Army Pfc. David C. Armstrong

Died February 1, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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21, of Zanesville, Ohio; assigned to the 57th Military Police Company, 8th Military Police Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, U.S. Army Pacific, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; died Feb. 1 in Baghdad of injuries sustained from a vehicular accident. Also killed was Pfc. Kenneth T. Butler.

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Ohio soldier killed when vehicle overturns in ravine

The Associated Press

ZANESVILLE, Ohio — An Ohio soldier killed in Iraq when the Humvee he was riding in overturned in a ravine loved sports and wanted to go into law enforcement, his uncle said.

Army Pfc. David C. Armstrong, 21, of Zanesville, died Feb. 1 in Baghdad, along with fellow soldier Pfc. Tyler Butler of East Liverpool, said Scott Armstrong, who was speaking on behalf of the Armstrong family.

Scott Armstrong said his nephew played football and baseball in high school, practiced karate and loved to ride motorcycles and four-wheelers.

David Armstrong was born in Galion and moved to Zanesville with his parents, Dave and Marcie Armstrong, when he was a preschooler. He graduated from Maysville High School in 2004, his family said.

His father said the Humvee crash is still under investigation. Military officials informed the family of David Armstrong’s death on Friday morning.

Scott Armstrong said his nephew joined the military because it promised the education he needed to go into law enforcement. He loved animals, including his dogs Bo, Razor and Gage, and wanted to be a law enforcement canine handler.

David Armstrong, who was assigned to the 372nd MP Battalion, 57th MP Company, left for Iraq in June of last year. He was scheduled to return on leave this week and to finish his tour in June.

Scott Armstrong said the family had put off celebrating Christmas, hoping to include his nephew when he visited home.

David Armstrong was married to his high school sweetheart, Tasia Warne, his uncle said.

“David was a very special young man with a bright future ahead of him,” Scott Armstrong said. “Everyone is devastated by his loss. He is sadly missed by his entire family and many, many friends.”

Butler, also killed Thursday, was a 2004 graduate of East Liverpool High School, and was to meet his newborn son, Austin, when he returned on leave Sunday. The baby was born Jan. 23.
 

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Two Hawaii-based soldiers die in Iraq

The Associated Press

HONOLULU — Two Hawaii-based soldiers died in Iraq last week from non-combat-related causes, the military said Feb. 5.

Pfc. David C. Armstrong of Zanesville, Ohio, and Pfc. Kenneth T. Butler of East Liverpool, Ohio, died Feb. 1.

An Army news release said their deaths are under investigation. It gave no further details, and it was unclear if they were killed in the same incident.

Both soldiers were assigned to the 57th Military Police Company in the 8th Military Police Brigade. They were part of the 8th Theater Sustainment Command, based at Schofield Barracks.

Armstrong’s family said the soldier was killed when the Humvee he was riding in overturned in a ravine. Dave Armstrong, his father, said the crash was still under investigation.

Scott Armstrong said his nephew played football and baseball in high school, practiced karate and loved to ride motorcycles and four-wheelers.

“David was a very special young man with a bright future ahead of him,” his uncle said. “Everyone is devastated by his loss. He is sadly missed by his entire family and many, many friends.”

Scott Armstrong said his nephew joined the military because it promised the education he needed to go into law enforcement. He loved animals, including his dogs Bo, Razor and Gage, and wanted to be a law enforcement canine handler.

The soldier left for Iraq in June. He was scheduled to return on leave this week and to finish his tour in June.

Scott Armstrong said the family had put off celebrating Christmas so they could include his nephew when he visited.

Butler, who like Armstrong was 21, was to meet his newborn son, Austin, when he returned on leave Sunday. The baby was born Jan. 23.
 

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‘He laid down his life for us’

By Kathy Thompson

Coshocton (Ohio) Tribune

ZANESVILLE, Ohio — Cpl. David C. Armstrong was a man of valor with the spirit it takes to lay down one’s life for his country.

Armstrong, 21, paid the ultimate sacrifice when he was killed in a Humvee accident Feb. 1, 2007, in Baghdad. He was a member of the Army 57th Military Police Company and had deployed to Iraq in July of 2006.

Armstrong, who was a graduate of Maysville High School, died just nine days before he was to come home to his family and friends, hundreds of whom gathered in the Cornerstone Full Gospel Church Saturday afternoon to tell him goodbye instead of welcoming him home.

Joining the Army to “selflessly, honorably serve his nation,” Brig. Gen. David Quantock told the crowd that “David had what it took to be a solider. He had courage and commitment. He had the willingness to go into harm’s way. He had the spirit.”

Quantock presented Armstrong’s family with the Bronze Star Medal just prior to addressing the crowd, telling them that Armstrong brought security to America and there was no greater honor than to give the most selfless sacrifice — that of himself.

