Scott A. Oswell
 |
| Age: |
|
33 |
| Hometown: |
WA |
| Date of Death: |
7/4/07 |
| Incident Location: |
Mosul, Iraq |
| Branch of Military: |
|
Army |
| Rank: |
Chief Warrant |
| Unit: |
4th Squadron, 6th U.S. Air Cavalry |
| Unit's Base: |
Fort Lewis, Wash |
|
CWO Scott Oswell, who died on July 4 when his helicopter went down in
Mosul, Iraq. Chief Oswell was on his second tour of duty in Iraq, piloting OH–58 Kiowa Warrior helicopters with the 4th Squadron, 6th U.S. Air Cavalry out of Fort Lewis. He was 33. Scott grew up the son of an Army officer and was a stoic servant of the greater good. He joined the Marines soon after graduating from Air Academy High School in Colorado Springs, CO. Later he transferred to the Army, where he became a helicopter pilot and, in 2006, earned his instructor rating.
At his funeral at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, friends and family spoke of Scott’s devotion to his family and to his service. He was ‘‘family man’’ to his wife, Cheri, and to his three children, Caitlyn, Amanda, and Ian. Scott was a patient ‘‘big brother’’ to the pilots he taught. And he was a brave soldier to those with whom he served in Iraq, willing to risk his life to defeat an enemy or to lift others to safety.
At Scott’s memorial service, a fellow soldier recalled how they flew out to examine a suspicious flicker of light along a supply route to Baghdad. Finding an insurgent with a rocket-propelled grenade in hand, Chief Oswell hovered within the enemy’s range, committed to preventing an escape. ‘‘This guy is not going to get away,’’ he said. Even with the best training and preparation, keeping calm and composed in difficult circumstances demands something more from an individual. Chief Oswell had what it takes. His friends recall that on missions he would often sing popular children’s songs. He was steady and stoic.