SUNRAY - Lance Cpl. Aaron Austin, 21, stationed at Camp Pendleton, died Monday, April 26, 2004, in Fallujah, Iraq.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Oasis Southwest Baptist Church in Amarillo with David Bachelor, chaplain of the Navy, officiating and the Rev. J. Alan Ford, of Oasis Southwest Baptist Church, assisting. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Amarillo by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40.
Lance Cpl. Austin was a graduate of Lovington High School in Lovington, N.M. He later joined the Marine Corps and was stationed at Camp Pendleton where he was later deployed to Iraq.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Shane, and a grandfather, Chuck Austin.
Survivors include his mother, De'on Miller of Lovington; his father, Douglas Austin of Amarillo; two brothers, Eric Austin of Amarillo and Mike Austin of Las Vegas, Nev.; his fiancee, Tiffany Frank; a special friend, Jerrod Sneed; his maternal grandfather, Harvey Grigsby of Lovington; his maternal grandmother, Virgie Thomas of Lovington; his paternal grandmother, Juanita Austin of Yorba Linda, Calif.; two nephews, Jacob Austin and Haydon Austin; a niece, Chaise Lynn Austin; several aunts and uncles; and a great number of family and friends.
Amarillo Globe-News, May 2, 2004
Silver Star Citation
Awarded for actions during the Global War on Terror
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lance Corporal Aaron C. Austin, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as Machine Gun Team Leader, Company E, Second Battalion, First Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1, FIRST Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, U.S. Marine Forces Central Command in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II on 26 April 2004. At 1100 on 26 April, a numerically superior enemy force attacked Lance Corporal Austin's platoon from three different directions. In the first 15 minutes of the attack, the enemy fired dozens of rocket-propelled grenades, thousands of machine gun rounds, and then assaulted to within 20 meters of Lance Corporal Austin's position. While throwing grenades and spraying their positions with AK-47 fire, 16 of his fellow Marines on the rooftop position were wounded, some severely. After ensuring his wounded platoon members received medical treatment, he rallied the few remaining members of his platoon and rushed to the critical rooftop defensive position. Braving withering enemy machine gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire, he reached the rooftop and prepared to throw a hand grenade. As he moved into a position from which to throw his grenade, enemy machine gun fire struck Lance Corporal Austin multiple times in the chest. Undaunted by his injuries and with heroic effort, Lance Corporal Austin threw his grenade, which exploded amidst the enemy, halting their furious attack. By his bold leadership, wise judgment, and complete dedication to duty, Lance Corporal Austin reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: April 26, 2004
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Lance Corporal
Company: Company E
Battalion: 2d Battalion
Regiment: 1st Marines, RCT 1
Division: 1st Marine Division, I MEF
Soecial thank you to find-a-grave contributor wings214 for the posthumous award information for Aaron.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Oasis Southwest Baptist Church in Amarillo with David Bachelor, chaplain of the Navy, officiating and the Rev. J. Alan Ford, of Oasis Southwest Baptist Church, assisting. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Amarillo by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40.
Lance Cpl. Austin was a graduate of Lovington High School in Lovington, N.M. He later joined the Marine Corps and was stationed at Camp Pendleton where he was later deployed to Iraq.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Shane, and a grandfather, Chuck Austin.
Survivors include his mother, De'on Miller of Lovington; his father, Douglas Austin of Amarillo; two brothers, Eric Austin of Amarillo and Mike Austin of Las Vegas, Nev.; his fiancee, Tiffany Frank; a special friend, Jerrod Sneed; his maternal grandfather, Harvey Grigsby of Lovington; his maternal grandmother, Virgie Thomas of Lovington; his paternal grandmother, Juanita Austin of Yorba Linda, Calif.; two nephews, Jacob Austin and Haydon Austin; a niece, Chaise Lynn Austin; several aunts and uncles; and a great number of family and friends.
Amarillo Globe-News, May 2, 2004
Silver Star Citation
Awarded for actions during the Global War on Terror
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lance Corporal Aaron C. Austin, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as Machine Gun Team Leader, Company E, Second Battalion, First Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1, FIRST Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, U.S. Marine Forces Central Command in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II on 26 April 2004. At 1100 on 26 April, a numerically superior enemy force attacked Lance Corporal Austin's platoon from three different directions. In the first 15 minutes of the attack, the enemy fired dozens of rocket-propelled grenades, thousands of machine gun rounds, and then assaulted to within 20 meters of Lance Corporal Austin's position. While throwing grenades and spraying their positions with AK-47 fire, 16 of his fellow Marines on the rooftop position were wounded, some severely. After ensuring his wounded platoon members received medical treatment, he rallied the few remaining members of his platoon and rushed to the critical rooftop defensive position. Braving withering enemy machine gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire, he reached the rooftop and prepared to throw a hand grenade. As he moved into a position from which to throw his grenade, enemy machine gun fire struck Lance Corporal Austin multiple times in the chest. Undaunted by his injuries and with heroic effort, Lance Corporal Austin threw his grenade, which exploded amidst the enemy, halting their furious attack. By his bold leadership, wise judgment, and complete dedication to duty, Lance Corporal Austin reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: April 26, 2004
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Lance Corporal
Company: Company E
Battalion: 2d Battalion
Regiment: 1st Marines, RCT 1
Division: 1st Marine Division, I MEF
Soecial thank you to find-a-grave contributor wings214 for the posthumous award information for Aaron.
