News 3 Special Assignment: Iraq

Posted: 11:47 am CST February 4, 2004

Anchorman John Karcher and Photojournalist John Wacker spent eight days in Iraq. They kept a daily online journal on Channel 3000 and sent back digital photos. Now, their packages are airing on News 3 all this week. You can send them a message, using our online forum here.

The 527th Military Police unit out of Germany dedicated a pistol and rifle range for Rachel Bosveld, of Waupun, who died last October when a mortar round exploded next to her Humvee. It was an emotional moment for her buddies and one of one of the most memorable of News 3's John Karcher's eight days in Baghdad.

The soldiers hand built the range as a lasting tribute to a soldier who died trying to make a difference in Iraq. It happened in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Baghdad -- Abu Ghraib.

"It happened in this very spot," Karcher said. "Two Humvees parked just like this. It's here Rachel Bosveld took her last breath, heard her last voice, saw her last face."

"When the mortar detonated, Sgt. Monroe was sitting here with the door open and his left leg was out," said Capt. William Rogers. "A piece of shrapnel went into the rear of the seat and mortally wounded Pfc. Bosveld."

"We started giving Rachel CPR right away," said Spc. Adam Bagby. "I was pretty messed up about it."

"The shrapnel that entered her chest cavity hit a vital organ," said Sgt. Jimmy Thorne. "There was nothing us or anyone else could have done."

Three other soldiers were in the Humvees with Bosveld. Sean Monroe lost his leg. Stephanie Betzold was not injured and recalls the blast that shattered Chris Busby's leg.

"Busby was the seat in front of me," she said. "I was trying to calm him down till the mortars finished falling."

Rachel's father Marvin wanted Karcher to show the scene where Rachel died -- her Humvee, the rear quarter panel filled with shrapnel and the seat Rachel was sitting in. You can see where the shrapnel pierced it and eluded her body armor.

"It was horrible," said Capt. William Rogers. "As a company commander, I never wanted to make that phone call or have to write that letter to a family telling them that their son or daughter had been killed."

Bagby has a message for Bosveld's parents.

"I'd like to say I'm sorry that she's gone," he said. "I really miss her, and I'm sure you do, too. I'd just like to express my condolences."

Rodgers said Bosveld (pictured, left) "knew exactly what she wanted in life. She wanted to help people. She wanted to join the Army -- a family tradition. She wanted to make a difference in Iraq. She did that."

Six weeks before she died Bosveld earned her first purple heart when she came under grenade attack with Thorne and Bagby. Her Humvee burst into flames and melted to the ground.