Marine Marine Corps Corporal Adrian Valentine Soltau, 21, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, died Monday, September 13, 2004, near Fallujah, in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Corporal Soltau was one of two Marines killed in an explosion during the mission while engaging the enemy. Soltau was assigned to Company A, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Camp Pendleton, California.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said that Adrian Soltau was on his second tour of duty in Iraq. The paper highlighted story that Adrian had followed his older brother Andre by also participating in high school football, getting on the honor roll at Milwaukee Madison High School, and then going into the Marine Corps.
The Web site militarytimes.com using information from the Associated Press notes that Soltau enlisted in the Marine Corps in August of 2001, not long after graduating from Milwaukee Madison High School. He was a motor transport driver with his Marine unit. Back in high school Adrian had been on the football, baseball and chess teams and was an honor roll student. He had been deployed to Iraq in February of 2004. His older brother had also served in Iraq.
Some of Corporal Soltau's awards include the Combat Action Ribbon; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon; and, the National Defense Service Medal.
A the time of his death Marine Corporal Adrian Soltau was survived by his mother Marjorie Paul; his father Andrew (Desiree) Soltau; his sisters Shanice, Ashley, Lakiesha, Andrea; brothers Andre, Ramesh, Deshon, James, and Scott. Marine Corporal Adrian V. Soltau was laid to rest at Wood National Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Information for this short biography about Marine Corps Corporal Adrian Valentine Soltau was pieced together from the following sources: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Last Iraq mission claims local man in brother's footsteps, 'there was no fear' - September 16, 2004; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Soltau, Adrian Valentine Cpl. USMC, September 21, 2004; militarytimes.com, Associated Press, "Marine Cpl. Adrian V. Soltau"; 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 ).
