Army Lt. Col. Mark P. Phelan

Died October 13, 2004 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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44, of Green Lane, Pa.; assigned to the 416th Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, Morristown, Pa.; killed Oct. 13 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his convoy vehicle in Mosul, Iraq. Also killed was Maj. Charles R. Soltes Jr.

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Mark P. Phelan loved sailing, while his wife adored animals. So the couple, between jaunts on the water, rescued dogs from animal shelters. "We always wanted to make each other's dreams come true, so we had a sailboat and a barn," said Phelan's wife, Brenda. Phelan, 44, of Green Lane, Pa., died Oct. 13 when a bomb hit his vehicle in Mosul. He was based at Morristown, Pa. Phelan and his wife owned and operated Phelan Services, which provides janitorial and other commercial services. He also was a manager of a continuing-care facility. He graduated from West Chester University in 1983 and worked for a year as a police officer in Stone Harbor, N.J. While in Iraq, he helped start a business center that offered such things as small-business loans. The troops also grew to depend on his CARE packages. "His office was the unofficial battalion variety store and always loaded with candy and children's drawings sent by his nieces and nephews to let Uncle Mark know how much they missed him and that he made them proud," said Lt. Col. Charles Hutt. Phelan also is survived by a 22-year-old daughter.

— Associated Press