DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their unit while on patrol during combat operations in Baghdad, Iraq, on December 7, 2006. Both soldiers were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

 Killed were:

Staff Sergeant Henry W. Linck, 23, of Manhattan, Kansas

Spcecialist Micah S. Gifford, 27, of Redding, Califofrnia

For further information related to this release, contact the U.S. Army Alaska Public Affairs Office at (907) 384-1542.

Army Staff Sergeant Henry W. Linck, 23, who died of injuries he suffered December 7, 2006, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit while he was on patrol in Baghdad, Iraq, was remembered in Marysville this week as a young man who was proud to be in the Army.

In a Department of Defense statement Monday, Linck was identified as one of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and were on patrol during combat operations in Baghdad when they were killed.

Also killed that day was Specialist Micah S. Gifford, 27, Redding, California. Both men were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska.

A chapel service at a funeral home in Arlington, Virginia, will be Sunday for close friends and family.

A graveside service will be Monday morning in Arlington National Cemetery.

Linck’s older brother, Michael, said Wednesday that a memorial service will be in Marshall County after the family returns from Arlington. The family wants to have the service before Henry’s birthday, which is Christmas Day, but plans have not been finalized.

Linck, an Army Ranger, had served in Iraq since October and had previously served in Afghanistan. Michael said his brother was in the middle of the application process for the Army’s Special Forces.

Henry was born in Marysville in 1982. He was the son of Sandra and Fredrick Linck. He attended elementary and junior high school in Marysville but left with his father when his parents separated and lived for a short time in Tennessee.
He returned to Kansas and received a GED when he was 17 at the Job Corps in Manhattan. He joined the Army after receiving the GED.

He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Sandra and Paul Fye, Marysville; his brother, Michael Linck, Atchison; his father and a half-brother, Dakota Linck, who live in Lebanon, Tennessee.

A moment of silence for Henry was held before the MHS boys’ basketball game Tuesday night at the MJHS gym. After the moment of silence, the MHS band played “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Marysville Elementary School principal Bert Lord said Wednesday that he had sent Linck a note of congratulations after Lord saw Linck’s picture in the Advocate when he joined the Army about five years ago.

“I commended him on his accomplishments in his Army career,” Lord said. “He was proud to be in the Army.”

Lord said Henry wrote back thanking him and the two corresponded on occasion during the past several years.

“In his correspondence, Henry updated me on his career in the Army, but never said anything about where he was stationed,” Lord said.

“It has been over a year since I heard from him,” Lord said. “I was really sad to hear of    his death.”

Lord was principal when Linck attended Marysville Elementary School.

Henry Linck’s cousin Terra Linck, Marysville, said the last time she saw Henry was when he came home on leave about a year ago.

“He had gotten so tall since the last time I saw him,” she said. “We grew up together in Marysville. He’s always been very nice.”

She said her oldest brother, Brandon Linck, and Henry were the same age and were very close over the years. Terra is a senior at MHS.

She said he still kept in contact with her family after he left Marysville.

An Army honor guard carries the casket of Staff Sergeant Henry W. Linck of Manhattan, Kansas
during funeral services at Arlington National Cemetery, Monday, December 18, 2006

An Army honor guard is seen through the trees while carrying the casket of Staff Sergeant
Henry W. Linck of Manhattan, Kansas during funeral services at Arlington National Cemetery

A member of an Army honor guard holds the folded American flag that draped the casket 
of Staff Sergeant Henry W. Linck during funeral services at Arlington National Cemetery

Henry W. Linck In Afghanistan With The 125th LRSD: Photo Sent To Mrs.
Shoemaker By One Of Sergeant Linck's Comrades In Afghanistan

       
Henry W. Linck Hawaii Unit Photo

Henry W. Linck Able Company Photo

Henry W. Linck Platoon Photo

Henry W. Linck Points The Way

Henry W. Linck Squad Memorial Photo

Henry W. Linck Gravesite At Arlington National Cemetery - Veterans Day 2007

Webmaster: Michael Robert Patterson