RELEASED BY: LT. COL. GREG HAPGOOD
     PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER
     OFFICE: (515) 252-4582
     CELL: (515) 971-6385
     HOME: (515) 986-5725

RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

FUNERAL SERVICE SCHEDULED FOR IOWAN KILLED IN IRAQ
 

Funeral services have been scheduled for Spc. David Behrle (BURR lee), 20, an active duty U.S. Army Soldier from Tipton. Behrle was killed during combat operations when insurgent forces detonated an improvised explosive device directly adjacent to the Bradley Fighting Vehicle he was operating. The attack occurred during a combat patrol near Baghdad, Iraq at approximately 5 p.m., Iraq time, on May 19. He was assigned to Co. A, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.
 

Behrle was born March 6, 1987 in Iowa City and graduated from Tipton High School in 2005. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in June 2005, completed basic and Advanced Individual Training, and was stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas. He mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom in October 2006.
 

Behrle is survived by his parents, Dixie and Dennis Pelzer and Johnny Behrle, all of Tipton; sisters Jill (Tim) Chambliss of Tipton and Kellie Behrle (Curt Jeffries) of West Branch; brother Jonathan (Amy) Behrle of Homestead; stepbrothers Anthony and Andrew Pelzer of Iowa City; and stepsister Adelena Pelzer of Chicago. David is also survived by niece Jaidyn Behrle and nephews Jonathan and Jacxon Behrle, all of Homestead, and Colin Chambliss of Tipton; grandparents Kenneth and Twyla Jedlicka, Martha Behrle, and Richard and Theresa Pelzer, all of Tipton; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
 

Funeral services are scheduled as follows:
 

Services for Spc. Behrle will begin with a visitation from 3-7 p.m., Monday, May 28, at the Tipton Middle School, 725 W. 7th Street, Tipton. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, May 29, also at the Tipton Middle School. Burial will be conducted at the Woodbridge Cemetery, Buchanan (approximately 6 miles west of Tipton), with full military honors conducted by the Iowa Army National Guard.
 

Behrle will be posthumously awarded the following awards and decorations: Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, and Combat Infantryman's Badge.
 

The family of Spc. David Behrle previously issued the following statement:
 

“Being in the Army was a dream of David’s that he knew he had to pursue. He enlisted before graduation knowing full well he would be doing a tour in Iraq. David was never one to back down from something that he believed in, even though he knew he might be giving the ultimate sacrifice. He was proud to take a stand and serve his country alongside his fellow comrades. He is “The Man”, and our hero.”
 

-Media Information for Visitation, Funeral, and Graveside services-
 

The Behrle family asks that their privacy and the dignity of David’s funeral be respected. No media coverage will be allowed at the visitation and no interviews will be granted by the family at the funeral or graveside services. Per the family’s wishes, media pool coverage is available for the funeral service as follows:
 

Video and audio uplink will be provided by KCRG-TV9. Their satellite window will open on Tuesday afternoon from 1:45-3:30 p.m. Central Time. KCRG will feed bars and tone or interior church shots and audio until the funeral begins. Coordinates are KU digital, Galaxy 12A, downlink 11925 Vertical, Data Rate 5.5 mbps, 91 degrees West. For questions contact Mike Wagner at (800) 332-5443.
 

Still images will be provided by the Quad City Times and distributed through Associated Press. Contact Kevin Schmidt at QC Times with any questions at (563) 357-3520.
 

No other cameras or recording devices will be allowed inside Tipton Middle School. Reporters may attend the funeral service and discretely take notes, but no interviews will be conducted inside the school. News photographers may set up across the street from the school and may also cover the graveside ceremony from a respectful distance at the cemetery. The point of contact for media at the funeral and graveside services will be Lt. Col. Greg Hapgood (see below for contact information).
 

For questions concerning this release as well as additional information about the operations, training, and activities of the Iowa Army and Air National Guard, please contact Lt. Col. Greg Hapgood, Iowa National Guard Public Affairs Officer by email at gregory.hapgood@ia.ngb.army.mil or (515) 252-4582 (office), (515) 971-6385 (cell), or (515) 986-5725 (home). You may also contact Master Sgt. Duff E. McFadden, at (515) 252-4666 (office), (515) 480-7647 (cell), (515) 251-7335 (home), or by e-mail at duff.mcfadden@ia.ngb.army.mil.

-END-

IOWA NATIONAL GUARD
Americans at Their Best