Army Spc. Stephen M. Kowalczyk

Died March 14, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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32, of San Diego, of 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died March 14 in Muqdadiyah, Iraq, when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire.

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Soldier with New Mexico ties dies in Iraq

The Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A soldier with ties to Colorado and New Mexico has died while serving in Iraq.

Army Spc. Stephen M. Kowalczyk, 32, of San Diego was killed March 14 in Muqdadiyah by small arms fire. He was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Kowalczyk lived with his family in Albuquerque while his father was serving in the Air Force. The soldier graduated from Highland High School and was a member of the Hornets’ swim team.

Kowalczyk joined the Army three years ago, according to his mother, Gerry Kowalczyk of Boulder, Colo.

“Steve absolutely loved being in the Army,” she said.

“And he said he was happy when he was sent to Iraq,” she added. “He wrote me letters saying what a beautiful country Iraq was,” despite the war.

Gerry Kowalczyk said she recently sent her son a care package of the pencils, notepads and Hershey bars he had requested. He told his mother that he gave it all away to excited Iraqi children.

“I’m proud that he liked what he was doing,” she said. “He was a wonderful kid, a terrific little kid, joyful, sweet and wonderful. It’s a terrific loss.”

Besides his mother, Kowalczyk is survived by a brother and four sisters. He was preceded in death by his father.