James Wosika remembered

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS learned Thursday that Staff Sgt. James Wosika Jr. actually saved nine other soldiers in his final moments.

He will now receive special honors as the military prepares to deliver his body to his family in Saint Paul.

His father spoke about his son, the mission, and the president's new plan for Iraq.

The military told Wosika's father Thursday morning his son has been promoted posthumously to Staff Sgt. and will receive the bronze star for saving nine Minnesota soldiers with him that day.

It's comforting to his father, but he hurts for his son's friends having to stay there longer and wants the war to end.

James Wosika Sr. says Thursday is a little better than Wednesday, when he watched, with a heavy heart, as much as he could of President Bush talking about the mission.

"I'm grateful that he admits to his fault... it's about time he (Bush) did," James Wosika Sr. said.

But it doesn't bring back his only son, James Wosika Jr., who was killed Tuesday as he approached a vehicle in Iraq on foot.

Wosika Sr. learned his son saved the lives of nine other Minnesota soldiers who were with him, all observing the suspicious vehicle.

The group decided to check it out, but James Jr. told the others to stay back and take cover.

They did and as the 24-year-old came up to the side of the vehicle it exploded, killing him instantly.

"We're proud of him," James Wosika Sr. said.

Just a little more than a month ago, James Jr. wrote on his Myspace account how aggravated he was that he couldn't do more to stop the insurgents.

Now his account lists messages of sympathy and sadness from his sister to his friends and fellow soldiers still fighting in Iraq.

Meanwhile, James Wosika Sr. just wants the war to end.

"I just hope it don't turn into the 10-year war that we had in Vietnam," James Wosika Sr said. "Just get it over with and just remember my son was a good human being, was loved and would bend over backwards for anybody, whether he knew them or not."

The Wosika family expects James Jr.'s body in the U.S. in two weeks.

From KSTP 5

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