Marine Corps Private First Class Andrew Jason McFall Halverson, 19, of Muscoda, Wisconsin, died on Saturday, October 9, 2004, in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was killed by enemy action. Halverson was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, out of Camp Pendleton, California. He was killed the day before his 20th birthday. 

    The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes that Private First Class Halverson was a 2003 graduate of Riverdale High School in Muscoda. He had played football on the school team. Muscoda is a small town of approximately 1,500 along the Wisconsin River in southwestern Wisconsin. The Journal Sentinel went on to say Halverson was remembered as a "character," who got alone with anybody, and voted class clown in his senior year. Halverson also ran track in school and helped with his farther's flooring business, laying carpet and tiles.

    An article in the Chicago Tribune discussing the impact of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars on rural American mentioned the impact of Halverson's death on the small community of Muscoda where so many were apt to know the Marine personally. 

    The Website freedomremembered.com notes Andrew Halverson was born on October 10, 1984. The Web site posting mentions Andrew was also a state champion in forensics. The site also notes that a poem Halverson wrote while in Iraq was placed on display at Turtleville, Wisconsin, Veterans' Memorial Park near Shopiere, Wisconsin. A playground was also built at the park and dedicated to his memory. 

    At the time of his death Marine Private First Class Andrew Halverson was survived by his parents Joel A. Halverson and Angela G. McFall; two brothers; a sister, and his grandparents. He was laid to rest at Shopiere Cemetery in Shopiere, Wisconsin. 

Information for this short biography about Marine Corps Private First Class Andrew Jason Halverson was pieced together from the following sources: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Marine from Muscoda, 19, killed in Iraq," October 10, 2004; The Chicago Tribune, articles.chicagotribune.com, "Small towns pay big price in fighting nation's wars," April 27, 2005; freedomremembered.com, PFC Andrew Jason McFall Halverson"; 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 ).