Friendly Fire - Friendly Driver

PAUL CLARKING VOELKE

The death of Major Paul Clark Voelke another cover up? Why the news now almost a month later? Still barely mentioning the idiocy behind the unnecessary orphaning of his 2 young sons? This is how the obits read all over the internet: (no mention of the bone head move that apparently killed him? Hit by his own team's motor vehicle? Isnt it amazing how far reaching the control is of the Pentagon's news...TV only mentions his award winning life...but the fact is...the only thing sadder than a father loosing his life and leaving his 8 year old boy for one...is the denial...a stupid war all the medals in the world cant give these people the eyes to see he shouldnt have been ther ein the first place. Im sorry to say that...but Ive been saying it since before the THEATRE of 911 was commenced.):

June 15, 1976 - June 22, 2012

Monroe, NY

Major Paul Clarke Voelke, 36, was killed June 22 in Mazari-Sharif, Afghanistan. Paul was born June 15, 1976 in Manhasset, NY to Lorraine and Erich Voelke. A 1994 graduate of Monroe-Woodbury High School, Major Voelke attended the United States Military Academy at West Point graduating in 1998 with a Bachelor's degree in European History and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army.

Major Voelke served 14 years as an Infantry Officer and over the course of his career earned several honors and awards including the Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Joint Service Commendation Medal. As a Captain, he was selected for the Joint Chief of Staff's Internship where he earned his graduate degree from Georgetown University with a Master's of Policy Management in 2007. Major Voelke was a veteran of Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo as well as four tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and last served as the Executive Officer for 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Paul is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 12 years, the former Traci Maultasch, also of Monroe, and his two sons, Andrew (AJ) 8, and Benjamin 6. He is also survived by his mother and father, Lorraine and Richard Griffenkranz; grandmother, Virginia Carolan; brothers, Christopher Voelke and Thomas Griffenkranz; sister, Christine Griffenkranz Macleary; mother-in-law, Bonnie Maultasch; sister-in-law, Shannon Voelke; brothers-in-law, Adam Maultasch and Michael Macleary, and many loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Paul is preceded in death by his father, Erich Voelke and his father-in-law, David Maultasch.

A wake will be held in Major Voelke's honor Thursday, July 5, at Smith, Seaman & Quackenbush, Inc. Funeral Home, 117 Maple Avenue, Monroe, NY from 4 to 8 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, July 6, at Chapel of The Most Holy Trinity, 699 Washington Road, West Point, NY. A burial will follow in West Point Cemetery, Washington Road, West Point.

In lieu of flowers, the Voelke family requests donations be sent to the following address: Paul Voelke Memorial Fund, Bryan Bank & Trust, P.O. Box 1299, Richmond Hill, GA 31324.