Justin W Linden - Iraq War Heroes - OurWarHeroes.org

Justin W Linden

Portland, Oregon

June 4, 2004

Age

Military

Rank

Unit/Location

Army

Spc

2^nd Battalion, 162^nd Infantry, headquartered

Cottage Grove, Oregon

Died in Baghdad, Iraq, when individuals using improvised explosive devices and rocket-propelled grenades attacked their convoy.

Memorial Service Snapshots. Click Photo Below.

June 14, 2004

From Sarah Linden 09/12/04

Here are some pictures of my wonderful hero and husband..... Spc Justin W. Linden

1999

From 09/11/04 Healing Field in Gresham, Oregon

Spec. Justin W. Linden of Portland Oregon. Raised in Clinton Wisconsin, he played in the outfield for the Clinton High School baseball team and earned an honorable mention on the Rock Valley All-Conference baseball team in 1999. After graduation, he and a few friends decided to move to Portland. He took a job as a manager for Kentucky Fried Chicken, where he was known as a boisterous worker, brightening the shifts of other workers by singing, joking and laughing. He dreamed of becoming a police officer, but secretly wanted to be a comedian. After the 9-11-2001 terrorist attacks on America, he enlisted in the National Guard, feeling that fighting for his country was right. He met Sarah Marshall while working for KFC and they were married on February 28, 2004, just before he deployed to Iraq. Assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry, headquartered in Cottage Grove, Oregon, Justin was one five soldiers killed when individuals using improvised explosive devices and rocket-propelled grenades attacked their convoy. He was awarded The Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, and the Oregon Distinguished Service Medal. Justin never showed fear in his service and his letters home reflected few worries. They were funny, and put smiles on every face. Justin was awarded The Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, and the Oregon Distinguished Service Medal. He is survived by his wife; mother, Donna Beckman; father, Wayne; brothers, Carlyle, John and Jim; and grandparents, Charles and Violet Aska. (Bio written by Sue)

From Tonya Gretschmann 07/06/05:

I would like to thank everyone who serve in the Armed Forces that risk their lives to keep us safe. They are very brave individuals and I know Justin was a very brave man. God Bless him and his family. I pray for the brave soldiers.

Army National Guard Specialist Justin W. Linden - Wisconsin Military Casualty Compilation - Afghanistan/Iraq
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This entry was posted on 12/6/2011 1:30 AM and is filed under Wisconsin Military Casualties Afghanistan Iraq Compilation.

Army National Guard Specialist Justin Wayne Linden, 22, Portland, Oregon (formerly of Clinton, Wisconsin) was killed on Friday, June 4, 2004 in Baghdad, Iraq. Specialist Linden was one of four soldiers killed when their convoy unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device and rocket-propelled grenades. Witnesses describe the attack that killed Specialist Linden as a second bomb after Linden had stopped to help a New Jersey unit's victims of the original attack. Specialist Linden served with Company D, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard based out of Cottage Grove, Oregon.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Justin moved to Portland, Oregon, after graduating from Clinton High School, in Clinton, Wisconsin in 1999. Clinton is a town of about 2000 people in south central Wisconsin's Rock County. The Journal Sentinel went on to say Justin's mother Donna Beckman lives in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Linden moved to Portland about four years before his death. In Oregon he had worked for Kentucky Fried Chicken were he met his future wife Sarah. They were married on February 28, 2004, shortly before leaving for Iraq. The Journal Sentinel also mentioned Justin is remembered in Clinton for his participation in baseball. Linden played outfield for Clinton and earned an honorable mention on the Rock Valley All-Conference baseball team in 1999.

The Web site militarytimes.com using information from the Associated Press notes Justin Linden went on to become manager of KFC restaurants in Portland; he hoped to someday have a career in law enforcement, or possibly acting. He was remembered for his sense of humor, wide grin, comic charm, love of music, easygoing personality, and devotion to his country.

The Web site findagrave.com notes that Justin Linden was born on June 26, 1981 in Belidere, Illinois. After graduating from high school, Linden and a few friends decided to move to Portland. The Web site also mentioned he secretly wanted to become a comedian someday. Some of Specialist Linden's military awards and medals include the Bronze Star; Purple Heart; Good Conduct Medal; and the Oregon Distinguished Service Medal. Specialist Justin Linden was laid to rest at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.

At the time of his death Army National Guard Specialist Justin W. Linden was survived by his wife Sarah Linden; his mother Donna Beckman; his father Wayne Linden; three brothers Carlyle, John, and Jim; a half sister; maternal grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Charles Aska; and, paternal grandfather Einar M. Linden.

Information for this short biography about Army National Guard Specialist Justin Wayne Linden was pieced together from the following sources: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Clinton graduate dies in Iraq," June 10, 2004; militarytimes.com, Associated Press, "Army Spc. Justin W. Linden"; findagrave.com, "Spec Justin Wayne Linden," posted July 17, 2004; Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs "Fallen Heroes Page"; and, CNN.com "War Casualties Page."