Blast kills local Marines in Kandahar, Afghanistan [Archive] - Marine Corps

thedrifter

04-19-08, 07:06 AM

Former VMI teacher killed in Afghanistan
Marine 1st Sgt. Luke Mercardante was killed by a roadside bomb Tuesday.

By Jay Conley
981-3114

A former ROTC instructor at the Virginia Military Institute was killed in combat this week in Afghanistan, the university announced Friday.

Marine 1st Sgt. Luke Mercardante, 35, was acting sergeant major for Combat Logistics Battalion 24 of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit when he died Tuesday. Mercardante was killed by a roadside bomb near the Pakistani border, according to a news story in the Athens (Ga.) Banner-Herald. Mercardante grew up in Athens.

While at VMI, Mercardante helped train cadets preparing to be commissioned as officers in the Marine Corps. He served on the staff of VMI's Naval ROTC unit as an assistant Marine officer instructor, or MOI, from 2002 to 2005.

"As an assistant MOI, First Sergeant Mercardante was a superb Marine and a tremendous role model for all of us," said Col. William Grace, commanding officer of the VMI Naval ROTC unit. "He was totally devoted to our cadets while at VMI and to his Marines while leading them in our nation's effort in [the] war on terror. He will be missed."

Mercardante was selected by the VMI Class of 2007 as an Honorary Brother Rat in recognition of his impact on training cadets. It is considered to be the highest honor that a faculty or staff member can receive from cadets at the Lexington military school.

"Brother Rat Mercardante was truly a great Marine, a great friend, and most of all a great father," said Jamaal Walton, president of the Class of 2007.

Funeral arrangements for Mercardante are pending.

Since the beginning of the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq, eight VMI alumni have died in Iraq. No graduate of VMI has died so far in Afghanistan.

Ellie