Mark C Warren - Iraq War Heroes, Fallen Heroes Memorial, Afghanistan War Heroes - OurWarHeroes.org

Mark C Warren

La Grande, Oregon

January 31, 2005

Age

Military

Rank

Unit/Location

Army

SFC

3d Battalion, 116th Armor Cavalry Regiment, 116th Brigade Combat Team (Forward)

LaGrande, Oregon

Died at Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq from non-combat related injuries.

For Some Memorial Service Snapshots Click Photo Below

February 11, 2005

February 11, 2005
La Grande, Ore. soldier memorialized

NOTE: In accordance with the family's request, the La Grande Observer will provide media pool photos and a story through the Associated Press.

La Grande, ORE. -- A soldier laid to rest a fellow soldier, his father, in a private ceremony held at the Veteran's Circle at the Grandview Cemetery here today.

Sgt 1st Class Mark C. Warren died Jan. 31 from non-combat related causes while on duty in Iraq with eastern Oregon's 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Armored. The sergeant's son, 1st Lt. Christopher Warren was also on duty with the 3rd Battalion in Kirkuk, Iraq, and he escorted his father home to render full military honors and bid a final farewell with his family.

Nearly four hundred friends, family, and military and civilian coworkers attended a late-morning memorial service held at the Oregon National Guard Armory in La Grande. Warren, who became a Marine and served a four year active duty tour starting in 1981, joined the Oregon National Guard in 1990.

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski, a fellow Marine, said Warren was, “a shining star of the Oregon National Guard and heroic son of La Grande.”

The governor also noted that Sgt. Warren will be remembered for his hard work, loyalty, leadership, patriotism, and for taking care of his soldiers and coworkers.

“Although he is gone, his good deeds remain” said Kulongoski.

Also attending the service were Maj. Gen. Lawrence F. Lafrenz, Adjutant General of the Idaho National Guard, and Brig. Gen. Raymond C. Byrne, Jr., acting Adjutant General of the Oregon National Guard. The 3rd Bn., 116th Cav. is assigned to the 116th Armored Brigade of the Idaho National Guard in Iraq.

Warren is survived by his sons 1st Lt. Christopher Warren, Michael Warren, and Ryan Warren, his former wife Carol Anne Warren, and his mother Wanda Davies, all of La Grande.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORATION ON SGT 1ST CLASS MARK WARREN TAKEN FROM THE MEMORIAL PROGRAM.

Mark Carlyle Warren, age 44, of La Grande, died Jan. 31, 2005 in Kirkuk, Iraq. A memorial service was held Friday, Feb. 11, 2005 at 11 a.m. with full military honors.

Mark was born on May 17, 1960, the son of Howard Warren and Wanda nee Sutton in Hermiston, Ore. He attended schools in La Grande and graduated from high school in 1979. In 1979 he married Carol Ann DuBosch in La Grande. In 1981 he entered into the U.S. Marine Corps and served until 1985. In 1985 he returned to La Grande. He worked as a conductor for the Union Pacific railroad, and since 1990 he served with the Oregon National guard. His battalion was deployed last summer.

Mark enlisted in the Marine Corps on Sept. 24, 1981 and served a four you tour of active duty which included tours in Lebanon and Grenada. Mark joined the ORNG on Feb. 9, 1990. Throughout the 90's he progressed through the ranks to the rank of Sgt. 1st Class on Jul. 18, 2002. During this timeframe, he held positions such as assistant squad leader in a scout platoon, M1A1 tank gunner and tank commander, as well as a platoon sergeant. Sgt. 1st Class Warren was known for his outstanding marksmanship and his ability to teach others the skills needed to become fine marksmen. Because of this, he was given the additional duties as the Battalion Marksmanship Coordinator. In this duty, he helped organize, conduct, and participate in rifle marksmanship matches throughout the United States, including 29 Palms, Calif., and Little Rock, Ark. He also took great pride in helping train young soldiers in and additional role as the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the recruiting training company and developing future officers as NCOIC and Associate Professor of Military Science of the Guard Officer Leadership Detachment (GOLD) program at Eastern Oregon University.

