thedrifter
01-17-07, 10:18 AM
Purple Heart presented posthumously
By NORMA MARTINEZ, Managing Editor
Members of Charlie Co., 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines were at the American Legion Monday for a ceremony to present a Purple Heart to the family of Marine Sgt. Jonathan J. Simpson.
Accepting on behalf of the family was the young Marine's uncle, Jim Simpson. The Marine sergeant's father Frank was unable to be present due to illness.
Jim Simpson also presented a special framed picture of his nephew Jonathan and his son Abraham, both who were killed in the Iraq war.
Jim Simpson pointed out he and his brother were born in Canada but emigrated to California and became United States citizens. He served in the Navy, a sister served in the Air Force, and F. Simpson served in the Army.
Jonathan was born and reared in Canada and moved to live with his father Frank in Rockport after the teen's high school graduation. He became a United States citizen on July 4, 2001, and the next day joined the military.
Jim's son Abraham, a lance corporal, was serving with the Marines in the Persian Gulf when he was killed in November 2004.
Jonathan had been conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar province, Iraq while assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, out of Camp Pendleton, CA. He was killed Oct. 14, 2006.
Jim noted his nephew and his son both served this country with pride and dignity and loved this country greatly. Jonathan considered himself an American first although he was born and reared in Canada.
Jonathan served as a pallbearer for his cousin Abraham's funeral.
He switched service from Air Wing to Reconnaissance and was deployed to Iraq in September. Less than a month later he was killed.
Jim said, “We don't have a lot of time on this earth under the best of circumstances. What Abraham and John were doing was defending our country and fighting for a cause which is honorable and noble.”
He added, “They are standing shoulder to shoulder with those (who have gone ahead) in history.”
Their service, said Jim, “is what gives them value. They were proud to be Marines and proud to be Americans. They knew the dangers and they knew the risks.”
Gunnery Sgt. Rudy Altamirano explained the Marines normally present a posthumous Purple Heart to the family at the time of burial. Since Jonathan's ceremony took place in Canada, they waited until Frank Simpson decided when the medal should be presented.
Frank is a member of the local American Legion, and he wanted the ceremony to be performed there. Additionally, Frank had the post presented with a book about the history of the U.S. Marines, as well as the framed picture of both Simpson boys. The frame features a picture of Abraham on the left, Jonathan on the right, and a plaque in the middle inscribed with their names, ranks, and location of service. In the middle of the plaque is inscribed a phrase from John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Jonathan and Abraham paid the ultimate price, their lives, as their families have paid a heavy price as well, but that does not overshadow the pride and honor they feel for the young men's service.
Ellie
By NORMA MARTINEZ, Managing Editor
Members of Charlie Co., 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines were at the American Legion Monday for a ceremony to present a Purple Heart to the family of Marine Sgt. Jonathan J. Simpson.
Accepting on behalf of the family was the young Marine's uncle, Jim Simpson. The Marine sergeant's father Frank was unable to be present due to illness.
Jim Simpson also presented a special framed picture of his nephew Jonathan and his son Abraham, both who were killed in the Iraq war.
Jim Simpson pointed out he and his brother were born in Canada but emigrated to California and became United States citizens. He served in the Navy, a sister served in the Air Force, and F. Simpson served in the Army.
Jonathan was born and reared in Canada and moved to live with his father Frank in Rockport after the teen's high school graduation. He became a United States citizen on July 4, 2001, and the next day joined the military.
Jim's son Abraham, a lance corporal, was serving with the Marines in the Persian Gulf when he was killed in November 2004.
Jonathan had been conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar province, Iraq while assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, out of Camp Pendleton, CA. He was killed Oct. 14, 2006.
Jim noted his nephew and his son both served this country with pride and dignity and loved this country greatly. Jonathan considered himself an American first although he was born and reared in Canada.
Jonathan served as a pallbearer for his cousin Abraham's funeral.
He switched service from Air Wing to Reconnaissance and was deployed to Iraq in September. Less than a month later he was killed.
Jim said, “We don't have a lot of time on this earth under the best of circumstances. What Abraham and John were doing was defending our country and fighting for a cause which is honorable and noble.”
He added, “They are standing shoulder to shoulder with those (who have gone ahead) in history.”
Their service, said Jim, “is what gives them value. They were proud to be Marines and proud to be Americans. They knew the dangers and they knew the risks.”
Gunnery Sgt. Rudy Altamirano explained the Marines normally present a posthumous Purple Heart to the family at the time of burial. Since Jonathan's ceremony took place in Canada, they waited until Frank Simpson decided when the medal should be presented.
Frank is a member of the local American Legion, and he wanted the ceremony to be performed there. Additionally, Frank had the post presented with a book about the history of the U.S. Marines, as well as the framed picture of both Simpson boys. The frame features a picture of Abraham on the left, Jonathan on the right, and a plaque in the middle inscribed with their names, ranks, and location of service. In the middle of the plaque is inscribed a phrase from John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Jonathan and Abraham paid the ultimate price, their lives, as their families have paid a heavy price as well, but that does not overshadow the pride and honor they feel for the young men's service.
Ellie