Army Sgt. Jonathan J. Richardson

Died March 9, 2010 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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24, of Bald Knob, Ark.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died March 9 at FOB Salerno, Afghanistan, from wounds sustained when a suicide bomber attacked his unit. Also killed was Pfc. Jason M. Kropat.

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2 Fort Campbell soldiers killed in Afghanistan

By Chris Smith

The (Clarksville, Tenn.) Leaf-Chronicle

The Defense Department announced March 11 the deaths of two 101st Airborne Division soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

They died March 9 in Khowst province, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when when a suicide bomber attacked their unit.

They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team.

Killed were Sgt. Jonathan J. Richardson, 24, of Bald Knob, Ark., and Pfc. Jason M. Kropat, 25, of White Lake, N.Y., DoD said in a news release.

Richardson was a fire support specialist assigned to C Company. He joined the Army in June 2006 and arrived at Fort Campbell in January 2007, according to a news release from post.

His awards and decorations include: Army Commendation Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Ribbon; and Weapons Qualification, M4, expert.

Richardson is survived by his wife, Rachel Richardson, of Clarksville; mother Sharon Dunigan, of Bridgeport, W.Va.; and father, Jeffery Richardson, of Germany.

Kropat was an infantryman assigned to C Company. He joined the Army in November 2008 and arrived at Fort Campbell in March 2009, according to a news release from post.

His awards and decorations include: Army Commendation Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; and Weapons Qualification, M4, expert.

Kropat is survived by his parents, Kathleen and Glenn Kropat, of Fredericksburg, Texas.

A memorial service for the fallen soldiers will be held in Afghanistan.

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Soldiers remembered by Campbell community

By Jake Lowary

The (Clarksville, Tenn.) Leaf-Chronicle

The fellow soldiers of Pfc. Jason Kropat will remember him as “the battle buddy that everyone wanted,” and Sgt. Jonathan Richardson was the “kind of leader soldiers strive to emulate.”

Kropat and Richardson were killed March 11 in Khost province, Afghanistan, when a suicide bomber attacked their unit.

Both were members of C Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team.

First Lt. John Limauro, the company’s executive officer, said Kropat was “an excellent soldier in every capacity,” and was the first to cheer up his fellow soldiers.

“Jason was always quick with a joke when everyone was down and the situation was undesirable,” Limauro said.

Limauro said Kropat, who came to Fort Campbell in March 2009, was also proactive in his efforts to spread the cheer.

“Jason was the battle buddy that everyone wanted,” Limauro said. “His ability to see his comrades down without words would allow him to cheer anyone up no matter the time of day.”

Limauro said Richardson, as a noncommissoned officer, was an example for the rest of his comrades.

“His professionalism and appearance set the standard for others to follow,” he said.

Richardson died after being medevaced from the scene.

Richardson’s and Kropat’s deaths are the second and third for the Rakkasans, who took over their area of operations late last month.

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Body of Ark. soldier returns to hometown

The Associated Press

SEARCY, Ark. — The body of a soldier from Bald Knob killed in Afghanistan has been returned to White County.

A casket carrying the remains of Sgt. Jonathan J. Richardson, 24, was unloaded from a military jet March 20 at Searcy Municipal Airport, then transferred to a waiting hearse by an honor guard from Camp Robinson in North Little Rock.

Richardson was killed March 9 along with Pfc. Jason M. Kropat, 25, of White Lake, N.Y.

Richardson was a fire-support specialist who joined the Army in June 2006.

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Soldier remembered for his intelligence

The Associated Press

Jonathan J. Richardson’s relatives say he was a smart guy who got mostly A’s in high school, save the rare B in a subject that didn’t hold his attention, and also played football.

“He was unsure of what he wanted to do when he graduated high school,” said his grandmother, Edna Martin. “He could have gone to college and done anything he wanted.” But he talked to a recruiter and joined the Army.

The 24-year-old from Bald Knob, Ark., was killed by an insurgent March 9 in Khowst province, Afghanistan. Family members say Richardson’s buddy Pfc. Jason Kropat tried to shield him. Both were killed in the attack.

His parents worked in civil service and moved from South Korea to the U.S. when he was a toddler, Martin said. Richardson joined the Army in June 2006 and was assigned to Fort Campbell.

Survivors include his wife, Rachel.

“They loved each other so much,” said Ken Martin, his step-grandfather. “It was no puppy love. They were deeply, genuinely in love.”

Richardson also is survived by his parents, Sharon and James Dunigan and Jeffery Richardson; brother, Jason; and sister, Jasmine.