Second Santa Barbara News Press Story

Friends ensure commando's baby son remembers dad
6/3/05
By NORA K. WALLACE
NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Ten-month-old Logan Argel will never know his father, Capt. Derek Argel, who was killed Monday in Iraq. But the fallen commando's legions of friends and loved ones are vowing to make sure the little boy will never lack photographs and good stories about his father.

In the captain's hometown of Lompoc, and his adopted military home in Florida, commemorative scrapbooks are being prepared and letters written detailing the life of the 28-year-old who died in a plane crash northwest of Baghdad.

At Cabrillo High School, where Capt. Argel was a water polo star and popular member of the student body before graduating in 1995, a memorial Web page has been created.

And at the Air Force Academy, where he graduated in 2001, the Capt. Derek Argel Memorial Award will now be given annually to the water polo athlete who demonstrates "perseverance and an incredible work ethic," attributes friends say the Special Tactics officer exhibited himself.

"His life was a testament to dedication, motivation, perseverance and joy in each day," said Suzanne Durbeck, director of Northwestern Preparatory School, where Capt. Argel studied before entering the academy.

Capt. Argel was assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron out of Florida and died along with three other U.S. airmen and an Iraqi pilot when their turboprop airplane crashed during a training mission in the eastern Diyala province.

Cabrillo High School special education teacher Katy Wallace, who attended Cabrillo with Capt. Argel, said he was an "all around good guy."


"Derek was the glue that held everybody together, his family, his friends," said Ms. Wallace, 28. "He was a gentle giant."


Ms. Wallace, along with fellow classmate Bobbi Swain Surra, hopes his friends send letters, mementos and photos for the scrapbook they're compiling for Logan.

"His little boy isn't even a year old," she said. "We thought it would be really neat if we made a scrapbook to say, 'This is the kind of person your dad was.' He'll never get that opportunity to know on his own."


Cabrillo classmate David Riley knew Capt. Argel for 18 years, and counted him as a best friend and brother. He set up the memorial Web site for the friend he called heroic.

"Derek would want us to share the good times and stories about him," he wrote in a tribute. "Logan should have solace that his father was such a wonderful soldier, American, friend, brother, cousin, grandchild, son and most importantly a father."


Capt. Argel was the first Air Force Academy water polo player lost in a combat situation, though the death was classified as non-hostile, said Jeff Ehrlich, the academy's coach. He credits the captain with helping recruit him to the military school and for encouraging the coach's daughter to attend as well.

"Everyone knows his name," Mr. Ehrlich said. "He was famous at the academy. He was such a likeable guy."


In his senior year, Capt. Argel achieved a grade point average of 3.5, despite having struggled to get his grades and test scores high enough to be admitted to the prestigious school, his former coach recalled. And in his senior year, he began boxing in the heavyweight division, and two months later competed in the Wing Open finals against men who had boxed for years. He lost in a split 2-to-1 decision to a former national champion, Mr. Ehrlich said.

"It was all heart and desire that he got himself there," Mr. Ehrlich recalled.

Former water polo classmates of the captain are also considering setting up a college fund for his son, the coach added.

Jeff Heidmous, the academy's assistant athletic director for athletic programs, said the young man would be remembered most for his "undying spirit and his endless sense of humor and contagious laugh."


He had been promoted to Captain the morning of his death and was due to return home in a couple of weeks, said Mr. Heidmous, who also attended Cabrillo High.

A Lompoc memorial service will be held at a later date, possibly in a few weeks, friends said.


e-mail: nwallace@newspress.com


IN MEMORY
To see the memorial Web page for Capt. Derek Argel, log onto: rileyd.chs.lusd.org.

To contribute items to the scrapbook, e-mail katyawal@yahoo.com or send them to Katy Wallace, Cabrillo High School, 4350 Constellation Ave., Lompoc, 93436.

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