Marine Sgt. Nathaniel S. Rock

Died August 1, 2005 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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26, of Toronto, Ohio; assigned to 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, Brook Park, Ohio; attached to Regimental Combat Team 2, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward); killed Aug. 1 by enemy small-arms fire while conducting dismounted operations outside Haditha, Iraq. Also killed were Marine Cpl. Jeffrey A. Boskovitch, Marine Lance Cpl. Roger D. Castleberry Jr., Marine Sgt. David J. Coullard, Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel N. Deyarmin Jr. and Marine Lance Cpl. Brian P. Montgomery.

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Ohio Marine killed in Iraq

Associated Press

TORONTO, Ohio — An Ohio Marine was killed while on a mission with a sniper unit in Iraq, his family said Tuesday.

Sgt. Nathaniel Rock, 26, was one of at least five Marines killed Monday in action, the military told his family.

“He was very proud to be a Marine,” said his mother, Adriana Rock. She did not know details of her son’s death.

Rock joined the Marines after graduating from Toronto High School in 1997 and served for six years, his mother said. He then joined the reserves and had been serving in Iraq since March.

Rock was a part-time police officer in Martins Ferry, along with his brother, Jared, Adriana Rock said.

The Martins Ferry police chief said Rock was a respected officer who performed his job well.

“He was a young police officer that took a vested interest in everyone and especially his work. He was here at every opportunity and I especially liked him,” Chief Barry Carpenter said.

Rock said she last spoke to her son about two weeks ago before he left on a mission. He had sent an e-mail to his brother in the last few days.

She said her son loved hunting and fishing. He was scheduled to return home in October.

“He told me he’d be home for hunting season,” she said.
 

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As a part-time police officer, Sgt. Nathaniel Rock displayed integrity and curiosity that would have suited him well in the profession, said Barry Carpenter, police chief in Martins Ferry.

Rock, 26, joined the police department across the river from Wheeling, W.Va., about a year ago and planned to continue as a full-time officer when he returned from Iraq.

“I always saved a spot for him,” said Carpenter, who saw in Rock a talented, proud officer with great potential.

The Toronto, Ohio, native graduated in 1997, served in the Marine Corps for six years and then joined the reserves, said his mother, Adriana Rock.

“It was a goal he’d always had and a goal he was able to achieve,” Carpenter said. “It allowed him to serve his country, but ultimately it brought about his demise.”
 

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Nathaniel Rock knew it wasn’t easy for his parents to see reports of violence in Iraq.

“I’m sorry I’m putting you through this,” he wrote in a Mother’s Day card.

“But I couldn’t sit on the sidelines and watch Marines being hurt on TV.”

Rock, 26, of Toronto, Ohio, died Aug. 1 of small arms fire. He was assigned to Brook Park.

“It is some comfort to us that we know he was doing what he wanted, what he loved to do,” said his father, Tim Rock.

As a part-time police officer after graduating high school in 1997, Rock had great potential, said Barry Carpenter, police chief in Martins Ferry. Rock joined the police department across the river from Wheeling, W.Va., about a year ago and planned to continue as a full-time officer when he returned from Iraq.

“I always saved a spot for him,” said Carpenter.

Mahoning County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Schoolcraft met Rock while attending the police academy. Rock had been one of the stellar students and was always willing to help others.

“He always gave 410 percent,” he said.

Rock also is survived by his mother, Adriana.