BISMARCK, N.D. (AP Dec 13, 2012) – Gov. Jack Dalrymple says a North Dakota National Guard soldier killed in Afghanistan died doing what he loved and will be remembered as an American hero.
 
     Dalrymple spoke at the funeral for 20-year-old Spc. Tyler Orgaard, of Bismarck, on Thursday.
 
     More than 900 people packed the church. Tears flowed as Orgaard’s father, Jesse, played guitar and sang songs of tribute to his son.
 
     Orgaard was killed in a roadside bomb attack along with 41-year-old Sgt. 1st Class Darren Linde, of Devils Lake. Services for Linde were held Tuesday in Sidney, Mont., where he grew up.
 
     The two members of the Williston-based 818th Engineer Company died in southern Afghanistan on Dec. 3. A third soldier was wounded but is recovering.

 

BISMARCK N.D. (KCSi-T.V. News Dec 13, 2012) — A memorial service to honor the late Sgt. 1st Class Darren M. Linde will be at 3 p.m. on Dec. 15 at the 164th Regional Training Institute (164th RTI) theatre at Camp Grafton Training Center at Devils Lake, N.D.

Linde, 41, of Devils Lake and Spc. Tyler J. Orgaard, 20, of Bismarck, were killed in action while conducting route clearance operations in Afghanistan on Dec. 3, when an improvised explosive device struck their vehicle in southern Afghanistan. Linde was buried in his hometown of Sidney, Mont. on Tuesday.

During the ceremony, Linde’s family will accept the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and the North Dakota Legion of Merit on his behalf.

The public is invited. Be prepared to present a government issued identification card at the Camp Grafton main entrance with photo i.e., or North Dakota driver’s license.
Linde worked full time as an instruction at the 164th RTI prior to his deployment.

Previously

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP Dec 11, 2012) – A North Dakota National Guard soldier
killed in Afghanistan was laid to rest, while the family of a
second soldier who died prepares for his burial.
     Services for 41-year-old Sgt. 1st Class Darren Linde, of Devils
Lake, were Tuesday in Sidney, Mont., where he grew up. The funeral
for 20-year-old Spc. Tyler Orgaard, of Bismarck, is Thursday in
that city.
     Orgaard’s body was brought to Bismarck on Monday and turned over
to family.
     The two members of the Williston-based 818th Engineer Company
died in a roadside bomb attack in southern Afghanistan on Dec. 3. A
third soldier was wounded but is recovering.
     Gov. Jack Dalrymple asked that flags be flown at half-staff on
Tuesday and again on Thursday in honor of the fallen soldiers.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Darren Linde’s widow says she and her four
children are “devastated” by his death. But she says they have a
lifetime of wonderful memories. The soldier from Devils Lake who
was killed in Afghanistan was buried Tuesday in Montana, while the
family of another soldier who was killed, Tyler Orgaard, prepares
for his funeral. That service will be Thursday in Bismarck.

 Reported earlier…

From North Dakota National Guard…

L: Linde,R:Orgaard

Sgt. 1st Class Darren M. Linde’s funeral will be at 1 p.m. MST on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012  at the Richland County Event Center in Sidney, Mont.

 
Burial will follow immediately at the Sidney Cemetery, located approximately 2 miles north of Sidney on County Road 350.Spc. Tyler Orgaard’s funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. CST on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012  in Bismarck, N.D., at the Church of Corpus Christi (1919 N 2nd St.). Burial will follow immediately after the service at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery (1825 46th Street, Mandan).
 
Wednesday the Eastgate Funeral Home at the Parkway Funeral location (2330 Tyler Parkway) will be open to the public from 2 to 8 p.m. A prayer service will begin at 7 p.m. at the same location.Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general, along with NDNG senior leadership will be attending the funerals.Linde, 41, of Devils Lake, N.D., and Spc. Tyler J. Orgaard, 20, of Bismarck, were killed in action while conducting route clearance operations in Afghanistan on Dec. 3, 2012,  when an improvised explosive device struck their vehicle in southern Afghanistan.Linde funeral services will be conducted by Fulkerson Funeral Home in Sidney, Mont. Orgaard services will be conducted by Eastgate Funeral Service in Bismarck.
Spc. Ian Charles Placek, 23, Bismarck, wounded in the same attack, was listed in stable condition at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. He will go to Ft. Riley, Kan., for further medical treatment and evaluation.————————————————–

Previously

Two N.D. Soliders Killed In  Action

Sgt. 1st Class Darren M. Linde, 41, of Devils Lake, N.D., and formerly of Sidney, and Pfc. Tyler J. Orgaard, 20, of Bismarck, were killed in action. Spc. Ian Charles Placek, 23, also of Bismarck, was wounded in the attack and is listed in stable condition at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.

