Since the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) started a large offensive assault in Afghanistan, it has been a hard time for those who know and love the Camp Lejeune Marines. US Marines, British troops, and Afghan soldiers began an attack on the Taliban forces in early February and have suffered increased losses. One of the most recent casualties is the man we honor tonight - Lance Corporal Justin J. Wilson from Florida, who died on March 22nd.
Lance Corporal Justin J. Wilson
Justin Wilson grew up in Commack, New York. The family moved to Palm City, Florida in 2004. He joined the Marine Corps in January 2009, and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Justin Wilson and Hannah McVeigh were married by a justice of the peace in North Carolina, late this past October, right before he was to leave for overseas duty. They had planned a big wedding in Palm City after his return from Afghanistan.
Wilson deployed to Afghanistan in November 2009. He served as a motor vehicle operator driving a 7-ton armored truck with a machine gun for the Regimental Combat Team 7, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan. On March 1st of this year, he was promoted to the rank of lance corporal and was scheduled to come home from Afghanistan in less than two months.
An article in TC Palm stated that Justin was a talented artist, and delighted in giving out candy to the Afghan children. He also had a drive to be the best he could be:
"He was the first in the family to get married. The first to be a Marine. He had to be the best," Forte said.
The last time Lance Wilson spoke to his son was March 17 — Justin’s 24th birthday. The phone connection was crackling as Justin spoke from somewhere in the Helmand province, Lance Wilson said, shortly before boarding a plane Wednesday morning.
"He was a little afraid. I could hear it in his voice," the 53-year-old Wilson said. "He didn’t want to talk about what was going on there. He wanted to talk about his wife, the family. He wanted to know what was going at home."
Lance Corporal Justin J. Wilson died March 22th during a foot patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED). He was 24 years old.
At the Wilson’s home Wednesday, purple and yellow ribbons were tied to trees and the mail box. Ribbons could also be seen on trees and mailboxes of neighboring homes.
Wilson’s awards include the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Purple Heart.
Lance Corporal Wilson is survived by his parents, his brother Christopher, his sister Jamie, and his wife. Funeral plans have not been announced, but the family has asked that contributions be made to Wounded Warrior Project.
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"I Got the News Today" is a diary series intended to honor, respect, and remind us of the sacrifice of our US troops. Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Sandy on Signal, monkeybiz, noweasels, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, roses, SisTwo, SpamNunn, a girl in MI, JeNoCo, Mediaprof, TrueBlueMajority, JanosNation, Proud Mom and Grandma, Ministry of Truth, and CalNM. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but are an important service to those who have died, and show our community’s respect for them.
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