Dan H Gabrielson
Date of Death: 07/09/2003
Age: 39
Incident Location: Baqubah, Iraq
Hometown: Spooner
Branch of Service: Army
Unit: 652nd Engineer Company
Unit Base: Ellsworth, Wisconsin
Army Sgt. 1st Class Dan Henry Gabrielson was assigned to the 652nd Engineer Company, Ellsworth, Wisconsin which specializes in building bridges. He was killed in a rocket-propelled grenade attack in Baqubah while riding in the last vehicle in a convoy.
Dan Henry Gabrielson, 40, was remembered as a good man, a great father, and caring husband. Brig. Gen. Michael Beasley, whose command includes Gabrielson's reserve unit, called Gabrielson a particularly strong leader and soldier. "Sergeant Gabrielson, by all accounts, had as his first priority the care and training and preparation and readiness of his soldiers that served under him," said Beasley. "He had a brilliant 22-year career, he was promoted as Sergeant First Class while in country on this last assignment."
The night before the funeral, Beasley presented Gabrielson's family with four medals. The Bronze Star and the Army Commendation medal honored Gabrielson for his nearly 23 years of service. The Meritorious Service medal and the Purple Heart were awarded on behalf of President Bush, for injury or death sustained at the hands of the enemy during combat.
Gabrielson was one of about 6,000 soldiers from Gen. Beasley's unit deployed to Iraq. Beasley says Gabrielson was the first in his command unit to be killed in combat, not only since the start of the war with Iraq, but the only soldier in his command unit to die in combat since World War II.
Deployed in Iraq alongside Gabrielson was his nephew, Spec. Scott Parker. who served in Gabrielson's platoon. At the family's request, Parker accompanied Gabrielson's body home to Spooner. Parker said it was a true honor.
Gabrielson, 40, is survived by his wife and three children. Gabrielson grew up in Spooner, and lived with his family in nearby Frederic for the past 15 years. He was buried at the Northern Wisconsin Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, just outside Spooner.
Dan Henry Gabrielson, 40, was remembered as a good man, a great father, and caring husband. Brig. Gen. Michael Beasley, whose command includes Gabrielson's reserve unit, called Gabrielson a particularly strong leader and soldier. "Sergeant Gabrielson, by all accounts, had as his first priority the care and training and preparation and readiness of his soldiers that served under him," said Beasley. "He had a brilliant 22-year career, he was promoted as Sergeant First Class while in country on this last assignment."
The night before the funeral, Beasley presented Gabrielson's family with four medals. The Bronze Star and the Army Commendation medal honored Gabrielson for his nearly 23 years of service. The Meritorious Service medal and the Purple Heart were awarded on behalf of President Bush, for injury or death sustained at the hands of the enemy during combat.
Gabrielson was one of about 6,000 soldiers from Gen. Beasley's unit deployed to Iraq. Beasley says Gabrielson was the first in his command unit to be killed in combat, not only since the start of the war with Iraq, but the only soldier in his command unit to die in combat since World War II.
Deployed in Iraq alongside Gabrielson was his nephew, Spec. Scott Parker. who served in Gabrielson's platoon. At the family's request, Parker accompanied Gabrielson's body home to Spooner. Parker said it was a true honor.
Gabrielson, 40, is survived by his wife and three children. Gabrielson grew up in Spooner, and lived with his family in nearby Frederic for the past 15 years. He was buried at the Northern Wisconsin Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, just outside Spooner.