Fallen Heroes of Operation Iraqi Freedom

Remembering the servicemembers who died in the service of their country.

Army Spc. William D. Dusenbery

30, of Fairview Heights, Illinois.
Dusenbery died when two 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters crashed in Mosul, Iraq. He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Died on November 15, 2003.

Please send information, photos, and corrections for Army Spc. William D. Dusenbery.

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Leave a message in memory of this servicemember, and/or to the loved ones left behind.

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"William,
On today, the 13th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you to you and the other soldiers who were on those Blackhawks with you for your service and sacrifice for our Countty. And to your family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

Air Assault!"

"To the family of:William D. Dusenbery
I am so sorry for the loss of your love one. My heart cries out for you in your grief and you have my thoughts and prayers. He died a hero defending freedom. May you have the peace and understanding that only comes from God. Prayerfully we will all meet in Heaven one day where we will rest in the arms of Jesus. If you need prayer or need someone to talk to, please call or write my pastor: Rev. John Pearrell 11677 Brown Bridge Rd., Covington, GA 30016. (770)787-1015.
Your friend in Jesus Christ, Polly Ballew Covington,Ga""

"During high school I was in Chamber Choir with Dave. Dave was a great guy,with a big heart. I'm not sure there was anything he wasn't capable of musically. Seemed like every time I walked into the music room,there was Dave playing Blues on his guitar. It was impossible to be around him for five seconds and not laugh,or smile. I miss you Brother R.I.P."
Mason Maurer of Beaverton,OR.

"I served with Duce in Iraq. He was my "battle Buddy" we shared a tent together, he taught me how the play guitar. I miss him every day. we had an unbreakable freindship and enjoyed each others company. I am heartbroken over your loss, and mine. i tried to contact his parents because i wanted to speak with them personaly and tell them what a true patriot Duce was. I never got to tell Duce goodby, and that effects me even to this day. i was shipped home on medical the day after the incident, and did not reach American soil in time for the funeral. If anyone knows how i can contact any of his loved ones please call me at 502-762-4946. I will be going to Illinois to tell him goodby this summer, and will be able to speak with family if they want to.
SPC. Hinton, Hank III"
Hank Hinton III of Clarksville, IN USA

"As I was going through some boxes, I found an audio tape of "Duce" and I singing and playing guitar in Tall Afar, Iraq...a truly soft hearted man..I miss him..."
Nikki of USA

"I am part of a project titled The American Soldier Memorial Project. The mission of this group is to show support to the fallen service men and women of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom by giving a cross-stitched memorial to their family. These memorials are hand-stitched by volunteer members of this group and are provided at no charge to the families. We would be pleased to provide a memorial to the family of SPC. William D. Dusenbery, but do not have a current address of his family or next of kin. If you see this message and can provide us with an address, please email either me (Sue) at suzyr@tbcnet.com or Pam at pmlaea@hotmail.com. Thank you"
Sue Rozycki of Sycamore IL 60178

"November 9, 2008
To the family of Spc. William D. Dusenbery:
William gave the ultimate sacrifice and will be held in the hearts of Americans forever. I cannot and will not let our fallen heroes be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to you. "Some gave all."
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org"
Peggy Childers of Carson City, NV

"It has been almost five years now, And there is not a day that goes by that my heart does not ache because David is gone. He was my high school sweet heart and my husband, and my one true love. David was a wonderful husband and a Good man and soldier. As with most things in life you never truly know what you have untill its gone, such is the case with Dave. His daughters have grown into wounderful young ladys with all the vigor of life that he had. Aubrey is the image of her father and is our blessing. Shalice was always his little girl, and even though she was from a former relationship, she was his. David is missed more than anyone can imagine by the girls and I. So to all those who have writen messages thank you, and keep his memory in your hearts and he will never be forgoten."
Rochelle Dusenbery of Trail, Oregon

"thank you for pertecting me when i was scarred thank you for being there when i needed you but now your gone and i am left to care of my sister and your wife i love you with all of my heart and hopefuly you will be in heven reddy to see me agen. love from one that you took in under your wing."
shalice johnson

"I knew Dave in High School, we were all quite sad to learn he had been killed in Iraq, a few of us searched for him for many years with no luck in finding him, and it was heart breaking to learn why the search was so futile.

