thedrifter
02-10-07, 07:52 AM
Article published Feb 10, 2007
Ashland Marine dies in Iraq
News Journal staff report
ASHLAND -- U.S. Marine from Ashland was killed Wednesday in Iraq, the Department of Defense announced Friday.
Sgt. Maj. Joseph J. Ellis, 40, was conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, officials said. The 22-year Marine veteran also served in the Persian Gulf during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, according to a U.S. Marine Corps Web site.
As a sergeant major, Ellis had reached the highest enlisted rank in the Marine Corps.
Ellis was assigned to Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
No other information about his death was immediately available.
Ellis' personal decorations include: the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat distinguishing device and one gold star in lieu of second award, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star in lieu of second award, and the Combat Action Ribbon with one gold star in lieu of second award.
According to a U.S. Marine Corps Web site, Ellis attended Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., where he graduated meritoriously as private first class.
After graduation from MCRD in October 1984, he attended the Field Radio Operators Course at Field Skills Training School, Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he was promoted to lance corporal upon graduation. After basic skills training, he received orders to remain on staff at the training school as an instructor.
While teaching, Ellis attended several schools and training programs, including the Wire Communications Course, Morse Code Operators Course, NCO Academy, Instructor Orientation Course and Curriculum Developers Course. During his assignment he was meritoriously promoted to the rank of corporal Dec. 2, 1985. He served as an instructor until June 1987.
In June 1987, Ellis reported for duty with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, Okinawa, Japan. While there, he served as a team communicator, company communications NCO and radio supervisor in the battalion communications platoon.
In June of 1988, Ellis received orders back to Camp Pendleton for duty with the School of Infantry, where he served as radio supervisor in the communications platoon.
While there, he also served as communications instructor for the Infantry Training Battalion and the recently developed Marine Combat Training Battalion. It was here that he was promoted to sergeant in October 1988.
In January 1990, Ellis transferred to 1st Force Reconnaissance Company at Camp Pendleton. His first assignment was as platoon communications and special equipment NCO for the 6th platoon.
It was with 6th platoon that he deployed to operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia. While deployed, Ellis was meritoriously promoted to the rank of staff sergeant Dec. 2, 1990. Upon return from the Gulf War in March 1991, he was company radio chief until November 1992.
In November 1992, Ellis received orders directing him to recruiting duty. Upon completion of Recruiters School in December 1992, he was assigned to the recruiting station in Cleveland, where he served for three years as a canvassing recruiter.
In January 1996, Ellis reported for duty with the 3rd Marine Regiment in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, where he served as the regiment radio chief. While assigned there he was selected for and promoted to the rank of gunnery sergeant.
Ellis attended the Communications Chief course in March 1997. Upon completion of school he was transferred for duty with the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment where he served as the battalion communications chief.
In March 2000, Ellis became a first sergeant and was subsequently assigned for duty with the Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
In June, 2000, Ellis became Company First Sergeant, Bravo Company, Infantry Training Battalion, where he served until April 2003.
Then Ellis was transferred to Headquarters and Service Company, School of Infantry, where he served until December 2003.
That month, Ellis executed PCS orders to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, where he served as the H&S Company First Sergeant during the battalion's deployment to Ramadi, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In November 2004, Ellis was selected for promotion to the rank of sergeant major. Sergeant Major Ellis was frocked to his current rank and posted as a battalion sergeant major on Dec. 17, 2004, where he was serving at the time of his death.
Ellie
Ashland Marine dies in Iraq
News Journal staff report
ASHLAND -- U.S. Marine from Ashland was killed Wednesday in Iraq, the Department of Defense announced Friday.
Sgt. Maj. Joseph J. Ellis, 40, was conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, officials said. The 22-year Marine veteran also served in the Persian Gulf during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, according to a U.S. Marine Corps Web site.
As a sergeant major, Ellis had reached the highest enlisted rank in the Marine Corps.
Ellis was assigned to Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
No other information about his death was immediately available.
Ellis' personal decorations include: the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat distinguishing device and one gold star in lieu of second award, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star in lieu of second award, and the Combat Action Ribbon with one gold star in lieu of second award.
According to a U.S. Marine Corps Web site, Ellis attended Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., where he graduated meritoriously as private first class.
After graduation from MCRD in October 1984, he attended the Field Radio Operators Course at Field Skills Training School, Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he was promoted to lance corporal upon graduation. After basic skills training, he received orders to remain on staff at the training school as an instructor.
While teaching, Ellis attended several schools and training programs, including the Wire Communications Course, Morse Code Operators Course, NCO Academy, Instructor Orientation Course and Curriculum Developers Course. During his assignment he was meritoriously promoted to the rank of corporal Dec. 2, 1985. He served as an instructor until June 1987.
In June 1987, Ellis reported for duty with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, Okinawa, Japan. While there, he served as a team communicator, company communications NCO and radio supervisor in the battalion communications platoon.
In June of 1988, Ellis received orders back to Camp Pendleton for duty with the School of Infantry, where he served as radio supervisor in the communications platoon.
While there, he also served as communications instructor for the Infantry Training Battalion and the recently developed Marine Combat Training Battalion. It was here that he was promoted to sergeant in October 1988.
In January 1990, Ellis transferred to 1st Force Reconnaissance Company at Camp Pendleton. His first assignment was as platoon communications and special equipment NCO for the 6th platoon.
It was with 6th platoon that he deployed to operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia. While deployed, Ellis was meritoriously promoted to the rank of staff sergeant Dec. 2, 1990. Upon return from the Gulf War in March 1991, he was company radio chief until November 1992.
In November 1992, Ellis received orders directing him to recruiting duty. Upon completion of Recruiters School in December 1992, he was assigned to the recruiting station in Cleveland, where he served for three years as a canvassing recruiter.
In January 1996, Ellis reported for duty with the 3rd Marine Regiment in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, where he served as the regiment radio chief. While assigned there he was selected for and promoted to the rank of gunnery sergeant.
Ellis attended the Communications Chief course in March 1997. Upon completion of school he was transferred for duty with the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment where he served as the battalion communications chief.
In March 2000, Ellis became a first sergeant and was subsequently assigned for duty with the Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
In June, 2000, Ellis became Company First Sergeant, Bravo Company, Infantry Training Battalion, where he served until April 2003.
Then Ellis was transferred to Headquarters and Service Company, School of Infantry, where he served until December 2003.
That month, Ellis executed PCS orders to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, where he served as the H&S Company First Sergeant during the battalion's deployment to Ramadi, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In November 2004, Ellis was selected for promotion to the rank of sergeant major. Sergeant Major Ellis was frocked to his current rank and posted as a battalion sergeant major on Dec. 17, 2004, where he was serving at the time of his death.
Ellie