Transfer cases containing the remains of Army Spc. Tyler J. Orgaard and Army Sgt. 1st Class Darren M. Linde arrived at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Wednesday.

Funeral arrangements were pending.

“Today is a sad day for North Dakota as we mourn the loss of Sgt 1st Class Linde and Pfc. Orgaard who were killed in action while serving our state and nation,” said Gov. Jack Dalrymple. “Our hearts and prayers are with their families as they grieve the loss of their loved ones. Our thoughts are also with Spc. Placek as he recovers from his injuries. We will never forget these heroes or the last full measure of devotion they gave in defense of our homeland and our way of life.”

The attack occurred at 7:58 a.m. CST; local Afghanistan time was 6:28 p.m.

“We are extremely saddened by the loss of two of our Soldiers and extend our most sincere condolences and prayers to their family and friends during this time of sorrow”, Sprynczynatyk said. “We also wish Spc. Placek a speedy recovery. We will always remember our brave Soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.”

Linde is survived by his wife, Adrienne, of Devils Lake, and four children. He also deployed to Iraq with the N.D. National Guard’s 164th Engineer Battalion from August 2007 to April 2008. Linde originally enlisted in the North Dakota Army National Guard in 1990. He served in the U.S. Army and Montana Army National Guard before returning to the North Dakota Guard in 2006. Since 2009, he served as a full-time instructor with the North Dakota National Guard’s 164th Regional Training Institute, Camp Grafton Training Center, Devils Lake.

Orgaard is survived by his parents, Josephine and Jesse Orgaard, of Bismarck. He joined the North Dakota Army National Guard shortly before his graduation from Bismarck’s Century High School in 2011. This was his first overseas deployment.

The 818th Engineer Company is headquartered in Williston, N.D., with a detachment in Hazen, N.D. About 100 Soldiers with the unit entered federal active-duty status on April 27, 2012.  The unit arrived for duty in Afghanistan in June.  

The North Dakota National Guard will announce funeral arrangements as soon as available.

The last North Dakota National Guard casualty in the Global War on Terrorism was six years ago. Including Linde and Orgaard, 14 North Dakota Guardsmen have died in action in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sgt. 1st Class Darren M. Linde

Age: 41

Hometown: Devils Lake, N.D.

Graduated from Sidney High School (Montana) in 1989

Military History

Military Occupational Specialties:

Combat Engineer (12B), Cannon Crewmember (13B), Bridge Crewmember (12C)

Awards and Decorations

Bronze Star Medal (Posthumously)

Purple Heart (Posthumously)

Army Commendation Medal

Army Good Conduct Medal

Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (3 awards)

National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star (2 awards)

Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 Campaign Star (Transition 1 Campaign)

Iraq Campaign Medal with 1 Campaign Star (Iraqi Surge Campaign)

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Mobilization Device

Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 2

Army Service Ribbon

Overseas Service Ribbon

Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon

NATO Medal (Posthumously)

Combat Action Badge (Awarded July 28, 2012)

Sapper Tab

Meritorious Unit Commendation

Marksman Badge, 9mm Pistol

Sgt. 1st Class Darren M. Linde (continued)

State Awards

North Dakota Legion of Merit

North Dakota National Guard Commendation Ribbon

North Dakota National Guard Achievement Ribbon

North Dakota National Guard Service Ribbon

North Dakota National Guard Basic Training Ribbon

Montana National Guard Campaign Ribbon

Military Schools

Officer Candidate School

Advanced Leadership Course/Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course Sapper Leadership Course

Combat Engineer Advanced Individual Training Course

Combat Life Saver Training

Bridge Crewmember (12C)

Route Reconnaissance and Clearance Course

Army Instructor Course

Military Service Dates

North Dakota Army National Guard: December 1990 – May 1995

U.S. Army: May 1995 – October 1996

Montana Army National Guard: September 1998 – September 2002

Montana Army National Guard: July 2005 – March 2006

North Dakota Army National Guard:  March 2006 – Present

 

Spc. Tyler J. Orgaard

Age: 20

Hometown: Bismarck, N.D.

Graduated from Century High School (Bismarck) in 2011

Military History

Enlisted in the North Dakota Army National Guard, January 2011

Military Occupational Specialty: Combat Engineer (12B)

Awards and Decorations

Bronze Star Medal (Posthumously)

Purple Heart (Posthumously)

Army Good Conduct Medal (Posthumously)

National Defense Service Medal

Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 Campaign Star (Transition 1)

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Mobilization Device

Army Service Ribbon

Overseas Service Ribbon (Posthumously)

NATO Medal (Posthumously)

Combat Action Badge (awarded July 28, 2012)

Sharpshooter Badge, M16A2

State Awards

North Dakota Legion of Merit

North Dakota National Guard Emergency Service Ribbon

North Dakota National Guard Basic Training Ribbon

Military Schools

Combat Engineer Course (12B), 2011