Army Staff Sgt. David C. Kuehl

Died May 22, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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27, of Wahpeton, N.D.; assigned to the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Wash.; died May 22 in Taji, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit.

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Wahpeton soldier killed in Iraq

By Dave Kolpack

The Associated Press

FARGO, N.D. — An Army solider from Wahpeton who was serving his third tour of duty overseas has been killed in Iraq, his family says.

Staff Sgt. David Kuehl, 27, was killed during combat operations, his family said May 23 in a statement.

“We prayed this day would never come,” the statement said. “Unfortunately we were notified Tuesday that David lost his life in combat while bravely serving his country with the United States Army in Iraq.”

Kuehl was “a wonderful son, husband, father, brother and uncle and will be dearly missed,” the statement said.

Kuehl is a 1999 graduate of Wahpeton High School. His wife, two children and his parents live in Wahpeton.

The military said roadside bombings and gun battles across Iraq killed nine U.S. servicemen in separate attacks Tuesday. Kuehl’s family was told he was killed by a roadside bomb in the Baghdad area.

Clark Gripentrog, the principal at Wahpeton High School, said Kuehl was a good student who was quiet and easy to get along with. Kuehl enjoyed drawing and painting, he said.

“I visited with the art teacher and she said he was a talented young man,” Gripentrog said. “I remember him as a hard worker and a very nice person.”

The family declined to comment further. They asked in the statement to “convey our sincere appreciation for the kind thoughts, prayers and condolences we’ve received from family, friends and neighbors during this very difficult time.”

Kuehl’s death brings to 16 the number of U.S. service members from North Dakota or serving with North Dakota military units who have been reported killed while on duty in Iraq. Four others were killed in Afghanistan.

North Dakota National Guard spokesman Rob Keller said the Guard has been assisting the family even though Kuehl was not a Guard member.

“The active-duty [military] called upon us to assist in that notification,” Keller said. He had no other information about Kuehl’s death, saying that would have to come from the Defense Department.

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Wife, sister remember soldier killed in Iraq

By Dave Kolpack

The Associated Press

WAHPETON, N.D. — Army Staff Sgt. David Kuehl met a young girl named Messa on his first military assignment in Iraq. He liked the name so much that he and his wife passed it on to their second daughter.

“He just liked her name. She was a cute little girl. I never did get a picture of her or anything, but ever since that day, we kept that name,” Amy Kuehl said May 24. “We never told anybody.”

It is one of many stories she wishes her husband could tell his daughters, 9-month-old Messa and 7-year-old Kiley. David Kuehl, 27, of Wahpeton, was killed earlier this week during combat operations in Iraq.

The Defense Department confirmed Kuehl’s death May 24, saying he died May 22 in Taji, Iraq, after a roadside bomb detonated near his unit.

He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, known as the Stryker Brigade Combat Team, based in Fort Lewis, Wash., the military said.

“Kiley could describe him pretty good. Messa’s [pronounced MAY’-sah’s] never going to get that chance to know him,” an emotional Amy Kuehl told reporters outside a friend’s house. “He was a great father.”

Kuehl was only three weeks into his second tour of duty in Iraq, which was scheduled to last 15 months. He left Fort Lewis on Good Friday.

On May 24, Amy Kuehl wore a T-shirt depicting the name of her husband’s unit, turning down offers for a coat or sweatshirt despite chilly temperatures in the 40s.

“I bought it before I left Fort Lewis ... because I can never remember what unit he’s in,” she said of the T-shirt.

Amy said David rarely talked about life in the military. He talked about the sites of Germany while he was stationed there, but said little about combat operations.

“He kept a lot of stuff to himself,” Amy said. “Staff sergeant ... you’ve got a lot of responsibility.”

Amy grew up in Breckenridge, Minn., which borders Wahpeton. She and David were good friends in high school, but didn’t get serious until after he joined the Army following graduation.

“Lots of times, in the middle of the night, he was the first person I called when I had any trouble,” Amy said. “He constantly kept asking me out and I kept saying no because I wanted to stay good friends. I didn’t want to ruin the friendship. But we got together, anyway.”

