Army Cpl. Jeremiah D. Costello

Died June 2, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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22, of Carlinville, Ill.; assigned to 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Bliss, Texas; died June 2 of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during operations near Qayyarah, Iraq. Also killed was Cpl. Keith V. Nepsa.

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Family, teachers recall soldier killed in Iraq

The Associated Press

When Elayne Willis first saw Army Spc. Jeremiah D. Costello walk into her high school classroom, his hair almost threw her off.

“He was my first student to have colored hair. It was either green or blue all the time,” the English teacher recalled. “I thought, ‘Oh, my!’ ” But she quickly understood the kind heart that lay beneath the seemingly outlandish appearance. “He was the nicest boy, and he always had a smile,” she said.

Costello, 22, of Carlinville, Ill., was killed June 2 near Qayyarah, Iraq, when his vehicle struck an explosive. He was assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas.

Willis described Costello as a “special boy” who was always polite in class. “He was just a good friend to everybody. He had a smile for everybody,” she said.

“His father passed away the year before I met him. He was so dedicated to his father and his memory. He was very close to his family. He would just always talk about his dad, and do things for his dad and mom.”

He is survived by a 4-year-old daughter, Lillian. “He loved his daughter more than anything. She was the light of his life,” said Costello’s mother, Debra.