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Carl was my first cousin and someone I looked up to. He was confident, silly, and someone you respected. With Carl in my life, I will never have to doubt that someone ever loved me. He gave "warm" hugs and always put a smile on your face.

On August 20, 2005 his wife notified me that he had been killed while in Iraq. Carl had retired from the US Army after 20 years of service. During his Army service, he had been both a helicopter flight instructor and pilot. He had also been a helicopter pilot for Geisinger Medical Center' Life Flight Unit and was a volunteer with the Williamstown Ambulance Association. Carl was in Iraq working as a supervisor of interpreters for a corporation that supplies the U.S. armed forces with linguists fluent in Arabic and Kurdish, the most common languages of Iraq.

Carl was traveling as part of a convoy, heading north toward Baghdad, when an explosive device that apparently was detonated by remote control hit his vehicle. Several other people in the convoy also were injured. An obituary for Carl, released on August 22, 2005, states that he took action of some kind to save others, although the actions were not specified in the obituary. 'His selfless actions perhaps saved the lives of four fellow linguist employees,'' the obituary stated

Below is a letter that he sent to everyone prior to his death. He spoke in words that I could never replace. I have grieved the loss of my cousin, a wonderful man and a friend. I tried to make sense of his death at the age of 47. Whenever I question what happened, I read this letter. Carl loved what he did and loved the people he worked with. He wanted to be in Iraq for many reasons. This helps to relieve the pain that I feel when I open a photo album and see his smiling face.

Carl wanted his family and friends to understand whom his heroes were and after reading this letter, I have to agree with him. Little did he know, was that he was also considered a hero.

"Hello to all from Iraq:

When I watch CNN I feel as if I must be somewhere other than Iraq. Sure the violence reporting is accurate, but missing are the stories of everyday Iraqi citizens out in the streets successfully battling terrorists head-on with gunfire, or giving information to Coalition forces enabling arrests, ammunition cache detection, and less criminal violence. Do not be fooled, these terrorists victimize Iraqi civilians everyday without qualm or conscience. They have not learned the lesson of history that ultimately failure awaits those who employ terror. Also missing are the stories of little girls who now have hope for a future containing freedoms their mothers have never known, like education and the latitude to choose their own path in life. Also missing are the accounts of soldiers who walk across the street in a hostile village twice so a little girl receives a candy bag like her brothers. The second walk doubles his chances of being shot by a lurking sniper who knows all about ballistic vests and where to target that soldier. Interestingly, I have talked to several Iraqi men who express doubt about the validity of Islam. This comment is given in a culture where the cost might be death. Surrounded by heroes, I am daily reminded that freedom is not free and its cost very high. Enjoy the freedom you have and thank a young soldier as he returns. They and my family are my heroes.

Carl"

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