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SPC Narson B. Sullivan
411th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Brigade

Line Of Duty Casualty ~ 25 April 2003 ~ Iraq

 


They Say,
our deaths are not ours,
they are yours,
they will mean what
you make of them.

They say,
we leave you our deaths,
give them some
meaning.

Archibald MacLeish
poet and WWI
veteran.

There is no contact information for the next of kin.

        On 25 April 2003 SPC Narson B. Sullivan, age 21 of  North Brunswick, New Jersey was cleaning his weapon and it discharged resulting in a fatal wound.

         SPC Sullivan a graduate of Middlesex County, New Jersey Vocational and Technical High School. He enlisted in the Army in 2000 and completed his MP training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri in January 2001 and was assigned to the 92nd MP Company in Germany before being transferred to the 411th MP Company, 720th MP Battalion at Fort Hood, Texas. SPC Sullivan was deployed to Iraq in March 2003.

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"Hometown Memorial Service"
10 May 2003

NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — Residents showered a local family’s home in yellow carnations honoring a lost soldier.

A congregation of about 50 residents walked nearly half a mile from Babbage Park to the walkway of what was once Spc. Narson B. Sullivan’s front door with flowers during a memorial service on Saturday afternoon.

"The placing of the yellow carnations is a sign of peace, respect and unity from our community to the family," Department of Parks and Recreation Director Lou Ann Benson said.

Sullivan is the first Middlesex County soldier to die in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Photo M0006: An Army honor guard stands fast as Nicole Criqui, left, her mother Janice Criqui, right, and sister Ashley Criqui, center, hold yellow carnations during the memorial service. Photo by Jody Somers, Courtesy of Asbury Park Press, copyright 1997-2005 Asbury Park Press.

"We ask to fill in the gaping hole that now exists in their family with honest and joyful and strong memories of Narson," the Rev. Mark McGraff said. "Fill their family with the love, encouragement and laughter of friends who will also remember Narson the same way."

Friends, residents and public officials, including Mayor David Spaulding, Township Council members and U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-12 District) were among those who attended the ceremony.

 
Benson, who organized the event in cooperation with the mayor’s office, said, "Part of the reason we are here is in hope to find comfort in the words we share with each other about Narson."

Many of Sullivan’s childhood friends attended the ceremony.

"Narson was the type of person that, if you just knew him for a couple of minutes, you felt like you’ve known him forever," said Sullivan’s high school friend Ryan Revetto, 21. "He was always happy and smiling. He would do anything in his power to cheer someone up, even if it meant making a complete fool of himself."

Kasey Smith, 22, said she often sat with Sullivan on the bus on the way to school.

"He would joke around a lot. We shared a lot of good times," Smith said. "Narson was also a stand-up guy. He made sure everyone was treated fairly. When you were around him, you knew you always had somebody there to stick up for you," Smith said.

Nicole Kriqui, 19, a lifelong friend of Sullivan, remembered him as "terrific," "polite" and "a sweetheart with a good heart."

"He is the only person I know that would rollerblade all around town and walk his dog at the same time," Kriqui said.

"He really was the most polite kid I’ve ever met," Kriqui’s mother, Janice, added. "Whenever he would speak to me, it was yes ma’am, no ma’am."

During the ceremony, Superintendent of the Board of Middlesex County Vocational & Technical Schools Joseph Columbo remembered when Sullivan would visit the school after graduation, dressed in his military uniform.

"He visited, proudly wearing his Army uniform and he thought very fully of what that uniform stood for and what it required," Columbo said.

Sullivan graduated from the East Brunswick campus in 2000. While there, he studied the culinary arts and played varsity soccer.

Sullivan entered the Army on August 11, 2000.

At the time of his death, Sullivan was serving in a forward operations area in Iraq while assigned to the 411 Military Police Company out of Fort Hood, Texas, according to military officials.

He was one of 1,000 military police troops and 19,000 other troops to be deployed from the fort, according to spokesperson Cecil Green.

During the ceremony, the U.S. Army color guard and Capt. Matthew Schramm saluted their fallen comrade.

"The Army is a close-knit family. The loss of one affects us all. We are all hurt by his loss as a brother in arms," Schramm said. "Two months ago he bravely moved deep into Iraq and willingly and courageously put his life on the line for freedom and democracy. On behalf of the Army, I extend heartfelt sympathy to his family and friends."

Columbo said, "Narson will be missed, but never forgotten."

In honor of Sullivan, the vocational school held a fund-raising luncheon Tuesday afternoon.

Students from the culinary arts program prepared food for the luncheon, during which the school collected funds to begin a scholarship in honor of Sullivan.

