Marine Corps Private First Class Ryan Michael Jerabek, 18, Hobart (Oneida), Wisconsin, died on Tuesday, April 6, 2004 in Ramadi, Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Jerabek was killed in a firefight during a large-scale attack by insurgents. Private First Class Jerabek was assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Camp Pendleton, California. 

    The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel noted Private First Class Jerabek was one of several Marines killed in the battle. He had been in Iraq less than a month and belonged to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, which  took over the mission of occupying Fallujah, Ramadi and other areas west of Baghdad. The fighting in these areas was some of the most intense during the U.S. military's then 11-month presence in Iraq.

    The Journal Sentinel went on to mention Jerabek enlisted in the delayed entry program for the Marine Corps in his junior year in high school. He did his boot camp in San Diego in July, 2003. He was remembered as a history buff and hoped to perhaps become a history teacher. Ryan Jerabek was the middle of three brothers. His father Ken Jerabek has served in the military stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War era. 

    The Web site iraq.pigstye.net using information from the Green Bay Press Gazette noted Ryan Jerabek was a 2003 graduate of Pulaski High School north west of Green Bay, Wisconsin. At the time of his death, he was the youngest Wisconsin soldier to die in the war in Iraq. Private First Class Jerabek was one of eight soldiers killed and 20 wounded in the battle. 

    A documentary titled "Jerabek," about Ryan Jerabek and his family's journey with his military experience and his death was released in 2007.
    
    The Web site fox11online.com posted an article regarding the 6th annual Ryan Jerabek Memorial Challenge. The event is a 4-mile run-walk named after Jerabek; the proceeds go to the Injured Marine Sempfer Fi Fund that assists injured service members and their families. 

    The Web site findgrave.com notes Ryan Jerabek was born on May 9, 1985. Wisconsin 2003 Senate Joint Resolution 75 stated that at the time of his death Marine Private First Class Ryan Jerabek was survived by is parents Ken and Rita Jerabek; his two brothers Aaron and Nicholas; maternal grandparents Alfred and Sarah Clausen; paternal grandparents Gene and Madlyn Jerabek; paternal great-grandfather Jule Gilson; aunts and uncles Patricia Zeitler, Michael and Pam Clausen, Kathleen and Bill Gehrke, Shawn and Pam Clausen, Dale Jerabek, and Kaye Jerabek; and, his best friend Marine Lance Corporal Mike Andrews. Ryan was preceded in death by his sister, Sara.

Information for this short biography about Marine Corps Private First Class Ryan Michael Jerabek was pieced together from the following sources: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Marines lived parallel lives, died not far apart in Iraq," posted April 7, 2004; iraq.pigstye.net, Green Bay Press Gazette, "Ryan Jerabek," posted April 9, 2004; findagrave.com, "PFC Ryan M. Jerabek"; Wisconsin 2003 Senate Joint Resolution 75, "Relating to: the life and military service of Marine Private First Class Ryan M. Jerabek"; 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 ).