Army Sgt. Erick J. Klusacek

Remember Our Heroes

Army Sgt. Erick J. Klusacek, 22, of Calcium, N.Y.

Sgt Klusacek was assigned to 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died June 8, 2010 at Gerda Serai, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained in a noncombat-related incident.

The military has identified a Fort Campbell soldier who was killed this week in Afghanistan, and the identification of additional casualties from the post are expected later this week.

The military said Thursday that Sgt. Erick J. Klusacek, 22, of Calcium, N.Y., died Tuesday in a vehicle incident in Gerda Serai, Afghanistan.

Klusacek was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. He joined the Army in May 2007 and arrived at Fort Campbell in October 2007.

Klusacek was a cavalry scout assigned to Bravo Troop, 1st Squadron, 33rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team. He joined the Army in May 2007 and arrived at Fort Campbell in October 2007.

Kelly DeWitt, Director of Public Affairs at sprawling Army base located on the Tennessee-Kentucky line, said 22-year-old Sgt. Erick J. Klusacek died Tuesday in a vehicle incident in Gerda Serai, Afghanistan.

One death is one too many for the tight knit community surrounding Ft. Campbell.
Residents have felt the impact of mass deployment to Afghanistan from Ft. Campbell.

"We knew that this mass deployment to Afghanistan was going to be difficult because Iraq used to be the most dangerous place for them to be and now it's Afghanistan" said Patty Ziegler.

Watertown, NY -- The son of a north country couple was killed in Afghanistan Monday.
Ron and Shelia Klusacek, owners of the UPS Stores in Watertown and Evans Mills, are mourning the loss of their son, Erick Klusacek.

Erick was with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 33rd Calvary Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell, KY.

The Department of Defense said in a statement released Thursday that "Sgt. Erick J. Klusacek, 22, of Calcium, N.Y., died June 8 at Gerda Serai, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident."

His awards and decorations include: Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; NATO Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Combat Action Badge; Driver and Mechanic Badge (driver/wheeled vehicle) and Weapons Qualification, M4, expert.

Signs at the UPS stores explained the family's loss and said the stores would be closing early Wednesday.

The Klusaceks made the north country their home after Ron Klusacek retired from the U.S Army 5 years ago, Fort Drum being his last assignment.

Other than what has already been released, the family has requested that they be allowed to grieve in privacy and at a later date they will speak out publicly about their son and husband.

Army Sgt. Erick J. Klusacek was killed in a non-combat related incident on 6/8/10.