Rock Valley Publishing
TAKE ONE
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Bensenville
Independent
FREE!
Summer Fitness Circuit
9 a.m. Saturday, Ma y 31 Breiter-Palm Park
Outdoor Aerobics
9 a.m. Saturday, Jun e 14 Rose Park
also serving Wood Dale
VOL. 22 • NO. 24
Fitness Dayz!
471550
FREE
Page 1
WWW.THEINDEPENDENTNEWSPAPERS.COM
BvilleParks.org/Pa
rk-N-Play
@BvilleParks
THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2025
Bensenville resident serves as Grand Marshal for Elmhurst Memorial Day Parade Richard Duzinskas is a 2-time Purple Heart recipient, Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran
The Grand Marshal for El- day, was Bensenville resident and a two-time Purple Heart mhurst’s 107th Memorial Day Richard Duzinskas, an Oper- recipient. Parade, which was held Mon- ation Iraqi Freedom veteran Raised on the south side of Chicago, Duzinskas participated in an early enlistment program offered by the United States Army, enrolling in the summer of 2002, just before his senior year at Walther Lutheran High School in Melrose Park. One month after graduating from high school in 2003, Duzinskas left for Fort Knox, Kentucky, to begin his basic training and advanced individual training (AIT). After graduating from AIT at Fort Knox in December 2003, Duzinskas was assigned to Camp Hovey in South Korea, where he served until his first deployment to Iraq in July 2004. Duzinskas returned from his first deployment to Iraq in August 2005, to Fort Carson, Colorado, where he served until his second deployment to Iraq in early 2006.
He was injured in January 2007, while on patrol, when his Humvee was hit by seven large EFP (Explosively Formed Penetrator) bombs, which are designed to penetrate armor. Duz inskas was in the Humvee’s gunner turret, and three of his fellow soldiers were inside the vehicle. The driver and one dismount were killed instantly in the explosion. Duzinskas was transported by ground to a forward operating base, where he received emergency care to stabilize him for the chopper transport to Baghdad, then transported to a combat hospital in Balad, Iraq. He was then flown to Germany. From Germany, Duzinskas was flown to the United States. Duzinskas’ injuries were severe. His left arm was completely severed, and he sustained multiple shrapnel wounds to his entire left side. His left lung was punctured
cut in half and collapsed. He has had more than 50 surgeries to recon struct the arm, perform ten don transfers, skin graphs, bone fusions, etc., and is progressing well. His most recent surgery fused the remaining radius with the ulna in his left forearm. With all the hard work and excellent care provided by his doc tors, there is still a chance he could lose the arm. While in Germany, Duzinskas was visited by Nancy Pelosi, who was then the Speaker of the House of Representatives. She presented him with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol. Duzinskas has been awarded two Purple Hearts, the first of which was award ed in December 2006 for his actions during an ambush in which he took a ricochet bullet to the face but continued fighting. In 2008, Duzinskas retired from the Army and returned home to Chicago. He pur-
chased a home in unincorporated Bensenville in 2011 and still resides there. In 2015, Duzinskas joined an ice hockey team of veterans as a founding member. The team is now known as the Chicago Warriors. Duzinskas has always had a pas sion for hockey, which he played prior to joining the military. Duzinskas is an active member of the Elmhurst American Legion and father to 13-year-old Dominick. In his spare time, he enjoys 3-D printing, and has designed and customized a Can-Am Spyder—a three wheeled motorcycle—to reflect his military career. He rode that Can-Am Spyder in Monday’s parade. Duzinskas has also been featured in numerous medical publications regarding his surgeries, and in the book “Ghost Riders of Baghdad: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Myth of the Surge” by Daniel A. Sjursen.
SUBMITTED PHOTO Bensenville Independent
Bensenville resident Richard Duzinskas served as the Grand Marshal of Elmhurst’s 2025 Memorial Day Parade, which was held Monday. Duzinskas, a United States Army veteran, served two deployments in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his actions in combat in December 2006. Duzinskas was awarded another Purple Heart after he was seriously injured in January 2007, when his Humvee was hit by seven large bombs. Duzinskas is pictured here with his 13-year-old son, Dominick.
Inside:
Opinion.............................4 Police Reports �������������������8 Speak out...........................5 Sports......................... 14-16 SUBMITTED PHOTOS Bensenville Independent
Jim Geils Family Golf Night a success
White Pines Golf Club hosted its first Jim Geils Family Golf Night of the year on Sunday, May 18. More than 55 people took part in the event, which provides low fees and cart rentals, a value meal, forward tees and an easy pace for players of all ages and abilities. The next family golf night takes place from 4:30 p.m.-dusk on June 15.
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID ROCK VALLEY PUBLISHING LLC