Army Specialist Eugene A. Uhl III - Wisconsin Military Casualty Compilation - Afghanistan/Iraq

23 August 2011

Army Specialist Eugene A. Uhl III - Wisconsin Military Casualty Compilation - Afghanistan/Iraq

This entry was posted on 8/23/2011 1:30 AM and is filed under Wisconsin Military Casualties Afghanistan Iraq Compilation.

Army Specialist Eugene August Uhl III, 21, of Amherst, Wisconsin, was killed on Saturday, November 15, 2003. He was one of 17 military service members killed when two 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters crashed in mid-air over the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. Specialist Uhl was assigned to Battery C, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery 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 Second Lieutenant Jeremy L. Wolfe, 27, of Menomonie. At the time the incident was the single worst loss of life to that point in the Iraq War. The Journal Sentinel said Uhl and Hansen had grown up only 30 miles apart in east-central Wisconsin. Eugene Uhl III's father, Eugene Jr., served in the Vietnam War and was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received in 1968. His grandfather Eugene served in World War II and the Korean War.The Journal Sentinel also mentioned that, "Uhl was his family's only son, the youngest of four children, and the last male family member likely to pass on the Uhl name." He joined the National Guard in 1999, then entered the regular Army in June 2002. Uhl had arrived in the Middle East in February of 2003. Eugene would have turned 22 on Thanksgiving of 2003. He had planned to get married in June of 2004. 

The Chicago Tribune mentioned that Amherst is a small central Wisconsin community with a population of around 1,024. Being the only male sibling in the family, Uhl could have opted for combat exemption under the Sullivan Act. But, Eugene's interest in the military was strong and he signed up for the National Guard at 17 years old. After graduating from high school he worked as a bank teller in Stevens Point and served weekend duty with the National Guard. He joined the Regular Army with a friend on the "buddy system" in mid-2002. 

The Portage County Gazette notes that Eugene Uhl III was born on November 27, 1981, in Waupaca, Wisconsin. He graduated from Amherst High School in 2000. In high school he participated in track, cross country, basketball, and the student council.

Wisconsin 2003 Assembly Joint Resolution 74 says that Uhl enjoyed hunting and angling since his youth. Wisconsin 2003 Senate Joint Resolution 68 includes horseback riding as one of Eugene's interests. Two of Uhl's military awards include the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

 At the time of his death Army Specialist Eugene Uhl III was survived by his parents Eugene and Joan Uhl Jr.; three sisters Cheryl (Marty) Andersen, Chastity Uhl, and Charity Uhl; his fiancee Emily Groshek; and, his paternal grandmother Mildred Uhl.

Information for this short biography about Army Specialist Eugene August Uhl III was pieced together from the following sources: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Crash killed three from state," November 17, 2003;  Chicago Tribune, "A destiny fulfilled leaves hearts broken," November 23, 2003; Portage County Gazette, "Sgt. Eugene A. Uhl III";  Wisconsin 2003 Assembly Joint Resolution 74, "Relating to: the life and service of Sergeant Eugene A. Uhl III," March 9, 2004;  Wisconsin 2003 Senate Joint Resolution 68, "Relating to: the life and service of Sergeant Eugene A. Uhl III," March 9, 2004;  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 ]