Pfc. Dawid Pietrek

 Pfc. Dawid Pietrek, 24, of Bensenville, Ill. died June 14 while supporting combat operations in Farah Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Private First Class Dawid Pietrek, of Bensenville, Illinois. Trained as a medical caregiver, he came to the United States on a green card when he was 21 to work for a family care agency out of Chicago. In July 2005, he moved in with Bill and Joanne Rohn and their three children in Elmhurst, Illinois. Dawid took care of Joanne's elderly father until he died in February 2006. With a dream of becoming a United States citizen, he embraced America and hoped to obtain a college degree and eventually become a police officer. In June of 2007, he joined the United States Marine Corps and took basic training in California. Deployed only a few months earlier, he was killed along with three other Marines while supporting combat operations in Farah Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Twentynine Palms, California. Dawid was very shy when he first came to America, but opened up and became very self-assured. Dawid was in the process of obtaining his citizenship in America and was given the great honor of being buried at our nation's most hallowed grounds, Arlington National Cemetery. He is survived by his parents, a sister, his fiancee, and many other relatives who live in Police Poland. Dawid was granted posthumous United States Citizenship at his funeral services July 1, 2008.