Lance Corporal Jeremy Burris
U.S. Marine Corps 12/3/84-10/8/07 Liberty, TX Lance Corporal Jeremy Burris of the United States Marine Corps was killed on October 8, 2007, while conducting combat operations in al-Anbar Province in Iraq. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Marine Expeditionary Force from Camp Pendleton, California. He was driving a military vehicle and was accompanied by two other Marines when the vehicle hit an IED, that's an improvised explosive device, hidden in the road. Lance Corporal Burris survived the initial blast and helped the other two wounded Marines from the vehicle. Then Jeremy returned to the vehicle to retrieve sensitive equipment when a second bomb detonated and Lance Corporal Burris was killed. It's not uncommon that our enemy sets a second delayed bomb explosion because they know Marines will always return for their wounded or dead or sensitive equipment from their damaged vehicles. This is how these cowards of the desert conduct war against our troops. They do so remotely. They won't come out in the open and fight because they fear the Marines and the Marine reputation. Burris was a proud Marine. He was an unapologetic person of faith, and he attended the nondenominational church, Cornerstone Church, where he led worship and praise sessions for youth groups. Lance Corporal Burris believed totally in his mission in Iraq. He said he was not afraid to die, and he joined the Marines a year and a half ago knowing he would go off to war. He told his youth minister “he would rather die young while he was able to give 100 percent than grow old and not be able to give that 100 percent.” Amazing man - this young gun of the United States Marine Corps. Ronald Reagan said this about the United States Marines: “Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world, but the Marines, they don't have that problem.” Jeremy Burris was one of those Marines.