"We are establishing an award in Narson’s name," Colombo said. "Every year, one graduating senior who best exemplifies the caring, companionship, respect for authority, politeness, maturity and character that Narson did will receive this scholarship."

The North Brunswick Township High School Student Government presented the vocational school with a $50 check on Tuesday to put toward the Sullivan scholarship, according to Assistant Principal Pete Clark.

"The loss of one child’s life is a family’s greatest sorrow," Colombo said. "When it is a life with the quality of Narson’s, it is a tragedy for all of us."

The Sentinel

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21 May 2005 SPC Sullivan's name was included in ceremonies dedicating a plaque at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey honoring those members of the Armed Forces from New Jersey that lost their lives in the War on Terrorism.

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"His enthusiasm for life was infectious"

        Teachers recall Narson Sullivan rollerblading through the hallways and courtyards of his high school — a tall, athletic and handsome kid whose enthusiasm for life was infectious.

“You’d go out there to admonish him about violating the school rules by rollerblading in the courtyard, and the next thing you knew, you had the darn things on your own feet and he was teaching you how to skate,” said Rob Allen, a teacher at Middlesex County Vocational and Technical High School in North Brunswick, N.J.

Sullivan, 21, graduated in 2000 and joined the Army with his longtime friend, Matthew Richter. They had expected to serve on the buddy system but got separated. Sullivan, based at Fort Hood in Texas, was killed April 25 in Iraq when he was cleaning his weapon and it discharged, according to the Defense Department.

“He was really a great kid. A nice person. Focused and polite,” recalled his high school principal, Diane Veilleux. “He always had a beautiful smile.”

Nancy Richter, his best friend’s mother, who works at the school, said, “I remember him and Matt, eating, watching TV, making plans. He used to call me ‘Mom,’ which was part of his sense of humor — because we’re white and he was black. He liked to see people’s eyebrows go up.”

His aunt, Tabatha Sullivan, said, “The thing that’s so upsetting is that we thought this was all over and that he was out of danger. We want everyone to know that we’re praying for all the other soldiers who are there. We wish they all could come home safe.”

USA Today

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"Really a nice kid"

        Though he excelled on his high school soccer team, Army Spc. Narson B. Sullivan was just as well known for his efforts off the field: raising money for sick children and collecting canned food for poor residents in the North Brunswick, N.J., area.

"He was a solid young man, extremely well-disciplined," said his soccer coach, George Yuhasz. "He showed me a lot of respect as a coach. It was always, "Yes, sir' and "Hello, how are you?"

Sullivan, 21, based at Fort Hood, died April 25, 2003, in Iraq when his gun accidentally discharged.
Sullivan studied in the food service program at his vocational-technical high school, aspiring to become a chef, and relatives say he joined the Army in 2000 to help pay for college.

"Narson was a very cooperative, competent student," said school Principal Al Simone. "He was a really nice kid, liked by all of his peers." 

Said his aunt, Tabitha Sullivan: "He would make anyone happy."

CBS News

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Remembrances

"Narson...A gentleman, a friend, a hero...A friend that could always make me laugh, no matter what...You will always be in my heart..." Vinny, East Brunswick, NJ

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"You live in our memories Sully, You are missed deeply by your platoon brothers and sisters. You and your family are always in my prayers." MSG Milton Nation, Ft. Lewis, WA

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"Sully, I will never forget how you were always in a good mood. You always had a smile on your face, even though we were in that giant sand box. Being around you made everyone smile, your smile was contagious. You are missed, you were a great soldier and friend. Watch over the 411th, as I know you are."
SSG Pantoja, Manuel, 411th Military Police Company, Fort Hood, TX

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"Sully, I know how great of a person you were. I remember all the good times we had in Germany. Thanks for being such a good friend" SGT Garry Mattingly, Ft. Knox, KY

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"To my fallen soldier, friend, and fellow squady. Sully you were a soldier that had no limits. You will always be remebered and loved. I still and always will remeber that morning prior to you leaving us. We were coming back from the MKT and you were sitting down eating the brown eggs that they served and a small dust storm blew through (as always when we would eat). Sully I salute you and you will aways been in my heart and prayers. Watch over us and remeber "Left Sully Left!"
SGT Gary C. McGee, 3rd Squad, Charlie Team Leader, Killeen, TX

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"Narson your spirit will always be in our hearts. You were a wonderful person and a great friend. You touched the lives of everyone you knew by making them laugh and by being so loving. My heart and love goes out to Narson's family. You are not alone in this. Me and Narson went to vo-tech together and we were close. I will never forget him." Joyce Danku, Sayreville, NJ

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"Narson Sullivan was and still will be my best friend in the world because he was funny, courageous, brave and because he was my cousin." Dexter Sullivan, Franklin Park, NJ

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