PCM Posted January 25, 2004 Posted January 25, 2004 I found out Saturday afternoon that one of the two North Dakota National Guardsman killed in Iraq Saturday was a friend of mine during the most of the 15 years I lived in Bismarck. Rest in peace, Ken. Quote
sioux fan in phoenix Posted January 25, 2004 Posted January 25, 2004 God bless him & his remaining family & friends. Quote
PCM Posted January 25, 2004 Author Posted January 25, 2004 I'd known Ken Hedrickson since he was 16. His father managed the apartment building I lived in when I first moved to Bismarck in 1977. Ken Hendrickson 2 N.D. soldiers killed By James Macpherson Quote
sprig Posted January 25, 2004 Posted January 25, 2004 Does make the hockey series pale in comparison RIP, Mr. Hendrickson Quote
southpaw Posted January 25, 2004 Posted January 25, 2004 The other person killed, Keith Smette was one of my friends and was my best friend's older brother. I am extremely proud of him and everything he has done, he was a great guy and died doing something he loved. Quote
PCM Posted January 25, 2004 Author Posted January 25, 2004 The other person killed, Keith Smette was one of my friends and was my best friend's older brother. I am extremely proud of him and everything he has done, he was a great guy and died doing something he loved. I am very sorry to hear that, Mory00. There are friends and family throughout North Dakota who are grieving today for these two fine soldiers. Quote
NorthDakotaHockey Posted January 27, 2004 Posted January 27, 2004 Straight tickets to Heaven for these guys. We talk of hockey games sometimes being wars. It is times like these that make our sporting metaphors look particularly silly and selfish. It ain't until we begin loosing our families and our friends that we begin to realize our own mortality. Hopefully Ken and Keith are big hockey fans. They'll be guests in Ralph's booth from here on in. Quote
PCM Posted January 27, 2004 Author Posted January 27, 2004 The Bismarck Tribune today had an excellent story about Ken Hendrickson that portrayed the kind of person he was. The part about him taking pictures of dirt in Iraq and sending them back to Bismarck is classic Ken. I'd get into arguments with him sometimes, but he was just the kind of person you could never stay mad at. Quote
WYOBISONMAN Posted January 27, 2004 Posted January 27, 2004 From the Fargo Forum..... Sgt. Keith Smette, 25, an NDSU student from Makoti and staff Sgt. Kenneth Hendrickson, 41, of Bismarck, were members of the Bismarck-based 957th Multi-Role Bridge Company. We lost one of ours in Bisonland. Kind of brings it all home. Quote
Hansel Posted January 27, 2004 Posted January 27, 2004 The other person killed, Keith Smette was one of my friends and was my best friend's older brother. I am extremely proud of him and everything he has done, he was a great guy and died doing something he loved. story on Sgt. Keith Smette sounds like a great person Quote
UND95 Posted January 27, 2004 Posted January 27, 2004 My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of these fine Americans. Quote
MinnesotaNorthStar Posted January 27, 2004 Posted January 27, 2004 Thoughts and prayers with both families and anyone who knew them, they both sounded like great guys. I have a friend over there right now with the 101st Airborne. Hopefully he'll be able to join me in San Antonio over Spring Break Quote
Tuk Posted January 28, 2004 Posted January 28, 2004 This has been a very upsetting event that affects everyone across the state. Although I did not know these 2 fine individuals, I am nonetheless saddened at the loss of their lives. I wrote a little bit on the Bisonville site about my feelings, and wish to repeat it here for all who knew these men and any others who have fallen in the line of fire or, like myself, know people who are stationed over in Iraq. I have the greatest respect for the people in the American armed services, and in my opinion they all are heroes for what they sacrifice for our way of life. God bless those guys and their families. Being a soldier is never a job that brings prosperity, glamour, and security, but instead is a service of a higher stature. Their sacrificies were for our freedom and security to be maintained, and regardless of one's view upon the war in Iraq these two are heroes and saviors of the sword. They are now in a higher place where war, suffering, and violence will no longer affect them, and in this I take comfort while remembering their loss. God bless Keith Smette and Kenneth Hendrickson, and those who they left behind. Quote
PCM Posted January 28, 2004 Author Posted January 28, 2004 Well said, Tuk. I feel the same way you do. Thanks for taking time to share your thoughts. Quote
jloos Posted January 28, 2004 Posted January 28, 2004 Keith Smette According to the Dakota Student, Smette was a UND student before transferring to NDSU. My condolences to all who knew both of these soldiers. Quote
CoteauRinkRat Posted January 28, 2004 Posted January 28, 2004 Deaths like this that really hit close to home makes a person think and appreciate everyone over there and all the sacrifices they and their families are giving up to protect this country. Quote
U2Bad1 Posted January 30, 2004 Posted January 30, 2004 My brother is in the 957th and is friends with the people who died. On Saturday all the guard families were called to notify them of this terrible event. My dad called me crying after he heard, and for a second there I thought i had lost a brother. Shortly after that it really hit me hard to think of the 2 families that were not so lucky to hear that their particular loved one was okay. God bless them. Quote
southpaw Posted January 30, 2004 Posted January 30, 2004 Keith's funeral will be held next Tuesday in Makoti. There will be a service at North Shore HS. A friend and I are heading out to Makoti today to be with Keith's younger brother robby, who was also serving in iraq. Keith was such a great guy and this week has brought back so many memories. God bless you keith, we will always love you. Quote
PCM Posted January 31, 2004 Author Posted January 31, 2004 Ken Hendrickson's funeral is 10 a.m. Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bismarck. I'll be heading to Bismarck on Sunday to attend. Quote
Hansel Posted February 3, 2004 Posted February 3, 2004 I came across this Memorial service planned for NDSU student killed in Iraq A memorial service for North Dakota State University student Sgt. Keith Lee Smette is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, in the Memorial Union ballroom. Smette was one of two Army National Guard soldiers killed Jan. 24 when their convoy struck a roadside bomb north of Fallujah, Iraq. The Rev. Bruce Krogstad of the University Lutheran Center will officiate the memorial service, and members of Smette Quote
PCM Posted February 4, 2004 Author Posted February 4, 2004 The Bismarck Tribune ran an article about Ken Hendrickson's funeral on Monday. Gov. John Hoeven delivered the eulogy. Unfortunately, the Tribune article failed to mention that Ken was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit, the highest decoration given for service in the North Dakota National Guard. Quote
southpaw Posted February 4, 2004 Posted February 4, 2004 Keith's funeral was perfect today. Some amazing songs, Hoeven gave the Eulogy and it was just awesome to see people who never knew Keith coming and showing their support. Keith was a huge Toby Keith fan, and for the final song they played American Soldier. Nearly every person in the gym started crying, i can't describe it any better than saying it was exaclty what Keith deserved. Quote
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