Marine Cpl. Stephen C. Sockalosky

Died October 6, 2010 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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21, of Cordele, Ga., assigned to 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Oct. 6 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations.

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Marine’s goals included being ‘better with God’

The Associated Press

Stephen Sockalosky — who was known by his middle name, Coty — loved the Atlanta Braves. One of his teachers loved the baseball team, too, and Sockalosky used that to his advantage.

The Rev. Roy Gibbs, who taught Sockalosky at Crisp County High School, said his former pupil would start chatting him up about the team before a test. It was his way of trying to put it off, the Cordele Dispatch newspaper reported.

Sockalosky also was in the Junior ROTC program at the high school, the beginning of his career in the armed forces. In a statement read by U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall at Sockalosky’s memorial service, Staff Sgt. Royzell Cooper recalled the young man’s dedication. Sockalosky received more than 80 awards in the program and made a list of goals.

“They included joining the Marines, getting married and living a happy life,” Cooper said. “He also said that he wanted to be better with God.”

Sockalosky was a Marine when he died Oct. 6 after he was wounded by a roadside bomb in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Camp Lejeune.

He also had a chance to get married. He leaves behind his wife, Brittany.

Marine from Georgia killed in Afghanistan

The Associated Press

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Military officials say a Marine based at Camp Lejeune has been killed in Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense announced Oct. 8 that 21-year-old Cpl. Stephen C. Sockalosky of Cordele, Ga., died Oct. 6 in Helmand province.

Sockalosky was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune.