My walk was dedicated in honor of:
Army Sgt. Alexander Van Aalten, Age 21 of Monterey, TN.
KIA Apr. 20, 2007 when a land mine detonated near his unit in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom
He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Sergeant Alexander van Aalten, 21, of the Cumberland Cove community near Monterey, Tennessee, died during combat operations in Afghanistan on Friday, April 20, 2007. Funeral services were conducted April 29 at Trinity Assembly in Algood, with the Rev. Mike Campbell officiating. Private interment services will be held at a later date.
Sergeant van Aalten was born September 2, 1985, in Orlando, Florida, the son of Edward “Ed” and Susan Stokes van Aalten of Monterey.
He was a 2004 graduate of Cookeville High School and was the brigade commander for the ROTC. He earned his Black Belt in Karate and was a Karate instructor with Jack Scott United Karate Studio.
In June 2004, he joined the U.S. Army, entered basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and served as a gunner on a Humvee in Iraq in 2005. At the time of his death, he was a Sergeant with the 82nd Airborne 1-508 PIR (Parachute Infantry Regiment) Delta Company at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Sergeant Alexander Van Aalten, an infantryman with the “All American” division, was posthumously presented the Netherlands Decoration of Merit of the Minister of Defense in Gold before the Van Aalten family and members of the division. Dutch Minister of Defense Eimert Van Middelkoop presented the award to Van Aalten’s wife – Shana, inside the museum where the names of valiant Soldiers of the past are scribed on the walls for history.
“Here we remember the brave Sergeant Alexander Van Aalten, who gave his life in Afghanistan serving his country, striving for peace and helping his Dutch colleagues,” said Van Middelkoop.
Van Aalten, a Cookeville, Tennessee, native was attempting to recover a Dutch soldier who died in a mine field on April 20, where he also would suffer that same fate.
Had a great walk today. The weather started out a little wet but got better as the day went. I want to thank everyone who honked and waved in helping me honor this hero. You all are just amazing. It is great to see so many of you help me honor the heroes. Thank You
He will NOT be forgotten.
