CATTARAUGUS, NY, USA
U.S. Army
SGT, COMPANY B, 2D BATTALION, 14TH INFANTRY, 2 BCT, FORT DRUM, NY
BAGHDAD, IRAQ 12/25/2006
In high school, Jason C. Denfrund’s size and aggressiveness earned him a spot on the varsity football team as a sophomore – a pretty unusual occurrence.
Jason was one of those kids who would constantly bother us as a staff because he was always asking if somebody could let him into the weight room, said his coach, Tim Miller. He worked hard at lifting weights.
Denfrund, 24, of Cattaraugus, N.Y., was killed by a roadside bomb Dec. 25 in Baghdad. He was a 2000 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Drum.
He was always outspoken, always had a comment, said his stepfather, Randy Wienk.
Denfrund, 6-foot and 240 pounds, ran track and was named to the first-team offense of The Buffalo News’ Division VIII football honor roll. He enlisted in the Army in June 2001, served tours in Germany and Kosovo, and was on his second tour of Iraq.
I wish I would have expressed more appreciation toward Jason, said Russell Parisi, a friend. I don’t know if he actually felt appreciation from his best friends, that he was fighting for us.
Sergeant Denfrund, age 24, hailed from Cattaraugus, NY. He was killed by a roadside bomb on Christmas Day 2006 in Baghdad.
Denfrund is survived by his wife, Melissa; a son, Jayden; and a stepdaughter, Chloe.