FT. WAYNE NEWSPAPERS ARTICLE ON SCOTT ZUBOWSKI

HERE IS THE TEST OF THE ARTICLE ABOUT SCOTT ZUBOWSKI PUBLISHED IN THE FT. WAYNE NEWSPAPERS THAT JUNIOR AND HIS GRANDMOTHER WERE INTERVIEWED FOR:



Posted on Tue, Nov. 15, 2005

Zubowski: Killed by roadside explosion in Iraq


Family recalls life of slain Marine

Being a soldier was a lifelong goal for Scott Zubowski, 20, of North Manchester.By Becky Manleybmanley@news-sentinel.com


Lance Cpl. Scott Zubowski was a patriot who wanted to be a soldier since he was a child, so he joined the Marines after graduating from North Manchester High School in 2003.


Scott Zubowski’s mother, Barb Weitzel of New Castle, learned of her son’s death Saturday from Marine officials. Her first instinct was to close the door to her home, to refuse to hear the words they would say.

“I knew it would be bad,” Weitzel said.

But she had two sons serving in Iraq, and one question was burning a hole in her heart.
“I said, ‘Which one?’ ”

That’s when Weitzel heard that it was Scott, not his older brother David, who was killed. The 20-year-old died after a roadside bomb exploded beneath his military vehicle near Fallujah, in Iraq’s Al Anbar province.

Weitzel is now eager to speak of Scott, to share those memories that flood her mind.

“He would just talk and laugh and hug. I was just proud to have him as a son,” Weitzel said.
Scott Zubowski was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq. His first lasted from February to October in 2004. Before returning to Iraq, he decided he wanted to marry his high-school sweetheart, Klancey Eberly.

Because her son was still so young, Weitzel asked Scott if he was sure he couldn’t live without Eberly. His response: “I can live without her, Mom, I just don’t want to.”
The couple wed Dec. 18. In July, Zubowski left again for Iraq.

Weitzel had her last conversation with her son about two weeks ago. Zubowski always spoke about generalities — the weather, the food and whether he was bored.
“He was a good mother’s son,” said Weitzel. “He never forgot his mom.”

Scott decided to become a Marine when he was an eighth-grader, after his brother, David, graduated from Marine basic training, said Zubowski’s father, Richard Zubowski of North Manchester. Father and son traveled to San Diego for the graduation ceremony, and the elder Zubowski saw how his son was impressed with the “pomp and circumstance” of the ceremony.
“I’m saddened by the loss, but I know he was doing what he wanted to do,” Zubowski said. “Scott did want to do something to serve his country and the Marine Corps was his only choice.”
Although Scott Zubowski intended to rise in the Marine ranks, he wanted to earn the respect given to enlisted Marines who become officers rather than skipping the grunt work by entering the ROTC program.

“Scott’s goal ... was he was going to be an officer, but he was going to go from the bottom up,” Richard Zubowski said.


Rick Post, Jr., a longtime friend, first met Zubowski in junior high. The two shared similar tastes in movies, TV shows and humor. By their senior year at Manchester High School, they were co-captains on the school’s cross country team. Post remembers that before a meet, Zubowski would lead the team in a prayer.

Post also remembers Zubowski talking about his desire to be a Marine. “As long as I can remember he wanted to follow in his older brother’s footsteps.”


Post’s grandmother, Louise A. Johnson of Fort Wayne, has vivid memories of Zubowski, who was among a group of friends Post would bring to her St. Joe Center Road home for weekend visits during high school.

“Scott was a person that, if you ever met him like I did, you would never forget him,” said Johnson.

One memory in particular remains vivid in Johnson’s mind. It happened one of those weekends when she had served dinner to her grandson and his friends. After dinner, Zubowski remained at the dinner table and talked to Johnson while his friends went off to play video games. Zubowski told Johnson about his friendship with her grandson, their shared interests, and about his life.

“He and I sat here at the table and talked,” said Johnson. She said most of the other boys were shy, but Zubowski seemed more mature.

Johnson heard of Zubowski’s death from a TV newscast Monday.

“I’d give anything to have Scott sitting back at my table,” said a tearful Johnson. “Those memories are just so precious.”

Another older brother, Brian Zubowski of Huntington, survives Scott Zubowski.

Four other Marines were in Zubowski’s vehicle. Of those, one was killed, one was critically injured, and two others were slightly injured.

Funeral arrangements for Zubowski are pending. Services will be held in North Manchester.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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