Robert J Wilson - OurWarHeroes.org - Tribute sites by Q Madp

Robert J Wilson

Boynton Beach, Florida

January 26, 2008

Age

Military

Rank

Unit/Location

Army

SSG

1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)

Fort Campbell, Kentucky

Killed when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was conducting a dismounted patrol in Baghdad, Iraq.

From The Fort Campbell Courier fortcampbellcourier.com 01/31/08:

Staff Sgt. Robert J. Wilson
Posted: Thursday, January 31, 2008 12:00 am | Updated: 6:30 pm, Wed Oct 21, 2009.

A 101st Airborne Division Soldier died from non-combat related cause in Owesat, Iraq, Friday.

Sgt. Tracy R. Birkman, 41, of New Castle, Va., was a light-wheel vehicle mechanic assigned to F Company, 626th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team. She entered the Army in August 1988 and arrived at Fort Campbell in June 2006.

Birkman is survived by her sons, Bradley Griffith, Joshua Birkman and Ryan Birkman; and parents, Phyllis and Gerald Griffith, all of New Castle, Va.

Birkman's awards and decorations include: Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Korea Defense Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; Combat Action Badge; Weapons Qualification, M4, Expert; and Driver and Mechanic Badge.

In a separate incident a 101st Airborne Division Soldier died from wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was conducting a dismounted patrol in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday.

Staff Sgt. Robert J. Wilson, 28, of Boynton Beach, Fla., was an infantryman assigned to A Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. He entered the Army in January 2002 and arrived at Fort Campbell in September 2006.

Wilson is survived by his father, Willie Wilson, of Taylorville, Ill.; and mother and step-father, Peggy and Kevin Habian, of Boynton Beach, Fla.

Wilson's awards and decorations include: Army Commendation Medal with V device; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Joint Meritorious Unit Award; Army Valorous Unit Award; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; Air Assault Badge; Driver and Mechanic Badge; and Weapons Qualification, M4, expert.

Memorial services for the fallen Soldiers will be held in Iraq. Fort Campbell holds a monthly Eagle Remembrance Ceremony the second Wednesday of each month.

28 January 2008:

Robert J. Wilson, 28, from suburban Boynton Beach, died Saturday of wounds from an explosive device that detonated while he was on foot patrol in Baghdad.

His mother and stepfather, who live in the Chalet subdivision, turned away requests for interviews Monday.

"They were very proud of him," said a neighbor who wrote to him recently and a week ago received a letter back, in which he described the satisfaction of serving.

A member of the 101st Airborne Division, Wilson entered the Army three months after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He arrived at Fort Campbell, Ky., in September 2006. He served more than one tour in Iraq, the neighbor said.

"Everyone who lived with him, trained with him, ate with him, is there now," she said.

Wilson received a number of awards, including a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

In addition to his mother, Peggy Habian, and stepfather, Kevin Habian, he is survived by his father, Willie Wilson of Taylorville, Illinois.

Staff Sgt. Robert J. Wilson

Staff Sgt. Robert J. Wilson wasn't new to Iraq, and he knew well the dangers. He wrote to a neighbor this month that he loved what he was doing all the same.

Wilson, 28, from suburban Boynton Beach, died Saturday of wounds from an explosive device that detonated while he was on foot patrol in Baghdad.

His mother and stepfather, who live in the Chalet subdivision, turned away requests for interviews Monday.

"They were very proud of him," said a neighbor who wrote to him recently and a week ago received a letter back, in which he described the satisfaction of serving.

A member of the 101st Airborne Division, Wilson entered the Army three months after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He arrived at Fort Campbell, Ky., in September 2006. He served more than one tour in Iraq, the neighbor said.

Of 22,000 soldiers from his division, about half are in Iraq, base spokeswoman Lt. Col. Rumi Nielson-Green said. Ten soldiers from the base have died this month.

"Everyone who lived with him, trained with him, ate with him, is there now," she said.

Wilson received a number of awards, including a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

In addition to his mother, Peggy Habian, and stepfather, Kevin Habian, he is survived by his father, Willie Wilson of Taylorville, Ill.

Elsewhere in Iraq, Sunni Arab guerrillas ambushed an American convoy in the northern city of Mosul with a roadside bomb Monday and sprayed survivors with machine-gun fire from perches in a nearby mosque, killing five U.S. soldiers.

It was the second devastating attack on U.S. forces this month, bringing the number of fatalities to 36 this year.

Although American fatalities have fallen sharply in Baghdad and Anbar province, they have not slowed in the north. Three-fifths of the American servicemen killed this year were in three Sunni Arab-dominated provinces north of Baghdad.