Veterans' Memorial Project

Brian Donatus Slavenas

Genoa, IL

Operation Iraqi Freedom

Mr. Slavenas was killed when a U.S. Army Ch-47 Chinook helicopter in which he was a co-pilot was shot down by enemy fire west of Baghdad, near Fallujah. He was one of 16 soldiers killed and 20 wounded in the attack. He was a member of F Company, 106th Aviation Battalion of the Army National Guard, based at the Greater Peoria Airport and had been in Iraq since July, 2003 and in the Middle East since April, 2003. After high school, Brian became a paratrooper with the U.S. Army. After completing his tour of duty, he then joined the same unit of the Army National Guard that his father was in. He later completed Officer Candidate School from April, 1999 through August, 2000 and decided to become a helicopter pilot. He learned to fly from the University of Illinois’ Institute of Aviation, completing certifications as a private pilot, commercial pilot and flight instructor. In Iraq, he flew dignitaries, soldiers, Iraqi prisoners and equipment. Brian is buried at Genoa, Illinois and posthumously received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
The University of Illinois Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering has established the Brian Slavenas IIE Outstanding Member Award and Scholarship Fund to honor his memory. The award will be given annually to a member of the student chapter of the Institute of Industrial Engineers who shows exceptional commitment to the industrial engineering program at the University of Illinois. The Brian Slavenas Scholarships will be available to students enrolled in industrial engineering.

– taken from local newspapers, University of Illinois sources, and information submitted by Friedrich Josellis ’95 LAS, friend