Dave was a suzaphone and a tuba player, accomplished marcher in the band, he had a beautiful tenor voice when he sang in the choir, he knew all about how to light up a theater for our drama productions, I can still remember him sitting high above us while we practiced, ever the dedicated techie wanting to get the lights just right, and make sure the sound was perfect.

I can barely remember any extra cirricular activities he did not take part in, he was a versatile, dependable, and loving guy, with good morals and strong character, continually rising above adversity, with a sense of humor that could double you over...

Knowing Dave was a life altering experience, there has never been anyone like him, and there never will be again, he will be sincerely missed.

Goodbye Dave..."
Talenya Reese (formerly Real) of Dallas, TX. USA

"To the Dusenbery Family,
My husband and Duse worked together. And since Duse couldn't go home for Thanksgiving prior to their deployment, we had him at our house. Thanksgiving is a time for family... and we wouldn't have it any other way. He came over to the house with a cheese cake and did something I have never seen before. He cut the cheese cake with a piece of string. I was tickled. That memory stands out in my head everytime I think of him. And I wanted to share that with you. Eventhough another year has gone by... it still feels like it was just yesterday that we had him over the house. He is missed greatly!!! Our prayers are with your family."
The Meade Family of Ft. Campbell, Ky

"To the Dusenberry Family,
Duce was a great Soldier and a great guy. It was an honor and a privilege to serve with him. He was always the rock solid guy you could count on to do the tough jobs well without fanfare or complaint. He had a work ethic that was unmatched. I still remember him working on UH-60 phases and going out on the convoy from Kuwait into Iraq, manning the SAW on top of Howard's HUMVEE on the most uncomfortable homemade platform. He was a great Soldier and I'll miss him always. You all are always in our prayers.
Sincerely,
Rich and April Hadnagy"
Rich Hadnagy of Enterprise,AL

"Even though it is almost three and a half years I still miss you and think of you everyday. We will meet again one day, until then wait for me and know I love you today as much as I loved you then."
Jessica of North Carolina

"Thank you for flying with my brother, Scott. Thank you for your service to our country. You are greatly missed by your family and friends."
Ann Saboe-Remington of Hot Springs, SD

"My name is Cameron Schilling and I have started “Portrait of a Soldier” which donates a portrait sketch of every Illinois soldier who has fallen in Iraq or Afghanistan. All 122 sketches will be on display for a Memorial Day Presentation in Chicago, Illinois on May 26-31 at the James R. Thompson Center in downtown Chicago. After the ceremony the sketches will be given to the immediate families of the Illinois soldiers. I would invite any friends or family members to come and honor these men and women from Illinois who have given their lives to our country. For more information please contact OperationHomeFront.org at 866-417-8889 which is an organization headed by the Lt. Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois who is in charge of the Memorial Day Presentation. Thank You.

Please check out www.portraitofasoldier.org
To contact Cameron email cameronschilling84@hotmail.com
To contact Operation Home Front call 866-417-8889"
Cameron Schilling of Charleston, Illinois

"My name is Cameron Schilling. I am a college student from central Illinois. I am the first generation of my family not to serve his country. I am extremely grateful for the sacrifice you and your loved one has given for the United States. I am disappointed by the way the news media has covered this war and the deaths of our youth. The media has stopped listing the names of the soldiers killed in Iraq and people only talk about the soldiers when we reach a specific milestone in deaths. If you just started watching the news today you would not even know there is a war going on. Partisan politics have replaced coverage of our young generation who have traveled to a foreign land in the name of the United States. Whether you believe the war in Iraq is wrong, right, justified or not everyone should pay even just a little more attention to what these young men and women are sacrificing. This is what I would like to do. I want to do my part in honoring these soldiers and their memories. Along with being a college student I am also a budding artist. I draw pencil portraits of local people in my community. I want to offer a pencil portrait sketch to the immediate family of every Illinois soldier killed in Iraq. Please contact me at cameronschilling84@hotmail.com."
Cameron of Schilling

"Thank you William. Thank you for making it possible for us as Americans to freely memorialize you and your fallen comrades. I just completed a Memorial Run on behalf of you and the other Soldiers who died that day. It was an honor to be able to do so. God bless you William and God bless your family. You truly are an American Hero."
Amy Hancock of Fort Hood, Texas, USA

"To the Family of SPC Dusenbery:
We have constructed a memorial to the service men and women from Wisconsin and Illinois who have died in Iraq which includes, as of 7/12/05, 112 crosses and Stars of David. We would like your permission to put William's name on one of them.
We have called our display "Arlington Midwest" and it is located in Wisconsin Dells, WI.
It is our expression of mourning for the indescribable loss you have suffered for our country.

