Army Specialist Paul J. Sturino - Wisconsin Military Casualty Compilation - Afghanistan/Iraq

2 August 2011

Army Specialist Paul J. Sturino - Wisconsin Military Casualty Compilation - Afghanistan/Iraq

This entry was posted on 8/2/2011 1:30 AM and is filed under Wisconsin Military Casualties Afghanistan Iraq Compilation.

    Army Specialist Paul Joseph Sturino, 21, Rice Lake, Wisconsin, died on Monday, September 22, 2003, in Quest, Iraq. Quest is south of the northeastern Iraqi city of Mosul. He was assigned to Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 320 Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Initial military reports noted Sturino died from a non-combat accidental weapons discharge from another soldier. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel mentioned Paul was originally with a tank unit based in Lawton, Oklahoma and then transferred to the 101st Airborne in Fort Campbell, Kentucky to be a paratrooper. He went to Iraq in March of 2003. The Journal Sentinel went on to say Sturino had re-enlisted in the 101st for another year but his tour of duty was also extended due to the war. His older brother was also in the Army and has served in Iraq. His father was in the Navy during the Vietnam War. His grandfather served during World War II and, his great-grandfather served during World War I. Paul graduated from Rice Lake High School in 2001 and was on the wrestling team. He also attended Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College. He had talked about perhaps becoming a teacher after his Army service.

    The Web site iraq.pigsty.net via information from twincities.com notes Sturino, "...hoped to return home, go to college and eventually become a history teacher, policeman, or game warden." Sturino joined the Army in 2001 after graduating from high school. Family is quoted as saying, "He loved tinkering with his car and 1/2-ton pickup. His goal when he got home was to finish restoring his 1969 Chevy Nova." He also had a fishing boat which he had built. 

    Wisconsin 2003 Assembly Joint Resolution 58 notes that Paul Sturino was born on in Cumberland, Wisconsin, on September 14, 1982. The Web site cbsnews.com noted Paul had often spent summers in Kenosha where he had spent three summers on the Barracuda Swim Team. The Web site militarytimes.com using a compilation of Associated Press articles mentions Paul’s grandparents, George and Gloria, ran a family restaurant in Kenosha for years, so Paul spent time in that Wisconsin city. 

    An article about Paul on the Web site chippewa.com mentions Paul told his family he wished to get home and go hunting and fishing. 

    At the time of his death Army Specialist Paul Sturino was survived by his mother Chris Wetzel and father Dino Sturino; brother Alonzo Sturino; sister Amy Sturino; uncle Duane Sturino; maternal grandparents Arnold and Marilyn Peer; and, paternal grandmother Gloria Sturino. 

    Army Specialist Paul J. Sturino was laid to rest with full honors at Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner, Wisconsin. 

Information for this short biography about Army Specialist Paul Joseph Sturino was pieced together from the following sources: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Rice Lake soldier dies of gunshot wound in Iraq," September 24, 2003;  iraq.pigsty.net, via twincities.com, "Paul J. Sturino," September 25, 2003;  Wisconsin 2003 Assembly Joint Resolution 58, "Relating to: the life and public service of Paul J. Sturino," December 19, 2003;  cbsnews.com;  militarytimes.com via information from The Associated Press,"Army Specialist Paul J. Sturino";  chippewa.com, "Wisconsin Soldier Killed in Iraq," September 23, 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 ]