Chase Haag killed by roadside bomb

When Chase Armstrong Haag was a junior at Portland's Parkrose High School, he wasn't afraid to stand up for what he thought was right, even if his ideas didn't necessarily fit with those of his peers.

In one afternoon class, when many students were acting up, Haag stood up to quiet them down.

"He made a bold statement," said Maria Fuhrmann, a former teacher of Haag's. "He said: 'You guys, that's not the way to act.' "

It was no surprise to Fuhrmann and other teachers that Haag, who graduated from Parkrose in 2002, went into the U.S. Army.

"He was just passionate about leadership, going out and making a difference," she said.

The Department of Defense announced Tuesday that Cpl. Haag, 22, of Portland, died Sunday in Baghdad when a bomb exploded near his vehicle. He was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Hood, Texas.

He was the 76th member of the military from Oregon or Southwest Washington to die in Iraq or Afghanistan.

A memorial for Haag is planned at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Parkrose High School, said Principal Roy Reynolds.

"He had his own style, his own way of doing things," Fuhrmann said. "That's what we're going to miss. It's just a shame."

Haag's family did not want to talk to reporters Tuesday. But a group of his former teachers and advisers gathered after school to talk about him.

"We've just lost such a wonderful individual," teacher Carol Hanson said. "He would have given a lot to the community."

Volleyball coach Brian Davis was not one of Haag's teachers but had a friendship with him. They shared music, and Haag would often mix compact discs for Davis.

"I know it's hard for the family and hard for teachers," Davis said, fighting back tears. "It's hard for me."

The group of teachers included Bob Forrest, a video instructor who retired two years ago. He said Haag was enamored with the craft of video production, direction and editing. In a class of 30, Haag produced and directed a monthly news magazine for students. Forrest remembered, "above all, his integrity."

Forrest said he suffered some health issues in his last five years of teaching but could always count on Haag to take over the class.

"The other students looked up to him," he said.

After Haag graduated, he kept his hand in video. He did freelance projects, often borrowing equipment from Forrest.

Teacher Julie Romey hired Haag to produce her wedding video and said he was very professional. She said she's in shock at his death.

"It's very surreal to be sitting in front of TV cameras talking about a student that I had," she said.

Haag was a member of Romey's first class at Parkrose to graduate. Tracy Grant, Haag's counselor, also shared that distinction.

Despite the realities of war and death, Grant said it was not time to talk about politics. Grant spoke earlier in the day with Haag's relatives and said Haag believed in serving his country.

"This is what Chase wanted to do," Grant said. "I respect him for doing that. I think it's important for us as teachers to support students in what they want to do."

But that doesn't make the news any easier to bear.

"You send them out of here, and you think that their future is so bright," Fuhrmann said. "It's just so odd to think that he's gone."

Read the rest at Oregon Live