the Army in January 2003. After completing infantry, airborne and Ranger indoctrination training at Fort Benning, Ga., he was assigned to 3rd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment, in August 2003.
Shea deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in July 2005. He was a five-time veteran of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.
Master Sgt. Ivica Jerak assigned to U.S. Army Special Operations Command died August 25, 2005, in Husaybah, Iraq, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his position there. (DoD photo)
Sgt. 1st Class Trevor John Diesing assigned to U.S. Army Special Operations Command died August 25, 2005, in Husaybah, Iraq, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his position there. (DoD photo)
Cpl. Timothy M. Shea assigned to 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment died August 25, 2005, in Husaybah, Iraq, of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his position there. (DoD)
RELEASE NUMBER: 090319-03
DATE POSTED: MARCH 19 2009
Quote:
EUCOM rebuilds school for Croatian children By Justin Ward
US Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District public affairs
DEBELJAK, Croatia (Courtesy of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District public affairs, March 19, 2009) – Through its little-known humanitarian assistance program, the U.S. European Command unveiled a a new playground, two basketball courts, and four renovated classrooms in a dedication ceremony here March 16.
The purpose of the $130,000 EUCOM-funded renovation, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District, was to promote regional stability and foster goodwill between the United States and Croatia, said Chuck Brady, EUCOM’s HA program manager.
As part of a ceremony, a memorial plaque for U.S. Army Master Sgt. Ivica Jerak was laid near the new playground, which will become the focal point for the community.
Jerak, a native of Debeljak who grew up playing basketball on the playground, was a highly decorated special forces Soldier who was killed while serving in combat operations in Iraq in 2005.
To honor his fallen Soldier, the commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command Europe, Maj. Gen. Frank Kisner, attended the solemn event.
“These renovations will keep Master Sgt. Jerak’s memory in our hearts and improve the lives of the children and the citizens of this great village,” said Kisner in his speech at the event.
The ceremony was attended by Jerak’s wife Hye, his mother Milka, and several dignitaries including the U.S. Ambassador to Croatia Robert Bradtke.
“Hopefully this will somewhat lessen the pain for the community by providing a small reminder of the master sergeant for his service and dedication not only to America but also to Croatia,” said John Thomas, the Corps of Engineers’ construction representative for the project.
In addition to a refurbished outdoor basketball court with a new backboard, new asphalt, and new lights to allow for community league night play, Army engineers also oversaw the restoration of cracked flooring in the school, new perimeter fencing around the playground, and new concrete curbs.
Croatian and American dignitaries including the U.S. Ambassador to
Croatia pose in front of a plaque outside a newly renovated playground in Debeljak, Croatia, dedicated March 16 to the memory of native son Master Sgt. Ivica Jerak, a U.S. Soldier killed in Iraq in 2005. (Photo provided by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District public affairs)
RELEASE NUMBER: 090319-02
DATE POSTED: MARCH 19 2009
Quote:
Fallen Soldier’s deep Croatian roots aid local children By Justin Ward
US Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District public affairs
DEBELJAK, Croatia (Courtesy of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District public affairs, March 19, 2009) - Forty years ago on a barebones basketball court in the small village of Debeljak, Croatia, a 7-year-old boy named Ivica could always be found.
He honed his hook shot, strengthened his spin move, and became well known with the local population for being an up-and-coming basketball star.
Today that same outdoor basketball court is the focal point of the whole community. It has a new backboard, a new layer of asphalt, and new lights to allow for community league night play.
It also has a memorial plaque with his name on it.
Since his time playing hoops, Ivica Jerak moved to the United States and became a highly decorated Special Forces Soldier in the U.S. Army, moving up to the rank of master sergeant.
In 2005 he gave his life in the defense of freedom while serving in combat operations in Iraq.
“Hopefully [these renovations] will somewhat lessen the pain for the community by providing a small reminder of the master sergeant for his service and dedication not only to America but also to Croatia,” said John Thomas, the Corps of Engineers’ construction representative for the project.
Through a humanitarian assistance program sponsored by U.S. Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR), the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) funded the complete renovation of the playground and a nearby elementary school where Master Sgt. Jerak went.
The renovations include the restoration of cracked flooring in four school classrooms, new perimeter fencing around the school’s playground and basketball court, new concrete curbs, and the purchasing of sports equipment.
“These renovations will keep Master Sgt. Jerak’s memory in our hearts and improve the lives of the children and the citizens of this great village,” said U.S. Special Operations Command Europe commander Maj. Gen. Frank Kisner in his speech at the event.
The $130,000 project managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District was unveiled in a mid-March ceremony attended by Jerak’s wife Hye, his mother Milka, and several dignitaries including the U.S. Ambassador to Croatia Robert Bradtke.
The Municipality of Sukosan, of which Jerak’s hometown of Debeljak is part, intends to make the new playground a focal point of the small community.
In addition to supporting an impoverished community and paying tribute to a fallen Soldier, the humanitarian assistance project – EUCOM’s first in the municipality – nurtured the small community’s economy by cultivating relationships with several budding construction companies.
This capacity-building is one of the many benefits of the assistance program, which funds more than $20 million in projects throughout Europe annually.
A newly renovated playground in Debeljak, Croatia, was dedicated
March 16 to the memory of native son Master Sgt. Ivica Jerak, a U.S.
Soldier killed in Iraq in 2005. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe
District managed the renovation. The $130,000 refurbishment was funded by the U.S. European Command . (Photo provided by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District public affairs)
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