Fallen MN soldier honored by hometown

BIRD ISLAND, Minn. - Just two years ago James Wertish was a high school senior, an avid outdoorsman already in the National Guard. Honored Monday by the tiny town that raised him, classmates recall him as shy, quiet, and loyal to those he loved.

"James really values his friendships a lot," said Ashley Dahl, who was friends with Wertish at BOLD High School. "He's really close with his guy friends, and he just likes to hang out with them a lot."

Wertish was with his friends when he was killed, one of three in his company struck down July 16th by insurgent missiles near Basra, Iraq. Two other young men from this town are also at war, and everyone here feels the loss.

"If we were ever in that situation, we would want them to be there for us, too," Dahl said. "I can't imagine everything that they're going through right now."

But Greg and Kim Schmit know they can. "We feel a big connection," the Schmits said. Two years ago, their son, Josh, was also killed, a newlywed with just 10 days left in Iraq. His own funeral in Willmar packed the rink where Josh played hockey, a day Greg and Kim recall with sadness, but also with gratitude to all who were there.

"It's our little boy," said Kim. "You think of it as just your child. But it's much more. And it just brings great pride."

The Schmits were in Bird Island with hundreds of others, some who never knew James, hoping his family feels that same support, and that seeing both flags and friends will help James' family as it helped their own.

"Tremendously, tremendously, it does when you see the red white and blue," Kim said. "And we want the Wertishs to know that it goes on."

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