Army Pfc. Kenneth C. Souslin

Died December 15, 2003 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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21, of Mansfield, Ohio; assigned to the 440th Signal Company, 22nd Signal Brigade, V Corps, Darmstadt, Germany; died of non-combat related injuries Dec. 15 at Baghdad International Airport.

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Friends, family bury Ohio soldier killed in Iraq

By Kristen Gelineau

Associated Press

MANSFIELD, Ohio — Friends of a soldier who died December in Iraq remembered him as being very considerate: he once escorted a friend’s dateless sister to her high school dance and would often sprint across a room to hug his mother.

On Dec. 22, poinsettias surrounded the open casket of Pfc. Kenneth C. Souslin, 21, of Mansfield, who died Dec. 15 of non-combat injuries at Baghdad International Airport.

Souslin’s friends, who called him “Kacey,” said he was devoted to his mother.

“Any time his mom came to school, Kacey, as soon as he saw her, would sprint across the cafeteria and give her a hug. He loved her so much,” said 21-year-old Sean Davis, who knew Souslin since the fifth grade.

At the funeral home in Mansfield, “Amazing Grace” played on the sound system, and people listened to the preaching of Souslin’s childhood pastor.

“I think his life has touched a part of all of our lives,” said Rev. John Sgro. “In the midst of bullets and bombs, in the midst of hate and evil, we can have a peace.”

Souslin was assigned to the 440th Signal Company, 22nd Signal Brigade, V Corps in Darmstadt, Germany. The Defense Department said Souslin’s death is under investigation, and details will not be released for months.

Relatives would not speak with reporters Dec. 22, and several of Souslin’s friends said they did not know how he died.

Al Kaminski said his 20-year-old daughter, Trinda, was extremely close to Souslin.

“They were confidantes, psychologists and friends to each other,” Kaminski said. “How do you explain that type of kid? He was just awesome.”

Amanda Sposato said Souslin was always looking out for others. When her little sister Amanda didn’t have a date for her senior homecoming dance, Souslin escorted her.

“He barely knew her, and he stayed with her all night,” said Sposato, 20.

Friends and relatives clasped each other for comfort and warmth at Lexington Cemetery as the sound of Taps mixed with the winter breeze.

Three gunshots were fired before six members of the honor detail from Fort Knox, Ky., slid an American flag off Souslin’s casket and folded it as mourners bowed their heads.

Sgt. First Class Joel Rhodes, 37, accompanied Souslin’s body from Baghdad to Ohio and said he did not know what happened to Souslin.

“He was a fine kid, a good soldier,” Rhodes said. “He never had one complaint. Everyone should be proud.”