“David was among the finest America has to offer,” Quantock said. “He was tough as nails and a model of courage, having more than 100 combat missions under his belt.”

“Soldiering came natural to David,” Quantock said. “He set the bar so high as a driver that it will be hard to find someone to compare him to.”

Armstrong’s voice was heard during the service as one of his closest friends, Jordan Wilkes, read a letter that David had written while he was stationed in Iraq.

Armstrong said he loved to have fun and didn’t see much sense in living without it.

“I’ve been through a lot,” Armstrong’s letter read. “I’ve seen a lot of things. The Army is the best worst thing I’ve ever done.”

Armstrong wrote how he had seen the dark side of life while stationed in a war zone and how he had lost a lot of things that were dear to him.

But, he also wrote that all that was only “making him stronger.”

“I believe I’m destined for greatness,” Armstrong wrote. “I’m laid-back, yet outgoing. I can be the life of a party or I can sit back and watch. I’m well-rounded.”

Wilkes had to fight back his grief as he told the crowd that Armstrong was a “free spirit who feared nothing.”

“And he was goofy with the cheesiest smile,” Wilkes said. “He had a laugh that was so enchanting you had to join in.”

Armstrong loved the outdoors, was a sports star, a daredevil and a war hero, Wilkes said.

“He wanted to come home and see Razor’s puppies, he wanted to see his family, go to college, be a father ... he wanted to live,” Wilkes said.

“But David died as a solider,” Wilkes said. “He died 3,000 miles away without kissing his wife goodnight, without hugging his parents one more time. He laid down his life for us.”

According to Wilkes, Armstrong had a love for macaroni and cheese, Ramen noodles, cheese, his motorcycles, his 2001 Mustang GT, his dogs, his wife and his family.

“David had more fun when he was young than most people have in their entire lives,” Wilkes said. “He showed me what it means to be a friend.”

Laura Garrett, Armstrong’s sister, read a letter prepared by her parents, David and Marcie, which told Armstrong how proud they are of him and how they will never forget him.

“You are a good person,” his mother is quoted as saying. “I know you wanted a purpose in life. You had a beautiful smile. I could pick you out of any crowd in a picture just by seeing all your teeth when you smiled. I know pieces of the Army’s hearts have been torn out by losing you.”

The letter went on to say that Armstrong will always be “our baby.”

“Life will never be the same without you,” David and Marcie wrote.

Pastor Marc Caton told the crowd that Armstrong had a mission in life — to be himself.

“He was a man who was good at anything and could do just about everything,” Caton said. “He wanted to be successful and someday become a cop.”

Caton also said Armstrong was a friend who was filled with humor, honor and pride.

“Soldiers are mighty men of valor,” Caton said. “That’s what David was. A mighty man of valor.”
 

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Soldier’s love for dogs, police lives on

By Leonard Hayhurst
Times Recorder (Zanesville, Ohio)

ZANESVILLE, Ohio — David Armstrong had a simple but unique dream in life.

After he was discharged from the Army, he wanted to join a police K-9 unit. But Armstrong died Feb. 1, 2007, in Iraq after a Humvee accident.

“He loved working with animals and dogs. It was his passion,” Julia Caton said of her brother.

For the past five years his family has staged a cornhole tournament in his name. Caton organizes the event with her mother, Marcie Armstrong, and her sister, Laura Garrett.

Marcie said 20 to 30 teams are expected to play in the tournament June 3 at EagleSticks Golf Course. Proceeds benefit the Zanesville Police Department K-9 Unit. She said the event raised about $850 in 2010, but more than $35,000 has been raised during the history of the benefit.

“It’s not just a time to raise money in David’s name for the K-9 unit, but also a time for family and friends to get together and remember David to celebrate his birthday,” Marcie said. David’s birthday was June 1.

Money from the benefit in the past made it possible for the department to buy K-9 Bosco and start a second team with Officer Mike Schiele. When Bosco was retired after he and Schiele were shot in August 2009, the money made it possible for Tino to take Bosco’s place. Caton said Officer Travis Groves, who works with K-9 Paco, would be at the benefit. The unit is funded by community donations.

Along with the cornhole tournament will be a 50/50 drawing, raffles and a disc jockey. Items up for raffle include a $100 gift basket from Bath & Body Works, a family pass to Lake Isabella, a $310 package to CoCo Key Water Resort at Cherry Valley Lodge in Newark and four tickets to a Cincinnati Reds baseball game. Caton works as a receptionist for Gastroenterology Association, who she said donates $250 to the fundraiser every year.

“The support and contributions of the community make the event. Without the support of the community we wouldn’t be able to do this,” Caton said.