Family, friends mourn loss of National Guard medic

Ashley Sietsema

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Pfc. Ashley Sietsema, an Illinois National Guard combat medic from River Grove, died from injuries sustained in a single vehicle accident while conducting a routine medical transfer of a patient from Camp Buehring to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait Nov. 12. Local services were held Sunday at DeKalb's Ronan-Moore-Finch Funeral Home with burial at Fairview Park Cemetery. “Since Ashley was a young girl she has shown her love of helping others by volunteering at church and always helping out her family,” said her family in a statement. “Her love for volunteering is what led to her to proudly serve her country in the Illinois Army National Guard two years ago. We are proud of the woman Ashley became and so is her husband, Max, who she married this past spring. She is truly our hero and will always be in our hearts.” Earlier in the week, more than 500 of the soldiers from the 1st Sustainment Command (Theater) and other units came out to honor a fallen comrade in a memorial service at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Capt. James Dodd, commander of the 708th Medical Company (Ground Ambulance), spoke at Sietsema's memorial service. Dodd said Sietsema touched all of their lives and they were blessed to have known her and she will be missed. “We are a family at the 708th and losing a family member is never easy,” Dodd said. “But Ashley has left her hand print on our hearts and she touched each and every one of our lives. Even though today she is not physically with us, she will never leave our hearts or our minds. Ashley will not be forgotten and we will keep her spirit with us forever.” Close friend, Spc. Jessica Bibeau, shared a special bond with Sietsema. Bibeau and Sietsema deployed together with the 708th Medical Company to Kuwait Sept. 3. Bibeau, 21, said they often laughed and cried together as she spoke about Ashley and her husband, Max at the memorial service. “Those two were so head over heels in love, you could see it shining through them. Upon returning home, she planned to continue school, remarry in Mexico to include her family, and start a family of her own. She had so many goals, and just barely got started,” said Bibeau, of Midlothian. Before closing, Bibeau asked the audience at the service, “How do you say good-bye to your best friend?” “Just as she would say, ‘You can't.' She wouldn't want us to mourn, she would want us to celebrate her life. Carry her memories and spirit always. She would never forget any of us, so let's never forget her,” said Bibeau as her eyes filled with tears. Sietsema was assigned to the 708th Medical Company, North Riverside. The 20 year old Soldier was only a few months into her deployment, and leaves behind a new husband. Ashley met and married her husband, Max William Sietsema April 27, 2007 in Cook County, Chicago. Ashley was attending Northern Illinois University studying to become a nurse. She deployed to Kuwait as a Soldier with the Illinois National Guard. Sietsema joined the Army in December 2004, completed her basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., and her advance individual training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Her awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” device, National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.