Photo By Cpl. Nathan McCord | PATROL BASE JAMIL, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Marines with...... read more read more
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PATROL BASE JAMIL, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Marines and sailors from Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, paid tribute to the life and service of Lance Cpl. Joe M. Jackson during a memorial service at Patrol Base Jamil, Sangin, Afghanistan, May 4.
Jackson was killed in action April 24 on a foot patrol while conducting combat operations in Sangin. A squad automatic weapon gunner for Co. A, Jackson was born in Tacoma, Wash., and raised primarily in White Swan.
The 2007 White Swan High School graduate came from a lineage of military heritage and enlisted in the Marines following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. He was the type of Marine people saw staying in the Marine Corps and expressed interest in making it a career.
“Joe was by far the best Marine I have ever had the pleasure of leading,” said Cpl. Andres C. Carrillo, a member of 3rd Platoon. “Lance Cpl. Jackson wanted to achieve the rank of Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps and many of us saw his potential and drive to achieve his goal.”
His toughness and discipline were among the traits that made him so memorable.
“He had a quiet toughness about him,” said 1st Lt. Benjamin J. O’Donnell, the platoon commander for 3rd Platoon, Co. A, from Apalachin, N.Y. “I never heard him complain no matter how unfavorable the circumstance.”
Despite the harsh conditions throughout pre-deployment training and on deployment, Jackson remained strong and brought humor to difficult situations.
“He never showed any weakness in any situation he was in,” said Cpl. Nicholas J. Rinchiuso, a team leader for 3rd Plt., Co. A. “I remember times at Bridgeport and Mojave Viper when everyone was freezing cold, packing on warming layers and him making fun of everyone for doing so.”
Jackson knew when to tone down the sarcasm and demonstrate discipline driven into Marines from training day one of recruit training.
“From the time he was first under my charge till the time we spit up to different squads, Lance Cpl. Jackson met every challenge and order given to him without flinching or asking the question ‘why me?’,” said Carrillo, from Oklahoma City.
His ability to temper his sense of humor with discipline on patrol will be missed by the Marines of 3rd Platoon. When on patrol in Sangin he was the Marine who motivated others through his sense of humor and perseverance.
“His motivation was infectious and inspiring, not because it was something out of a recruiting video or something a brand new recruit will spit out as a reflex, but because it was real, it was genuine, and it was thought through,” said Navy Lt. David D. Kim, the 1/5 battalion chaplain, from Mineola, N.Y.
The Marines of Company Al and his friends and family back home mourn the loss of a brother and friend with Jackson’s passing.
EDITORS NOTE: 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment is assigned to Regimental Combat Team 8, Task Force Leatherneck, in Southwest Afghanistan. The task force, headed by 2nd Marine Division (Forward), is the ground combat element for Regional Command Southwest and is working in partnership with the Afghan National Security Force and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces, and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.
| Date Taken: | 05.04.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 05.15.2011 12:29 |
| Story ID: | 70419 |
| Location: | PATROL BASE JAMIL, HELMAND PROVINCE, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF, AF |
| Web Views: | 601 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Heroes Remembered in Sangin: Brother, Friend, Marine Remembered by 1/5, by Sgt Benjamin Crilly, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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