A second son of South Portland is killed in Iraq
By Ward Peck
Editor
Sgt. Jason W. Swiger, 25, a self-described “punk” in high school who credited the Army and its storied 82nd Airborne Division for turning his life around, died from wounds sustained when his patrol was attacked with a bomb in Diyala Province, Iraq on Sunday, March 25.
It was the second time in two weeks and the second time since the war began that South Portland has learned it lost a son in the conflict. Private Angel Rosa, serving with the Marines in Al Anbar Province was killed on March 13.
Swiger was killed almost three years after a triumphant homecoming in April 2004 following his second deployment to Iraq. During that time, Swiger became something of a local celebrity, speaking at his former schools and sitting down to several interviews. Swiger was killed during his third deployment.
“It is a tremendous honor and a privilege to have served alongside Sergeant Swiger,” said Army Captain John Carson. “On a daily basis he displayed courage, honor and selfless service, in the struggle to keep America safe and improve the nation of Iraq.”
Swiger joined the Army in May 2000. In his six years of service and three tours, he received the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal with one clasp, the Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist’s Badge, and the Driver/Mechanic’s Badge.
Swiger’s service in Iraq became the embodiment of the public’s attitudes about the war in the first years of the conflict, with his mother, Valorie acting as a spokesperson for soldiers and their families in the city.
In 2003, Valorie Swiger led an effort to decorate utility poles in the city with yellow ribbons, only to see the effort spiral into a controversy over whether the ribbons implied official support for the war by the city.
Valorie lent her voice to several efforts in the city for council members to craft a resolution expressing support for servicemen and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those attempts ended in frustration for Valorie.
On Monday night, six councilors unanimously passed a resolution honoring the two fallen sons and ordered yellow ribbons be hung on all city property for a period of one month and encouraged residents and business owners to do the same.
Swiger is survived by his wife, Allana Swiger of Fayetteville, NC; and his mother, Valorie Swiger. A memorial service will be held for him by his unit in Iraq. Family funeral arrangements are incomplete as of press time.
“He was a loving and dedicated husband. He joined to fight for God and his country. He wanted to be in the 82nd since he was young. His uncle was in the 82nd. He loved kids and the Army,” Allana Swiger said in a statement released by the Army. “He loved to hand out candy to the Iraqi children. His mom was his hero and he always wanted to make her proud. He joined the Army at 17, right out of high school and planned on staying in for a career. His mother bought him a cross and asked him to be baptized. He was always full of light and laughs and always tried to make light of bad situations. He didn’t like serious moments. My parents, Alice and Michael, were honored to have him as a son-in-law.”
Also killed in the bomb attack were: Private Orlando E. Gonzalez, 21, of New Freedom, Penn., Corporal Jason Nunez, 22, of Naranjito, Puerto Rico, and Private Anthony J. White, 21, of Columbia, S.C.
(Editor’s note: selected stories and letters about Jason and Valorie Swiger from the Sentry archive are posed under the category "Jason Swiger"
Editor
Sgt. Jason W. Swiger, 25, a self-described “punk” in high school who credited the Army and its storied 82nd Airborne Division for turning his life around, died from wounds sustained when his patrol was attacked with a bomb in Diyala Province, Iraq on Sunday, March 25.
It was the second time in two weeks and the second time since the war began that South Portland has learned it lost a son in the conflict. Private Angel Rosa, serving with the Marines in Al Anbar Province was killed on March 13.
Swiger was killed almost three years after a triumphant homecoming in April 2004 following his second deployment to Iraq. During that time, Swiger became something of a local celebrity, speaking at his former schools and sitting down to several interviews. Swiger was killed during his third deployment.
“It is a tremendous honor and a privilege to have served alongside Sergeant Swiger,” said Army Captain John Carson. “On a daily basis he displayed courage, honor and selfless service, in the struggle to keep America safe and improve the nation of Iraq.”
Swiger joined the Army in May 2000. In his six years of service and three tours, he received the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal with one clasp, the Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Combat Action Badge, the Parachutist’s Badge, and the Driver/Mechanic’s Badge.
Swiger’s service in Iraq became the embodiment of the public’s attitudes about the war in the first years of the conflict, with his mother, Valorie acting as a spokesperson for soldiers and their families in the city.
In 2003, Valorie Swiger led an effort to decorate utility poles in the city with yellow ribbons, only to see the effort spiral into a controversy over whether the ribbons implied official support for the war by the city.
Valorie lent her voice to several efforts in the city for council members to craft a resolution expressing support for servicemen and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those attempts ended in frustration for Valorie.
On Monday night, six councilors unanimously passed a resolution honoring the two fallen sons and ordered yellow ribbons be hung on all city property for a period of one month and encouraged residents and business owners to do the same.
Swiger is survived by his wife, Allana Swiger of Fayetteville, NC; and his mother, Valorie Swiger. A memorial service will be held for him by his unit in Iraq. Family funeral arrangements are incomplete as of press time.
“He was a loving and dedicated husband. He joined to fight for God and his country. He wanted to be in the 82nd since he was young. His uncle was in the 82nd. He loved kids and the Army,” Allana Swiger said in a statement released by the Army. “He loved to hand out candy to the Iraqi children. His mom was his hero and he always wanted to make her proud. He joined the Army at 17, right out of high school and planned on staying in for a career. His mother bought him a cross and asked him to be baptized. He was always full of light and laughs and always tried to make light of bad situations. He didn’t like serious moments. My parents, Alice and Michael, were honored to have him as a son-in-law.”
Also killed in the bomb attack were: Private Orlando E. Gonzalez, 21, of New Freedom, Penn., Corporal Jason Nunez, 22, of Naranjito, Puerto Rico, and Private Anthony J. White, 21, of Columbia, S.C.
(Editor’s note: selected stories and letters about Jason and Valorie Swiger from the Sentry archive are posed under the category "Jason Swiger"
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