Sgt. Kurt D. Schamberg of Euclid, Ohio graduated in 1997 from Grand Valley High School. He enlisted in the Army in April 2003, completing his basic training at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Kurt had only three weeks left on his second tour and had planned to visit Wyoming, where he loved to four-wheel in the Big Horn mountains covering acre after acre of forest on a four wheeler. He had planned the trip long before he left in January for his second tour in Iraq. Upon his return, he wanted to visit his brother in Denver. Then he was going to go to Gillette and visit the mountains he fell in love with during several previous visits to Wyoming. He has spent a summer in Gillette working as a lifeguard at the Campbell County pool and living with his aunt. He even had talked about buying property and moving to northeast Wyoming when his obligation to the Army ended in April 2006. Kurt loved life, he loved to draw and paint, he enjoyed sports, especially the Pittsburgh Steelers, politics, being with family and friends and having a good time with all. He really enjoyed making home movies with his siblings and friends. He had been documenting his unit's tour of duty in Iraq. He believed in their mission and helping the people of Iraq and wanted us all to know we must support and believe in our troops. Kurt was awarded the Purple Heart on April 12 for his leg injury. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He was preceded in death by his grandfather Charles Schamberg, Sr., uncles Brunce and Gene Gabriel and cousin Robert Schamberg, Jr. He died in Baghdad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV at age 26.

Army
2nd Battalion
14th Infantry Regiment
2nd Brigade
10th Mountain Division
Fort Drum, New York