Army Pfc. Joshua K. Titcomb

Died September 29, 2004 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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20, of Somerset, Ky.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea; died Sept. 29 in Ramadi, Iraq, of injuries sustained Sept. 28 when an improvised explosive device exploded near his military vehicle.

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Soldier killed in Iraq sought out adventure

Associated Press

HONOLULU — A Hawaii native killed in Iraq last week joined the Army both because he sought adventure and he wanted to make a difference, his parents said Monday.

Pfc. Joshua K. “Buzz” Titcomb, 20, died Sept. 29 in Ramadi of injuries suffered the day before when an improvised explosive device exploded near his tank.

Though he listed Somerset, Ky., as his home of record, Titcomb grew up in the Leeward Oahu community of Waianae.

“Joshua fought for a cause he believed in, he died for a cause he believed in,” his mother, Elizabeth Titcomb, said in a statement released by the Army. “He was willing and proud to serve his country.

“He went to the mainland to adventure. We gave him family values — values to live his life with — and he used them. We gave him the foundation. After that, he wanted adventure.”

Neither Titcomb’s mother nor his father, Tennison Titcomb, were available for interviews.

Tennison Titcomb said his son was ready to go to Iraq.

“Joshua was a people person and always did things to help people,” he said in the Army news release. “He knew what he wanted and went and got it. He had determination.”

Titcomb was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, based at Camp Casey, Korea.

While in Korea, Titcomb had met a woman who was also in the military. She found out recently she was pregnant and the excited couple planned to marry, friends said.

“He was just getting his life on track. That’s what’s so sad,” said Karen Ashley of Stevenson, Wash., whose son was a friend of Titcomb’s.

Titcomb is the 14th soldier with Hawaii ties killed in Iraq since the start of the war there in March 2003. Seven of those deaths have been members of the Army’s 25th Infantry Division (Light) based at Schofield Barracks on Oahu.

Four soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division have been killed while serving in Afghanistan and one civilian contractor originally from the Big Island was killed while working in Iraq.

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Waianae soldier killed in Iraq buried with honors

Associated Press

HONOLULU — A Hawaii native killed in Iraq two weeks ago was buried with military honors on Tuesday after a hometown tribute from family and friends.

Pfc. Joshua K. “Buzz” Titcomb, 20, was laid to rest at the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery after a funeral mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in the Leeward Oahu community of Waianae, where he was baptized.

Titcomb’s parents, eight brothers and sisters, and his fiance, Laura McCord, who is expecting their child, were among the nearly 100 mourners.

Family members played music during the visitation preceding the service.

Tennison Titcomb Sr., the soldier’s father, told reporters before the service that his son “knew inside that something would happen.”

“I’m very proud of him,” Titcomb said. “He died for us. I’m glad he died for his country.”

His older son, Tennison Jr., 22, was very close to Joshua and has been devastated since learning of his death, the father said.

Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals were presented to the soldier’s parents during the burial ceremony, according to Capt. Kathy Turner, an Army spokeswoman at Schofield Barracks.

Titcomb died Sept. 29 in Ramadi of injuries suffered the day before when an improvised explosive device blew up near his tank.

He joined the Army both because he sought adventure and he wanted to make a difference, his parents said earlier.

Though he listed Somerset, Ky., as his home of record, Titcomb grew up in Waianae and graduated from Waianae High School in 2001.

Titcomb was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, based at Camp Casey, Korea.

He was the 14th soldier with ties to Hawaii to be killed in Iraq since the start of the war there in March 2003.

— Associated Press