Army Specialist Curtis R. Mehrer, 21, of Bismarck, N.D.
Spc. Mehrer was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery, North Dakota Army National Guard, Grand Forks, N.D.; killed June 6 when his Humvee struck two anti-tank mines during combat operations in Khogyani, Afghanistan. Also killed was Sgt. Travis A. Van Zoest.
Cpl. Curtis Robert Mehrer, 21, Bismarck, was killed in action in eastern Afghanistan, June 6, 2006. He was conducting combat security operations when a roadside explosion destroyed his vehicle. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 15, at Zion Lutheran Church, Bismarck, with the Rev. Thomas R. Marcis Jr. officiating. Burial will be in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Bismarck Funeral Home, where a prayer service will be held at 6 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.
Curtis was born Feb. 6, 1985, in Bismarck, the son of Kevin and Joyce (Palenberg) Mehrer. He was raised and educated in Bismarck. He graduated from Bismarck High School in 2003. On Nov. 20, 2003, he enlisted into the North Dakota Army National Guard as a private into E Battery of the First of the 188th Air Defense Artillery Battalion as a Man-Portable Air Defense System Crew member. From March 24, 2004 to July 16, 2004, he completed training at Fort Bliss, Texas. On June 18, 2005, he finished the Avenger Crew Member Course. He became a specialist (E4) on Oct. 1, 2005.
On Dec. 1, 2005, he was mobilized to deploy with the 1-188th Air Defense Artillery N.D. Army National Guard, Grand Forks, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He went to Fort Lewis, Wash., to prepare for overseas deployment. He arrived in Afghanistan on March 22, 2006. He was promoted to the rank of corporal on June 6, 2006. His goal when returning home was to become a helicopter pilot. He was planning on becoming engaged to Crystal Schmidt in October. Before deployment, he was employed by S&B Landscaping. Curtis loved life. He was fearless and lived for the moment.
He believed in what he was fighting for, "freedom," free from terrorism.
He is survived by his parents; twin brother, Alan, his fiancee, Amber Will and daughter, Hailee McCormick; his grandfather, CW4 Robert Mehrer, Bismarck; his grandmother, Alice (Schaner) Palenberg, Bismarck; his great-grandmothers, Alpha Mehrer and Ella Bickel, both of Bismarck; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Cpl. Donald Palenberg; and grandmother, Alice (Bickel) Mehrer.
He will be greatly missed.
Army Specialist Curtis R. Mehrer was killed in action on 06/06/06.
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