IA commander killed by bomb in Fallujah
By Andrew Scutro - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday May 27, 2009 17:04:04 EDT
A Navy Reserve officer serving in Iraq as an individual augmentee died Monday after his convoy was hit by a roadside bomb outside Fallujah, the Defense Department announced Wednesday.
Cmdr. Duane G. Wolfe was 54. According to a spokeswoman at Naval Base Ventura County, Wolfe worked in civilian life at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., as the civilian deputy commander at the 30th Space Wing Mission Support Group. In Iraq, he was attached to the Army Corps of Engineers.
Two others were killed and two were wounded in the attack, although they were not identified in the news release.
Wolfe was the officer-in-charge of the Anbar area office, overseeing $300 million worth of construction projects in the formerly volatile province. Most projects were for local Iraqis, including “the first ever waste treatment facility for Fallujah,” according to the news release.
A former Seabee chief who signed up in 1972, Wolfe was commissioned in 1990 and was assigned to several California-based units in his career, as well as Naval Engineering Force, Korea.
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U.S. Navy commander serving in Iraq with Gulf Region Division killed by IED
Wednesday, 27 May 2009 GULF REGION DIVISION
News release #090527-1May 27, 2009
Baghdad, Iraq - The Department of Defense announced today that Navy Commander Duane G. Wolfe was killed May 25 when the vehicle he was traveling in near Fallujah was struck by an improvised explosive device. Cmdr. Wolfe was assigned to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Gulf Region Division in Iraq where he served as the Officer-in-Charge of the Al-Anbar Area Office, which is part of the division’s Gulf Region Central district.
Cmdr. Wolfe was an activated Navy Reserve Officer from Los Osos, Calif. His home Navy Reserve unit is Navy Operational Support Center, Port Hueneme, Calif. In addition, Cmdr. Wolfe was a Department of the Air Force civilian employee, working at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
“Commander Wolfe was an outstanding warrior, patriot, loving husband, and father of three,” said Maj. Gen. Michael Eyre, commander of the Gulf Region Division. “Monday’s attack has been a devastating loss and the entire GRD team is deeply saddened by this tragedy. We honor Commander Wolfe’s life and service to our country and our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues. Our thoughts and prayers are also with all of those impacted by this attack, the families of the two others killed and the two who were wounded.”
As the Officer-in-Charge of the Al-Anbar Area Office, Cmdr. Wolfe was responsible for 59 personnel including U.S. military, government civilians, and Iraqis who work at the area office and three geographically dispersed subordinate resident offices. His staff is responsible for overseeing nearly $300 million in planned and ongoing construction projects, many of which are providing essential services to the Iraqi people. Projects include the first-ever waste water treatment facility for Fallujah, a location command for the Iraqi Army, a judicial complex and a 132 kilovolt substation in Ramadi.
Commander Wolfe will posthumously receive the Bronze Star with “V” Device for Valor; Purple Heart; Combat Action Ribbon; National Defense Service Medal with Service Star; Iraqi Campaign Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device for Mobilization; Overseas Service Ribbon; and the Combat Action Badge.
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Fair winds and following seas, CDR Wolfe.
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