Staff Sgt. Patrick Francis Kutschbach, a Green Beret, was killed north of the Afghan capital of Kabul when his vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade and small-arms fire, according to United States military officials. He was 25 years old.
Kutschbach's company, part of the First Battalion of the Army's 10th Special Forces Group, was fighting insurgents in the Tagab Valley, about 60 miles north of Kabul. Kutschbach died in Bagram, Afghanistan.
He enlisted in the Army as a Special Forces candidate and earned his Green Beret the following year. He was an Operational Detachment-Alpha team weapons Sergeant assigned to Company B at Boeblingen, Germany. This was his first tour in Afghanistan after being deployed in several other locations.
Patrick was well-liked by his Apple Hill neighbors, and friends and teachers at Montour High School, where he graduated in 2000. He was an all-state volleyball player during his senior year at Montour and won several championships and became the team's coach for three years after graduating.
Schoolchildren and grateful Kennedy Township residents lined the streets, waving American flags to honor Patrick as his funeral procession slowly drove past. Several Patriot Guards also rode in the procession.
Patrick was the beloved son of Debbie Huffner and David Kutschbach; brother of David and Andrew Kutschbach. He was the cherished husband of Ginger Kutschbach and the father of Bastian Kutschbach.
His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, as well as other honors and distinctions.
~~~~~~~~~~
An American Soldier…..
You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door,
Hey, I'm solid, I'm steady, I'm true down to the core,
And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price,
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice,
And I don't want to die for you, But if dying's asked of me,
I'll bear that cross with honor, 'Cause freedom don't come free.
I'm an American Soldier, an American,
Beside my Brothers and my Sisters I will proudly take a stand.
When liberty's in jeopardy I'll always do what's right.
I'm out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight.
Rest in Peace, dear Hero.
(Excerpt from Toby Keith's song)
******************************
Sgt. Russell Andrew Kurtz and Staff Sgt. Patrick Francis Kutschbach are buried side by side in Bethel Cemetery. They met at their Army recruiting station and hit it off well from the start. They went to boot camp together and served together. Sgt. Kurtz died in Fallujah, Iraq.
They had formed such a bond together that Patrick said, "If anything should happen to me, even through I'm not from Bethel Park, I want to be laid right next to my brother, my best friend."
On November 10, 2007, Staff Sgt. Kutschbach was killed north of the Afghan capital of Kabul. He was 25. His Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Malachy Catholic Church in Kennedy Township.
On December 16, 2023, following the playing of "Taps," volunteers from Wreaths Across America laid wreaths at veterans' graves in Bethel Cemetery.
Information from the January 25, 2024, TribLive Bethel Park Journal. Funeral location from personal knowledge. Submitted by Angela, Member #48520699.
Kutschbach's company, part of the First Battalion of the Army's 10th Special Forces Group, was fighting insurgents in the Tagab Valley, about 60 miles north of Kabul. Kutschbach died in Bagram, Afghanistan.
He enlisted in the Army as a Special Forces candidate and earned his Green Beret the following year. He was an Operational Detachment-Alpha team weapons Sergeant assigned to Company B at Boeblingen, Germany. This was his first tour in Afghanistan after being deployed in several other locations.
Patrick was well-liked by his Apple Hill neighbors, and friends and teachers at Montour High School, where he graduated in 2000. He was an all-state volleyball player during his senior year at Montour and won several championships and became the team's coach for three years after graduating.
Schoolchildren and grateful Kennedy Township residents lined the streets, waving American flags to honor Patrick as his funeral procession slowly drove past. Several Patriot Guards also rode in the procession.
Patrick was the beloved son of Debbie Huffner and David Kutschbach; brother of David and Andrew Kutschbach. He was the cherished husband of Ginger Kutschbach and the father of Bastian Kutschbach.
His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, as well as other honors and distinctions.
~~~~~~~~~~
An American Soldier…..
You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door,
Hey, I'm solid, I'm steady, I'm true down to the core,
And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price,
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice,
And I don't want to die for you, But if dying's asked of me,
I'll bear that cross with honor, 'Cause freedom don't come free.
I'm an American Soldier, an American,
Beside my Brothers and my Sisters I will proudly take a stand.
When liberty's in jeopardy I'll always do what's right.
I'm out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight.
Rest in Peace, dear Hero.
(Excerpt from Toby Keith's song)
******************************
Sgt. Russell Andrew Kurtz and Staff Sgt. Patrick Francis Kutschbach are buried side by side in Bethel Cemetery. They met at their Army recruiting station and hit it off well from the start. They went to boot camp together and served together. Sgt. Kurtz died in Fallujah, Iraq.
They had formed such a bond together that Patrick said, "If anything should happen to me, even through I'm not from Bethel Park, I want to be laid right next to my brother, my best friend."
On November 10, 2007, Staff Sgt. Kutschbach was killed north of the Afghan capital of Kabul. He was 25. His Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Malachy Catholic Church in Kennedy Township.
On December 16, 2023, following the playing of "Taps," volunteers from Wreaths Across America laid wreaths at veterans' graves in Bethel Cemetery.
Information from the January 25, 2024, TribLive Bethel Park Journal. Funeral location from personal knowledge. Submitted by Angela, Member #48520699.
Staff Sgt. Patrick Francis Kutschbach, a Green Beret, was killed north of the Afghan capital of Kabul when his vehicle was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade and small-arms fire, according to United States military officials. He was 25 years old.
