Army Staff Sgt. David D. Julian

Remember Our Heroes

Army Staff Sgt. David D. Julian, 31, of Evanston, Wyo.

SSgt. Julian was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.; died March 10, 2008 in Baghdad of wounds sustained when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device. Also killed were Staff Sgt. Ernesto G. Cimarrusti, Sgt. 1st. Class Shawn M. Suzch, Cpl. Robert T. McDavid and Cpl. Scott A. McIntosh.

ABC4 -- EVANSTON, Wyoming (ABC 4 News) - The Iraq war has hit the town of Evanston Wyoming hard.

For the first time, a member of their community is killed in action.

David Julian, a graduate of Evanston High School in 1994, was killed in action.

Julian was among the eight soldiers killed in two separate attacks involving Al-Qaeda militants.

"This has been tragic blow for our community,” said Marianne McLean who belongs to a committee that supports military personal serving in the Middle East.

Julian grew up in Evanston Wyoming but few remember seeing him after high school graduation.

That's because he joined the Army and was on his fourth tour of duty in Iraq at the time of his death.

Those who knew him say he was military all the way but between tours would come home.

“David has come to Evanston a lot of opportune times,” McLean said. “The parade, he was in our parade float, he was just somebody who is true military."

Like the time in 2003 when he laid a wreath at the county's memorial for fallen soldiers.

The memorial sits outside the county building and honors those soldiers from Evanston who gave their lives in past wars.

“One minute he's there and the next moment he's gone,” said V.F.W. Commander Robert Hagerman. “It’s disastrous that what it is."

Now, Julian becomes the first soldier from Evanston to die in the Iraq war and word is spreading about his death.

"This town is real patriotic oriented, the flags come out during the holidays,” said Hagerman. “People really support the U.S. Government but this is the first death that will hit this community deep. I'm sure of it, there's no doubt in my mind."

Julian was based in Fort Stewart Georgia. He has a wife and a two month old baby. His family from Evanston flew immediately to Georgia to be with her. His father, Wally Julian said that once his body is returned they will bury him in Evanston.

Army Staff Sgt. David D. Julian was killed in action on 03/10/08.