Marine Cpl. Benny G. Cockerham III

Died October 21, 2005 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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21, of Conover, N.C.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; killed Oct. 21 when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces near Amariyah, Iraq. His vehicle was traveling beside a canal when the attack occurred and he was thrown from the vehicle into the water. Also killed was Capt. Tyler B. Swisher.

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Former boys’ soccer coach dies in Iraq

Associated Press

CONOVER, N.C. — Like his father, Gray Cockerham III joined the Marines.

But the younger Cockerham won’t get to enjoy post-military life or his young marriage.

The 21-year-old Marine corporal was killed Friday by a roadside bomb blast southwest of Baghdad, his father said. His unit and where he was based were not available Tuesday.

Cockerham joined the Marine Corps in May 2003 and left soon after for Iraq. He married his girlfriend, Amanda Johnson, on a trip home to Catawba County about a year ago. Both had graduated from Hickory’s St. Stephen’s High School in 2002, where Cockerham played on the school soccer team all four years, according to friends.

Over the summer, he was called back for a second tour of duty.

Cockerham was initially listed as missing in action, and friends and family members held out hope he would be found alive.

But they learned the bad news Monday night.

Chuck Davis, the former boys’ soccer coach at St. Stephens, remembers Cockerham’s hard work on the team, which he shared with younger players.

“I told them how Gray was a hard worker and how he sacrificed,” he said Tuesday. “If you want to score goals bad enough, you’ll be like Gray Cockerham.”

Members of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church posted a message on its sign asking people to pray for the Cockerham family.

Cockerham is survived by his wife, Amanda Johnson Cockerham; his parents, Ben and Jill Cockerham; and a younger brother, Adam.

He will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Other funeral arrangements were incomplete Tuesday.

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Marine killed in Iraq loved family, soccer, movies

Associated Press

CANOVER, N.C. — A Marine corporal killed Friday in Iraq was remembered as a good friend who loved soccer, movies, and his family.

Benny Gray Cockerham III, 21, was in Iraq on his second tour of duty when he was killed, his father said in a letter.

Cockerham is the first Catawba County soldier to die in the Iraq conflict, according to the Hickory Daily Record.

His unit and where he was based were not available Tuesday.

Cockerham enlisted in the Marines shortly after graduating from St. Stephen’s High School in 2002, the newspaper reported. He played soccer on the school team all four years in high school.

“He was a great person to be around,” said Adam Bowman, 18, a senior at the school. “He loved his family a lot.”

Members of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church posted a message on its sign asking people to pray for the Cockerham family.

Cockerham is survived by his wife, Amanda Johnson Cockerham; his parents, Ben and Jill Cockerham; and a younger brother, Adam.

He will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Other funeral arrangements were incomplete Tuesday.