Corporal Joshua Jerald Ware , Kiowa/Comanche
US Marine Corps, Operation Iraqi Freedom
H Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines
1st Marine Division (the Professionals)
Killed in Action on November 16, 2005

CPL Ware was from the Apache area. He enlisted in the military on May 18, 2003 and was a Rifleman. CPL Ware completed a "Tour of Duty" in Iraq from March 1 to October 2, 2003. He and five other Marines graced the pages of Time Magazine, dated April 19, 2004, in a photo titled "Streets of Fire." CPL Ware fought in the second battle for Fallujah. He returned to Iraq on October 20, 2005. During Operation Steel Curtain, outside the city of Ubaydi, near the Syrian boarder, he and four other Marines were killed in a bloody gun battle while clearing a farmhouse. A fellow Marine, who was wounded in the battle, said "We had already cleared over 200 houses when we entered the farmhouse - an explosion took out the first two Marines who entered. CPL Ware kicked in a side door and drew fire from the insurgents allowing the downed Marines to be pulled out of the farmhouse. CPL Ware continued to fire his weapon until he died from small arms fire." During the gun battle, all sixteen terrorists in the farmhouse were killed. His awards include: the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals; the Sea Service Medal w/2 Bronze Service Stars; the National Defense Service Medal; the Combat Action Ribbon w/1 Gold Star; the US Navy/USMC Achievement Medal with V Device (for valor); the US Navy/USMC Commendation Medal and the Purple Heart Medal. He is buried at Rainey Mountain Cemetery west of Mountain View, Oklahoma and will forever be 20 years old (DOB May 25, 1985).