Wednesday Hero ~ SSgt Justin R Whiting

SSgt. Justin R. Whiting
27 years old from Hancock, New York
3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
January 19, 2008



Staff Sgt. Justin R. Whiting, a Special Forces medical sergeant sustained fatal wounds when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive devise 16 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq. He was a Special Forces medical sergeant assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

SSG Whiting enlisted in the Army on December 15, 1999 and was on his third tour to Iraq. His military education included: the Special Operations Target Interdiction Course; the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course; Basic Noncommissioned Officer's Course; Warrior Leaders Course; Basic Airborne Course; Special Forces Qualification Course.

SSG Whiting received numerous awards and decorations - the Bronze Star Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two Noncommissioned Office Professional Development Ribbons, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Medical Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Special Forces Tab.

He is survived by his mother, Estelline, of Colorado Springs, Colo., father, Randall, of Hancock, N.Y., sister, Amanda, of DuPont, Wash., and brother Nathan of Dover, Tenn.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives
so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday.
For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

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