Ivica Jerak

</noinclude>Ivica Jerak (October 12, 1962 - August 25, 2005) was a soldier in the United States Army.

Early Life
Jerak was born in Debeljak, Croatia on October 12, 1962. He graduated from the Center for Education of Personnel, Zadar, former Republic of Yugoslavia in July, 1981.

Military Service
He first entered the U.S. Army as a combat medic on January 19, 1988 and went to Basic Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Medical Specialist Training at Fort Sam, Houston. He was then assigned to the 3d Platoon, 690th Medical Company. He also served in the 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group and the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group.
Military Education included Pathfinder Course, the Ranger Course, the Basic Airborne Course, the Static Line Jumpmaster Course, the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course, the Special Operations Medical Course, the Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Course, the Military Freefall Course, the Jumpmaster Course, and the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course.
Jerak was killed along with two other soldiers, Corporal Timothy M. Shea, 22, and Sergeant Frst Class Trevor J. Diesing, when an IED exploded near their position on August 25, 2005, in Husaybah, Western Iraq.

Burial
Sergeant Jerak was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery on 9 September 2005. He is survived by his wife, Hye Jerak, and his mother, Milka Jerak.

Military Awards
Jerak was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star with Valor Device, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Purple Heart.
U.S. military decorations
Bronze Star ×4 (one with Valor device)
Purple Heart ×2
Meritorious Service Medal ×3
Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor device
Army Commendation Medal ×4
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Presidential Unit Citation
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Army Superior Unit Award
Army Good Conduct Medal ×5
National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star
Armed Forces Service Medal
NCO Professional Development Ribbon with numeral three
U.S. service (campaign) medals and service and training ribbons
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with 2 bronze service stars
NATO Medal (second award)
Liberation of Kuwait Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Liberation of Kuwait Medal (Kuwait)
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
U.S. badges, patches and tabs
Special Forces Tab
Ranger Tab
Combat Infantryman Badge
Expert Field Medical Badge
Pathfinder Badge
Military Freefall Jumpmaster Badge
Senior Parachutist Badge
Driver-Mechanic Badge

Other honors
A school in his hometown of Debeljak was provided with educational materiel by the U.S. Special Operations Command Europe with assistance from the U.S. Embassy in Croatia and U.S. European Command in his honor.

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See Also

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