Kevin Michael Witte – Staff Sergeant, United States Army

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NEWS RELEASES from the United States Department of Defense
No. 1066-06 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2006

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sergeant Kevin M. Witte, 27, of Beardsley, Minnesota, died on October 20, 2006, in Baghdad, Iraq, from injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during a combat patrol.

Witte was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.

1 November 2006:

Governor Tim Pawlenty Tuesday ordered that the United States flag and the State of Minnesota flag be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol from sunrise until sunset on Wednesday, November 1, 2006, in honor and remembrance of Staff Sergeant Kevin M. Witte who died a hero while protecting his country and fighting for freedom on Friday, October 20, 2006, in Iraq.

Funeral services with full military honors for Staff Sergeant Witte will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Beardsley, Minnesota.

The following is the text of the Governor’s official proclamation:

Whereas: Staff Sergeant Kevin M. Witte was born on July 23, 1979, in Wheaton, Minnesota, to Marvin L. and Kathy L. (Smith) Witte; and

Whereas: Staff Sergeant Kevin M. Witte graduated from Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley High School in 1997; and

Whereas: Staff Sergeant Kevin M. Witte joined the United States Army on June 12, 1998, and completed Basic Training at Fort Benning Georgia. He served with the 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, based in Baumholder, Germany; and

Whereas: In 2001, Staff Sergeant Kevin M. Witte married Melissa Taylor in North Carolina. They have one son, Nathan Isaac;

Whereas: Staff Sergeant Kevin M. Witte was a devoted soldier who loved serving his country and did so with great pride; and

Whereas: Staff Sergeant Kevin M. Witte died a hero while protecting his country and fighting for freedom on Friday, October 20, 2006, in Baghdad, Iraq; and

Whereas: Staff Sergeant Kevin M. Witte received many military awards including the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Valorous Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the National Defense Service Medal with Star Device, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, on the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Expert Infantry Badge, the Military Free-fall Parachutist’s Badge Basic, and the Army Parachutist’s Badge. He was posthumously warded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart;

Whereas: Staff Sergeant Kevin M. Witte is preceded in death by his father, Marvin L. Witte; grandmother, Dorothy Sykora; and father-in-law, Preston Taylor; and

Whereas: Staff Sergeant Kevin M. Witte is survived by his loving wife, Melissa; son, Nathan; mother, Kathy Blake; stepmother, Rhonda Witte; sisters, Jessica (Fred) Weigel, Stephanie Witte and fiancé Jeremy Burkhart, and Denise Witte; brothers, Jake (Summer) Witte, Dustin Witte, and Sean Witte; mother-in-law, Laurel Taylor; brothers-in-law, Isaac Taylor and Saul Taylor; grandparents, Francis Sykora, Richard and Carol Smith, and Wes (Kitty) Herberg; and many other nieces, nephews, friends, and family who loved him dearly and will miss him greatly; and

Whereas: A funeral with full military honors for Staff Sergeant Kevin M. Witte will be held on Wednesday, November 1, 2006, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Beardsley, Minnesota; and

Whereas: Interment will be on November 13, 2006 in the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia; and

Whereas: The State of Minnesota thanks the family of Staff Sergeant Kevin M. Witte for his dedicated service to the people of this country and we extend our thoughts and prayers to his family.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, TIM PAWLENTY, Governor of Minnesota, do hereby order all U.S. and Minnesota flags be flown at half-staff at the Capitol Complex, including state buildings, monuments and grounds in proximity to and including the Minnesota State Capitol, from sunrise until sunset, on Wednesday, November 1, 2006, in honor and remembrance of Staff Sergeant Kevin M. Witte.

November 1, 2006:

Beardsley, Minnesota: A funeral with full military honors will be held Wednesday for a western Minnesota soldier killed in Iraq.

Staff Sereant Kevin Witte was killed October 20, 2006, when a bomb exploded near his vehicle while he was on combat patrol.

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Witte was 27. His funeral will be held this afternoon at 2 p.m. St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Beardsley.

Witte will be buried November 13, 2006, in Arlington National Cemetery.

Governor Tim Pawlenty has ordered the U.S. and Minnesota flags at the state Capitol flown at half-staff Wednesday in honor of Witte.

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