U.S. families mourn for Mosul victims.

[Gardeaux08]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/12/22/iraq.families.ap/


Wednesday, December 22, 2004 Posted: 10:17 PM EST (0317 GMT)


RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) -- One was a shipbuilder from Maine, another a volunteer firefighter from Virginia. A third was a civilian contractor who had been restoring a historic home in Oregon.

Americans killed during Tuesday's attack on a Mosul mess tent were mourned from coast to coast Wednesday while other families anxiously awaited phone calls from loved ones.

Virginians mourned the death of Nicholas Mason, 20, of King George, a former volunteer firefighter serving in the Virginia National Guard who had been scheduled to return home in February.

In Maine, friends recalled Army Sgt. Lynn R. Poulin Sr., 47, of Freedom, as a down-to-earth friend who'd do just about anything to help out. He was a shipfitter with a can-do attitude, they said.

Word of the attack also spread swiftly across the tiny Maine town of Somerville, where Army Spc. Thomas Dostie, 20, was mourned. Dostie was a volunteer firefighter and his father serves as the town's fire chief.

Anthony Stramiello Jr., 61, was working as a contractor for Halliburton Co. when he died. He was a carpentry foreman on construction projects, said his sister, Rochelle Stramiello-Johnson, of Astoria, Oregon.

Among the casualties was Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul D. Karpowich, 30, of Bridgeport, Pennsylvania., a drill instructor who was helping train Iraqi security forces. An avid hunter and fisherman, he spent 13 years in the military.

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Paul Karpowich was my cousin. He left behind a 28 year old widow who was his soulmate. He died on his 27th day in Iraq. Tonight I held her hand as she cried and asked me how she was going to live without him. I never need to give any other reason again why I will never forgive this administration.