Return to the "POINTER VIEW"
                         January 9, 2004

Iraq attack kills 1997 grad

By Irene Brown
Editor

Capt. Eric T. Paliwoda, a U.S. Military Academy 1997 graduate, died Jan. 2 in Balad, Iraq.

Paliwoda, a native of Hartford, Conn., was commander of Company B, 4th Engineer Battalion, of the Fort Carson-based 3rd Brigade Combat Team. and part of the 4th Infantry Division. His company has been attached to the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry since June.

Defense officials said Paliwoda was at his command post when it came under mortar attack. He was struck by shrapnel and killed instantly. The incident is under investigation.

Lt. Col. Nate Sassaman, commander of 1-8 Infantry in Balad, said he knew Paliwoda for more than four years and his death is a great loss to future officers.

“He was as solid as they come and I had just sent off a letter of recommendation to the academy on his behalf,” Sassaman said. “Eric really wanted to return to West Point to teach and mentor cadets ... he would have been great.”

Sassaman said Paliwoda was a terrific officer and leader.

“He was the most doctrinely sound junior officer I know and a giant of a man in stature and leadership within the battalion,” Sassaman said. “Though his company was from 4th Engineers, we had made a Delta Company, 1-8 Infantry guidon for them as well.

“He was just a great person and it is clearly a devastating loss for us and for the Army,” he added. “Words cannot begin to express the depth of my current sadness. I will miss him tremendously and my thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Paliwoda is survived by his parents, Alfred and Mary and his fiancee, Wendy. Services will be held Monday, 1:30 p.m., at the Old Cadet Chapel followed by burial in the West Point Cemetery.

The West Point community is invited to attend.