Army Spc. Ashley Sietsema

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. Ashley Sietsema, 20, of Melrose Park, Ill.

Spc. Sietsema was assigned to the 708th Medical Company, 108th Medical Battalion, 108th Sustainment Brigade, Illinois National Guard, North Riverside, Ill.; died Nov. 12 2007 in Kuwait City, Kuwait, of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident.

Chicago Tribune -- Ashley Sietsema, 20, of River Grove died Monday while driving an ambulance in Kuwait for the Illinois Army National Guard, a relative said Thursday.

"They were transporting someone, and as far as we know it was just a traffic accident," said Sietsema's mother-in-law, Maureen Deahl of River Grove. "She rolled and hit a light pole and died on the scene. The other soldiers are OK. They just have some minor injuries, so they'll be fine."

Lt. Col. Alicia Tate-Nadeau, director of public affairs, confirmed that there had been a death in the Illinois Army National Guard, but said no announcement would be made until 24 hours after the parents had been notified.

Sietsema, a combat medic assigned to the 708th Medical Company, had been in the Guard for two years. She headed for Kuwait in July and was inspired by the opportunity to help others through medicine after training in Texas with the Illinois Army National Guard, her family said.

"She had a strong drive for her career," Deahl said. "She had it all mapped out for what she was going to do each year when she got back and what hospital she was going to get her training at."

She and her husband, Max, met in an English class at East Leyden High School in Franklin Park. She graduated in 2005.

She is survived by her husband, her mother, Olivia Segura of DeKalb, and a brother, Kyle.

Army Spc. Ashley Sietsema was killed in a vehicle accident in Kuwait on 11/12/07.