Spc. James D. Wertish of rural Olivia, Minnesota, loved working on his family farm. He raised a little hell now and again, and it is said that some of his father's hair loss was the result of raising the teenage James, who enjoyed snowmobiling and playing Rock Band II. James graduated from Bold High School in 2007 and had joined the Minnesota Army National Guard on February 28, 2006. He graduated from One Station Unit Training as a 31B, Military Police at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. James deployed to Iraq in April of 2009, assigned to the 34th Military Police Company, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard, based at Stillwater, Minn. He was one of three National Guard soldiers who were killed at a military base near Basra in southern Iraq. Fellow Soldiers in 1st Platoon said James would literally give you the shirt off his back. He could always make us laugh with his humor; we could count on him to improve our day." His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (with Bronze Star Service), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal and Combat Action Badge. When James was confirmed, the class was required to write their own creed. James wrote "I believe God loves each one of us; he created each one of us for a reason." James was trying to make the world a better place, and had his own dream of becoming a police officer. [Original Biography written by Sue.]
Spc. James D. Wertish of rural Olivia, Minnesota, loved working on his family farm. He raised a little hell now and again, and it is said that some of his father's hair loss was the result of raising the teenage James, who enjoyed snowmobiling and playing Rock Band II. James graduated from Bold High School in 2007 and had joined the Minnesota Army National Guard on February 28, 2006. He graduated from One Station Unit Training as a 31B, Military Police at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. James deployed to Iraq in April of 2009, assigned to the 34th Military Police Company, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard, based at Stillwater, Minn. He was one of three National Guard soldiers who were killed at a military base near Basra in southern Iraq. Fellow Soldiers in 1st Platoon said James would literally give you the shirt off his back. He could always make us laugh with his humor; we could count on him to improve our day." His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (with Bronze Star Service), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal and Combat Action Badge. When James was confirmed, the class was required to write their own creed. James wrote "I believe God loves each one of us; he created each one of us for a reason." James was trying to make the world a better place, and had his own dream of becoming a police officer. [Original Biography written by Sue.]
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