Steven Frederick Sirko, Iraq War CasualtyPorter County Data on Iraq War Casualties . . . .

Steven Frederick Sirko
Private First Class, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division
Date of Birth: August 11, 1984
Date of Death: April 17, 2005
Cause of Death: Died in Sleep, non-combatant fatality
Hometown: Portage

Newspaper Notices:

Local Soldier Dies in Iraq

Summer Lipford held the picture of her son and stared at his smiling face. She clutched the picture of Pfc. Steven Sirko of Statesville, taken just before his deployment to Iraq, and chanted "he should have made it back," hugging the picture against her chest.

The 20-year-old U.S. Army battalion medic fell asleep three days ago and never woke up. He may have had an aneurysm or a heart attack, Summer said. "I asked God to please take my soul and leave Steve," Summer cried, hugging herself and rocking. "He promised me he was going to come home .... He's gone and I don’t know why."

The young soldier was scheduled to come home in August.

His family can't plan his funeral yet because the Army has not yet released his body, said his sister, Bridget Gentle. Gentle and Sirko's other siblings, Michael Godby and Laura Sirko, gathered at their parents' house on Sharpe Street on Tuesday night. They gathered to remember their brother and to welcome his wife, Virginia Sirko, home from Iraq, where she too was stationed. Virginia Sirko did not want to talk about her husband on Tuesday night.

Steven Sirko's stepfather, Steven Lipford, said the young man "was over there doing what he thought was right." "When he went into the military, he went in knowing that is where he might go," Lipford said. "He knew he was going into harm's way." Summer said the young soldier loved to help people. She remembers how excited he was when he saved the lives of three Iraqis who were injured in a car bombing. And she remembers how proud he was when an Army captain stopped him and told him what a fine job he did in saving those lives. "He was very, very happy in the military," Summer said. "He didn’t want his wife to know how much he loved the military .... He was so excited about being able to help people."

The soldier met his wife while stationed at Fort Benning, Ga., Summer said. Steven Sirko was in his early teenage years when he decided that he wanted to go into the military, Summer said. And the family tried to talk him out of it, she said.

"I can't believe I have most my child," she said. "How do you lose a child you love so much?" Steven Lipford said his step-son was proud to serve.
"Army was his life," he said. "He was out there serving his country, and this is the way it goes." Summer said her son was counting down the days until he could come home and play with his niece and nephew. She said Steven Sirko and his nephew, Sam Gentle, had a special bond. On Sam's third birthday, Steven Sirko ended up playing Spider-Man when the actor Bridget hired couldn't make it. "He ran in from the woods, jumped over the swingset and blew out his pants," Summer said. "He had to do all his tricks without turning around."

Bridget said it has been difficult trying explain to her son why Uncle Steve isn't coming home. "I told Sam that he had to stay in Iraq and help people," Bridget said. "What do you tell a 3-year-old?" Summer said her son was a hero who constantly looked out for his family. She remembers when Steven Sirko bought a new crib while his sister, Laura Sirko, was pregnant. "He said, 'I don’t want my niece sleeping in junk,'" Summer said.

Steven Sirko let his brother use his car while he was stationed overseas, Summer said. Michael didn't have a reliable car and was struggling to get to college. "He told Michael, he said 'Keep my car while I'm in Iraq. I want you to get an education and have a good life too,'" Summer said.

Steven Sirko was a man who loved life and loved his family, Summer said. She often sent the couple care packages with food and toys to make their tour of duty in Iraq more comfortable. One package contained water pistols, which his fellow soldiers turned on him one night, Summer said. "They waited until he was good and asleep and they attacked," Summer said. "It woke him up and he grabbed what he could reach, which was a flyswatter and a stick. He was chasing them down the road in flip-flops with a flyswatter and a stick."

As the memories flow, Summer wonders why her son had to die. She can't stop staring at his photographs. "If it is so important to these politicians, why won't they send their own children?" Summer said. These are children .... I don’t see George W. Bush's daughters over there, and they are just as capable as my son."
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Source: Statesville Record & Landmark, Statesville, Iredell County, North Carolina; April 20, 2005


Obituary
Steven Frederick Sirko

PFC STEVEN FREDERICK SIRKO Age 20 years, of Statesville, NC, passed away courageously on Sunday, April 17, 2005, while serving his country in Iraq. He was born August 11, 1984, in Portage, Indiana, and was the son of Rick Sirko and Summer Lipford. He attended Portage High School and was a Combat Medic for the U.S. Army. On October 16, 2004, he was married to Virginia Downs Sirko at Fort Benning, GA, who survives. In addition to his wife, Mr. Sirko is survived by his parents, Steve and Summer Lipford of Statesville, NC, Rick and Rose Sirko of Portage, IN; 2 sisters, Bridget Gentle and Laura Sirko both of Statesville, NC; 1 brother, Michael John Godbey of Statesville, NC: 2 brothers-in-law, Michael Gentle of Statesville and Matthew Downs; 3 sisters-in-law, Jennifer Downs, Amanda Downs and Alicia Downs; 1 nephew, Samuel Gentle of Statesville; 1 niece, Rainey Sirko Franks of Statesville; and 3 uncles, Don (Linda) McAlpine, Lee McAlpine and Sam (Janice) Lipford. A Funeral Mass will be conducted 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 23, 2005 at St. Phillips the Apostle Catholic Church, 525 Camden Dr., Statesville, NC with Father James Byer, officiating. Interment with Military Honors will be held on Monday, April 25th at 2:00 p.m. in Oakwood Cemetery in Statesville. The Rosary service will be offered Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church. Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of PFC Steven Sirko.
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Source: Post-Tribune, Gary, Lake County, Indiana; April 22, 2005


Obituary
Steven Sirko

PFC Steven Frederick Sirko Statesville, NC/Portage PFC Steven Frederick Sirko, 20 of Statesville, NC, died courageously Sunday, April 17, 2005, while serving his country in Iraq. He was born August 11, 1984 in Portage, Indiana and was the son of Rick Sirko and Summer Lipford. He attended Portage High School and was a Combat Medic for the U.S. Army. On October 16, 2004, he was married to Virginia Downs Sirko at Fort Benning, GA, who survives. In addition to his wife, Mr. Sirko is survived by his parents: Steve and Summer Lipford of Statesville, Rick and Rose Sirko of Portage, Indiana; two sisters: Bridget Gentle of Statesville and Laura Sirko of Statesville; one brother, Michael John Godbey of Statesville; two brothers-in-law: Michael Gentle of Statesville and Matthew Downs; three sisters-in-law: Jennifer Downs, Amanda Downs and Alicia Downs; one nephew, Samuel Gentle of Statesville; one niece, Rainey Sirko Franks of Statesville; and three uncles: Don McAlphine and wife, Linda, Lee McAlphine and Sam Lipford and wife Janice. A funeral mass will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 23, 2005 at St. Phillips the Apostle Catholic Church with Father James Byers officiating. Interment with military honors will be held on Monday at 2:00 p.m. in Oakwood Cemetery. The rosary will be offered Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. at St. Phillip the Apostle Catholic Church. Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of PFC Steven Sirko.
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Source: The Times, Munster, Lake County, Indiana; April 22, 2005


Return to List of Porter County Iraq War Casualties

Information abstracted and transcribed by Steven R. Shook

 

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