Valrico dad sees baby via Skype before dying

Ivan Lechowich was a dad for a week.

He was stationed in Afghanistan, but for a few precious minutes earlier this month, he was able to see his wife and only child — his baby daughter, Natalie Marie, via Skype.

They were the only moments with his daughter he will ever have. The 27-year-old 1st lieutenant from Valrico was one of three soldiers killed Wednesday in Afghanistan during a routine clearance sweep.

If Natalie hadn't been born early, her dad never would have gotten to see her.

"That is so beautiful and sad," said the Rev. William Swengros of St. Stephen Catholic Church in Riverview, who had performed the wedding ceremony in November for Lechowich and his wife, Jen. He had been scheduled to soon christen their daughter.

"It shouldn't be this way; it is so wrong," he said.

The pastor recalled Lechowich as "an amazing person."

"He was a solid individual — humble, who would do anything for you," he said. "He was a really good guy, a guy who you just remember."

Swengros also was touched by the couple's relationship.

"They were madly in love," he said. He said they discussed their dreams as part of the church's marriage preparation. "They wanted the big house, the white picket fence and the three or four kids."

Lechowich graduated from King High School and majored in history at the University of Florida.

According to his Facebook page, he liked to listen to The Doors and read Hunter S. Thompson and Robert Ludlum. His favorite movies were "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," "The Big Lebowski," "Boondock Saints" and "Wedding Crashers." He liked watching "The Daily Show" and the History Channel.

The Army said Lechowich and two colleagues died when enemy forces attacked their unit in the Ghazni province with an improvised explosive device.

Also killed were Spc. Steven E. Gutowski, 24, of Plymouth, Mass., and Pfc. David A. Drake, 21, of Lumberton, Texas. All were assigned to the 5th Engineer Battalion, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

Swengros said the family was on its way Friday to Dover Air Force Base to claim Lechowich's body and would then travel to Fort Leonard Wood. He said he expects the funeral to be held here.