Garceau, Seth - Sgt.

GARCEAU, GIENAU, SHAY, EDGINGTON, SMUTZER, WISEHART

Posted By: Debbie Nash - Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/12/2005 at 00:16:00

Funeral set for second soldier killed by bomb
March 10, 2005

The funeral for Sgt. Seth Garceau, the 224th Engineer Battalion soldier critically injured when a roadside bomb struck the military vehicle he was traveling in Feb. 27 between Karbala and Ar Ramadi, Iraq, has been arranged.

Visitation for the 22-year-old soldier from Oelwein will be held from 3-8 p.m. Saturday at Oelwein High School gym.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday also at the gym. Burial with full military honors by the Iowa Army National Guard will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Oelwein.

Survivors include his mother Lori; father Rick; and sister Tess, all of Oelwein.

The Garceau family is asking that their privacy and the dignity of Garceau's funeral be respected.

Garceau graduated from Oelwein High School in 2001. He enlisted in the 834th Engineer Company of the Iowa Army National Guard in Davenport in March 2000 and was qualified as a heavy-construction equipment operator and combat engineer. He was mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom with Company A, 224th Engr. Bn. in October.

He will be posthumously promoted to sergeant in a private ceremony with his family and senior Iowa National Guard members. The Department of Defense also will honor him with the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Iowa State Service Ribbon and the Armed Forces Service Medal with "M" device for mobilization.

2nd Lt. Brian Gienau, 29, of Peoria, Ill., was killed in the initial attack Feb. 27. Injured were Sgt. Timothy Shay, 22, of Muscatine, Spc. Justin Edgington, 23, of West Burlington and Spc. Dennis Smutzer, 32, of Moline. They were all assigned to Co. A, 224th Engr. Bn.

Smutzer has been evacuated to the United States for additional medical care. Shay also has been evacuated to the States and is receiving medical care at Fort Sill, Okla. Edgington was treated in Iraq and released back to duty with his unit.

"I want all the family members and friends to know that as each day goes by the pain of losing two soldiers and the injuries of three more get a little easier," wrote Co. A commander Capt. Jason Wisehart in his newsletter Tuesday.

"We will all feel the absence of those two soldiers for the rest of our lives. Both Lt. Gienau and Sgt. Garceau will be missed deeply by the soldiers of A company. We will continue to pray daily for the families, friends, and all soldiers involved in this accident."

For the complete story, read the March 10 Fairfield Ledger.

Courtesy of the Fairfield Daily Ledger Inc. 2005