Richard J. Herrema

Died: April 25, 2006

Rank: Sergeant First Class

Unit: U.S. Army Special Operations Command

Branch: U.S. Army

Sergeant First Class Richard J. Herrema died on April 25, 2006, from wounds re­ceived during combat operations in Baghdad, Iraq. The 27-year-old Soldier’s unit had received intelligence concerning some insurgent activity and, in response, mounted an attack on the enemy. Herrema was the first man off his helicopter, and enemy fire hit him almost instantly. Although he was evacuated to a nearby field hospital, his wounds were fatal. His family buried him in Forest Grove Cemetery at Jamestown, Michigan.