Army Sgt. David “Travis” Friedrich, a proud Connecticut resident, was born on March 10, 1977, in Middlebury, Vermont, to David and Elizabeth Friedrich. A natural leader with a deep sense of purpose, Travis dedicated his life to both academics and service to his country. His journey took him from rural upstate New York, where he grew up with his two older sisters, to the battlefields of Iraq, where he made the ultimate sacrifice during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

After graduating from Gouverneur High School in 1995, Travis relocated to Connecticut, where he enrolled in the Delta Honors College at SUNY Brockport and earned a degree in criminal justice and chemistry. Following his studies, he moved to Naugatuck, Connecticut, while working full-time and pursuing a master’s degree in forensic science at the University of New Haven. Known for his relentless pursuit of knowledge, Travis also interned with the Ogdensburg Police Department and worked in Edinburgh, Scotland, creating a toxicology database for the Leeds and Borders Police Department.

Travis was committed to his military service. Joining the U.S. Army Reserve’s Military Intelligence Battalion, based out of Waterbury, Connecticut, Travis was deployed twice. His first deployment came after the September 11, 2001 attacks, and his second in early 2003, which sent him to Iraq. Serving with the 325th Military Intelligence Battalion, he was attached to the 205th Military Intelligence Brigade based in Wiesbaden, Germany.

In addition to his military and academic achievements, Travis was a gifted athlete and an avid runner. He captained his high school cross-country team, leading by example and making practices fun for everyone. He carried this passion throughout his life, completing the Burlington Marathon in Vermont in May 2001 and pursuing hobbies like downhill skiing and windsurfing.

On September 20, 2003, Sgt. David T. Friedrich was tragically killed in a mortar attack at the U.S. Army base near Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad. The loss of such a bright and compassionate individual was felt deeply by his family and community. His mother, Beth, finds solace in the strong bond they shared, remembering their final exchange of “I love you” before his deployment.

Travis’s parents, David and Beth Friedrich, who are longtime residents of Connecticut, now travel the East Coast on a fishing trawler, keeping their son’s ashes with them as a constant reminder of his spirit and sacrifice. “You are our moral compass,” his father wrote in a heartfelt tribute. “You are going with us as we travel… and we are seeing with our own eyes that this is still a country worth dying for.”

Sgt. David T. Friedrich’s legacy of leadership, humor, and selflessness continues to inspire all who knew him. His commitment to both his country and his community will never be forgotten, ensuring that his memory will live on for generations to come.