Family, friends mourn fallen Carol Stream soldier

More than 75 friends, family members and brothers in arms gathered at Bartlett High School's flagpole Friday to salute a fallen hero.

Leonard J. "Lenny" Gulczynski, a 19-year-old private first class from Carol Stream, died Wednesday from injuries in Baghdad when his Humvee was in an accident.

The firstborn son of a close-knit family was also the first soldier who signed up at the Army's Schaumburg recruiting station to die in the war.

"It hurts," said Sgt. First Class Chris Gosizk. "He's the first one we lost."

Staff Sgt. Yvonne Kennedy, Gulczynski's recruiter, ran to embrace Gulczynski's mother Jackie, tears streaming down both women's faces.

The women swayed back and forth together for minutes in almost total silence.

A dozen steps away, a cluster of Lenny's Bartlett High School pals were locked in a similar embrace.

"We're just shocked," said Rosie Aiello of Bartlett. "Of all people, our friend."

Lenny Gulczynski graduated from Bartlett High in June 2007 and entered the Army immediately thereafter, his father Michael said.

Based at Fort Lewis, Wash., he was assigned to the 610th Engineer Support Company, 14th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade.

"He looked so handsome," Lenny's mother, Jackie, said of her son in his Army uniform.

The service was a proud tradition for the family, with Michael serving in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Germany during the 1970s and 80s. Michael's father was an Army engineer.

The Gulczynskis learned Wednesday afternoon that their son had died.

"Two soldiers came walking up to our door at 2:30 yesterday. I knew exactly what it was," Michael said Thursday night.

Michael said that the Army explained to the family that Lenny, who was positioned on top of an Army Humvee in Baghdad, had a head-on collision with a civilian vehicle and was ejected.

"He never made it to the hospital," Michael said.

He leaves behind two younger siblings, 15-year-old Jackie, and 12-year-old Mike.

Gulczynski was a graduate of Spring Trail Elementary School in Carol Stream and Eastview Middle School in Bartlett before heading to Bartlett High.

The school honored Lenny with a moment of silence Thursday morning.

Bartlett Hawks' wide receiver/defensive back Steve Seeman, who wears No. 9 this season, approached football coaches last night about retiring the number, which was Lenny's when he played on the team, Athletic Director Dan Kallenbach said.

Though he loved football, it was on the volleyball court where Gulczynski truly shone, coaches and teammates said.

"He was a middle hitter, a good blocker with a build for the game," said teammate Craig Damm, of Hanover Park. "He always played with heart."

Bartlett High officials placed a flower arrangement along with a photo of Lenny at the school's flagpole and is flying its flags at half staff for the next several days, Principal Kevin Skinkis said.

The Army and American flags in the Gulczynskis' front yard were also at half-staff Friday afternoon.

"We're so proud of him," Jackie said. "We could shout it from the rooftops that he died serving his country."

Whether the family supports the current war or not is of little relevance today, Jackie said."Whether we believe in the war has nothing to do with this," she said. "He chose to go in because he chose to go in. He always, always wanted to serve his country."

The Army told the Gulczynskis that their son's body will return to the U.S. in seven to 10 days, heading first to Delaware to be identified and autopsied. He will then be flown home for a military burial, Jackie said.

"It's so difficult right now," she said, "to just be in limbo and waiting."