Soldier Honored: James B. Stack

USMC Lance Corporal James B. Stack, 20, of Arlington Heights, Illinois, was assigned to the 3^rd Battalion, 5^th Marine Regiment, 1^st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Pendleton in California and served during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. On November 10, 2010, LCpl Stack was killed while on patrol conducting dismounted combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

LCpl Stack and his sister were homeschooled by their parents. After graduating high school in 2008, he enlisted in the Marine Corps, stating he saw the Marine Corps as an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than himself. LCpl Stack had been deployed to Afghanistan for only a month but had years of marksmanship under his belt that made him a confident rifleman. He was a regular hunter, nationally ranked competitive shooter and seasoned gunman who won a gold medal at the Junior Olympics in 2008 for the air pistol. LCpl Stack earned multiple awards while serving including the Purple Heart, Combat Action ribbon, Marine Corps Good Conduct medal, National Defense Service medal, Global War on Terrorism medal and Afghanistan Campaign medal, as well as several others for his service and sacrifice.

“He was an exceptional Marine. He was always willing to help out whenever and wherever he was needed,” his wife Katelyn said. “He liked being a hero to me and my daughter.  I was very proud of him. He liked that he was actually doing something in the world for America.”

LCpl Stack’s daughter is a Folds of Honor Scholarship recipient.