Walk with God, LCpl Randy Newman
LCpl Randy Lee Newman
March 25, 1985 - August 20, 2006
Marines, LCpl Randy Lee Newman, of Bend, Oregon, and Cpl Adam A. Galvez, of Salt Lake City, Utah died August 20 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. They were assigned to Company D, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, California. Their unit worked in Fallujah and Habbaniyah conducting reconnaissance, providing security, launching limited offensive and defensive operations, as well as providing humanitarian aid.
LCpl Randy Lee Newman is from our hometown. His family lives 'down the lane' from us. He is from our community. We mourn with the family and pray for their strength for the difficult days ahead.
Randy was born in Bend. He attended Mountain View High School where he was active in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, a member of the varsity wrestling team, and graduate in 2003. After high school, he volunteered for the Marine Corps. Randy is survived by his parents, Ramona and Jerry, and two younger brothers, Dan, 18, and Ken, 8.
A family friend, Mike McKee, said of Randy, "He was an all-American kid. He believed firmly in what he was doing. He volunteered for the Marines; he volunteered for reconnaissance duty. I think that speaks volumes about him by itself. The whole family is very God-fearing and believes in America."
Les Combs, his wrestling coach, remembers Randy: "he was a loving, caring person and one of the hardest working kids I've ever coached." A team mate, Casey McCright, says "He was just always dedicated to doing something positive and succeeding." The team had an annual fundraiser, selling Christmas trees, which the team dreaded - except for Randy. "It would be cold and most people would try to get out of it early, but Randy would be there the whole day. He would be the last one to leave, helped clean up and didn't complain," said McCright. Alex Baz remembers Randy, who was three years older, coming to middle school and coaching aspiring wrestlers. Alex remembers Randy as the guy who treated them as equals, rather than underlings.
Randy's mother gave an interview today to our local television station -- By Shaliz Koleini, KTVZ.com (Interview follows)
'The mother of Bend native and Marine Lance Cpl. Randy Lee Newman spoke through her tears of sorrow and pride in front of the family's home Wednesday afternoon, saying the family is proud of their "strong and valiant warrior" and will join him again one day in Heaven. Husband Jerry at her side, Ramona Newman read the following statement.
"When I found out that the news was coming, I felt like I wanted to say something which - I woke up at 4 o'clock in the morning, and God told me what to say.
"Randy was called to be a Marine, just as Gideon was called by God to be a strong and valiant warrior - it says that in Judges 6:12.
"Randy loved his family - he would want you to know wherever he was, God was keeping him safe. He told me that often.
"We're not supposed to understand. God says in Proverbs 3:15, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.'
"Randy always let me know how much he loved God, his family, and he loved his country. One of my last conversations with Randy was, ‘Randy, are you saying your prayers?' And he said to me, ‘Mom, God and I are so tight right now.'"
"We have comfort in Jesus Christ, and Randy would want that for every one of you.
"So remember my son as a great and valiant warrior, not only for his country, but for something much bigger - a valiant warrior of our God, Lord Jesus Christ.
"Our family is proud to stand before you as a family who believes and has faith, and we are proud to be Marines.
"John 3:16 says - we've all heard this Scripture - ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.'
"We thank each and every one of you for your prayers - I know there are many. Please keep us in your prayers. It's not supposed to be easy. But surely, I will see my family together in Heaven.
"We can all be with Randy again, and Jesus will help us, if we only ask. It's that simple. Thank you so much, for everything." '
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Services for LCpl Randy Newman will be held at the Expo Center at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds on Tuesday, August 29, at 11 am. The public is invited.
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If you would like to send a message to the Newman family, please post it in comments or email me and I will print them off and deliver them to the family. Thank you.
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