Fallen Soldier: John Linde

Staff Sergeant John D. Linde, 30, of New York was assigned to the 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y. He died Nov. 5, 2007, in Tal Al-Dahab, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations.

SSG Linde was born in Secaucus and graduated from Union Hill High School, where he was a member of the wrestling team. He enlisted in the Army in 1996 and had served in Bosnia-Herzegovina in addition to his tours in Iraq. He was on his second deployment to Iraq and was a member of a military police unit that provided security for top officers of the division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team.

According to friends SSG Linde enjoyed his military career and took seriously the responsibility of protecting the soldiers who served under him. He loved being there for his soldiers and just trying to do the most and best he could for them.

He is survived by his wife, Vilma, and two daughters.