Wendy Kuehl, David’s sister, described her brother as a “very loving” person who took pride in his family and his military service. She said the two of them “fought like siblings, but he was a good brother in the end.”

He also loved his pickup truck.

“He was so proud of his truck,” Amy said. “Everyday he called me from Iraq, that was the first question he asked, how his truck was. And his kids.”

Military officials notified the family about David’s death on May 22.

“It’s like with everything. You always think it’s never going to happen to my family, it’s never going to be my brother,” Wendy said. “You always try to put it out of your mind. Make it feel like he’s always going to be safe in your heart.”

Wahpeton and Breckenridge residents were placing yellow ribbons on trees to honor Kuehl. Mayors of both towns have ordered that flags be flown at half-staff. Funeral services are pending.

Amy Kuehl said the family received so much food they started to freeze some of it.

“That’s what’s nice about a small town,” she said. “You can count on them.”

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Body of Wahpeton soldier arrives in North Dakota

The Associated Press

FARGO, N.D. — The body of Army Staff Sgt. David Kuehl, who was killed last week in Iraq, returned to his home state May 31, with a police escort down Interstate 29 to his home town of Wahpeton.

Kuehl, 27, was killed May 22, when a roadside bomb detonated near his unit in Taji, Iraq, the military said.

Kuehl’s funeral is scheduled June 2 in Wahpeton. His family also plans to travel to Fort Lewis, Wash., next week to attend a memorial service. Kuehl was a member of one of Fort Lewis’ Stryker brigades serving in Iraq.

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Services held for slain Wahpeton soldier

By Dave Kolpack

The Associated Press

WAHPETON, N.D. — Army Staff Sgt. David Kuehl was remembered on a rain-soaked day as a man who could brighten the days of his family, and his fellow soldiers.

“He touched literally thousands of lives,” Maj. Gen. Timothy McHale said Saturday at Kuehl’s funeral in the National Guard armory. “And people were better for knowing David.”

Kuehl, 27, was killed May 22 when a roadside bomb detonated near his unit in Taji, Iraq. He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, known as the Stryker Brigade Combat Team, based in Fort Lewis, Wash. He was only three weeks into his second tour of duty in Iraq, which was scheduled to last 15 months.

His wife, Amy, his parents and two daughters live in Wahpeton.

“He talked about you a lot over in Iraq,” McHale told the family. “He truly loved his family.”

The 90-minute funeral on Saturday included a half-hour video tribute to Kuehl, which showed family pictures accompanied by country-western music. The tribute closed with the words, “Forever in our hearts. We miss you David.”

Red, white and blue ribbons with Kuehl’s picture were handed out to those who attended the service. It was standing-room only inside the armory, and outside the building the Patriot Guard Riders motorcycle group held flags in the pouring rain. At one point in the service, the Rev. Mark Manning prayed for the rain to stop.

McHale said Kuehl’s fellow soldiers described him as a calm, confident, positive and upbeat person. He said one of Kuehl’s favorite sayings was, “I’ve got to take care of the boys.”

During a cold night on one training mission, McHale said, Kuehl wrapped himself around a fellow soldier to keep him warm. The soldier “didn’t like that much at first,” McHale said, drawing laughs, but he said it showed what Kuehl would do to help his squad.

Kuehl liked fishing and Copenhagen chewing tobacco, McHale said, eliciting more chuckles from the audience.

Gov. John Hoeven said Kuehl’s “whole life was about service.”

“David put himself in harm’s way and gave his life for something larger than himself,” the governor said in remarks during the service.

Kuehl was the 16th person with strong North Dakota ties to be reported killed while on duty in Iraq. Four others have died in Afghanistan.

Kuehl’s impact to the community was evidenced by “a great cloud of witnesses as David Kuehl came home from his journey,” Manning said.

Kuehl’s body arrived back in North Dakota on Thursday night and was brought by police escort from Fargo to Wahpeton. Residents lined the streets and waved signs and flags.

Military officials presented Kuehl’s family with the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal. A private burial service was held Saturday afternoon.

Kuehl’s family plans to travel to Fort Lewis in the coming week for a memorial service.

“To David, we say, ‘Rest in peace, soldier, your job is done,’ ” Hoeven said.