SUNRAY - Lance Cpl. Aaron Austin, 21, stationed at Camp Pendleton, died Monday, April 26, 2004, in Fallujah, Iraq.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Oasis Southwest Baptist Church in Amarillo with David Bachelor, chaplain of the Navy, officiating and the Rev. J. Alan Ford, of Oasis Southwest Baptist Church, assisting. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Amarillo by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40.
Lance Cpl. Austin was a graduate of Lovington High School in Lovington, N.M. He later joined the Marine Corps and was stationed at Camp Pendleton where he was later deployed to Iraq.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Shane, and a grandfather, Chuck Austin.
Survivors include his mother, De'on Miller of Lovington; his father, Douglas Austin of Amarillo; two brothers, Eric Austin of Amarillo and Mike Austin of Las Vegas, Nev.; his fiancee, Tiffany Frank; a special friend, Jerrod Sneed; his maternal grandfather, Harvey Grigsby of Lovington; his maternal grandmother, Virgie Thomas of Lovington; his paternal grandmother, Juanita Austin of Yorba Linda, Calif.; two nephews, Jacob Austin and Haydon Austin; a niece, Chaise Lynn Austin; several aunts and uncles; and a great number of family and friends.
Amarillo Globe-News, May 2, 2004
Silver Star Citation
Awarded for actions during the Global War on Terror
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lance Corporal Aaron C. Austin, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as Machine Gun Team Leader, Company E, Second Battalion, First Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1, FIRST Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, U.S. Marine Forces Central Command in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II on 26 April 2004. At 1100 on 26 April, a numerically superior enemy force attacked Lance Corporal Austin's platoon from three different directions. In the first 15 minutes of the attack, the enemy fired dozens of rocket-propelled grenades, thousands of machine gun rounds, and then assaulted to within 20 meters of Lance Corporal Austin's position. While throwing grenades and spraying their positions with AK-47 fire, 16 of his fellow Marines on the rooftop position were wounded, some severely. After ensuring his wounded platoon members received medical treatment, he rallied the few remaining members of his platoon and rushed to the critical rooftop defensive position. Braving withering enemy machine gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire, he reached the rooftop and prepared to throw a hand grenade. As he moved into a position from which to throw his grenade, enemy machine gun fire struck Lance Corporal Austin multiple times in the chest. Undaunted by his injuries and with heroic effort, Lance Corporal Austin threw his grenade, which exploded amidst the enemy, halting their furious attack. By his bold leadership, wise judgment, and complete dedication to duty, Lance Corporal Austin reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: April 26, 2004
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Lance Corporal
Company: Company E
Battalion: 2d Battalion
Regiment: 1st Marines, RCT 1
Division: 1st Marine Division, I MEF
Soecial thank you to find-a-grave contributor wings214 for the posthumous award information for Aaron.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Oasis Southwest Baptist Church in Amarillo with David Bachelor, chaplain of the Navy, officiating and the Rev. J. Alan Ford, of Oasis Southwest Baptist Church, assisting. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Amarillo by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40.
Lance Cpl. Austin was a graduate of Lovington High School in Lovington, N.M. He later joined the Marine Corps and was stationed at Camp Pendleton where he was later deployed to Iraq.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Shane, and a grandfather, Chuck Austin.
Survivors include his mother, De'on Miller of Lovington; his father, Douglas Austin of Amarillo; two brothers, Eric Austin of Amarillo and Mike Austin of Las Vegas, Nev.; his fiancee, Tiffany Frank; a special friend, Jerrod Sneed; his maternal grandfather, Harvey Grigsby of Lovington; his maternal grandmother, Virgie Thomas of Lovington; his paternal grandmother, Juanita Austin of Yorba Linda, Calif.; two nephews, Jacob Austin and Haydon Austin; a niece, Chaise Lynn Austin; several aunts and uncles; and a great number of family and friends.
Amarillo Globe-News, May 2, 2004
Silver Star Citation
Awarded for actions during the Global War on Terror
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lance Corporal Aaron C. Austin, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy as Machine Gun Team Leader, Company E, Second Battalion, First Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1, FIRST Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, U.S. Marine Forces Central Command in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II on 26 April 2004. At 1100 on 26 April, a numerically superior enemy force attacked Lance Corporal Austin's platoon from three different directions. In the first 15 minutes of the attack, the enemy fired dozens of rocket-propelled grenades, thousands of machine gun rounds, and then assaulted to within 20 meters of Lance Corporal Austin's position. While throwing grenades and spraying their positions with AK-47 fire, 16 of his fellow Marines on the rooftop position were wounded, some severely. After ensuring his wounded platoon members received medical treatment, he rallied the few remaining members of his platoon and rushed to the critical rooftop defensive position. Braving withering enemy machine gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire, he reached the rooftop and prepared to throw a hand grenade. As he moved into a position from which to throw his grenade, enemy machine gun fire struck Lance Corporal Austin multiple times in the chest. Undaunted by his injuries and with heroic effort, Lance Corporal Austin threw his grenade, which exploded amidst the enemy, halting their furious attack. By his bold leadership, wise judgment, and complete dedication to duty, Lance Corporal Austin reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: April 26, 2004
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Lance Corporal
Company: Company E
Battalion: 2d Battalion
Regiment: 1st Marines, RCT 1
Division: 1st Marine Division, I MEF
Soecial thank you to find-a-grave contributor wings214 for the posthumous award information for Aaron.
