Craig S. Ivory

PORT MATILDA, PA -- Specialist Craig S. Ivory, U.S. Army, 26, died in Homberg, Germany, Sunday of non-hostile injuries incurred while serving as a medic with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Kirkuk, Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Born Jan. 24, 1977 in Charleston, S.C., he was the son of CWO4 Patrick J. Ivory, U.S. Navy, Retired, of Port Matilda and Mary Kay Ivory, a former U.S. Navy nurse, of Hamilton Square.

Spec. Ivory attended State College Area High School and graduated in 1996. He lettered in football, ran relay in track and field and participated in wrestling, played clarinet in the concert band and enjoyed weight lifting.

He joined the U.S. Army in January 1997 and attended basic training at Fort Knox, KY, advanced individual training at Fort Jackson, SC, and paratrooper school at Fort Benning, GA. He served a one year tour in Pusan, Korea, before returning to the Fort Campbell, KY. He re-enlisted there and was transferred to Fort Sam Houston, TX, where he changed his military occupation to be a medic. He then served at Fort Bliss, TX, providing medical support to a Patriot Missile Battalion. He again re-enlisted there and was transferred to the 501st Forward Support Company of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vicenza, Italy in August 2002. In March of 2003, the 173rd Airborne Brigade made a combat jump in to Northern Iraq. Spec. Ivory provided direct support to injured troops while working in the trauma unit and periodically went on patrol missions as the direct medical support for an infantry platton.

His service awards and decorations included the U.S. Army Achievement Medal (two awards), National Defense Service Medal, U.S. Army Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon (two awards), U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal, Bronze Star, U.S. Army Commendation Medal (ARCOM) and Parachutist Badge along with serveral Unit Awards. Additionally, other medals and awards are pending.

He intended to make the U.S. Army a career. As one of his closest aunts' said, "Craig died serving his country and doing what he loved best, taking care of his fellow soldiers."

Spec. Ivory's two greatest hobbies while serving in the U.S. Army were bull riding, where he won in some minor rodeo's and being part of the base wrestling team in Vicenza. He had hoped to be part of the U.S. Army bull riding and wrestling teams in Europe. Upon completing his tour in Iraq, he had planned to attend college through the U.S. Army Opportunity College.

He is survived by his parents and his stepmother, HMCS Teresa Ivory, U.S. Navy, Retired; his brother Brandon of Hamilton Square; his brother Sean and sister Amanda of Port Matilda, PA, who are students of the State College Area High School. He is also survived by his grandparents, Bernard C. Dennies and Mary K. Dennis of Parsippany; and his stepgrandparents, William and Phyllis Dunn of Land O'Lakes, FL. He is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles and cousins throughout the eastern and southern states. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Peter F. Ivory Sr. and Margaret M. (Fitzgerald) Ivory of Honesdale, PA, and his uncle, HMC(SS) Peter F. Ivory Jr., U.S. Navy Retired of Uncasville, CT.

Visitation will be held at the Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College, PA, 3-6 p.m. Sunday.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Good Sheperd Catholic Church, 867 Gray's Woods Blvd., State College, PA, 9:30 a.m. Monday with the Reverend Philip M. Bender officiating. Interment will be at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, RR #2, Annville, PA, with full military honors 2 p.m. Monday.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to be sent to the Landstuhl Fisher House at the Landstuhl Army Medical Center. The Landstuhl Army Fisher House is a non profit lodge that provides comfort, caring and compassion for families of injured military personnel so that the families can be with their servicemen and women during their time of recovery or their last days. Donations in Craig's name may be sent to the Landstuhl Fisher House, CMR 402 Box 669, APO, AE 09180.