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Sean M Schneider

Private First Class Sean Michael Schneider was from Janesville, Wisconsin. He graduated from Janesville Craig High School in 2000 and worked for a concrete company, but wanted to do more. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, he decided upon a military career. In July 2002, he married. A month later, on August 16, 2002, he enlisted in the United States Army and became a tank mechanic assigned to the 115th Forward Support Battalion at Fort Hood, Texas.

He was tall, over 6 feet, and often towered over others in photographs. He loved his wife, the outdoors, and his dog Hercules. He also loved America and believed in fighting for the rights and freedoms that we enjoy. Those who knew him talk about his love of discussing ideas. In October 2003, he and his unit found out that they were going to Iraq. Sean was excited about the upcoming deployment and could not wait for the opportunity to fulfill his purpose when he enlisted.

In early March 2004 his unit deployed for 12 to 16 months. On 29 March, according to Lt. Col. Sharon L. Leary, Sean died in Diwaniayh, Iraq, from injuries he sustained when the Army truck he was riding in from Kuwait slid off a steep embankment and flipped over. He received a Bronze Star for his service in Iraq.

His brother Paul wrote, “I am proud of my little brother for what he chose to do, and will be forever grateful that he, like so many veterans before him, made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms that you and I enjoy every day. He will always be remembered in my heart as a hero.”

Pfc. Sean M. Schneider had no doubts about his work with the Army, but he wanted to make sure his family understood the risk that came with the job he loved. “He said, ”You know, Mom, I may not be coming back.” He told us that so many times. He was preparing us for the worst-case scenario’, Kim Schneider said. The 22-year-old from Janesville, Wis., was killed March 29 when an explosive caused his vehicle to run off the road near Baghdad, Iraq. He was based at Fort Hood, Texas. The mechanic left an impression on teachers when he graduated from high school in 2000. “He was probably one of the most caring individuals I”ve had in 27 years of teaching”, said Sam Loizzo, who taught the soldier in a humanities class. “He was the kind of kid you”d like to have in class, the kind you”d like as an employee, the kind of kid you”d want as a friend”. Kim Schneider said her son planned a military career, and his position as a mechanic suited him. “He was always tinkering with vehicles and motorcycles. He liked to run, hunt and canoe, do the guy thing”, she said. Survivors include his wife.

Pfc. Sean M. Schneider, age 22, formerly of Janesville, died Mon., March 29, 2004, in Diwaniayh, Iraq. He was born in Janesville on Sept. 7, 1981, the son of Edward and Kim (Jaquish) Schneider and was a 2000 graduate of Craig High School. Sean married Yolande Johnson on July 11, 2002, in Madison. He entered the US Army on Aug. 16, 2002, was a Bradley System maintenance technician and served with A Company 115th Battalion based out of Ft. Hood, TX.
He is survived by his wife, Yolande; parents, Edward and Kim Schneider of Janesville; 2 brothers, Phillip and Myles Schneider both at home; maternal grandparents, Roger (Kay) Jaquish of Gilmington, WI, Sharon (Robert) Yeadon of Janesville; paternal grandfather, Arthur Schneider of Monroe; maternal great grandfather, Ellsworth Coss of Janesville; mother-in-law, Liane (Kenneth Timm) Johnson of Hanover, WI; father-in-law, James Johnson of MacDonald County, MO; 5 brothers-in-law, Jimmy Davenport, Randy Travis, Oliver Johnson, Robert Pernell and David Pernell; 2 sisters-in-law, Shasta Anderson and Marissa Pernell; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, friends and a loving pet dog, Hercules. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Emmaline Schneider; maternal great grandmother, Doris Coss; a sister-in-law, Karen Johnson; and brother-in-law, Jason Johnson.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wed., April 7, 2004, at SCHNEIDER APFEL SCHNEIDER & SCHNEIDER FUNERAL HOME. Friends may call at the SCHNEIDER APFEL SCHNEIDER & SCHNEIDER FUNERAL HOME on Tuesday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Soldier��(TM)s Creed
I am an American Soldier.
I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States
And live the Army Values.

I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat. I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my
Warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the
United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.

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Janesville
03/29/2004
Age: 22
Incident Location: Near Baghdad, Iraq
Branch: Army
Rank: Pfc.
Unit: 115th Forward Support Battalion
Units Base: Fort Hood, Texas