Article published July 10, 2007
Oak Harbor mourning native son slain in Iraq
By MEGHAN GILBERT
BLADE STAFF WRITER
OAK HARBOR - The village of Oak Harbor came forward over the weekend to support the family of Sgt. Keith Kline, 24, who was killed on Thursday in Iraq.
Since the news of his death, residents of this Ottawa County community have been calling his family and sending them baked goods and displaying words of remembrance at local businesses.
On Saturday morning, the sign outside Drown's Dairy Plaza was changed to read "Home of Sgt. Keith Kline Our Hero."
Paulette Weirich, manager of the ice cream shop, said her grandsons went to Oak Harbor High School and wrestled with Sergeant Kline, who was a 2002 graduate.
She said there are many young people who work at the shop and visit the business who knew him.
"We just wanted to show the family that we, along with everyone else, cares," Ms. Weirich said.Sergeant Kline and Maj. James Ahearn, 43, of California, were killed when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in Baghdad, the Department of Defense has confirmed.
They were assigned to the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion, 95th Civil Affairs Brigade and were based in Fort Bragg, N.C.
Their unit was supporting the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, in Baghdad, according to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command News Service.
Sergeant Kline was a communications systems support specialist with the Army, according to the news service.
Sergeant Kline's family said he re-enlisted in the military after completing his first three-year commitment, and that this was his first tour in Iraq, where he had been for about three months.
Oak Harbor Mayor Thomas Leasor has asked that flags be flown at half-staff in remembrance of the soldier, village Administrator John Liske said.
And some residents are working with Oak Harbor's American Legion and VFW posts to place American flags along the village's main road, Water Street, Mr. Liske said.
Keith Thorbahn, principal of Oak Harbor High School, said the death of Sergeant Kline has affected many people, especially his close-knit graduating class and wrestling team.
In 2002, the sergeant's senior year, the Rockets wrestling team was the Division II district champions and Sergeant Kline placed sixth in the state wrestling tournament.
"It's hard to understand, other than these kinds of things can happen, as we've seen," Mr. Thorbahn said. "It's a tragedy that's hit home."
Paulette Lipstraw, Sergeant Kline's aunt, said the family has been overwhelmed by the village's support and the number of lives her nephew touched.
"We want to thank everyone," she said. "The family is very, very appreciative of any acknowledgment the town wants to give to Keith."
The family was initially told they'd receive his remains in seven to 10 days. There has been no word on when that will be and funeral arrangements have not been set, Ms. Lipstraw said.
Contact Meghan Gilbert at:
mgilbert@theblade.com
or 419-724-6134.
Permanent Link
|
|
 |
|
Search
advertisement
