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- The People Behind The Sacrifice
Army Capt. Jonathan D. Grassbaugh
Died April 7, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom
25, of East Hampstead, N.H.; assigned to the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died April 7 in Zaganiyah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit. Also killed were Spc. Ebe F. Emolo, Spc. Levi K. Hoover and Pfc. Rodney L. McCandless.
New Hampshire soldier dies in Iraq
The Associated Press
HAMPSTEAD, N.H. — An Army Ranger who was the son of Hampstead Middle School’s principal was killed by a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq.
Jonathan Grassbaugh, 26, was killed late last week and Patti Grassbaugh learned of his death April 7. He was her youngest son.
Students at the school were notified of the death.
“Mrs. Grassbaugh has requested that the family be given the time to mourn and to just keep her family in your thoughts and prayers,” a letter from Owen Harrington, assistant principal, said on the school’s Web site. The letter also was sent home with students.
Jonathan Grassbaugh was sent to Iraq for the second time earlier this winter after a brief visit with his family. His father, Mark Grassbaugh, who was also a Ranger, was away on business when his mother received the news.
Jonathan Grassbaugh attended Hampstead Central School and graduated from Hampstead Middle School. He went on to Phillips Exeter Academy and then to Johns Hopkins University, where he was a member of ROTC and graduated as an Army officer, The Eagle-Tribune reported.
He was married last summer. His wife is also an ROTC officer.
“Jonathan was a really great kid,” said Dillard Collins, Central School principal. “I’ve dealt with a lot of kids in my years, and Jonathan was in the top 1 percent. Not only was he smart and an extremely nice kid, he was highly motivated and fully understood the concept of duty and honor, as does his entire family.”
At Hampstead Middle School, school board chairman Natalie Gallo said she cried when she heard of the death.
It is such a shame, such a waste of such a very intelligent and lovely young man,” she said. “I am heartbroken for Patti and Mark.”
Fallen soldier to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery
The Associated Press
HAMPSTEAD, N.H. — The funeral for Capt. Jonathan Grassbaugh, who was killed in Iraq last week, will be held April 18 at St. Anne’s Catholic Church.
The 25-year-old Army Ranger was killed by a roadside bomb.
His body will be flown to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and will be escorted from the airport by Army personnel, Hampstead police officers and New Hampshire State Police.
A wake will be at St. Anne’s the afternoon and evening of April 17 before Mass on April 18 at 1:30 p.m., the family said. Grassbaugh will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery.