Mosul casualties mourned

06:55 AM PST on Monday, December 27, 2004

From KING 5 News Staff and Associated Press

FORT LEWIS, Wash. - Hundreds came to a highway overpass near Fort Lewis Christmas evening to mourn the loss of six soldiers, and to honor those still serving overseas.

A total of 22 soldiers were killed when a suspected suicide bomber walked into a crowded mess hall at a U.S. base in Mosul and detonated himself. The base was filled with soldiers from Fort Lewis's Stryker Brigade and six soldiers attached to that post were killed. Three have families living in the Northwest.

Amber Gueier's husband is in the desert in Iraq.

“We've been married for about three months,” she said. “It's been the hardest thing I've ever had to endure in my life."

Janette Layton's son is in Mosul and was lucky to be uninjured in the blast.

“We know it could have been us,” she said. “We just have to remember and we have to treasure everyday because it could be us the next time."

Even those who have no ties to Fort Lewis came to pay tribute to the soldiers.

KING

Families, friends and troop supporters held a candlelight ceremony on a cold and rainy Christmas.

“They're not home celebrating, they're doing whatever it is they need to do to make sure I'm safe,” said Carol Walters, a supporter of the troops. “This is where I should be."

It makes a difference. Just ask the young sergeant who ships out to Iraq in the New Year.

“It's really inspiring, the weather, the rain, to know we have massive numbers of people to come out to support us back home," said Sgt. Scott Sheaffer.

Meanwhile, in Spokane, some Air Force families spent Christmas day saying goodbye to loved ones. About 50 airmen from Fairchild Air Force Base deployed for duty in southwest Asia. Most of them will be gone for three or four months.

The six Fort Lewis soldiers were:

Capt. William W. Jacobsen, Jr. (31)

Staff Sgt. Julian S. Melo (47)

Sgt. Darren D. VanKomen (33)

Staff Sgt. Robert S. Johnson (23)

Spc. Jonathan Castro (21)

Pfc. Lionel Ayro (22)

The family of Staff Sgt. Melo issued a statement, which in part says: "He was born to be a soldier, but never took anything too seriously. His love for his family, his country and fellow soldiers was evident in everything he did." It also described him as a great father, devoted husband and loving brother.

Staff Sergeant Darren VanKomen was married to Stephaine VanKomen of Olympia, Wash. and had a 12-year-old stepdaughter, Chelsea. The youngest of ten children, he grew up in the Lewiston, Idaho area, graduated from Culdesac High School and joined the Army after graduating. His family describes him as a loving family man, dedicated to his country and the military.

Retired Lt. Colonel Bill Jacobsen wants everyone to know what his son, Capt. Bill Jacobsen Jr., the Stryker Brigade company commander, wanted most before departing Fort Lewis – to bring them all back from Iraq. Now, Bill's four young children are without a father this Christmas and his wife without a husband. But the Jacobsens take comfort in knowing Bill did what he believed in.

But not every grieving family is sharing that sentiment. The parents of 21-year-old Specialist Jonathan Castro say they're angry at the Bush administration for rushing into a war without having planned adequately.

A service is planned Wednesday to honor the fallen soldiers. More details will be available early next week.