The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Soldier shot down in Iraq
Shooting of 38-year-old Ypsilanti resident claimed by Al Qaeda
By Jim Kasuba, Heritage Newspapers
PUBLISHED: November 17, 2005
Maj. Gerald M. Bloomfield II had been to Iraq twice before, but volunteered for a third time. Those who knew him well weren't surprised.
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"He loved this country and loved what he was doing," said his father, Gerald Bloomfield.
Bloomfield, 38, of Ypsilanti, was one of two Marines killed Nov. 2 when his AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter crashed near Ramadi.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the helicopter was flying in support of security and stabilization operations.
Al Qaeda in Iraq claimed responsibility for shooting it down, but the U.S. military said the cause of the crash was undetermined.
On board with Bloomfield was Michael D. Martino, 32, of Fairfax, Va. They were assigned to Marine Light-Attack Helicopter Squadron 369, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Bloomfield began his life in Lincoln Park, living there until he was 3 or 4, when his family moved to Fowlerville. He has relatives living Downriver, including his grandmother, Anne Bloomfield of Wyandotte; an uncle and aunt, Richard and Deborah Bloomfield, also of Wyandotte; and several cousins scattered throughout the area.
The 1984 graduate of Fowlerville High School went on to graduate in 1989 from Eastern Michigan University, and later earned a master's degree in electrical engineering from the Naval Academy in Monterey, Calif.
He joined the ROTC while a student at Eastern, in his final year. He thought it would be a good thing to do, his father said, adding that he followed in the footsteps of his great-uncles, who also served in the military.
"It kind of runs in the family," Bloomfield said.
The Marine spoke to his father a week before he died, calling him at his job at an Ann Arbor appliance store.
According to Bloomfield, his son attempted to assure him that he would be safe. He talked about flying over the river basin and how lush it looked, reminding him of the green fields of California.
"He said there are towns being built and a lot of good going on," Bloomfield said. "He said there is hope for this country (Iraq) and that it's not a Third World country anymore."
When back home in Michigan, Bloomfield enjoyed spending time at a cabin in White Pigeon, just north of the Indiana-Michigan state line. His father said he liked to relax on a pontoon boat.
In addition to his father and his relatives in Wyandotte, he also is survived by his wife, Julie; a 13-year-old son, Ryan; his mother, Shirley Spears, and his stepfather, Ron Spears; his stepmother, Judy Bloomfield; a brother, Tom; two sisters Kate Kerch and Paula Wallace; a stepbrother, Brad Jones; and a stepsister, Jennifer Jenkins.
A candlelight vigil was held in Fowlerville on Sunday.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm ordered the lowering of U.S. flags throughout Michigan today to honor Bloomfield and tomorrow for Marine Sgt. Michael P. Hodshire of North Adams. He died Oct. 30 of wounds suffered in a bombing during combat operations near Nasser Wa Salaam, Iraq.
A memorial service for Bloomfield will be held Friday in Elkhart, Ind. Burial with full military honors will take place next Wednesday at Arlington National Cemetery, one day after what would have been Bloomfield's 39th birthday.
Memorial donations are requested for the Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association of America, 5 West 36th St., Room 404, New York, NY 10018.
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