Army Pfc. Devin J. Grella
Death: Sep 06, 2004
of Medina Ohio; assigned to the 706th Transportation Company Army Reserve Mansfield Ohio; killed Sept. 6 when an improvised explosive device exploded near his convoy vehicle in Qayarrah Iraq. Ohio reservist killed in Iraq Associated Press MEDINA Ohio — A northeast Ohio soldier killed by a bomb while riding in a convoy in Iraq joined the military as a patriot with the goal of becoming an officer and earning money for college his family said. Army Reserve Pfc. Devin Grella21 of Medina died Monday of injuries suffered when an improvised explosive blew up near his convoy the Pentagon said Wednesday. Grella the son of Donna and Dennis Grella of Medina was a member of the Army Reserve’s 706th Transportation Company based in Mansfield. He joined the Army Reserve in December and was sent to Iraq within weeks of completing his basic training in June according to his father. Devin Grella grew up in the home that the family built 25 years ago attended Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron and graduated from Medina High School in this Cleveland suburb his father said. “He was a great person. He loved his church he loved his family” Dennis Grella said by phone in between calls and visits from Devin’s friends and former classmates. He joined the Army Reserve out of a sense of patriotism and a desire to become an officer and earn money for college Dennis Grella said. “He had a love for his country” the father said. Dennis Grella said his family regularly received e-mails from Devin about the war and mentioned the threat from roadside bombs placed by insurgents. “I got an e-mail from him that morning (Monday). He had talked about IEDs (improvised explosive devices). It was a false alarm” Dennis Grella said. Devin who drove trucks providing supplies and fuel to U.S. troops had been involved in convoys that hustled at 50 mph to 60 mph into Najaf during the recent heavy combat involving U.S. troops and fighters loyal to rebel Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr his father said. In addition to his parents Devin is survived by brothers Dustin Darrin and Drew. Devin was the third oldest child. Darrin has asked to speak at his brother’s funeral even though his father warned about the likely emotion of the moment. “He said there are so many good things about Devin. I want people to be able to know about them” Darren told his father. People line streets in Medina for soldier’s funeral MEDINA Ohio— People many holding American flags lined curbsides as the funeral procession of a soldier killed in Iraq passed. Along streets and at the city’s picturesque Public Square people stood silently during the Sept. 18 procession of Pvt. Devin J. Grella21 of Medina as it headed to the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman in northeast Ohio. A funeral service was held at the Medina chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints before about 350 people. Grella a member of the Mansfield-based Army Reserve 706th Transportation Company was killed Sept. 6 when the fuel truck he was driving was struck by a homemade bomb. Second Lt. Timothy Searcy32 of Baltimore Grella’s platoon leader in Iraq said during the service that Grella “was very motivated and dedicated to his job. He kind of set an example.” Grella’s brother Darrin Grella29 of Medina who spoke at the service said the last two weeks have left his family mindful of his brother’s heroism. “It was an honor to have been his brother” he said. — Associated Press