In Memory of Corporal Jordan C. Pierson

A Marine from Milford who was awarded a Purple Heart after an insurgent grenade exploded and pelted him with shrapnel earlier this year was killed during combat Friday in Iraq, the U.S. Department of Defense announced Saturday.

Cpl. Jordan C. Pierson, 21, became the 32nd serviceperson with ties to Connecticut killed since in Iraq or Afghanistan since March 2002.

Pierson died during combat operations in the Al Anbar province, a combat hot zone. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division in Plainville.

Word of the Marine’s death reached his seaside hometown by late Friday.

“There were two Marines in full dress uniform standing outside their house when his mother got home,” said Rena Lewis, a neighbor. “I saw them there and I knew what it was about.”

Pierson graduated from Foran High School in Milford in 2003 and enlisted with the Marines that December. He postponed studies at the University of Connecticut to serve in Iraq. (source)

Servicemen and civilians with Connecticut ties who have died since March 2002 in Iraq and Afghanistan:

Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Chapman, 36, March 4, 2002, Afghanistan

Marine Staff Sgt. Phillip Jordan, 42, March 23, 2003, Iraq

Marine Cpl. Kemaphoom Chanawongse, 22, March 23, 2003, Iraq

Army Pfc. Wilfredo Perez Jr., 24, July 26, 2003, Iraq

Army Staff Sgt. Richard S. Eaton Jr., 37, Aug. 12, 2003, Iraq

Army Sgt. David Travis Friedrich, 26, Sept. 20, 2003, Iraq

Army Pfc. Anthony D’Agostino, 20, Nov. 2, 2003, Iraq

Army Sgt. Maj. Philip Albert, 41, Nov. 23, 2003, Afghanistan

Army Pfc. Jeffrey Braun, 19, Dec. 12, 2003, Iraq

Army Capt. Eric Paliwoda, 28, Jan. 2, 2004, Iraq

Army Sgt. Benjamin Gilman, 28, Jan. 29, 2004, Afghanistan

Army Spc. Tyanna Avery-Felder, 22, April 7, 2004, Iraq

Army (National Guard) Sgt. Felix Del Greco, 22, April 9, 2004, Iraq

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan B. Bruckenthal, 24, April 24, 2004, Iraq

Army Spc. Jacob David Martir, 21, Aug. 18, 2004, Iraq

Eric Miner, 44, employee of U.S. security firm DynCorp, Oct. 14, 2004, Iraq

Army Chief Warrant Officer William Brennan, Oct. 15, 2004, Iraq

Marine Cpl. Kevin Dempsey, 23, Nov. 13, 2004, Iraq

Army Sgt. Joseph Michael Nolan, 27, Nov. 18, 2004, Iraq

Army Lt. Col. Michael J. McMahon, 41, Nov. 27, 2004, Afghanistan

Army (National Guard) Staff Sgt. Henry E. Irizarry, 38, Dec. 3, 2004, Iraq

Army (National Guard) Spc. Robert Hoyt, 21, Dec. 11, 2004, Iraq

Army Staff Sgt. Thomas E. Vitagliano, 33, Jan. 17, 2005, Iraq

Barbara Heald, 60, civilian employee of the Army, Jan. 29, 2005, Iraq

Marine Lance Cpl. Lawrence Philippon, 22, May 8, 2005, Iraq

Lance Cpl. John T. Schmidt III, 21, May 11, 2005, Iraq

Army Spec. Christopher Hoskins, 21, June 21, 2005, Iraq

Army Maj. Steve Reich, 34, June 28, 2005, Afghanistan

Marine Sgt. David Coullard, 32, Aug. 1, 2005, Iraq

Marine Capt. Brian S. Letendre, 27, May 3, 2006, Iraq

Marine Cpl. Stephen Bixler, 20, May 4, 2006, Iraq

Marine Cpl. Jordan C. Pierson, 21, Aug. 25, 2006, Iraq

Source - Stamford Advocate via AP
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