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First Name: Debra

Last Name: Banaszak

Birthplace: Normal, IL, USA

Gender: Female

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Middle Name: Anne



Date of Birth: 05 July 1970

Date of Death: 28 October 2005

Rank: First Lieutenant

Years Served: 1989 - 2005
Debra Anne Banaszak

   
Engagements:
•  Iraq War (Operation Iraqi Freedom) (2003 - 2011)

Biography:

Debra Anne Butler was the daughter of John W. Butler, Jr. and Barbara Anne Poe Butler. She graduated from high school in Essexville, MI, and married Michael Banaszak.

Her civilian employment included working for The Lincoln Challenge Program, Rantoul, IL, as an at-risk counselor. She was a deputy with the St. Charles County Sheriff's Department in Troy, MO, and then served as a police officer in Sullivan, MO, where she received DARE awards.

Education

Debra graduated from Delta Community College and, in 2000, she received her Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Hamilton University.

Military Service

Debra began her military service when she joined the U.S. Army Reserves on 30 January 1989, shortly after graduating from high school. She remained with the Reserves until 26 August 1990. On 27 August 1990, she began serving in the Illinois Army National Guard and remained there until 2 October 1995. From 3 October 1995 to 13 December 1998, she served in the Missouri Air National Guard. Debra began serving in the Missouri Army National Guard on 14 December 1998.

On 16 September 2000, she received her commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Ordnance Corps through Officer Candidate School, Missouri Army National Guard. In 2001, Debra completed the Ordnance Officer Basic Course at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Aberdeen, MD.

In January 2005, Debra was stationed in Iraq and Kuwait with Operation Iraqi Freedom. On 28 October 2005, 1LT Banaszak died from non-combat related injuries at Camp Victory, Kuwait.

Medals & Awards

Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service Star
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device
Army NCO Professional Development Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon

Burial

First Lieutenant Debra Anne Banaszak is buried at Gilman Cemetery in Gilman, IL.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=13152234



Honoree ID: 5657   Created by: MHOH

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