Kevin M Kryst
Date of Death: 12/18/2006
Age: 27
Incident Location: Anbar province, Iraq
Hometown: West Bend
Branch of Service: Marines
Unit: Marine Light-Attack Helicopter Squadron 267, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force
Unit Base: Camp Pendleton, California
Kevin M. Kryst liked everything fast - and the sky seemed the limit. "He was always very active, very busy. He had a need for speed, and that's why he got flying helicopters," said his mother, Elizabeth.
Kryst, 27, of West Bend, Wis., died December 18, 2006 during a mortar attack in Anbar province. He was assigned to Marine Light-Attack Helicopter Squadron 267, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA, and was on his second tour.
Kryst was the oldest of six children. He had four younger brothers and a younger sister. He graduated from West Bend West High School in 1997 and UW-Madison in 2001. He enlisted upon graduation.
Kryst's great-grandfather had been a Marine. "It was something he always wanted to do," Elizabeth Kryst said. Kryst was first deployed in Iraq during 2004. "He wanted to fly, and he thought his experience would be an adventure," said his brother, Brad. "He flew Cobra helicopters in Iraq."
When Kryst was last home in August that year, he got engaged to his school sweetheart, Sara. He also is survived by his father, Glenn. "We're proud of him," his mother said. "But we're at a loss without him."
Kryst, 27, of West Bend, Wis., died December 18, 2006 during a mortar attack in Anbar province. He was assigned to Marine Light-Attack Helicopter Squadron 267, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA, and was on his second tour.
Kryst was the oldest of six children. He had four younger brothers and a younger sister. He graduated from West Bend West High School in 1997 and UW-Madison in 2001. He enlisted upon graduation.
Kryst's great-grandfather had been a Marine. "It was something he always wanted to do," Elizabeth Kryst said. Kryst was first deployed in Iraq during 2004. "He wanted to fly, and he thought his experience would be an adventure," said his brother, Brad. "He flew Cobra helicopters in Iraq."
When Kryst was last home in August that year, he got engaged to his school sweetheart, Sara. He also is survived by his father, Glenn. "We're proud of him," his mother said. "But we're at a loss without him."