FOGELSVILLE, PA, USA U.S. Army CPT, COMPANY B, 4TH BATTALION, 227TH AVIATION, FORT HOOD, TX NAJAF, IRAQ 01/28/2007
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Silver Star Medal (Posthumously) to Mark T. Resh, Captain, U.S. Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Pilot of an AH-64D Longbow Apache Helicopter with the 4th Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, during combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, on 28 January 2007, near An Najaf, Iraq. On that date, Captain Resh was dispatched to the city of An Najaf to assist and support coalition troops who had come in contact with enemy forces. Arriving support aircraft was attacked with heavy machine gun fire and rocket propelled grenades and Captain Resh placed his helicopter in the direct line of enemy fire so that another air crew that was under attack could maneuver out of danger. Over the next fifteen minutes he bravely flew in the face of intense enemy fire to support the coalition ground forces until his aircraft was struck and crashed, killing Captain Resh.
Captain Mark T. Resh, 28, of Killen, Texas, formerly of Lowhill Township, Fogelsville, Pa., died January 28, 2007 in a helicopter crash in Iraq. Born in Allentown, he was the son of Charles T. and Carol A. (White) Resh, who reside in Fogelsville. Captain Resh was an S/4 logistical officer piloting American Apache Helicopters assigned to the 4th Attack Recon Battalion 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Air Division.
A 1996 graduate of Northwestern Lehigh High School, he was a member of the National Honor Society, Math Club, Student Council and captain of the varsity soccer team in his senior year. He went on to the University of Pittsburgh, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude, achieving a bachelors degree in engineering in 2001. During his college education, he pursued a summer internship with the Navy Research Labs in Virginia.
He was a Boy Scout with Troop 72, Fogelsville, earning his Eagle Scout in 1995. He was a member of Morgenland United Church of Christ, Orefield.
Survivors: Along with his parents, brother, Matthew E. Resh of Wheeling, Ill.; maternal grandmother, Mrs. Nancy Weiner of Whitehall; companion, Theresa L. Posey of Killeen, Texas