Sgt Joe L. Wrightsman
Born: March 3, 1987
Died: July 18, 2010 in Helmand, Afghanistan
Sgt. Joe L. Wrightsman of Jonesboro, Louisiana is the son of Joe Merritt and Kathy Webb. He and his sister were adopted by their paternal aunt and uncle, Connie and John Wrightsman. Joe spent his early childhood in Kitsap County, Washington, until age thirteen when he moved with his mom and siblings to Louisiana. He attended Jonesboro Hodge High School, where he ran track, cross country and played football for the Tigers. Joe was a leader among his peers and would always migrate towards the underdog. Just his presence was enough to keep the tougher kids from picking on those he befriended. He worked at K’s Food Market while in high school. Joe was thinking about his future when he decided to join in the Marines. With the lure of scholarship funding and the security of a better life, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in May of 2005. He attended the School of Infantry in August of 2005 and had completed two previous deployments to Iraq with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. His unit deployed to Afghanistan in May of 2010 to conduct counterinsurgency operations partnered with Afghan National Security Forces. In spite of the risk, he loved his job and felt confident with his duties. He was the first to jump right in when something needed to be done. His Awards and Decorations include, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal and the NATO-International Security Assistance Force Afghanistan Medal. He died at age 23 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Joe had been trying to help another man cross a rapid flowing river when both men were swept away. He leaves a son, Mcae, his parents, nine brothers and eight sisters, and his fiancee’, Kiara.
Marines
3rd Battalion
3rd Marine Regiment
3rd Marine Division
III Marine Expeditionary Force
Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii
Burial is at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia – Sec 60 Site 9260
The Sgt Joe L. Wrightsman by Freedom Remembered, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.
