By Times Staff
DARLINGTON - Army Spc. Jakob Roelli, a Darlington native, was killed by insurgents in southern Afghanistan Wednesday, Sept. 21, the Department of Defense confirmed Friday.
Roelli, 24, along with Spc. Robert Dyas, of Nampa, Idaho, was killed while on patrol in southern Afghanistan in Jakari, in the Kandahar province. Insurgents attacked Roelli's unit with small-arms fire, according to a DOD news release.
Both soliders were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kan.
Roelli had been a member of Army Special Forces for about two years.
Roelli grew up on his family's farm in rural Darlington and graduated from Darlington High School in 2006. He participated in sports, including football, wrestling, cross country and golf. He was also active in school plays, Odyssey of the Mind and forensics.
After attending the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, he joined the U.S. Army as an infantryman in August, 2007.
Family members said Thursday that Roelli wanted to serve his country, and volunteered to serve in Afghanistan.
"It's what he really wanted to do," his aunt, Julie Gill of Shullsburg, said Thursday. "This was his dream, to fight for his country."
Funeral arrangements are pending. Erickson Funeral Home in Darlington is in charge of arrangements.
DARLINGTON - Army Spc. Jakob Roelli, a Darlington native, was killed by insurgents in southern Afghanistan Wednesday, Sept. 21, the Department of Defense confirmed Friday.
Roelli, 24, along with Spc. Robert Dyas, of Nampa, Idaho, was killed while on patrol in southern Afghanistan in Jakari, in the Kandahar province. Insurgents attacked Roelli's unit with small-arms fire, according to a DOD news release.
Both soliders were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kan.
Roelli had been a member of Army Special Forces for about two years.
Roelli grew up on his family's farm in rural Darlington and graduated from Darlington High School in 2006. He participated in sports, including football, wrestling, cross country and golf. He was also active in school plays, Odyssey of the Mind and forensics.
After attending the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, he joined the U.S. Army as an infantryman in August, 2007.
Family members said Thursday that Roelli wanted to serve his country, and volunteered to serve in Afghanistan.
"It's what he really wanted to do," his aunt, Julie Gill of Shullsburg, said Thursday. "This was his dream, to fight for his country."
Funeral arrangements are pending. Erickson Funeral Home in Darlington is in charge of arrangements.