Jarrod L. Maher
U.S. Marine corporal
age 21
Jarrod L. Maher loved the soybean and corn fields of his family's
farm in Imogene, Iowa. But a stronger calling led him to join the
Marines in June 2002 after he graduated from high school.
It must have been the war stories of his grandfathers, who had
served in the Korean War, that turned him toward the military, his
father, Kevin, said during a telephone interview from his 1,000-acre
farm in the southwestern part of the state.
Jarrod Maher the high school halfback and linebacker at
Shenandoah High became Jarrod Maher the Marine after completing boot
camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and then the
equivalent of infantry finishing school at Camp Pendleton.
"He loved his time in the Marines and he loved San Diego," Kevin
Maher said. "But he couldn't wait to come home. He loved to hunt and
fish and he loved to ride motorcycles."
On Nov. 12, Jarrod Maher died from a nonhostile gunshot wound at
Abu Ghraib, Iraq. He was an assaultman assigned to the 1st
Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine
Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton. He was deployed to the Middle
East in July.
The last contact the Maher family had with Jarrod was in an
e-mail Oct. 31, the day he turned 21.
"He said that he got his birthday package and said things were
fine," his father said. "He said that things were fine and not to
worry. He was always telling us not to worry. But we knew it was
more dangerous than he let on."
Less than two weeks later, his family was in mourning.
The family has received "tremendous, tremendous support" from
people nationwide, Kevin Maher said.
"We've gotten letters from across the country. It's just
overwhelming, and it's been a tremendous amount of help."
Asked how he wanted people to remember his son, Maher said: "As a
kid who pretty much could do what he wanted. He wasn't scared to try
anything. And as someone who really believed in what he was doing."
Jarrod Maher was buried Nov. 20 with military honors in his
hometown.
– Rick Rogers
James P. Blecksmith
U.S. Marine second lieutenant
age 24
James P. Blecksmith – J.P. to his family and friends – had
dreamed of joining the Marine Corps since childhood.
Ed Blecksmith, a former Marine, recalled how as a youngster his
son loved to dig out his Marine sea bag, dress for battle and
pretend he was in a foxhole in a vacant lot next to the family home.
J.P. Blecksmith of San Marino was killed Nov. 11 – Veterans Day –
by a sniper bullet that hit his left shoulder while his platoon was
on patrol in Fallujah, Iraq. Either the bullet or a bone shard
punctured his heart, killing him instantly, his father said.
Blecksmith was a standout athlete at Flintridge Preparatory
School, excelling in football and track-and-field events. He medaled
in about 10 CIF track-and-field competitions, his father said.
"He was every dad's dream," Ed Blecksmith said. "He was a special
kid."
J.P. Blecksmith graduated from the Naval Academy in Annapolis,
Md., in May 2003. He completed his Marine Corps training in April.
Father and son drove together to California from Quantico, Va., so
the Marine could join his unit at Camp Pendleton.
Blecksmith was a platoon commander assigned to the 3rd Battalion,
5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary
Force at Camp Pendleton. It was the same unit his father had
belonged to during the Vietnam War.
"The Marine Corps likes to maintain legacies," Ed Blecksmith
said.
When J.P. traveled to Iraq on Sept. 10, he knew he would serve in
the Fallujah area, a stronghold for insurgents, his father said.
"A friend called from high school and asked if he was scared,"
Blecksmith said. "J.P. said he wasn't concerned about himself. He
wanted to take care of his Marines."
Blecksmith said he and his wife heard often from their son by
satellite phone and e-mail.
"In one letter, he said: 'Mom and Dad, I love you very much. I
miss you, but I'm not homesick,' " Blecksmith said. " 'We are making
a positive contribution to the Iraqi people. I want to leave Iraq
better than when I found it.' "
More than 1,500 people attended the funeral at a church in San
Gabriel.
In addition to his parents, Blecksmith is survived by his sister
and brother.
– Anne Krueger
