Post by schlager7 on Mar 28, 2008 18:54:08 GMT -6
My apologies for the delay in posting this. The news is sad enough and I occasionally forget that my local news here in Galveston County does not get automatically sent to the rest of the state. Greg was a regular at state competitions, NACs and Nationals from 2000-2006 when he joined the army. Over the years he fenced for the Clear Lake Fencing Club, the Bayou City Fencing Academy, and the Fencing Club at the University of Houston,
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Dickinson soldier Unruh killed in Iraq
From staff reports
The Galveston County Daily News
Published March 22, 2008
original article at galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=9bce5151faa52b3a
DICKINSON — A soldier from Dickinson was killed in a vehicle accident in Iraq, the Department of Defense reported in a news release late Friday.
Sgt. Gregory D. Unruh, 28, died from injuries in Mandali, Iraq.
The Associated Press reported Unruh’s military vehicle rolled over.
The Defense Department gave no additional details in its report and officials at Fort Hood did not immediately return phone messages.
Unruh joined the Army in February 2006 as a fire support specialist.
He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment from Fort Hood since September 2007. He deployed to Iraq in November.
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Fallen soldier ‘Professor’ coming home
By Chris Paschenko
The Galveston County Daily News
Published March 28, 2008
original article at galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=b1c255163c890c5d
DICKINSON — U.S. Army Sgt. Gregory D. Unruh, who was killed last week during a reconnaissance mission in Iraq, returns home today to his parents, who said they couldn’t be more proud of their son’s military service to his country.
Unruh, 28, is scheduled to arrive at Scholes International Airport in Galveston at 9:45 a.m., where an armada of local law enforcement officers and the Patriot Guard will escort him to a Webster funeral home following a procession through Texas City and Dickinson.
“We’re extremely proud of him,” Anthony Unruh said of his son’s military service Thursday. “There was nothing he wouldn’t do for us, nor us for him.”
A statement from the Fort Hood Public Affairs Office said Unruh joined the Army in February 2006 as a fire support specialist and was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in September.
He was sent to Iraq the following month.
Anthony Unruh said his son was a forward fire control person who would call in air strikes.
“The last time we talked to him, he said every time he goes out, he saves somebody,” Unruh said. “He went out almost every day. He would spend weeks at a time out. He was doing what he wanted to do.”
Unruh was killed when his vehicle rolled over, his father said.
“The only thing we were told was that he was on a reconnaissance mission to take a look at something for the next day,” Unruh said. “He was riding in the top gunner position of his Humvee, and it rolled over somehow. The investigation is not complete.”
Unruh said the family has no remorse or animosity toward anyone concerning his death.
“We were just so proud of him,” Unruh said. “We wanted him back ... He had a good heart. He did what he wanted to do, and that’s what counts.”
Unruh graduated from Pampa High School and studied business at Texas Tech University. He later attended the University of Houston and lived with his parents in Dickinson.
“He was bright,” Unruh said. “And graduated high school at 16, just like me. He was smart, that’s why he was called ‘Professor’ by his platoon. That was their nickname for him.”
After graduating from the University of Houston, Unruh worked for his father at a plastics plant for two years before enlisting in the Army.
“He was due to rotate back in May,” Unruh said. “Then he would have gone back for another six months. When he finished his service, he was going to go to law school.”
A contingent of law enforcement officers from Dickinson, Texas City and Galveston police, along with the sheriff’s office, constables and members of the Patriot Guard, will await Unruh’s return at Scholes Field, said Capt. Brian Goetschius, a Texas City police spokesman.
The escort will leave Galveston and proceed north on Interstate 45 to state Highway 146 in Texas City, Goetschius said. They will continue west on FM 517 through Dickinson and take the interstate to Forest Park Funeral Home in Webster.
Unruh said his son’s funeral is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Tuesday but would likely be a private ceremony. He will be buried at the family’s plot near the funeral home, Unruh said.
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Copyright © 2008 The Galveston County Daily News
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Dickinson soldier Unruh killed in Iraq
From staff reports
The Galveston County Daily News
Published March 22, 2008
original article at galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=9bce5151faa52b3a
DICKINSON — A soldier from Dickinson was killed in a vehicle accident in Iraq, the Department of Defense reported in a news release late Friday.
Sgt. Gregory D. Unruh, 28, died from injuries in Mandali, Iraq.
The Associated Press reported Unruh’s military vehicle rolled over.
The Defense Department gave no additional details in its report and officials at Fort Hood did not immediately return phone messages.
Unruh joined the Army in February 2006 as a fire support specialist.
He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment from Fort Hood since September 2007. He deployed to Iraq in November.
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Fallen soldier ‘Professor’ coming home
By Chris Paschenko
The Galveston County Daily News
Published March 28, 2008
original article at galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=b1c255163c890c5d
DICKINSON — U.S. Army Sgt. Gregory D. Unruh, who was killed last week during a reconnaissance mission in Iraq, returns home today to his parents, who said they couldn’t be more proud of their son’s military service to his country.
Unruh, 28, is scheduled to arrive at Scholes International Airport in Galveston at 9:45 a.m., where an armada of local law enforcement officers and the Patriot Guard will escort him to a Webster funeral home following a procession through Texas City and Dickinson.
“We’re extremely proud of him,” Anthony Unruh said of his son’s military service Thursday. “There was nothing he wouldn’t do for us, nor us for him.”
A statement from the Fort Hood Public Affairs Office said Unruh joined the Army in February 2006 as a fire support specialist and was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment in September.
He was sent to Iraq the following month.
Anthony Unruh said his son was a forward fire control person who would call in air strikes.
“The last time we talked to him, he said every time he goes out, he saves somebody,” Unruh said. “He went out almost every day. He would spend weeks at a time out. He was doing what he wanted to do.”
Unruh was killed when his vehicle rolled over, his father said.
“The only thing we were told was that he was on a reconnaissance mission to take a look at something for the next day,” Unruh said. “He was riding in the top gunner position of his Humvee, and it rolled over somehow. The investigation is not complete.”
Unruh said the family has no remorse or animosity toward anyone concerning his death.
“We were just so proud of him,” Unruh said. “We wanted him back ... He had a good heart. He did what he wanted to do, and that’s what counts.”
Unruh graduated from Pampa High School and studied business at Texas Tech University. He later attended the University of Houston and lived with his parents in Dickinson.
“He was bright,” Unruh said. “And graduated high school at 16, just like me. He was smart, that’s why he was called ‘Professor’ by his platoon. That was their nickname for him.”
After graduating from the University of Houston, Unruh worked for his father at a plastics plant for two years before enlisting in the Army.
“He was due to rotate back in May,” Unruh said. “Then he would have gone back for another six months. When he finished his service, he was going to go to law school.”
A contingent of law enforcement officers from Dickinson, Texas City and Galveston police, along with the sheriff’s office, constables and members of the Patriot Guard, will await Unruh’s return at Scholes Field, said Capt. Brian Goetschius, a Texas City police spokesman.
The escort will leave Galveston and proceed north on Interstate 45 to state Highway 146 in Texas City, Goetschius said. They will continue west on FM 517 through Dickinson and take the interstate to Forest Park Funeral Home in Webster.
Unruh said his son’s funeral is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Tuesday but would likely be a private ceremony. He will be buried at the family’s plot near the funeral home, Unruh said.
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Copyright © 2008 The Galveston County Daily News