Army Captain John Frederick Kurth, 31, Columbus, Wisconsin, died Saturday, March 13, 2004 in Tikrit, Iraq. He was one of two soldiers killed by a roadside bomb. Captain Kurth was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, based in Schweinfurt, Germany.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Associated Press, Kurth had been in Iraq less than one month when he was killed. His unit patrolled roads in and around Tikrit. He had been based in Schweinfurt Germany for the three years prior to his death. Kurth had also served in the 82nd Airborne. He had also served two tours in Kosovo. His company had been dispatched to Iraq in rotation of forces. The Journal Sentinel also mentioned John went by "Hans;" he graduated from Columbus High School in 1991 and had played on the football team the year they won a state championship. Columbus is a town of about 4,500 people and sits about 20 miles northeast of the State Capital city of Madison, Wisconsin. Kurth graduated from West Point Military Academy in 1995.
The Web site iraq.pigstye.net using information from the Wisconsin State Journal noted that as a senior Kurth played on Columbus' 1990 state championship football team. He was a defensive lineman. He also participated in the wrestling program.
Wisconsin 2003 Assembly Joint Resolution 80, notes John Kurth was born on February 16, 1973, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. He graduated from West Point with a degree in international relations. Some of Captain Kurth's military awards and decorations include: the Army Service Ribbon; the Humanitarian Service Medal; the Kosovo Service Medal; the National Defense Service Medal (2nd award); Army Achievement Medal, 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster; Parachutist Badge; Ranger Tab; Expert Infantryman Badge; Combat Infantryman Badge; Purple Heart (posthumously); and, Bronze Star (posthumously).
At the time of his death Captain John Frederick Kurth was survived by his wife and a son John Aleksander Kurth; parents John and Lauretta Kurth; and, a younger sister Mandy Swomia.
Information for this short biography about Army Captain John Frederick Kurth was pieced together from the following sources: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "12th Wisconsin soldier killed in Iraq," March 14, 2004; iraq.pigstye.net, via madison.com, "Capt. John F. "Hans" Kurth," Posted March 15, 2004; Wisconsin 2003 Assembly Joint Resolution 80, "Relating to: the life of Captain John F. Kurth"; Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs "Fallen Heroes Page"; and, CNN.com "War Casualties Page."
Note: This "Wisconsin Military Casualties Afghanistan Iraq Compilation" Daily Dadio blog Category is under construction. Go to the Cooldadiomedia Web site and the Wisconsin War Casualties Page for a list of names noted by date of death. ( If readers know of other military service persons with Wisconsin connections that are not on the Web site comprehensive list of fatal casualties, or notice errors, please email Bob Keith at keithrg13@cooldadiomedia.com ).