If you would like us to do this, please email me at ArlingtonMidwest@yahoo.com.

We invite you to visit Arlington Midwest. I can send you directions and some pictures by email.

"As long as we live, they too will live;
for they are now a part of us,
as we remember them."
Marty Preston of Wisconsin Dells, WI

"Duce was a true hero. A man that I felt comfortable sharing a foxhole with. Always level headed, dependable, good natured, honorable, a great man. I served with him in Iraq, he made life in the desert bearable with his good humor and wisdom. It will always be an honor to have know him. He is a true American Hero"
SGT Downey, Aaron of Ft Campbell, KY

"TO THE FAMILY OF WILLIAM DUSENBERY.NOT A DAY GOES BY THAT I DON'T THINK OF (DUCE)MY BUDDY.TAKEN FROM US EARLY.A TRUE HERO.Dco. 4-101 Maint. "DESPERADOS""
MICHAEL MUNOZ of FT.CAMPBELL ,KY.

"To the family and friends of SPC William Dusenbery. I can say first hand that SPC Dusenbery was an outstanding soldier and honorable man. I was his Drill Sergeant while he was in AIT (Advanced Individual Training) and he served as my APS (Assistant Platoon Sergeant). I chose him to be the APS because of his outstanding performance and professionalism. Not only has his family and friends lost a great human being but the U.S. Army lost a great soldier. He is not forgotten by his fellow soldiers. My prayers go out to the Dusenbery family. It was an honor to service with SPC Dusenbery."
SFC Jerri L. Reiff of Redstone Arsenal, AL

"My family lived in Collinsville. They now rest in Resthaven in Fairview Heights so I know the area where William lived.

I am truly sorry for the loss of your beloved son. I am sure you are still feeling the terrible pain that comes with the death of a son.

William has fought the good fight and he is a hero in our eyes. He is now where there is no pain, no sorrow, no worries.

Be at peace, dear soldier. Be comforted sorrowing parents. We who have had children who have died know a little of your sorrow.

A hug from Kansas"
Gloria of Wichita, Kansas

"Specialist Dusenbery, goodbye soldier and thank you. You are my hero."
Bill of Houston, Texas

"We Will NEVER FORGET !"
Please KNOW so many people share your sadness, and we are remembering your family in your loss and your deep grief. Your HERO, William, will be remembered by name. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. God Bless you. Pat & Sandi Breckenridge from Montana "

""OUR special chosen words since day one of finding this site last year...have always been......REST IN PEACE BRAVE SOLDIERS/MARINES/WARRIORS We love you and MAY GOD BLESS you each. Your loved ones are in a beautiful place called Heaven now....When you look up to the sky at night and see the brightest star...it's your hero..shining down on you"
The Taylors USMC of NC

"Thank you William Dusenbery, you will not be forgotten. Your bravery goes beyond words. I want to express my deepest gratitude for your sacrifice. To the family and friends, my prayers and deep condolences in your loss. May God strengthen you from knowing that fellow Americans and people around the world care about you and grieve with you in your loss. God bless you all. A very appreciative fellow American,"
Leo Titus of Grayslake, Illinios

"our prayers gose out to the william dusenbery famley. dont know if we are kin or not.
sharon kay dusenbery sandefur. would love to here from you.
shaddykay@yahoo.com"
sharon of kansas city mo.64117 usa

"I am so sorry for the loss of your loved one. Such a tragic thing to have happened to so many of our men. My prayers are with you at this time of sorrow."
Beverly Arnold of Cynthiana,KY

"To the family and friends of Spc. William Dusenbery:
May God's grace be with you during your time of grief. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and we feel your loss and share in your sorrow. Bless William for the sacrifice he has made to make a better life for the rest of us."
The Ford Family of Wells, Nevada

"To the family and friends of Spc. William Dusenbery:
I am saddened by the loss of your loved one. He will always be remembered as a hero for fighting for freedom. I hope that this website will be a source of comfort and encouragement for you during this difficult time, and in the future as you recall the memories of William, who continues to live on in your heart."
Tim Rivera of Powder Springs, Georgia

Honor them by remembering... Freedom - is their gift to us But his soul goes marching on