Marine Lance Cpl. Travis M. Wichlacz

Remember Our Heroes

Marine Lance Cpl. Travis M. Wichlacz, 22, of West Bend, Wisconsin.

Lance Cpl Wichlacz died as a result of hostile action in Babil Province, Iraq. He was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve's 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Wichlacz, a 2002 graduate of West Bend West High School, was in a convoy on routine patrol when the bomb exploded. Several other Marines were injured in the attack, said Sgt. Cecil Goodloe, a spokesman for Wichlacz's unit.

Before Jan. 30, Wichlacz and the Marines he was serving with in the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment "helped support getting the region stabilized for elections," Goodloe said. Wichlacz was a member of the Milwaukee-based Fox Company and is the fifth Wisconsin Marine from that company to die in action in Iraq.

Wichlacz was remembered as a competitive three-sport athlete in high school who was extremely proud to be a U.S. Marine.

"He always tried so hard to make everyone proud of him," said his father, Dennis. "He was nothing but good. He just tried so hard to follow the rules."

His son loved being a Marine and had considered a military career, he said.

"He was pretty excited about going over to Iraq," said Bob Kopecky, Travis Wichlacz's high school wrestling coach. "He was pretty proud of it. He took his job pretty seriously over there.

"He was a pretty tough person. He was competitive. He wasn't afraid of anyone."

Marine Lance Cpl Travis M. Wichlacz was killed in action on 02/05/05.