thedrifter
06-23-07, 07:01 AM
Duluth Marine killed in Iraq fighting
By BILL OSINSKI
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/23/07
A Duluth Marine and a soldier based at Fort Stewart have been killed in combat in Iraq, the U.S. Department of Defense said Friday.
Staff Sgt. Stephen J. Wilson, 28, who moved to Duluth after growing up in Cobb County, was one of two Marines killed Wednesday during operations in Anbar province, according to the Defense Department. The other Marine who was killed was Sgt. Shawn P. Martin, 30, of Delmar, N.Y.
Both Wilson and Martin were assigned to a combat logistics battalion of I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Wilson was serving his third deployment to Iraq, according to his father, John C. Wilson, of Beaverton, Ore.
The elder Wilson said his son grew up and graduated from high school in Cobb County.
Throughout his youth, Stephen Wilson was heavily involved in athletics, especially soccer, John Wilson said. Some of the traits his son exhibited on the playing fields served him well in the Marines, John Wilson said.
"What was so great about Stephen was that he played every game like an all-star, but he never bragged or boasted about his skills," John Wilson said. "He would get out there and play, if he had one leg to play on, or two legs."
Stephen Wilson enlisted in the Marine Corps along with three friends, shortly after graduating from high school, John Wilson said. The friends served their enlistment terms and separated from the service, but Stephen stayed on to make the military his career.
Stephen Wilson's citations and medals included a Purple Heart and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, a Camp Pendleton spokesman said.
"He felt he was doing his duty to serve his country," John Wilson said. He said his son was married but separated and had no children.
Sgt. 1st Class William Zapfe, 35, a soldier based at Fort Stewart, died Tuesday when his tank ran over an improvised explosive device in Muhammad al Ali, Zapfe's sister-in-law, Angela Menchaca, told The Associated Press.
Zapfe was born in Covington, Ky., joined the Army in 1991 and served the last 12 years at Fort Stewart as a combat engineer. He was on his third tour in Iraq.
Staff writer Ken Sugiura and wire services contributed to this article.
Ellie
By BILL OSINSKI
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/23/07
A Duluth Marine and a soldier based at Fort Stewart have been killed in combat in Iraq, the U.S. Department of Defense said Friday.
Staff Sgt. Stephen J. Wilson, 28, who moved to Duluth after growing up in Cobb County, was one of two Marines killed Wednesday during operations in Anbar province, according to the Defense Department. The other Marine who was killed was Sgt. Shawn P. Martin, 30, of Delmar, N.Y.
Both Wilson and Martin were assigned to a combat logistics battalion of I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Wilson was serving his third deployment to Iraq, according to his father, John C. Wilson, of Beaverton, Ore.
The elder Wilson said his son grew up and graduated from high school in Cobb County.
Throughout his youth, Stephen Wilson was heavily involved in athletics, especially soccer, John Wilson said. Some of the traits his son exhibited on the playing fields served him well in the Marines, John Wilson said.
"What was so great about Stephen was that he played every game like an all-star, but he never bragged or boasted about his skills," John Wilson said. "He would get out there and play, if he had one leg to play on, or two legs."
Stephen Wilson enlisted in the Marine Corps along with three friends, shortly after graduating from high school, John Wilson said. The friends served their enlistment terms and separated from the service, but Stephen stayed on to make the military his career.
Stephen Wilson's citations and medals included a Purple Heart and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device, a Camp Pendleton spokesman said.
"He felt he was doing his duty to serve his country," John Wilson said. He said his son was married but separated and had no children.
Sgt. 1st Class William Zapfe, 35, a soldier based at Fort Stewart, died Tuesday when his tank ran over an improvised explosive device in Muhammad al Ali, Zapfe's sister-in-law, Angela Menchaca, told The Associated Press.
Zapfe was born in Covington, Ky., joined the Army in 1991 and served the last 12 years at Fort Stewart as a combat engineer. He was on his third tour in Iraq.
Staff writer Ken Sugiura and wire services contributed to this article.
Ellie