27 Jul 2006:
No. 718-06 IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jul 27, 2006
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DoD Identifies Army Casualty
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Capt. Jason M. West, 28, of Pittsburg, Pa., died on July 24 in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, when he encountered enemy forces using small arms fire. West was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Friedberg, Germany.
Robinson man killed in Iraq
By Brian Bowling
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, July 28, 2006
A Robinson man who enlisted in the Army after high school and rose to captain has died in fighting in Iraq.
The Defense Department announced Thursday that Capt. Jason West, 28, was killed by enemy small-arms fire Monday in Ar Ramadi. He was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Friedberg, Germany.
Army spokesmen refused to release further details on West's military service or how he died. Relatives also declined to comment.
A 2002 graduate of Slippery Rock University in Butler County, West entered the Army's "Green to Gold" program to become an officer, said a former classmate, Capt. Matthew Murray, 28, of Hunker, Westmoreland County.
In a phone interview from Fort Benning, Ga., Murray said West was a mentor to him and other recruits in Slippery Rock's ROTC program because West had advanced to the rank of sergeant in the short time he served before entering college.
"His apartment in college -- it was just wall-to-wall awards from his prior service," Murray said. "He had a full stack (of ribbons) on his chest. It was pretty intimidating."
Ryan Cook, 27, of Fort Mill, S.C., graduated with West from Slippery Rock. They both received degrees in human resources management and spent their final two years in college on several projects, including an academic competition team.
"He was the type of guy who saw the good side of everybody," Cook said. "He talked to everybody as equals."
West was a dedicated and diligent student willing to put everything into a project, Cook said. "It was important to him to make sure it was done right."
Murray and West were members of the ROTC unit's 10-mile running team.
"He was one of those guys -- just physically fit and up for any challenge," he said.
College life was a change of pace for West because he already had served in the Army, and he spent much of his free time skiing, boating and having fun, Murray said.
"He had a million friends. He was just that kind of guy. I do not know anybody who did not like him," he said.
McDermott Funeral Home Inc., of Coraopolis, is handling the funeral arrangements.
Brian Bowling can be reached at bbowling@tribweb.com or (412) 320-7910.
21 Jul 2006
Supporters,
I would like to thank each person involved with the upkeep and management of Any Soldier.Com. I hope it continues to be a huge success. I am truly honored to act as a host for all the Worldwide Supporters in this program. Receiving care packages and letters of encouragement brings joy to all of us, and particularly those who don’t get much mail. It means so much to my Soldiers and I that people back in the states and worldwide support us. We all serve our country for a number of reasons, but I would venture to say that we do it because of our deep belief in the American Democracy and Freedom.
I want to close this by again, saying thank you to all of those people who have sent me things for my Soldiers. They were greatly appreciated.
CPT West, Jason
10 Jun 2006
To whom it may concern,
I would like to thank all of you who are involved with America Supports You. It means a lot to all the Soldiers who are serving here, to know that folks back home are behind us. Everyone in Iraq has different experiences and most would say that this has been a positive experience in their lives. It is so difficult to ask for things from total strangers, so excuse me for only putting a few things down. I am representing my shop that focuses on building the Iraqi Security Forces (Iraqi Army/Iraqi Police).
Some items that we could use is the following:
1. Basic Toiletries (please leave out the razors and shaving cream) most Soldiers in my shop use electric razors. It is much more convenient.
2. ACU t-shirts or Under Armor t-shirts (much better in the hot summers)
3. Black or Green Combat socks
4. White Ankle Socks
5. Laundry Detergent and Dryer Sheets
6. DVDs (any kinds)
7. baby wipes
8. Gum/snacks
Thanks in Advance
CPT West, Jason M.