MERRY CHRISTMAS - HAPPY HANUKKAH - HAPPY KWANZAA

HERE IS WISHING EACH AND EVERYONE

A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON

A WONDERFUL 2007

AND MOST OF ALL A WONDERFUL LIFE!!!

Thanks
Dave Guerra
BerlinBrigade.com

SFC Jonathan Tessar (Berlin Vet)

Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Tessar, 36, most recently stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky., was killed in action in Iraq, Monday, Oct. 31, 2005, by an improvised explosive device while serving while serving his country with the U.S. Army.

Jonathan was raised in Simi Valley and from the time he was a little boy, he dreamed of joining the Army and becoming, as he said it, "a Special Forces ranger with tattoos." He had a flat-top when flat-tops weren't fashionable. In almost 19 years of service to his county, he fulfilled his dreams. He was with the 101st Airborne Division and served in the Berlin Brigade and Desert Storm before joining the Special Forces. He served with the 10th Special Forces Group in Germany and Bosnia, the 96th Civil Affairs and at the JFK Special Warfare School as an instructor. In July 2004, he rejoined the Infantry that he loved. He looked forward to personally training soldiers and knew that they would be well-trained when he fought beside them in war. He had been serving as the first sergeant of Alpha Company "Gators," 2-502 Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Divison, and was well-respected by his soldiers and peers.

He was very brave and ready and willing to do anything for his country. He died with honor alongside his men.

He was a very dedicated and proud father to his three children, Jonathan Jr., Shanna and Mackenzie, and a supportive and loving husband to his wife, Nancy. Anyone who knew him knew how important his family was to him and he talked about them all the time. Jon was a very selfless person and would do anything to help anyone who needed it. He was known for his love of NASCAR and politics, and was always ready for a good debate with anyone who would oblige him.

Jonathan was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Marcia Tessar.

In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by his brother and sister-in-law William and Carla and their children, Brando, Kennedy and Dallas; brother and sister-in-law Steve and Marty Gallegos and their children, Joey and Nicole; aunt and uncle Tais and Arthur Chleborowitz; and uncle and aunt Joseph and Marian Tessar.

A service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11, at St. Peters Claver Church, at Cochran and Stow streets in Simi Valley. A final service and burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 14, at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Tessar Children College Fund, 2535 Townsgate Road, Suite 305, Westlake Village, CA 91362, attn: American Financial Network -- Keith Ellen.

The family was assisted by Reardon Simi Valley Funeral Home, 2636 Sycamore Drive, Simi Valley; www.caringfuneralservice.com.
Published in the Ventura County Star from 11/10/2005 - 11/13/2005.
ONLINE @ http://www.legacy.com/VenturaCountyStar/LegacySubPage2.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=15656389

Brigade Unit Gear (More Stuff)

That's right there is more unit gear online now. Check out the 4th BN 502nd INF, 5th BN 502nd INF, and 6th BN 502nd INF gear as well as Berlin Brigade gear:

• Berlin Brigade gear at: http://www.cafepress.com/berlinbrigade
• 4/502 Inf gear at: http://www.cafepress.com/4th502nd
• 5/502 Inf gear at: http://www.cafepress.com/5th502nd
• 6/502 Inf gear at: http://www.cafepress.com/6th502nd
  

More units coming online over the next few days.