Kutschbach's company, part of the First Battalion of the Army's 10th Special Forces Group, was fighting insurgents in the Tagab Valley, about 60 miles north of Kabul. Kutschbach died in Bagram, Afghanistan.
He enlisted in the Army as a Special Forces candidate and earned his Green Beret the following year. He was an Operational Detachment-Alpha team weapons Sergeant assigned to Company B at Boeblingen, Germany. This was his first tour in Afghanistan after being deployed in several other locations.
Patrick was well-liked by his Apple Hill neighbors, and friends and teachers at Montour High School, where he graduated in 2000. He was an all-state volleyball player during his senior year at Montour and won several championships and became the team's coach for three years after graduating.
Schoolchildren and grateful Kennedy Township residents lined the streets, waving American flags to honor Patrick as his funeral procession slowly drove past. Several Patriot Guards also rode in the procession.
Patrick was the beloved son of Debbie Huffner and David Kutschbach; brother of David and Andrew Kutschbach. He was the cherished husband of Ginger Kutschbach and the father of Bastian Kutschbach.
His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, as well as other honors and distinctions.
~~~~~~~~~~
An American Soldier…..
You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door,
Hey, I'm solid, I'm steady, I'm true down to the core,
And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price,
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice,
And I don't want to die for you, But if dying's asked of me,
I'll bear that cross with honor, 'Cause freedom don't come free.
I'm an American Soldier, an American,
Beside my Brothers and my Sisters I will proudly take a stand.
When liberty's in jeopardy I'll always do what's right.
I'm out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight.
Rest in Peace, dear Hero.
(Excerpt from Toby Keith's song)
******************************
Sgt. Russell Andrew Kurtz and Staff Sgt. Patrick Francis Kutschbach are buried side by side in Bethel Cemetery. They met at their Army recruiting station and hit it off well from the start. They went to boot camp together and served together. Sgt. Kurtz died in Fallujah, Iraq.
They had formed such a bond together that Patrick said, "If anything should happen to me, even through I'm not from Bethel Park, I want to be laid right next to my brother, my best friend."
On November 10, 2007, Staff Sgt. Kutschbach was killed north of the Afghan capital of Kabul. He was 25. His Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Malachy Catholic Church in Kennedy Township.
On December 16, 2023, following the playing of "Taps," volunteers from Wreaths Across America laid wreaths at veterans' graves in Bethel Cemetery.
Information from the January 25, 2024, TribLive Bethel Park Journal. Funeral location from personal knowledge. Submitted by Angela, Member #48520699.
Kutschbach's company, part of the First Battalion of the Army's 10th Special Forces Group, was fighting insurgents in the Tagab Valley, about 60 miles north of Kabul. Kutschbach died in Bagram, Afghanistan.
He enlisted in the Army as a Special Forces candidate and earned his Green Beret the following year. He was an Operational Detachment-Alpha team weapons Sergeant assigned to Company B at Boeblingen, Germany. This was his first tour in Afghanistan after being deployed in several other locations.
Patrick was well-liked by his Apple Hill neighbors, and friends and teachers at Montour High School, where he graduated in 2000. He was an all-state volleyball player during his senior year at Montour and won several championships and became the team's coach for three years after graduating.
Schoolchildren and grateful Kennedy Township residents lined the streets, waving American flags to honor Patrick as his funeral procession slowly drove past. Several Patriot Guards also rode in the procession.
Patrick was the beloved son of Debbie Huffner and David Kutschbach; brother of David and Andrew Kutschbach. He was the cherished husband of Ginger Kutschbach and the father of Bastian Kutschbach.
His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, as well as other honors and distinctions.
~~~~~~~~~~
An American Soldier…..
You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door,
Hey, I'm solid, I'm steady, I'm true down to the core,
And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price,
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice,
And I don't want to die for you, But if dying's asked of me,
I'll bear that cross with honor, 'Cause freedom don't come free.
I'm an American Soldier, an American,
Beside my Brothers and my Sisters I will proudly take a stand.
When liberty's in jeopardy I'll always do what's right.
I'm out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight.
Rest in Peace, dear Hero.
(Excerpt from Toby Keith's song)
******************************
Sgt. Russell Andrew Kurtz and Staff Sgt. Patrick Francis Kutschbach are buried side by side in Bethel Cemetery. They met at their Army recruiting station and hit it off well from the start. They went to boot camp together and served together. Sgt. Kurtz died in Fallujah, Iraq.
They had formed such a bond together that Patrick said, "If anything should happen to me, even through I'm not from Bethel Park, I want to be laid right next to my brother, my best friend."
On November 10, 2007, Staff Sgt. Kutschbach was killed north of the Afghan capital of Kabul. He was 25. His Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Malachy Catholic Church in Kennedy Township.
On December 16, 2023, following the playing of "Taps," volunteers from Wreaths Across America laid wreaths at veterans' graves in Bethel Cemetery.
Information from the January 25, 2024, TribLive Bethel Park Journal. Funeral location from personal knowledge. Submitted by Angela, Member #48520699.
Bio by: Kuberek/Beerman
Inscription
FATHER, HUSBAND, SON, BROTHER, FRIEND
OUR HERO
DE OPPRESSO LIBER
PATRICK F. KUTSCHBACH
DEC 1, 1981 NOV 10, 2007
MILITARY MARKER:
PATRICK F. KUTSCHBACH
SSG US ARMY
12-1-1981 / 11-10-2007
SPECIAL FORCES
