Marine Lance Cpl. Jeremy L. Bohlman

Died June 7, 2004 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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21, of Sioux Falls, S.D.; assigned to 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed June 7 by hostile fire in Anbar province, Iraq.

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South Dakota Marine killed in Iraq

Associated Press

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Defense Department on Wednesday confirmed that a Marine from South Dakota has died in Iraq.

Military officials confirmed that Lance Cpl. Jeremy Bohlman, 21, of Sioux Falls, died Monday in Anbar province, Iraq.

Officials at Camp Pendleton, Calif., said Bohlman was a light-armored vehicle crewman assigned to the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Pendleton.

He joined the Marines in February of 2001. His personal awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, according to a release.

He attended Washington High School in Sioux Falls from 1996 to 2000. Bohlman’s former principal, Bill Hoff, said he knew Bohlman well because the student would stop by his office to visit with him.

“He was a nice kid. I enjoyed talking to him. He was personable and had a good heart,” Hoff said.

Hoff said it’s hard to believe a student he knew so well would die in Iraq. “It brings home the reality of what we are involved in. You know you remember a kid like that as a ‘kid’ as just an innocent kid, so it’s just hard to kind of imagine this kind of circumstance.”

Family members told the television station KELO in Sioux Falls that Bohlman was a model Marine who was proud to serve in the military.

They said he came home to help an uncle rebuild a garage after dozens of tornadoes tore through South Dakota on June 24, 2003.

It was Bohlman’s second deployment. His family said he got married two weeks leaving for Iraq. His wife, Lindsey, 20, lives in San Diego.

They said Bohlman hoped to get out of the Marines and go to school.

Services are being planned at Eastside Lutheran in Sioux Falls.

Bohlman is the eighth South Dakotan or soldier from a South Dakota unit killed during hostilities in Iraq.

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Memorial held for S.D. Marine killed in Iraq

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Jeremy Bohlman was remembered Wednesday for his infectious smile, caring attitude and pride in being a Marine.

Nearly 400 people attended a memorial service at East Side Lutheran Church for Bohlman, a lance corporal who died in hostile action June 7 during his second tour in Iraq.

“Remember Jeremy as a hero, and how proud he was to serve his country,” his uncle, Mike Stoakes, said in his eulogy.

Bohlman, 21, of Sioux Falls, joined the Marines in February 2001 and was a member of the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, based in Camp Pendleton, Calif.

A funeral service was held Monday in San Diego, where his wife lives. He is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in California.

Stoakes provided a glimpse of Bohlman’s life through remembrances shared by family and friends.

“He was born with an infectious smile and grew into a lean, strapping young man of 6-feet plus, all the time keeping that infectious smile,” Stoakes said.

Bohlman spent much time with his grandparents while growing up and sent them letters while he was in the military, including one during his first tour of Iraq in which he wrote, “I think we did the right thing coming here. The majority of the Iraqi people praise us for the work we are doing here.”

“Jeremy never complained about his duty in Iraq and he did feel it was the right thing to do,” Stoakes said.

In another letter, he told how his unit had helped restore a school and gave candy to children on the final day of the work.

“It was a worthwhile project and he took pride in it.”

In his message, Pastor Lon Kvanli drew parallels between the Marine family and Christian family.

The military teaches that the group is more important than the individual, he said.

“In the military, it’s not about you, it’s about us,” Kvanli said. “You look out for your buddy and your buddy looks out for you. It’s a good lesson to learn in a world where looking out for No. 1 seems to be considered normal.”

— Associated Press