Last Known Activity:
SFC Gary Streeter died in a helicopter crash.  His helicopter was transporting the remains of Soldiers who died in another helicopter crash back to port. The helicopter went back into Kuwait and when the crew became disoriented it was shot down.
SFC Streeter was laid to rest at the Fort Riley Post Cemetery, Fort Riley, Kansas. He was survived by his two daughters.
Honors:
There is an American Legion Post in Prescott Valley, Arizona named after him.
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Streeter honored posthumously
By John Zitzelberger
Born in Kingman, a graduate of Kingman High School, Sgt 1st Class Gary Eugene Street [sic] was honored Tuesday for his place among the Americans who died in their country's service during the war with Iraq, the only one from Kingman to make that sacrifice.
"I came up here to honor a soldier," said Maj. Gen Paul Menoher, commander fo the military intelligence unit at Fort Huachuca.
Gary Streeter and his brother, Steve, joined the Army at the same time, in December 1970. Steve served four years, while Gary made it his career. Another brother, Randy, is currently in the service stationed at West Point, N.Y. Their father, Wellington, served in the Navy between 1945 and 1948.
"Soldiers make the commitment to serve freedom and defend it if necessary," Menoher said. He "junped at the chance" to participate in Wednesday's ceremony, held at the Veterans fo Foreign Wars Post 10386, and to present Streeter's parents with some of his medals, ribbons, and awards.
The Army's Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross and the Master Aircraft Crewman Badge are the awards that span the course of a 21-year career.
It began December 22, 1970, when he joined, and ended February 27, 1991, when he died in a helicopter, shot down in the Persian Gulf war hours before the ceasefire.
On Wednesday, the Army presented the Purple Heart, Air Medal, Bronze Star and an American flag to Streeter's parent [sic] for his service that day in February.
"He volunteered for a mission to recover the remains of other soldiers who had been killed," Menoher said. "he knew it was dangerous, but he also knew somebody had to go, and he volunteered to do it, and was killed in the process."
The past few months have been a time of rejoicing for many Americans , whose lives remain relatively unchanged since the end of the war.
For Gary Steeter's [sic] family, the months have been agonizing.
"These past few months have been too much," mother Zelda Streeter said.
While family and friends gathered following the short ceremony, she explained that Steve Streeter would build a case to display the awards. Words of more meaning, but of less concrete subjects, were harder to come by.
"It was a nice service," she told Menoher.
Gary Streeter's last assignment was in Fort Riley, Kan. From there he was attached to the 4th Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized), the "Bigh Red On," on Jan. 11, 1991.
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Prescott soldier's widow gives us all a lesson
By Steve Lee
The Prescott Courier
Anyone who has not gone to a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Prescott National Cemetery has missed a chance to learn some valuable lessons.
This year I learned several lessons: never complain, maintain self-control, perseverance and resourcefulness.
It is a soldier's right to complain, it has been said
Gary never did.
Some say there comes a time to lose control.
Gary often showed by example how to maintain self-control while things where [sic] falling apart all around him.
When something was broken around the house or in his helicopter maintenance unit, Gary found a way to fix it.
Rose Streeter, his wife, came to Prescott last Thursday, May 30, for the Prescott National Cemetery Memorial Day observance dedicated to her husband, 1st Sgt [sic] Gary Streeter, the only Prescott native killed in the Persian Gulf War.
I had waited weeks for the opportunity to meet Rose. And when I met her I received a bonus, meeting Staff Sgt. Roy Benner, Gary's best friend, who had graciously accompanied Rose to Presoctt. In coming here, he left his own family to honor Rose and Gary.
This year's Memorial Day service was dedicated to Gary Streeter, who died while flying over Iraq in a Blackhawk helicopter to bring back the bodies of several fallen soldiers. His helicopter was shot down only four hours before the U.s. and allied troops ceased hostilities.
Gary's life was not wasted, however, because he died the way he lived, helping others.
Rose praised the Prescott Memorial Day observance, saying it far surpassed the service given at Fort Riley, Kan., in giving honor to those who died in the Persian Gulf War. Gary was stationed at Fort Riley with the 1st Infantry Division, also known as the "Big Red On," before he was sent to Saudi Arabia.
Back in Manhattan, Kan., Rose and her girls, Tonya, 17, and Amy, 13, are beginning to deal iwth Gary's death.
"We're takint it one day at a time," Rose said.
Some of Gary's friends made it back from the war in one piece but they feel guilty and have avoided visiting her.
"They think if they come see me I'll cry, break down and never come back," she said.
She did cry when she heard of Gary's death. She cried a lot.
While Gary's best friend Roy Benner was still in Saudi Arabia, his wife and other firends in the tightly-knit 1st Infantry Division community often came and stayed up with her late into the night until she could go to sleep. They would come in shiftw, some to cry awith her, some just to be available if Rose should need something.
Roy came to visit weeks after Gary died in the Persian Gulf War. He couldn't come any sooner, for he had also been at war in the Persian Gulf.
It will hurt for a long time, she said, but she's going to make it.
She and Gary had planned to go to Disneyland this August. She still plans on taking the girls, and she'll pass through Prescott on her way there.
The way Rose tells it, she has a home in Manhattan, and she must carry on. The girls still have to go to school, bills have to paid [sic] and situations have to be dealt with without complaining.
But not without memories. They will never fade, she said. However, the tearful memories are gradually being replaced by the happy, warm ones.
Recently, when one of the girls needed surgery, Rose began to think, "Not again. First my husband, now my daughter."
Then she remembered how Gary would have handled the situation if he were there. "No whingin," she thought. She smiled to herself and relaxed, feeling calm and confident.
No other wife from Prescott knows what it feels like to lose a husband in the Persian Gulf War. But she had Gary.
No other pair of daughers from Prescott knows what it feels like to lose a father in the Persain Gulf War. But they had Gary.
Rose continues to lead her family in the manner she learned from Gary - no complaining, maintaining self-control, and with perseverance and resourcefulness.
Only one tribute seems appropriate to convey the respect I feel for Rose, Tonya and Amy, and all the other fmilitary families who carry on so bravely when one of their own dies.
Rose, although I'm not in a service uniform, I salute you.
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