Army First Lieutenant Jeremy Lee Wolfe - Wisconsin Military Casualty Compilation - Afghanistan/Iraq

30 August 2011

Army First Lieutenant Jeremy Lee Wolfe - Wisconsin Military Casualty Compilation - Afghanistan/Iraq

This entry was posted on 8/30/2011 1:30 AM and is filed under Wisconsin Military Casualties Afghanistan Iraq Compilation.

    Army First Lieutenant Jeremy Lee Wolfe, 27, Menomonie, Wisconsin, was killed on Saturday, November 15, 2003, in Mosul, Iraq. He was one of 17, 101st Airborne Division soldiers killed when two 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters crashed in mid-air over the northern city of Mosul, Iraq. Wolfe was assigned to 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. 

    The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel noted that two other Wisconsin soldiers were also killed in the crash: They were Army Sergeant Warren S. Hansen, 36, of Clintonville, and Army Specialist Eugene A. Uhl III, 21, Amherst, Wisconsin. At the time the incident was the single worst loss of life to that point in the Iraq War. 

    An obituary posted On-line by Olson Funeral Home of Menomonie, Wisconsin notes Wolfe was flying one of the UH-60 helicopters transporting soldiers from Tall Afar, Iraq to Mosul, Iraq. According to information from the funeral home posting, Jeremy was born on August 16, 1976 in Menomonie, Wisconsin. He graduated from Colfax High School near Menomonie, Wisconsin, in 1995 where he excelled in academics and track and field. He then attended the University of Wisconsin, Stout, in Menomonie for a year. He progressed up the Army ranks first enlisting in the National Guard in October 1993 while still in high school and served until August 1996. The obituary went on to say Jeremy enlisted for active duty in the U.S. Army in 1996 as a Specialist (E4) in the 25th Infantry Division out of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. At this time he began his career with the Army Rangers. During his time in Hawaii he met and later married Christine Tadeo. In 1999, he received a scholarship to attend Hawaii Pacific University. While in college he graduated from Airborne School, completed US Army ROTC education, and took helicopter and aviation training. 

    The Olson obituary posting also notes that in May 2002, Wolfe earned a Bachelor of Science and Business Administration Degree from Hawaii Pacific University. His first duty station was in Fort Campbell, Kentucky with the 101st Aviation Regiment in August 2003. Later that year Second Lieutenant Wolfe deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and served as Platoon Leader in Alpha Company, 101st Aviation Regiment, Tall Afar, Iraq. 

    The Olson Funeral Home obituary also noted: "While dedicated to his career, he always found time to share his life with [family and friends]. His passion was aviation. Other interests were scuba diving, running, shooting, coin collecting, movies, music, fishing, hunting, electronics, swimming, basically life itself." 

    Second Lieutenant Wolfe was posthumously promoted to First Lieutenant. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. Wolfe's other military awards and medals include, but at not limited to: The Ranger Tab; Air Assault Badge; Excellent Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar; Overseas Service Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; National Defense Service Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Army Lapel Button; and the Army Aviation Badge.

    At the time of his death First Lieutenant Jeremy L. Wolfe was survived by wife Christine; father David (Butch) Wolfe; mother Jane Utpadel; stepfather Randy Utpadel; and, sister Sharla Utpadel and her children Cara and Devon; grandmother Goldie Wolfe; and, grandmother Betty Utpadel. 

    Information for this short biography about Army First Lieutenant Jeremy Lee Wolfe was pieced together from the following sources: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Crash killed three from state," November 17, 2003;  funeralplan.com, "Olson Funeral Home Jeremy L. Wolfe Obituary";  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 ]