Robert Drelich of Wallington wanted to join the Marines so much after high school that he worked out until he was able to shed 150 pounds to qualify. He finally fulfilled his dream and in quick succession was posted to Lebanon, Iraq and then Afghanistan. But with nearly 10 years in the Marines, Sgt. Robert Drelich began suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and a shoulder wound that required surgery. His injuries forced him to join a battalion of wounded Marines near Camp Lejeune, N.C., six months ago.
On May 29, Drelich, 31, died at the North Carolina home he shared with his wife, Susan. The military is investigating the cause, but his brother, Greg, who is a Garfield police officer, said Drelich’s death was related to his heart. He will be buried with full military honors Saturday at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Saddle Brook. Greg Drelich said his brother was preparing to leave the service in July and decided to attend a law enforcement job fair in Raleigh, N.C., on May 29, the day he died. He thought he might try for a job as a police officer in North Carolina or in New Jersey. If that didn’t work out, he was going to return to William Paterson University to finish his teaching degree.
“He’s a humble guy who served his country proudly,” said Greg Drelich, who is the older brother by eight years.
Born in Passaic to Polish immigrants Jozef and Lucyna Drelich, Drelich played football and ran track at Wallington High School. But it wasn’t until after he graduated that he seriously began to consider the Marines. That’s when he started running regularly, working out and eating less, and eventually got down to 180 pounds.
“He accomplished so much in battling his weight at the time and became a big, buff guy,” Greg Drelich said. “He wanted to be a Marine and knew at 330 pounds, you weren’t going to be a Marine.” Despite the dangers, he chose the Marines because they were on the front lines, his brother said.
“I go, ‘Rob, this isn’t the time to join the Marines,’Ÿ” Greg Drelich recalled saying after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. His brother responded, “That’s why I’m going.”
Drelich enlisted in October 2004 and was deployed to Lebanon in 2006, Iraq in 2008 and Afghanistan in 2009. In 2010, he was assigned to train Marines who were about to leave for Afghanistan. During his last deployment in Afghanistan in 2011, he served in a personal security detail for the commanding officer.
“When I think of Rob, I think of a Spartan helmet,” said Gabriel Abatangelo, 31, a Wallington friend who now lives in California. “Spartans were brave warriors that left their family to defend their homeland. I think of Rob as a modern-day warrior.”
Greg Drelich recalled his brother’s vivid descriptions of war: “The bodies, people blowing up in front of him. Friends losing limbs, lives. That constant fear, that has to take a toll on you,” Greg Drelich said. Hours before Drelich died, he was sharing funny videos and jokes on the computer with Abatangelo.
“I had no idea that was going to be the last time I had any dealings with him,” said Abatangelo, who heard the news of his friend’s death that morning.
“My conversation with him was still up on the computer,” he said.
On May 29, Drelich, 31, died at the North Carolina home he shared with his wife, Susan. The military is investigating the cause, but his brother, Greg, who is a Garfield police officer, said Drelich’s death was related to his heart. He will be buried with full military honors Saturday at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Saddle Brook. Greg Drelich said his brother was preparing to leave the service in July and decided to attend a law enforcement job fair in Raleigh, N.C., on May 29, the day he died. He thought he might try for a job as a police officer in North Carolina or in New Jersey. If that didn’t work out, he was going to return to William Paterson University to finish his teaching degree.
“He’s a humble guy who served his country proudly,” said Greg Drelich, who is the older brother by eight years.
Born in Passaic to Polish immigrants Jozef and Lucyna Drelich, Drelich played football and ran track at Wallington High School. But it wasn’t until after he graduated that he seriously began to consider the Marines. That’s when he started running regularly, working out and eating less, and eventually got down to 180 pounds.
“He accomplished so much in battling his weight at the time and became a big, buff guy,” Greg Drelich said. “He wanted to be a Marine and knew at 330 pounds, you weren’t going to be a Marine.” Despite the dangers, he chose the Marines because they were on the front lines, his brother said.
“I go, ‘Rob, this isn’t the time to join the Marines,’Ÿ” Greg Drelich recalled saying after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. His brother responded, “That’s why I’m going.”
Drelich enlisted in October 2004 and was deployed to Lebanon in 2006, Iraq in 2008 and Afghanistan in 2009. In 2010, he was assigned to train Marines who were about to leave for Afghanistan. During his last deployment in Afghanistan in 2011, he served in a personal security detail for the commanding officer.
“When I think of Rob, I think of a Spartan helmet,” said Gabriel Abatangelo, 31, a Wallington friend who now lives in California. “Spartans were brave warriors that left their family to defend their homeland. I think of Rob as a modern-day warrior.”
Greg Drelich recalled his brother’s vivid descriptions of war: “The bodies, people blowing up in front of him. Friends losing limbs, lives. That constant fear, that has to take a toll on you,” Greg Drelich said. Hours before Drelich died, he was sharing funny videos and jokes on the computer with Abatangelo.
“I had no idea that was going to be the last time I had any dealings with him,” said Abatangelo, who heard the news of his friend’s death that morning.
“My conversation with him was still up on the computer,” he said.
New Jersey Run for the Fallen 2023 ~ Click on photos below to enlarge...
New Jersey Run for the Fallen 2022 ~ Click on photos below to enlarge...