Area soldier dies in Iraq

By Molly Miron

Pioneer Editor

CASS LAKE--The flag at Cass Lake-Bena High School hangs at half-staff mourning the death of Dwayne Bellanger McFarlane, a member of the Class of 2002.

Spc. McFarlane, 20, was killed Sunday when his patrol was hit by a roadside bomb, an improvised explosive device, or IED. He was on foot near Baghdad Sunday when the bomb went off, Pentagon spokesman Khalid Walls said in a press release.

McFarlane was raised from the time he was 6 years old by his uncle and aunt, Don Bellanger and Alvera Reyes of Cass Lake. He was a member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. Don Bellanger said the military officer who visited with the news said Dwayne didn’t suffer.

“It’s still pretty tough, the initial shock,” Bellanger said Monday. “He’s my youngest.”

However, he said Dwayne wanted to be a soldier and understood the dangers. He entered the Army about 18 months ago and was in his third tour of duty in Iraq, Bellanger said.

“That’s what he wanted to do. I am so proud of him,” Bellanger said. “He was over defending our country and our way of life. He was proud of the fact that he was over there trying to do the best for us. We paid our ultimate price with our young man.”

Dwayne was a Cass Lake-Bena High School athlete, excelling in running sports and basketball. He was a member of the 2000-01 basketball team that competed in the state tournament at the Target Center in the Twin Cities.

“He got two points at state,” Bellanger said.

Sue Chase, Cass Lake-Bena 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade English teacher, recalled Dwayne’s leadership abilities.

“He could take a class any direction he wanted to go with his leadership skills,” she said.

She also said Dwayne often had “a little bit of mischief” in him.

“He had a really good sense of humor, a crazy sense of humor,” said Luann Frazer, Cass Lake-Bena Indian education director. “He always had that look in his eye that he knew something you didn’t.”

She said Dwayne was also quiet and respectful. She said he was the first Cass Lake soldier killed in action since John Smith was one of the last Vietnam casualties. Dwayne is also the 11th Minnesotan killed in the Iraq war.

“He knew that the military is where he wanted to be,” said Tom Goodman, a Cass Lake-Bena sophomore and friend of Dwayne. “That was his calling.”

“Everything he did he did 100 percent,” said Jordan Robinson, Cass Lake-Bena junior. “He was a good friend. When he opens up with you, he won’t stop.”

Bellanger said Dwayne was home on leave in August and September.

“He saw quite a few of his friends getting shot in a Humvee, so they made him come home for a few weeks,” Bellanger said. He said Dwayne chose to return to Iraq.

“He knew, he understood the dangers. He was aware of them, but he was always on the up beat. He’d say, ‘Don’t worry about me,’” Bellanger said.

He said Dwayne’s service would have been complete in the spring. “He said, ‘I have my education paid for.’ He felt free,” Bellanger said.

He said Dwayne’s body is scheduled to arrive in Dover, Md., today, and come home soon after. Bellanger said the family is thinking of asking to hold the funeral at the high school.

“It’s pretty traumatic for Cass Lake,” said Goodman.

“It’s a tragedy, but at the same time, Dwayne loved his country and he wanted to protect it,” said Frazer. “He was an honorable warrior.”