LUDOWICI -- A tree dedication ceremony Thursday on Fort Stewart's Warriors Walk will honor former Long County resident, Sgt. Charles Andrew Jankowski.
Jankowski was killed on the battlefield when a bomb exploded near where his route clearance team was working on March 28.
The sergeant was the primary operator of a Husky, which is a large mine detection vehicle that resembles a fast-moving bulldozer, as part of a larger team.
He was assigned to Fort Stewart, but had bought land and was living in Long County before being sent to Iraq.
According to his battalion commander, Lt. Col. David Kennedy, the soldier was known and loved for being polite and well mannered with kids, and never saying no. Kennedy also said Jankowski's, Ludowici home was a popular spot with his neighbors and maintenance buddies for barbecues and cookouts.
The 24-year-old, who was known as "Ski," was born in Panama City, Fla., and loved all kinds of trucks, especially his own Ford F-150 crew cab with its mini-monster tires and Dukes of Hazzard horn.
Ski loved nothing better than loading his four-wheeler in the back of his truck, and heading into the woods for a day of riding.
Jankowski was a member of the Headquarters Company, 2-3 Brigade Troops Battalion, and, according to his company commander, Capt. Michael Lenart, the soldier was very proficient at his job and was a fine soldier.
The captain also said, Jankowski was, "simply a solid soldier, whom a unit's foundation is built upon."
Lenart said that Jankowski was brave and a good friend to those close to him.
Jankowski's memorial service was on April 3 in Panama City and one of his dear friends and fellow soldier, Spc. Adam Rodriguez spoke:
"Ski was a great friend to me. If I ever needed anything, no matter how small it was, he always wanted to help me.
"Ski will never be forgotten, and when I'm back home doing the things Ski would enjoy I will remember the good times we had."
The ceremony tomorrow will start at 9:30 a.m. at Warrior's Walk, with the arrival of the soldier's mother Rosalie, and the other members of his family. Anyone from Long County or Liberty County wishing to attend the ceremony is asked to be on the premises at 9 a.m. The memorial is adjacent to Cottrell Field.
Jankowski was killed on the battlefield when a bomb exploded near where his route clearance team was working on March 28.
The sergeant was the primary operator of a Husky, which is a large mine detection vehicle that resembles a fast-moving bulldozer, as part of a larger team.
He was assigned to Fort Stewart, but had bought land and was living in Long County before being sent to Iraq.
According to his battalion commander, Lt. Col. David Kennedy, the soldier was known and loved for being polite and well mannered with kids, and never saying no. Kennedy also said Jankowski's, Ludowici home was a popular spot with his neighbors and maintenance buddies for barbecues and cookouts.
The 24-year-old, who was known as "Ski," was born in Panama City, Fla., and loved all kinds of trucks, especially his own Ford F-150 crew cab with its mini-monster tires and Dukes of Hazzard horn.
Ski loved nothing better than loading his four-wheeler in the back of his truck, and heading into the woods for a day of riding.
Jankowski was a member of the Headquarters Company, 2-3 Brigade Troops Battalion, and, according to his company commander, Capt. Michael Lenart, the soldier was very proficient at his job and was a fine soldier.
The captain also said, Jankowski was, "simply a solid soldier, whom a unit's foundation is built upon."
Lenart said that Jankowski was brave and a good friend to those close to him.
Jankowski's memorial service was on April 3 in Panama City and one of his dear friends and fellow soldier, Spc. Adam Rodriguez spoke:
"Ski was a great friend to me. If I ever needed anything, no matter how small it was, he always wanted to help me.
"Ski will never be forgotten, and when I'm back home doing the things Ski would enjoy I will remember the good times we had."
The ceremony tomorrow will start at 9:30 a.m. at Warrior's Walk, with the arrival of the soldier's mother Rosalie, and the other members of his family. Anyone from Long County or Liberty County wishing to attend the ceremony is asked to be on the premises at 9 a.m. The memorial is adjacent to Cottrell Field.