AUGUST 3, 1982 - AUGUST 3, 2006

            Kurt Edward Dechen, our younger son (we have an older son Justin) was a United States Marine, who was killed by enemy fire in Iraq in August, 2006.  We miss him every single day-it still feels impossible that he will never come home, walk through the door and flash that big grin of his again.  Kurt had the ability from a young age to be friends with many people and to have an effect on those people’s lives.  He lived life with passion each day and felt strongly about many things.  Everyone in town either knew him personally or knew who he was.  We are still finding out just how many people were affected by Kurt’s life and by his death.  The fact that Kurt gave his life to protect all of us made people realize that freedom is not free. Kurt did not want to die, but he was willing to put his life on the line every day.     

             Kurt always loved his birthday- from the time he was a little boy up to and including the time when he was a grown man.  He would be so pleased when he received his first card in the mail and then continued to get more in the following weeks.  I think it was the feeling of being special that he enjoyed: the “birthday boy” who got to have a party, choose special things to do, and have a birthday cake of his favorite flavor complete with candles to blow out.   The fact that he died on his 24^th birthday in Fallujah, Iraq is painful beyond belief for us, but perhaps it may help to ensure that he will always be remembered. 

              Kurt was very proud to be a United States Marine.  He was assigned to 1^st Battalion, 25^th Marine Regiment, 4^th Marine Division, while attached to Regimental Combat Team 5, 1 Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.  He was on patrol that fateful day on the streets of Fallujah.  One of his Marine buddies had just been wounded by a sniper’s shot.  Kurt was moving to help his buddy when he was shot himself.  He was taken to Fallujah Surgical and fought to live, but was wounded too severely to survive.

             Kurt always lived life to the fullest.  He dreamed of becoming a Vermont State Trooper.  He gave his all: whether it was playing sports; driving his Corvette; hunting; or being a son, brother, friend or Marine.  He was a little nervous when he was deployed, because he wanted to be the kind of Marine whom all the other Marines could count on in the heat of combat. 

             By all accounts, he became that Marine, the one who always gave a hundred and ten percent.  The one who listened, made people feel better, joked and always had “adventures” planned inside their forward operating base.  He was the one who moved to help his wounded buddy without thinking of himself.

              One of his sergeants, Steven Palmer, wrote this about Kurt – “The few times that I had the privilege of having Kurt attached to my squad was something I will always remember.  I would change my whole plan around so I could incorporate Kurt into the most important part of the mission.  When we were out there together and I would turn around and see Kurt behind me, watching my back, a sense of calm would come over me.  He just was so mature and proficient in everything he did that it made you feel safe to be around him.” 

              His executive officer, Capt. Raymond Adams wrote about an attack by insurgents in May, 2006 in which Kurt was instrumental in disrupting and defeating the enemy by employing precision fire from his M-16.  “I remember talking with Kurt afterward.  In his quiet, modest way, he told me he was just doing his job.  Although it was unspoken, we both knew that he did so much more than just doing his job.  He was a hero that day.”

             For his sake, we are glad that Kurt was able to become the honorable man that he wanted to be and the best Marine that he could be.  It is important to us because it was important to Kurt.  May his sacrifice and that of others never be forgotten.