Steven T. Drees of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, was a 2008 graduate of Peshtigo High School. He joined the Army July 25, 2008, and was trained at Fort Benning, Georgia. He left for Afghanistan on his 19th birthday, May 26, 2009, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Carson, Colorado. Less than a month later, on June 24 in Konar Province, Afghanistan, insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire and a rocket-propelled-grenade launcher. Steven was gravely injured and transported to Germany. Steven's parents and twin brother flew to Germany to say goodbye. His wishes to be an organ donor were granted. He died June 28 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, in Landstuhl, Germany, after life-support was disconnected. Steven's military awards include: the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device; Purple Heart Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; NATO Medal, Posthumous; Combat Infantryman Badge; Overseas Service Bar and the Expert Weapons Qualification Badge (rifle). Steven was survived by his parents Dawn Bayer and Paul Drees; his twin brother Charlie; maternal grandmother, Louise Bayer and paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry T. (Marian) Drees; his girlfriend, Stacia Baker and their unborn child. He was laid to rest next to his maternal grandfather, Michael Bayer.
Steven's own words about who he was:
"My hometown is peshtigo and as much as i hate it at times ill never forget it. it made me who i am and the army just added to it, and ill never change. Im a member of the US Army, Im an infantryman and i love it, i give everything i have to serve my country and the people in it i put the well being of the civilans before my own because i am only a tiny tiny part of my country and the civilans make up the majority of this country and giving one life to free thousands and make their life better is a trade me and my fellow infanty bothers will make in a heart beat we are less than half of one percent of this great country and because of what we are capible of that is all we need so the rest of the United States and become whatever they want to without worry "The object of war isnt to die for your country, its to make the poor bastard die for his" I dont fight for this country its just land, i fight for the people that live here, every child, woman, and man. Whether you believe in me or not, Im a Soldier and ill give everything i got."
Steven's own words about who he was:
"My hometown is peshtigo and as much as i hate it at times ill never forget it. it made me who i am and the army just added to it, and ill never change. Im a member of the US Army, Im an infantryman and i love it, i give everything i have to serve my country and the people in it i put the well being of the civilans before my own because i am only a tiny tiny part of my country and the civilans make up the majority of this country and giving one life to free thousands and make their life better is a trade me and my fellow infanty bothers will make in a heart beat we are less than half of one percent of this great country and because of what we are capible of that is all we need so the rest of the United States and become whatever they want to without worry "The object of war isnt to die for your country, its to make the poor bastard die for his" I dont fight for this country its just land, i fight for the people that live here, every child, woman, and man. Whether you believe in me or not, Im a Soldier and ill give everything i got."
Steven T. Drees of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, was a 2008 graduate of Peshtigo High School. He joined the Army July 25, 2008, and was trained at Fort Benning, Georgia. He left for Afghanistan on his 19th birthday, May 26, 2009, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Carson, Colorado. Less than a month later, on June 24 in Konar Province, Afghanistan, insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire and a rocket-propelled-grenade launcher. Steven was gravely injured and transported to Germany. Steven's parents and twin brother flew to Germany to say goodbye. His wishes to be an organ donor were granted. He died June 28 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, in Landstuhl, Germany, after life-support was disconnected. Steven's military awards include: the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device; Purple Heart Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; NATO Medal, Posthumous; Combat Infantryman Badge; Overseas Service Bar and the Expert Weapons Qualification Badge (rifle). Steven was survived by his parents Dawn Bayer and Paul Drees; his twin brother Charlie; maternal grandmother, Louise Bayer and paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry T. (Marian) Drees; his girlfriend, Stacia Baker and their unborn child. He was laid to rest next to his maternal grandfather, Michael Bayer.
Steven's own words about who he was:
"My hometown is peshtigo and as much as i hate it at times ill never forget it. it made me who i am and the army just added to it, and ill never change. Im a member of the US Army, Im an infantryman and i love it, i give everything i have to serve my country and the people in it i put the well being of the civilans before my own because i am only a tiny tiny part of my country and the civilans make up the majority of this country and giving one life to free thousands and make their life better is a trade me and my fellow infanty bothers will make in a heart beat we are less than half of one percent of this great country and because of what we are capible of that is all we need so the rest of the United States and become whatever they want to without worry "The object of war isnt to die for your country, its to make the poor bastard die for his" I dont fight for this country its just land, i fight for the people that live here, every child, woman, and man. Whether you believe in me or not, Im a Soldier and ill give everything i got."
Steven's own words about who he was:
"My hometown is peshtigo and as much as i hate it at times ill never forget it. it made me who i am and the army just added to it, and ill never change. Im a member of the US Army, Im an infantryman and i love it, i give everything i have to serve my country and the people in it i put the well being of the civilans before my own because i am only a tiny tiny part of my country and the civilans make up the majority of this country and giving one life to free thousands and make their life better is a trade me and my fellow infanty bothers will make in a heart beat we are less than half of one percent of this great country and because of what we are capible of that is all we need so the rest of the United States and become whatever they want to without worry "The object of war isnt to die for your country, its to make the poor bastard die for his" I dont fight for this country its just land, i fight for the people that live here, every child, woman, and man. Whether you believe in me or not, Im a Soldier and ill give everything i got."
