Army Capt. Jonathan D. Grassbaugh

Remember Our Heroes

Army Capt. Jonathan D. Grassbaugh, 25, of East Hampstead, N.H.

Capt. Grassbaugh was assigned to the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died April 7 in Zaganiyah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit. Also killed were Spc. Ebe F. Emolo, Spc. Levi K. Hoover and Pfc. Rodney L. McCandless.

SeaCoastOnline -- EXETER (AP) — A U.S. Army Ranger and former Phillips Exeter Academy student was killed by a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq.

Jonathan Grassbaugh, 26, who was the son of Hampstead Middle School's principal, was killed late last week and Patti Grassbaugh learned of his death on Saturday. He was her youngest son. Students at Hampstead Middle School were notified of the death.

"Mrs. Grassbaugh has requested that the family be given the time to mourn and to just keep her family in your thoughts and prayers," a letter from Owen Harrington, assistant principal, said on the school's Web site. The letter also was sent home with students.

Jonathan Grassbaugh was sent to Iraq for the second time earlier this winter after a brief visit with his family. His father, Mark Grassbaugh, who was also a Ranger, was away on business when his mother received the news.

Jonathan Grassbaugh attended Hampstead Central School and graduated from Hampstead Middle School. He went on to Phillips Exeter and then to Johns Hopkins University, where he was a member of the ROTC and graduated as an Army officer, the to The Eagle-Tribune reported.

He was married last summer. His wife is also an ROTC officer.

"Jonathan was a really great kid," said Dillard Collins, Central School principal. "I've dealt with a lot of kids in my years, and Jonathan was in the top 1 percent. Not only was he smart and an extremely nice kid, he was highly motivated and fully understood the concept of duty and honor, as does his entire family."

Hampstead School Board chairman Natalie Gallo said she cried when she heard of the death. "It is such a shame, such a waste of such a very intelligent and lovely young man," she said. "I am heartbroken for Patti and Mark."

Army Capt. Jonathan D. Grassbaugh was killed in action on 4/7/07