Army Reserve Sergeant First Class Dan H. Gabrielson - Wisconsin Military Casualty Compilation - Afghanistan/Iraq

26 July 2011

Army Reserve Sergeant First Class Dan H. Gabrielson - Wisconsin Military Casualty Compilation - Afghanistan/Iraq

This entry was posted on 7/26/2011 1:30 AM and is filed under Wisconsin Military Casualties Afghanistan Iraq Compilation.

    Army Rerserve Sergeant First Class Dan Henry Gabrielson, 40, Frederic, Wisconsin, was killed on Wednesday, July 9, 2003, in Baquba, Iraq. His convoy came under hostile fire and attack. Baquba is about 45 miles northeast of Baghdad. Gabrielson was a 22 year veteran of the Army Reserve. He was in the Army Reserve's 652nd Engineer Company based out of Ellsworth, Wisconsin. 

    The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said Gabrielson was a specialist in repairing construction equipment. He worked as a mechanic and machinist in the unit's motor pool and was in charge of bridge building equipment. Gabrielson had taken over the role of platoon sergeant for his unit and was studying to become a warrant officer. He was promoted from staff sergeant to sergeant first class after his bridge building unit was sent to Iraq. The Journal Sentinel also mentioned the 652nd shipped out to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, on February 13, 2003, and was sent overseas by April of 2003. The unit had 179 members activated for the war. The Journal Sentinel went on to say that In civilian life Dan was a CNC machining programmer for Nexen a manufacturer of industrial clutches and brakes. He joined Nexen Group, previously called Horton Manufacturing, not long after graduating from technical school. Frederic, Wisconsin, is a small town of 1200 located about 75 miles northwest of Eau Claire. 

    A Minnesota Public Radio article notes Dan Gabrielson was laid to rest in Spooner, Wisconsin, where his parents lived and where he grew up. Some of his military awards and medals include: The Bronze Star; Army Commendation medal; Meritorious Service medal; and, the Purple Heart. Gabrielson's nephew Specialist Scott Parker was also serving in his platoon. 

    A Baltimore Sun article said Dan had met his wife while still in high school. They had lived in Frederic for many years. The story went on to say, "He was a deer hunter, collected Remington Model 600 rifles, and was active in 4-H with his children." The impetus of the article from the Maryland paper was to gain some understanding of how one local soldier's death impacted a small town; and, at the time it was thought the Iraq War was generally over. Sergeant First Class Dan H. Gabrielson was the first military reservist from the state of Wisconsin, and the third military service person from the state to be killed in Iraq. The war was still only a few months old; although at the time, Saddam Hussein was still yet to be found, President George W. Bush declared major combat operations over with on May 1, 2003, just shortly before Gabrielson's death. The town of Frederic, friends, and family were taken by surprise by the continuation of hostilities and Dan's death. 

    Wisconsin 2003 Assembly Joint Resolution 48 says Dan was born on September 24, 1962. At the time of his death Army Reserve Sergeant First Class Dan Gabrielson was survived by: his wife Peggy Gabrielson; his son Dustin; two daughters, Audra, and Vanessa; and, his parents Henry and Ella Gabrielson.

Information for this short biography about Army Reserve Sergeant First Class Dan Henry Gabrielson was pieced together from the following sources: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "State Army reservist killed in ambush on convoy in Iraq," July 11, 2003; news.minnesota.publicradio.org, "Wisconsin soldier laid to rest," July 23, 2003; Wisconsin 2003 Assembly Joint Resolution 48, "Relating to: the life of Sergeant First Class Dan Henry Gabrielson," September 29, 2003;  baltimoresun.com, "Wisconsin town awakens to reality of Iraq," July 17, 2003;  Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs "Fallen Heroes Page";  and, CNN.com "War Casualties Page." 

Note: This "Wisconsin Military Casualties Afghanistan Iraq Compilation" Daily Dadio blog Category is under construction. Go to the Cooldadiomedia Web site and the Wisconsin War Casualties Page for a list of names noted by date of death. 
[ If readers know of other military service persons with Wisconsin connections that are not on the Web site comprehensive list of fatal casualties, or notice errors, please email Bob Keith at keithrg13@cooldadiomedia.com ]