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NEWS

NU community mourns death of alumnus Robert Soltes in Iraq war

By John Higgins
Norwich Guidon Asst. Campus Editor

On Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004 Norwich alumnus of the class of 1990 U.S. Army Maj. Charles Robert Soltes was killed when the Humvee he and six other soldiers were traveling in was ambushed by hostile forces. Soltes was one of two soldiers who died in the blast. The other five soldiers were all injured.

Soltes majored in biology at Norwich University. He was a member of the Corps of Cadets and the rugby club. Soltes is the first NU alumnus to die in Iraq.

Norwich President Richard Schneider said, “All of us in the Norwich family, whether we knew Rob personally or not, grieve over the loss over one of our own.”

Soltes leaves behind his wife, Sally Huong Dang, their two sons, Ryan, 7, and Brandan, 9, and his parents, Charles and Nancy Soltes.

Echo Taps will be performed in his honor Thursday, 21 October 2004, at 11 pm. This ceremony is open to the entire Norwich and local communities. In addition, Schneider has directed that all flags on campus be flown at half-mast on Friday, October 22. Norwich University will hold a Memorial Service for Soltes in White Chapel on Wednesday, October 27, 2004.

Funeral Service will be held Friday, Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. at the San Juan Capistrano Mission, 13414 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

The class 1990 has established a scholarship fund to be awarded in Soltes’ honor. Contributions can be made payable to Norwich University Class of 1990 Rob Soltes’ Scholarship.

For more information, please contact Tony Venti, Norwich Director of Public Affairs at 802.485.2080 or pubrel@norwich.edu.

The Norwich Guidon is a twice-monthly student newspaper distributed at Norwich University. It provides laboratory experience for students in the Communications program. Claims asserted by letter writers, editorials and other articles do not represent the positions of Norwich University. The Norwich Guidon welcomes signed letters to the editor. They should be no longer than 300 words. Unsigned letters will not be printed, but names may be withheld upon worthy request. All letters are subject to editing for length and good taste. Mailing address: The Norwich Guidon, Communications Center, Norwich University, 158 Harmon Dr, Northfield, VT 05663. www.norwich.edu/guidon.