2 Stryker soldiers remembered at Fort Lewis

2 Stryker soldiers remembered at Fort Lewis

Corporal Victor Garcia (left) and Sergeant Joel Dahl.

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Story Published: Jul 17, 2007 at 11:02 PM PDT

Story Updated: Jul 18, 2007 at 9:23 AM PDT

By KOMO Staff

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FORT LEWIS - One was a new father. The other could always motivate his friends.

Both were respected leaders.

And both were killed within days of each other in Iraq.

A memorial service was held Tuesday for two dedicated Strykers who gave their lives in Iraq.

Sergeant Joel Dahl and Corporal Victor Garcia are the newest casualties of war at Fort Lewis. But in the ways that matter most, they were sons, friends and distinguished comrades.

"When motivation ceases to come from within, it's soldiers like Victor Garcia that remind you you're all going to have a helluva story to tell and laugh about when it's all over," one said.

Sgt. Dahl was also a husband and soon to be father.

"The day he finally had a sonogram of his son Kaiden, he ran across the entire battalion showing them to anybody and everybody that had a set of eyes," said Dahl's friend SSG Jonathan Taylor.

Sgt. Dahl died in Baghdad five days before Kaiden was born and with plans to come home soon to surprise his wife and meet his son.

Cpl. Garcia died a week later, also on the verge of a trip home to visit friends and family.

"The circumstances unfortunately changed a few weeks ago," said Maj. Chad Sundem, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Commander. "Now Sgt. Dahl and Cpl. Garcia have come home in a manner no one ever desired."

This heartbreaking homecoming is marked with a traditional unanswered roll call and tribute.

Fellow soldiers show their respect. Friends and family show their grief.

For two men willing to lay down their lives for a fight they believed in.

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