Tampa soldier reportedly killed

By REBECCA CATALANELLO, Times Staff Writer
Published June 27, 2006

TAMPA - A Tampa man died while serving in the Army in Afghanistan, WFLA-Ch. 8 reported Monday night.

Starting Sunday, family and friends began posting messages on MySpace.com mourning the death of Joseph Fuerst III, 26, a 1998 graduate of Plant High and a newlywed.
>snip<

The Defense Department had not publicly announced Fuerst's death Monday. Army spokeswoman Paula Smith said she was unable to confirm Fuerst's passing Monday. But WFLA reported at 6 p.m. that the family was notified this weekend and arrangements are under way for a Tampa funeral.

Contacted by the St. Petersburg Times Monday evening, Fuerst's family declined to comment.

Fuerst married Tara Lee in March 2005, public records show. According to his MySpace page, he served in the 53rd Infantry Brigade.
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/06/27/Tampabay/Tampa_soldier_reporte.shtml

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How very strange.
Note to mods: not sure if this qualifies for LBN

Apparently, the DOD was waiting for Sgt. Fuerst's wife to return from duty in Afghanistan before making a statement.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 614-06
June 29, 2006
DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Joseph F. Fuerst, III, 26 of Tampa Fla., died in Panjway District, Afghanistan, on June 24, when his HMMWV came in contact with enemy forces using rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire during combat operations. Fuerst was assigned to the Army National Guard's 53rd Infantry Brigade, Pinellas Park Fla.
http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2006/nr20060629-13356.html

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TAMPA (2006-06-27) A Florida National Guard soldier from Tampa has been killed in Afghanistan. Relatives of Joseph Fuerst 3rd were told this weekend of his death.

His mother says the family will release a statement later through the Guard. His rank and cause of death have not been released.

Staff Sgt. Tom Kielbasa of the Florida National Guard could confirm only that a guardsman had been killed.

KIELBASA: Department of Defense policy is that when we do have a soldier or airman killed, there is a 24-hour period after the primary next of kin is notified. And that has to be met, as well as the Department of Defense has to release the information on their web site.

Another guardsman said the military won't release information until Fuerst's wife gets back from Afghanistan, where she also serves with the Florida National Guard.
http://publicbroadcasting.net/wusf/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=933955§ionID=1


rest in peace, soldier.
my condolences to his family and friends.