Swonger, Mary

Mary married Bosveld, Marvin [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 7818
• Military Service: Bef 2003
• Obituary: 4 Nov 2003
• News Mention: 20 Oct 2011; Appleton Post Crescent

Notes:

Obituary:
WAUPUN - PFC Rachel Krista Heather Bosveld, 19, formerly of Berlin, Oshkosh and Waupun, died serving her country in the U.S. Army's 527th Military Police in Iraq on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2003.
The funeral will be held on Friday, Nov. 7, at 11 a.m., at the Berlin National Guard Armory, 147 Memorial Drive (follow hospital signs as it is directly west of the hospital on Memorial Drive). Mr. Stanley March and Mr. Kevin Killam will officiate. Burial will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery, Berlin, with full military honors.
Rachel was born on Nov. 7, 1983, in Neenah, the daughter of Marvin and Mary (Swonger) Bosveld. She attended the Franklin Grade School, the Perry-Tipler Middle Schools of Oshkosh, and Oshkosh West High School in her freshman and sophomore years, then transferred to Waupun High School for her junior and senior years, graduating in 2002. After high school she joined the U.S. Army in the summer of 2001 prior to 9/11 in the delayed entry program. She loved music and had played her violin during her school years and later became a member of the Beaver Dam Area Orchestra. She also loved art, drama and soccer.
PFC Bosveld left for the Army on June 20, 2002. She was assigned to Alpha Co. 795th Military Police Battallon at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. After completing basic training and AIT, she was assigned to the 527th Military Police Co. on Nov. 15, 2002, and became a driver for Charlie Team, 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon.
In November and December 2002, PFC Bosveld participated in squad lanes and a platoon EXEVEL. On March 1, 2003, she deployed with her platoon to Camp Virginia, Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She crossed the line of departure into Iraq along with soldiers of the 527th Military Police Co., making history as the first Corps MP Co. to enter Iraq. On the same day, her squad was selected to escort an unmanned aerial vehicle unit north to a position south of Baghdad. Her squad provided security for the unit until their return on April 13, 2003. she stayed with the 527th during the moves from Tallil airbase to Tikrit, and eventually to Baghdad. There, she provide security and law enforcement throughout the company's area of responsibility, but primarily in the Abu Ghralb district. She provided security for the Abu Ghralb police station and was a valuable asset in training the Iraqi police. While on a joint patrol mission at Abu Ghralb, her vehicle was hit by enemy fire which caused her to sustain injury, and thus she was awarded her first Purple Heart.
PFC Bosveld's awards include the Bronze Star Medal (posthumous), the Purple Heart - 2nd award (posthumous) and the National Defense Service Medal.
Rachel will be greatly missed by her family and also the 527th Military Police Co., both personally and professionally.
Survivors include her mother, Mary Swonger Bosveld, Oshkosh; her father, Marvin and his wife, (Julie Steger) Bosveld, Waupun; her beloved brother, Craig (MaryLou) Bosveld and their son, Brandon, Antigo; stepbrother, Aaron USMC (Heather) Krebs, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; stepsister, Jamie Krebs, at home in Waupun; her maternal grandmother, Marian Swonger, Sun Prairie; several aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Douglas; maternal grandfather, Daniel Swonger, and her paternal grandparents, Bill and Irene Bosveld.
Friends may call on Thursday, Nov. 6, from 3 to 8 p.m., at the Wiecki-Skipchak Funeral Home, downtown Berlin, (on the main street, which is Huron Street, at Adams Avenue) and may also call at the National Guard Armory of Berlin on Friday, Nov. 7, from 9 to 11 a.m.
The Rachel Bosveld memorial trust account has been established at the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Berlin and can be forwarded to 123 W. Huron St., P.O. Box 270, Berlin, WI 54923.
The John R. Wiecki-Shipchak Funeral Home, 116 S. Adams Ave., Berlin, is serving the family.

News Mention:
She repeatedly heard the story about Department of Veterans Affairs payments falling short of medical bills for wounded soldiers. The Grand Chute woman hopes an event Saturday in Kaukauna bearing her daughter's name will help with some of those expenses and support local vets.
"The government pays for certain things, but then there's a gap for soldiers when they come home," Bosveld said. "We're also doing it to honor and respect all who serve in the military."
The Rachel Bosveld Fallen Soldiers Memory Walk at 1000 Islands Environmental Center in Kaukauna will host a walking route past several "memory sites." Organizers hope families will post pictures and reminders of service members before the walk begins.

Mary Bosveld said she would like the event to become an annual tradition supporting a new fund through the Community Benefit Tree, a Kaukauna-based nonprofit providing funds for medical expenses.

Some of the proceeds also will go to a music and art scholarship in Oshkosh and the preliminary planning of a Women's Fox Valley Memorial Park, honoring female veterans.

At the age of 19, Rachel Bosveld was the first female service member from Wisconsin to be killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and also the first female to be killed in action in Iraq in 2003. She grew up in Oshkosh until shortly before enlisting when she moved to Waupun.

"We'll have an art display with some of Rachel's oil pieces, a statue and some pottery," Bosveld said. "It's a family event to help educate folks about the military, and it's about cherishing life."

Heidi Frederickson, Community Benefit Tree executive director, said the event will feature members of the American Legion and National Guard.

"At 12:30, we'll have a ceremony for Gold Star families along with a gun salute and taps," Frederickson said.

Bosveld said she hopes the walk will take on a positive tone and reach out to living military members and their families, as well as honor those who have died.

"So many times when people have fundraisers, it's a sad thing. I want it to be a happy, family event because we're celebrating their life," she said. "The funerals are done — let's celebrate what they did in their lifetime. Each person that lost their life, or puts it on the line, is unique and special."