Sgt 1st Class Warren's awards include:

The Combat Action Ribbon (Marine Corps),
Army Commendation Medal,
Army Achievement Medal,
Army Service Ribbon,
National Defense Service Medal,
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal,
Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal,
NCO Professional Development Ribbon,
and four Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals.

Mark was a life member of the NRA, a member of the VFW, American Legion, Marine Corps Cryptological Society, and the United Transportation Union. He enjoyed marksmanship, hunting, and woodworking.

Survivors include his sons, Christopher Warren, Michael Warren, and Ryan Warren, and former wife Carol Ann Warren all of La Grande; mother and stepfather Richard and Wanda Davies also of La Grande; sister, Tara Warren, niece Erin and nephews Cole and Jack burgess; Uncle Aaron and Donna Sutton of Stanfield, Ore.; Aunt Bev and Ben Schatz of Olympia, Wash.; Uncle Gary and Frankie Sutton of Fremont, Neb.; Aunt Iva an Ben Collins of Buhl Ida.; Uncle Vern Sutton of Hermiston, Ore; Uncle Cecil Sutton of Puyallup, Wash; Aunt Ina Beck of Federal Way, Wash.; Aunt Maurine and Harry Hansen of Stanfield, Ore. ; and his fiancée Mary Calloway. His father Howard Warren, sister, Angela Warren, and Uncle Robert Ernest Warren preceded him in death.

Those who wish may make contributions in memory of Mark to the NRA, VFW, and American Legion in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 7th Street, La Grande Ore. 97850.

Cause of soldier’s death in Iraq still unknown

Associated Press

LA GRANDE, Ore. — Governor Ted Kulongoski has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff Monday in honor of a fallen Oregon soldier, whose death in Iraq remains a mystery.

Forty-four-year-old Sgt. 1st Class Mark Warren was serving in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk alongside his son, Lt. Christopher Warren.

The father was discovered dead last Monday at Forward Operating Base Warrior near Kirkuk.

On Saturday, having accompanied his father’s body back from Iraq to their hometown of La Grande, 24-year-old Christopher Warren declined to discuss the details of the death, saying he did not know them.

“I’m waiting like everybody else for the autopsy,” the younger Warren told The Oregonian newspaper.

The death, which the Army continues to investigate, was not combat related, said Sgt. Mike Cummings, a Salem-based spokesman for the Oregon National Guard.

When asked if his father had any chronic health issues, Christopher Warren said: “Not that I feel like discussing right now. I’m not fully aware of his full health history.”

Mark Warren was a member of the 3rd Battalion, 116th Armored Cavalry, as was his son.

The elder Warren enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1981, a year after Christopher was born. Two sons followed: Michael, now 16, and Ryan, now 12. He divorced the children’s mother, Carol Warren, last November.

Warren served in the Marine Corps for four years and had served in Lebanon and Grenada. After he left the Marines in 1985, he worked as a Union Pacific Railroad conductor while serving in the Oregon National Guard. In La Grande, he also taught military science at Eastern Oregon University.

For the past two months in Iraq, Christopher Warren had seen his father more regularly than when they lived in La Grande.

“Being able to be up there with someone in your family is very comforting. It’s nice to have someone you can go and vent to,” said the son.

The younger Warren said his father’s last days were happy ones.

Warren felt elation at helping Iraqi authorities monitor polling places in villages near Kirkuk during last week’s elections, said his son.

Mark C. Warren served in Iraq alongside his own son, Lt. Christopher Warren. "Being able to be up there with someone in your family is very comforting. It's nice to have someone you can go and vent to," said the son. Mark Warren, 44, of La Grande, Ore., was discovered dead Jan. 31 of non-combat related causes. The father of three enlisted in the Marines in 1981 and served in Lebanon and Grenada. He left in 1985 and worked as a railroad conductor. He joined the National Guard in 1990 and was the noncommissioned officer in charge of officer training at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande. He also taught military science at the school. He is survived by three sons, Christopher, Michael, 16, and Ryan, 12. Christopher Warren said his father's last days were happy ones _ he felt elation at helping Iraqi authorities monitor polling places during their election.