Honoring those lost from the 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry

A time for remembrance

Compiled by Christian Hill | The Olympian • Published July 01, 2008

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On Tuesday, the approximately 4,000 soldiers of the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, and their families will attend the unit’s formal welcome-home ceremony after spending 14 months in Iraq. Thirty-seven soldiers assigned to the brigade didn’t return from the deployment.

These are brief stories to highlight the personalities and qualities of these men.

The information was compiled by reporter Christian Hill based on stories published by other media outlets. The majority of these stories or links to them were found at www.militarycity. com/valor and www. strykernews.com. The information and direct quotes used have been attributed to the specific newspaper or media outlet, when possible, or The Associated Press, which picked up the stories.

The Olympian has tried to reflect the soldiers’ posthumous rank, which changed in many cases. They are listed in order of when they died.

1. Pfc. Anthony J. Sausto

Sausto, 22, of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., was a shy, quiet youth who “came out of his shell” when he joined the Army in February 2006, relatives said.

“He used to be so shy, and now he was so outgoing and confident,” said his sister-in-law, Mary. “It was like, out of nowhere, he decided to be a man.”

Sausto was killed May 10, 2007, by small-arms fire in Baghdad, the Pentagon said. He was the first soldier from the brigade killed in Iraq.

He was posthumously promoted from private. He was assigned to A Company, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment.

2. Spc. Aaron D. Gautier

Gautier, 19, of Hampton, Va., was a “fun-loving man” who grew more serious and responsible after joining the service before his 18th birthday, his father told The Washington Post. He and his wife, Lindsey, married four months before he deployed to Iraq.

“He was growing into a fine young man and wonderful husband,” his father told the newspaper. He would have been a wonderful father.”

Gautier died May 17, 2007, in Baghdad from injuries suffered during fighting with enemy forces using smallarms fire and a bomb, the Pentagon said.