David C. Lutes of Frostburg, MD liked playing music and drawing artwork.
"No matter what the situation was, he always made it funny. His sense of humor made everyone be in a great mood." "He was very intelligent. And he would help you with anything." Becky Miller-Mosher, a schoolmate.
He joined the Army to "defend a country that he was proud of." Bobbi Lutes, wife "He was an amazing father and a wonderful husband. We couldn't have asked for a better guy."
He "was a good listener." Norman J. Rankin, a former neighbor in Westernport, MD.
" He was a brother, a son, a dad and a nephew," Dehlia Ahern, his mother, said. "He was a hero."
“Were she here, I think the message for you would be straightforward: keep the faith, take care of each other, and continue to take the fight to the enemy,” Johnson said. “Her concern for you, for all of us, was most humbling and a true testament to them, their faith and spirit.”
If you asked anyone in our platoon to describe David Lutes, they’d all tell you three things,” SPC Jason Pehle said. “He loved his coffee, he loved his butterfly knife and he was always willing to help you.”
He said that his friend was a complex individual who had a gruff exterior, but a very kind heart.
“He kept three of everything, and I mean everything, just in case someone was missing something. Anytime someone asked him for help, you would always hear a fair amount of his brand of disgruntled cussing, despite that he would always help out no matter who it was.” SPC Jason Pehle of Union, MO, Infantry, 3rd PLT, Troop C, 1-61st Cavalry RGT.
He said that Lutes read the Bible and had gone to college for chemistry and bio-engineering and “you were as likely to find him debating how medicine and genes worked as you were to hear him explaining the complete storyline of Tekken games.”
His mother and wife were able to visit with him in Landstuhl in his last hours.
Lutes was an Infantryman assigned to Charlie Troop, 1st Squadron, 61st Calvary Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). He joined the Army in January 2008 and arrived at Fort Campbell in May 2008. It was Lutes’ second deployment to Afghanistan with the 101st Abn. Div. out of Fort Campbell, Ky.
His awards and decorations include: Combat Infantryman Badge; Bronze Star Medal; Army Commendation Medal w/OLC; Purple Heart; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Overseas Ribbon; North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal; and Army Service Ribbon.
Troop C, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, paid last respects to two of their fallen soldiers during a memorial ceremony Nov. 18 at Forward Operating Base Connolly. The firing squad fired three shots in salute of each fallen soldier and Army Spc. Stuart McClaren, an infantryman from Dumfries, Scotland, also from Troop C, played “Taps,” on his bugle, ending the ceremony.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be held Nov 22, 2010 at St. Mary's Cemetery in Bolivar, New York, with the Patriot Guard Riders in attendance to protect against the threatened Westboro Lawyer Gang's interference. If you knew and have stories to tell in Honor of SPC Lute's Life, his Victories, his achievements, and his humor, please share with us, to improve this article.