Capt Erick M Foster Memorial Fireworks Exhibition
About Captain Foster
US Army Captain Erick M Foster,
a native of Oil City, Pa died August 28th, 2007 as a result of injuries sustained from small arms fire while he was leading his troops on a hostage rescue mission against al-Qaida in Muqdadiyah, northeast of Baghdad, Iraq.
Capt Foster was 29 years old and the grandson of Mr.& Mrs. Robert S Kellner of Oil City,Pa, founders of Kellner's Fireworks Inc. and Mr. & Mrs. Taylor W. Foster of Franklin, Pa.
Capt Foster's focus was always on the safety of his troops. Shortly before visiting his family in Oil City last July, Capt Foster had visited a soldier from his squadron that had been severely injured and was rehabilitating. Capt Foster stated that an organization called "The Wounded Warrior Project" was making life better for his soldier and that he was impressed with them. This was the last conversation that Capt Foster ever had with his family in Oil City.
The family and friends of Capt Foster intend to keep Erick's mission of taking care of the troops in need alive. We believe that this memorial fundraiser benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project will do this.
82nd Airborne Division Paratrooper dies in Iraq
FORT BRAGG, N.C. — An 82nd Airborne Division Paratrooper died from injuries sustained when the enemy attacked his unit using small arms fire in Muqdadiyah, Iraq, Tuesday.
Capt. Erick M. Foster, 29, of Wexford, Pa., was the Troop Commander of A. Troop, 1st Sqd., 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team (BCT), 82nd Abn. Div.
“Captian Erick Foster joined the Army immediately following his graduation from college,” said Capt. John Hartsock, a close friend of Foster. “His eagerness to serve his country and make a difference in the world made the Army an easy choice for him. He was one of the finest Armor officers the U.S. Army has produced as evident by his being one of the first Armor officers to be stationed at Fort Bragg.”
Foster Graduated from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pa., with a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Systems Management, in 2000.
He received his commission in Armor in May 2000 and was assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas, as the Brigade’s Plans and Operations Officer’s assistant.
Foster Arrived to the 82nd Abn. Div. in April 2004 and was assigned to the Division Headquarters as the Deputy Plans Officer.
He took command of A. Troop, 1st Sqd. 73rd CAV in October 2006.
“Foster was a respected and proven combat leader whose love for his men supplied him daily with motivation,” added Hartsock. “Captain Foster was respected by all who knew him, a proven combat leader, a loving son, and a good man.
He had one previous combat deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004 to 2005, with the 3rd Bn., 67th Armor Reg.
Foster’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist’s Badge, and the Ranger Tab.
Foster is survived by his parents Robert and Barbara Foster, and his sister Abby Foster, all of Wexford, Pa.; and his sister, Elizabeth Werkheiser, of South Kirkwood Mo.
