News

War in Iraq hits home

Capt. Kevin Kryst, a 2001 graduate of the University of Wisconsin, became the first UW alumnus to die in the Iraq war when he was killed in combat in the Al Anbar province Dec. 18.

A decorated Cobra helicopter pilot in the United States Marine Corps, Kryst was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq.

A funeral was held for Kryst Dec. 29 in his hometown of West Bend. Afterward, Kryst’s body was taken to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia to be buried. A memorial service for Kryst was also held at the Marine Memorial Chapel in Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 12.

A graduate of West Bend West High School, Kryst received a degree in kinesiology from UW in 2001.

That same year, Kryst was commissioned to Second Lieutenant in the Marines Corps after completing the Platoon Leader’s Course, an alternative officer training course for college students.

According to Kryst’s mother, Elizabeth, Kevin became involved in the military early on in his college career at UW.

“[Kevin] had talked to a recruiter when he was a sophomore,” Elizabeth Kryst said. “He had always wanted to fly, and that was a golden opportunity.”

According to The Associated Press, Kryst’s unit was headquartered at Camp Korean Village near Rutbah and had begun counterinsurgency operations.

The AP also reported that during a brief leave last August, Kryst became engaged to his girlfriend in West Bend before redeploying for a six-month tour in Iraq.

Phil Hull of UW enrollment management confirmed Kryst was the first documented UW alumnus to die while serving in Iraq.

Although he was not officially involved with the ROTC program at UW, Kryst’s mother said he spent most of his time with ROTC members and took part in several volunteering efforts. She added that Kevin was an avid runner while in school.

Wisconsin Alumni Association President Paula Bonner said the WAA has been in touch with Kryst’s family and sent condolences from the university. The WAA is also gathering information for a memorial or gift in his memory.

“Its just a very tragic loss, that’s for sure,” Bonner said. “We have a local chapter in West Bend that is thinking about something that would be appropriate.”

According to numbers recently released by the Department of Defense, 67 military personnel from Wisconsin have died in Iraq.

President George W. Bush addressed the specific region where Kryst died in his speech to the nation Jan. 10. Bush said he would dispatch 4,000 more troops to the province as part of a plan to send 21,000 additional troops to Iraq.

While Bonner said there is no official record of UW graduates serving in the military, she added that she is aware of a “large number” currently serving in Iraq.

Bonner added that the WAA recently honored another UW alumnus, Kyle Roberts, who was awarded the Purple Heart after being injured in an explosion in Bayji.

According to Bonner, Roberts, who graduated from UW with a degree in geophysics in 2003, is currently stationed at Ft. Campbell, Ky., with the 101st Airborne.