PATROL BASE JAKER, Afghanistan — A memorial service for Cpl. Joe L. Wrightsman was held at Patrol Base Jaker July 30.
Wrightsman, remembered as a beloved leader and combat meritoriously promoted posthumously to the rank of sergeant, died in support of combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 18.
“The Marine Corps was his life,” said Lance Cpl. Michael A. Barnhouse, a Kilo Company team leader, whom Wrightsman mentored for more than two years. “He was like a dad to us. He’d take us under his wing and make sure we didn’t mess up. If we did he wouldn’t yell at us, but show us what we did wrong and how to correct it.”
Wrightsman was known for liking to tell jokes and his dedication to his Marines.
“He would never let someone else get on us,” said Lance Cpl. Michael X. Shaw. “He always cared about us more than he seemed to care about himself.”
“He had a commitment to his brothers in arms that went beyond combat,” said Capt. Shon S. Belcher, Kilo Company commander.
His sacrifice was praised by both his Marine brethren and the Afghans he worked with.
“His dedication will stay forever in the history of Afghanistan and will be remembered forever by the people of Nawa,” said Haji Abdul Manaf, the Nawa District governor, during the memorial service.
Wrightsman lives on in his Marines.
“You can definitely see an imprint of Wrightsman on our team leaders. All of them have been with him for years,” Lance Cpl. Thomas C. Morton, from Nashville, Tenn., said. “They’re all their own men, but you can see Wrightsman in them.”