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 LA
CROSSE, Ind. (1/16/2012) - Indiana National Guard Spc.
Robert Tauteris Jr., 44, of Hamlet, Ind., was laid to rest
Sunday, Jan. 14, 2012, in La Crosse, Ind., in a full
military honors with family, Indiana National Guard Adjutant
General, Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, and Indiana Governor
Mitch Daniels.
Tauteris was a combat engineer with
Indiana's 713th Combat Engineers, headquartered in
Valparaiso, Ind. He and three of his fellow soldiers were
killed Jan. 6 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds
suffered when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an
improvised explosive device.
Also killed in the
attack were; Staff Sgt. Jonathan M. Metzger, 32, of
Indianapolis, Ind.; Spc. Christopher A. Patterson, 20, of
Aurora, Ill.; Spc. Brian J. Leonhardt, 21, of Merrillville,
Ind.
“This morning, I received from the adjutant general the news a person in
my job dreads the most, that we have lost soldiers in
combat,” said Daniels. “I had begun to hope that I had
received the last such phone call, and cannot convey the
sadness which it instantly brought.”
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels presents Matthew Tauteris' father's Bronze Star Medal, awarded posthumously, Jan. 15, 2012, in North Judson, Ind. Mathew's father, Spc. Robert Tauteris, 44, of Hamlet, Ind., was killed in action in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, Jan. 6, 2012.
Photo by Army Sgt. John Crosby |
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The Indiana National Guard is America's finest, reflected in
its numbers, leadership, but mostly in the quality of the
men and women it comprises,” said Daniels. “My prayers are
joined with those of millions of Hoosiers who will hear this
terrible news with deep grief but also with gratitude for
the courage of those we have lost, and pride that we come
from a state that produces men such as these.”
“I
would like to extend my deepest condolences to the families
and loved ones of these brave citizen-soldiers,” said Umbarger. “I continue to be humbled
and honored by the courageousness of gallant young men and
women who wear the uniform of this nation, willingly going
into harm's way, to protect and defend our freedoms and the
freedom of others. We will honor their sacrifice and always
remember them.”
The Indiana National Guard has
directed full attention and resources to support the |
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families and will defer to their wishes concerning media engagement. |
More photos available in frame below
By Army Sgt. John Crosby
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
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