Fallen Soldier: Gary Rovinski

Navy Petty Officer First Class, Gary Rovinski, 44, from Roseville, Ill., was born on October 19, 1961. He was a graduate of Bishop Hoban High School, College Misericordia, and Miami University of Ohio, where he earned his Master’s Degree.

PO1 Rovinski was serving as a Navy Equipment Operator 1st Class assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 25 based out of Fort McCoy, Wisc. He was the driver of the second vehicle in a convoy conducting a medical rescue and an exercise to distribute supplies on June 5, 2006, near the village of Ansh, in the Al-Anbar Province of Iraq. While traveling to their destination, Rovinski’s Humvee struck an IED.

Department of Defense documents later stated that investigators found the IED had housed two 155mm artillery shells and was buried in a fashion to allow trigger switches to automatically detonate whenever something heavy enough passed over the bomb. In Rovinski’s case, the Humvee struck the IED on the right rear tire, and as it rolled, it struck a second buried bomb. It was the second explosion that killed him.

PO1 Rovinski’s daughter, Cecilia, is a Folds of Honor recipient.