Freedom Remembered

Born November 3, 1970 in Bakersfield, CA

Died May 21, 2009 in Baghdad, Iraq 

Major Jason E. George, 38, of Tehachapi, California. Educated in Kern County, he excelled in academics and sports at Techachapi High School. He participated in Academic Decathlon, Mock Trials, California Scholarship Federation, National Honor Society, SHARP Program at Edwards Air Force Base, competed in football, baseball and tennis and was the Antelope Valley Press Scholar/Athlete for 1987-1988. He was a member of the Warrior Football Team that went undefeated for the Desert-Inyo League Championship in 1987. He kicked the winning field goal in the finals of the Desert Inyo League Championships and was an Eagle Scout. He graduated in 1988, second in his class. He then spent a year at Cal State Bakersfield before he was appointed to West Point Military Academy in 1990. Jason was an undefeated boxer at West Point. He graduated from West Point in May of 1994 with a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental engineering and the rank of second lieutenant. He was assigned to various posts around the country including: Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Fort Riley, Kansas; Fort Hood, Texas and Savannah, Ga. He was also deployed to Bosnia and Kosovo. He left the service in 2002 and attended the University of Michigan Business School, from which he graduated in 2004 with a Master of Business Administration degree. He resided in Chicago where he was employed as a consultant in the healthcare field and continued to serve in the inactive reserves in the capacity of liaison officer for West Point. The Army reactivated Jason in January 2009. He left for Kuwait on April 22, 2009 and arrived in Iraq on May 5. He died May 21 near Baghdad, Iraq of wound sustained when his unit was attacked by enemy forces using improvise explosive devices while on dismounted patrol. Jason was a great listener, unselfish, saw the good in everyone and everything. He had a spirit about him, and was a true old-fashioned gentleman. He found humor in everything, and found joy in all he did. He was buried at Bakersfield National Cemetery, CA.