Marine Corps Sergeant Kirk A. Straseskie - Wisconsin Military Casualty Compilation Afghanistan / Iraq

12 July 2011

Marine Corps Sergeant Kirk A. Straseskie - Wisconsin Military Casualty Compilation Afghanistan / Iraq

     Marine Sergeant Kirk Allen Straseskie, 23, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin died near Hilla, Iraq on Monday, May 19, 2003.  He died while participating in the rescue of the crew of a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter that crashed in Shat al-Hillah canal. Four Marines on the helicopter also died. Sergeant Straseskie was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division based out of Camp Pendleton, California.  Hilla is about 60 miles south of Baghdad. 

     Wisconsin Assembly 2003 Joint Resolution 23 notes that Kirk Allen Straseskie was born on November 19, 1979, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel mentioned Kirk graduated from Beaver Dam High School in 1998. During his school years he played linebacker on the football team, wrestled, and ran the 400 meters in track.  He was also remembered as enjoying playing the violin. Straseskie also had volunteered with disabled children. He joined the Marines after high school. 

     The Journal Sentinel went on to say Kirk Strasekie was the youngest of four sons in his family.  Kirk's father had served with the Army National Guard for 26 years and retired as a first sergeant. His grandfather was in the Army during World War II. Strasekie's next older brother was in the Army National Guard as a lieutenant and was also in Iraq.  Kirk's mother had died a few years before his death in Iraq. 

     Family is quoted as mentioning Kirk had considered a career in law enforcement. The Journal Sentinel also mentioned Kirk had been pictured in an April, 2003 Los Angeles Times story about American troops stationed in post-invasion Iraq.  

At the time of his death Kirk Straseskie was survived by his father and stepmother John and Barbara Strasekie; brothers John Jr., Christopher, and Ryan; maternal grandparents Ken and Janice Helmer; paternal grandmother Yvonne Straseske; and, his fiancee Kate Klossner. He was preceeded in death by his mother Dianna Straseskie.

     Marine Sergeant Kirk Straseskie was the first Wisconsin military service person to be killed in the Iraq War since it began in March of 2003.  

     Information for this short biography of Kirk A. Straseskie was pieced together from information from the following sources: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A Native Son Lost in Iraq," May 21, 2003;  iraq.pigstye.net, "Sgt Kirk Allen Straseskie," Posted May 29, 2003;   leatherneck.com, "Marine 'died as he lived'" via Post-Crescent information;  chippewa.com, "Wisconsin Marine drowns in Iraq rescue attempt," May 21, 2003;  legacy.com, "kirk-allen-straseskie";  2003 Wisconsin Assembly Joint Resolution 34, "Relating to: the life of Marine Sergeant Kirk Allen Straseskie," May 28, 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 ]