Specialist Stanley Walter Bartusiak, A Soldier's Story
.png "Specialist Stanley Walter Bartusiak – Gulf War Casualty")
Specialist Stanley Walter Bartusiak, A Soldier's Story
Stanley Walter Bartusiak was born on May 18, 1956, in Chicago. He was raised in Calumet City, where he spent his formative years and developed the work ethic that would later define his military service. Bartusiak graduated from Thornton Fractional North High School in 1974.
Following high school, he continued his education at South Suburban College, then attended the University of Illinois. In August 1985, he enlisted in the United States Army, choosing a path of service during a period of relative peace that would soon give way to global conflict.
Specialist Bartusiak served a five-year active-duty contract, training as a heavy mechanic. His work required technical skill, endurance, and responsibility, including keeping essential equipment operational in demanding environments. He spent much of his active service stationed in Alaska, where harsh conditions placed constant demands on both personnel and machinery. After completing his active-duty commitment, he continued his affiliation with the U.S. Army through the Army Reserves.
With the onset of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Bartusiak was reactivated for service. He deployed to the Persian Gulf on February 13, 1991, answering the call during the final and most intense phase of the Gulf War.
On February 25, 1991, Specialist Stanley Walter Bartusiak was killed in action when a SCUD missile struck his barracks. His death came during one of the war’s most indiscriminate threats, long-range missile attacks aimed not at the battlefield alone, but at where soldiers lived, slept, and waited.
Specialist Bartusiak is buried at Polk Memorial Gardens, where he is remembered not only as a Gulf War casualty but also as a son, a student, a mechanic, and a soldier who served when called.
His story stands as a reminder that modern war often claims lives far from the front lines, and that those losses are no less deserving of remembrance.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
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