Hundreds salute soldier in Reese (Eugene H.E. Alex)

REESE -- Army Staff Sgt. Eugene H.E. Alex was a man of character who cared about people, a high-ranking U.S. Army official said during the soldier's funeral.

"He was a positive presence in his squad," said Brig. Gen. John Bartley, who memorialized Alex on Monday. "He loved life, he loved the Army, and he loved his family."

Alex, 32, of Bay City died Sept. 2 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany of wounds from small-arms fire he suffered three days earlier in Baghdad, the Pentagon said.

About 300 people attended the funeral, at Christ Lutheran Church here. During the full military service, the Army gave Alex's family the second of two Purple Hearts he received for combat injuries.

Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm on Monday ordered all U.S. flags in the state and on Michigan waters at half-staff Wednesday in honor of Alex, a graduate of Reese High School.

Alex was a member of the 4th Squadron, 14th Calvary Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team out of Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

To begin the funeral, his wife, Melissa, and their three children, sons Austin, 11, and Zachary, 6, and daughter Autumn, 8, walked down the aisle following the flag-draped casket. The soldier's parents, Ronald and Sally Alex, followed.

"Eugene has traveled to a place beyond our minds but not our dreams," said the Rev. Thomas Senge, pastor of Christ Lutheran.

Senge turned to Alex's children, who sat near the casket as it rested under a large wooden cross.

"He was a wonderful dad," the pastor said. "Remember that smile, remember his love."

Read the rest at the Saginaw News

He was known as 'Eug'

REESE -- Army Staff Sgt. Eugene H.E. Alex was an avid hunter who liked to stalk deer with his father, and his infectious grin beyond the woods won him popularity with peers and authorities alike, said his former high school teachers.

Alex, 32, of Bay City died Saturday at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, of wounds from small-arms fire he suffered Aug. 30 in Baghdad, the Pentagon said.

"I knew him pretty well. When he was on leave he'd come around to the school and visit," said David Elliott, 50, who teaches history and business and is Reese's baseball coach and former football coach.

"I know he taught (marksmanship) in the military."

Alex was a scout assigned to the 4th Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team based at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Elliott said he heard rumors about Alex's death Saturday while at the wedding reception of a friend.

"It put a damper on the whole evening," he said. "I found out about it for sure on Monday, but by then, I was braced for it.

"We never called him Eugene or Gene. Everybody called him Eug," Elliott said.

The Pentagon last month extended the yearlong tour of duty of Alex's brigade just as the soldiers were beginning to return home. Alex was the first to die since taking on the extra duty.

The Pentagon released no other details about his injuries or the circumstances in which he was shot.

In high school, Alex never stood out as a voracious reader or budding writer, but his sly charm captivated both his fellow students and teachers, said Susan M. Krauss of Reese, who taught him English.

"He liked to play pranks on people," said Krauss, a 20-year classroom veteran. "I remember one day, he locked me out of my room. He was standing behind the door. I could see him through the window. With that grin on his face. That was just the kind of kid he was. You know, harmless.

"I'll never forget the smile he carried around with him."

Read the rest at the Saginaw News

Related Link:
Extended brigade suffers first casualty since return to Iraq (Eugene H.E. Alex)

Note: Due to problems with blogger we were unable to post news of the fallen for the last 10 days. This post is part of the update from that period.