Damian S. Bushart
Private First Class, United States Army
May 27, 1981 – November 22, 2003
Age – 22
Waterford, MI
Operation Iraqi Freedom
A Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Calvary Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Armstrong Barracks, Buedingen, Germany
Killed while protecting the Baghdad Airport when the Humvee he was riding in collided with a tank.
John “Skip” Bushart said his son had been in Iraq for eight months after enlisting in the Army in August 2002. He learned of his death Sunday morning. “We are a military family.” Skip was a recently retired Chief Master sergeant in the Air Force Reserves who served in Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm. Damian’s father and uncle served in World War II. “We are warriors, we took an oath to follow our orders from the Commander and Chief and that’s what we do.”
Damian Bushart graduated from Our Lady of the Lakes high school in Waterford Township, where he played football. He also participated in the Civil Air Patrol.
“He was just a terrific kid, a wonderful son “I don’t know what else to say.”