thedrifter
05-05-07, 08:37 AM
Marine killed in Iraq to be buried today
By KEVIN BLANCHARD
Advocate Acadiana bureau
Published: May 5, 2007 - Page: 1ba
LAFAYETTE — Services will be held today for Marine Cpl. Willie Paul Celestine Jr., who was killed in combat April 26 in Iraq. Celestine was 21.
Services will be at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Lafayette. Visitation starts at the church at 7 a.m. until services. Interment with full military rites at Greenlawn Memorial Cemetery will follow the service.
Celestine graduated in 2004 from Acadiana High School where he was active in sports.
He enlisted in the Marines in January 2005 and was first deployed to Iraq nine months later, serving there until May 2006. He had been redeployed to Iraq on April 5.
Celestine was assigned to Camp Lejeune-based Co. A, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion Regimental Combat Team 6, 2nd Marine Division in which he was a radio operator.
Celestine’s mother has said her son died while riding on patrol near Fallujah after his vehicle was hit by a missile or roadside bomb.
Celestine leaves behind a wife, April, and 2-year-old daughter, Nevaeh, as well as his mother, father, brother and sister.
Celestine’s mother, Trutie Celestine, said last week that her son decided to enlist in order to be able to better care for his wife and daughter.
“He was always about doing the right thing and taking care of his wife and his baby,” she said.
Trutie Celestine said last week that she hoped to meet some of the Marines who were with her son when he was killed.
Lafayette Parish School Board member Rickey Hardy, Celestine’s uncle by marriage, said that Celestine was full of charisma and heart, characterized by his ferocity on the football field, despite his small size.
“People loved talking to him, and working with him and playing with him,” Hardy said.
Ellie
By KEVIN BLANCHARD
Advocate Acadiana bureau
Published: May 5, 2007 - Page: 1ba
LAFAYETTE — Services will be held today for Marine Cpl. Willie Paul Celestine Jr., who was killed in combat April 26 in Iraq. Celestine was 21.
Services will be at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Lafayette. Visitation starts at the church at 7 a.m. until services. Interment with full military rites at Greenlawn Memorial Cemetery will follow the service.
Celestine graduated in 2004 from Acadiana High School where he was active in sports.
He enlisted in the Marines in January 2005 and was first deployed to Iraq nine months later, serving there until May 2006. He had been redeployed to Iraq on April 5.
Celestine was assigned to Camp Lejeune-based Co. A, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion Regimental Combat Team 6, 2nd Marine Division in which he was a radio operator.
Celestine’s mother has said her son died while riding on patrol near Fallujah after his vehicle was hit by a missile or roadside bomb.
Celestine leaves behind a wife, April, and 2-year-old daughter, Nevaeh, as well as his mother, father, brother and sister.
Celestine’s mother, Trutie Celestine, said last week that her son decided to enlist in order to be able to better care for his wife and daughter.
“He was always about doing the right thing and taking care of his wife and his baby,” she said.
Trutie Celestine said last week that she hoped to meet some of the Marines who were with her son when he was killed.
Lafayette Parish School Board member Rickey Hardy, Celestine’s uncle by marriage, said that Celestine was full of charisma and heart, characterized by his ferocity on the football field, despite his small size.
“People loved talking to him, and working with him and playing with him,” Hardy said.
Ellie