thedrifter
04-29-06, 07:47 AM
Apr 28, 2006
Masaryktown grieves over Marine's death
By RAY REYES
rreyes@hernandotoday.com
MASARYKTOWN - Lea Mills honored his grandfather's memory when he decided to join the military after he graduated from Hernando High School in 2002.
His father, Rob Mills, wanted his son to join a branch like the Navy or the Coast Guard.
Lea Mills chose the Marines. He felt compelled to defend his country from the front lines.
On Friday, Rob Mills said he was proud of his son, even though that pride was suffused with grief.
Sgt. Lea Mills was killed in action during his first tour of duty in Iraq. He was 21. The family was informed of his death Thursday night.
The Department of Defense did not release details of Mills' death Friday, but friends close to the family said the Marine was killed by a roadside bomb while on patrol with his unit.
"He volunteered to go to Iraq," Rob Mills said. "He felt it was his duty as a Marine. He believed very strongly in what he was doing."
Lea Mills (pronounced Lee) is the second casualty from Hernando County killed since Operation Iraqi Freedom and the war on terrorism began.
On July 24, 2005, Michael Schafer, a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade and a graduate of Springstead High School, was shot and killed while on patrol in Oruzgan, Afghanistan.
Larry Dodson, a resident of Masaryktown for 33 years, said Mills' death has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community.
"It has floored the community," Dodson said. "One of the worst things a parent has to suffer is to survive their own child."
Rob Mills said his wife, Dee, booked a flight to California Friday to comfort Lea's widow, Keesha Malicoate. Lea was stationed in Camp Pendleton, 38 miles north of San Diego, before he served in Iraq.
Rob Mills stayed in Masaryktown Friday with his younger son, Parker, a junior at Nature Coast Technical High School.
"It's been a rough morning," Rob Mills said.
Family friend Debbie Neilson said her son, Doug Neilson, and Lea Mills were friends since they were 5 years old.
"I was his babysitter," Neilson said. "He was the most polite young man. He always said 'Yes, ma'am' and he grew up into a beautiful young man."
Lea was very close to his mother, said Neilson. Lea wrote her frequently and Dee received his most recent letter last week.
"This is one kid," Neilson said, "who knew his mama loved him."
Tribute
That love has taken physical form at the Masaryktown post office, a tiny, white cinderblock building that shares office space with a sheriff's substation located on U.S. 41.
Weeks ago, Dee created a tribute to Masaryktown soldiers serving in the Middle East. Postmistress Niki Tinnen allowed Dee to display that tribute on the post office's south wall.
On Friday, Tinnen moved Lea's photograph to the middle of the display. Below his picture was a note that read, "Sgt. Lea Mills, Killed in Action, April 28th, 2006, May You Rest in Peace," in red, white and blue computer printer ink.
Surrounding the Marine's photograph were 10 other locals representing all branches of the military. American flags, ribbons and the Prayer for the Armed Forces completed the tribute.
Tinnen sported a shirt with a large American flag on the front.
"I wore this shirt today just for Lea," Tinnen said.
Making a difference
Lea loved heavy metal music and attended the Livestock hard rock festival in Zephyrhills every year, Neilson said.
Despite his taste in music, Lea was very much a Southern gentleman, said Neilson.
The family has roots in Mississippi, said Rob Mills, and his son was looking forward to being stationed in Gulfport, Miss., after his tour of Iraq ended.
Lea will be buried in the family plot in White Plains, Miss., his father said.
Lea was just trying to make a difference in the world, said Neilson.
"He was passionate about standing up for what's right," Neilson said. "He was always rooting for the underdog."
Rob Mills said Lea's grandfather would have been proud of the family's eldest son.
"He was a very good boy," Rob Mills said. "We're very, very proud of him. And we'll miss him terribly."
Reporter Ray Reyes can be contacted at (352) 544-5283.
Ellie
Masaryktown grieves over Marine's death
By RAY REYES
rreyes@hernandotoday.com
MASARYKTOWN - Lea Mills honored his grandfather's memory when he decided to join the military after he graduated from Hernando High School in 2002.
His father, Rob Mills, wanted his son to join a branch like the Navy or the Coast Guard.
Lea Mills chose the Marines. He felt compelled to defend his country from the front lines.
On Friday, Rob Mills said he was proud of his son, even though that pride was suffused with grief.
Sgt. Lea Mills was killed in action during his first tour of duty in Iraq. He was 21. The family was informed of his death Thursday night.
The Department of Defense did not release details of Mills' death Friday, but friends close to the family said the Marine was killed by a roadside bomb while on patrol with his unit.
"He volunteered to go to Iraq," Rob Mills said. "He felt it was his duty as a Marine. He believed very strongly in what he was doing."
Lea Mills (pronounced Lee) is the second casualty from Hernando County killed since Operation Iraqi Freedom and the war on terrorism began.
On July 24, 2005, Michael Schafer, a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade and a graduate of Springstead High School, was shot and killed while on patrol in Oruzgan, Afghanistan.
Larry Dodson, a resident of Masaryktown for 33 years, said Mills' death has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community.
"It has floored the community," Dodson said. "One of the worst things a parent has to suffer is to survive their own child."
Rob Mills said his wife, Dee, booked a flight to California Friday to comfort Lea's widow, Keesha Malicoate. Lea was stationed in Camp Pendleton, 38 miles north of San Diego, before he served in Iraq.
Rob Mills stayed in Masaryktown Friday with his younger son, Parker, a junior at Nature Coast Technical High School.
"It's been a rough morning," Rob Mills said.
Family friend Debbie Neilson said her son, Doug Neilson, and Lea Mills were friends since they were 5 years old.
"I was his babysitter," Neilson said. "He was the most polite young man. He always said 'Yes, ma'am' and he grew up into a beautiful young man."
Lea was very close to his mother, said Neilson. Lea wrote her frequently and Dee received his most recent letter last week.
"This is one kid," Neilson said, "who knew his mama loved him."
Tribute
That love has taken physical form at the Masaryktown post office, a tiny, white cinderblock building that shares office space with a sheriff's substation located on U.S. 41.
Weeks ago, Dee created a tribute to Masaryktown soldiers serving in the Middle East. Postmistress Niki Tinnen allowed Dee to display that tribute on the post office's south wall.
On Friday, Tinnen moved Lea's photograph to the middle of the display. Below his picture was a note that read, "Sgt. Lea Mills, Killed in Action, April 28th, 2006, May You Rest in Peace," in red, white and blue computer printer ink.
Surrounding the Marine's photograph were 10 other locals representing all branches of the military. American flags, ribbons and the Prayer for the Armed Forces completed the tribute.
Tinnen sported a shirt with a large American flag on the front.
"I wore this shirt today just for Lea," Tinnen said.
Making a difference
Lea loved heavy metal music and attended the Livestock hard rock festival in Zephyrhills every year, Neilson said.
Despite his taste in music, Lea was very much a Southern gentleman, said Neilson.
The family has roots in Mississippi, said Rob Mills, and his son was looking forward to being stationed in Gulfport, Miss., after his tour of Iraq ended.
Lea will be buried in the family plot in White Plains, Miss., his father said.
Lea was just trying to make a difference in the world, said Neilson.
"He was passionate about standing up for what's right," Neilson said. "He was always rooting for the underdog."
Rob Mills said Lea's grandfather would have been proud of the family's eldest son.
"He was a very good boy," Rob Mills said. "We're very, very proud of him. And we'll miss him terribly."
Reporter Ray Reyes can be contacted at (352) 544-5283.
Ellie