Write Josh:
LCPL Joshua Armstrong
2nd BN 3rd Marines Weapons Company
Unit 44065
FPO AP 96607-4065

Jake loved all the normal boy activities, action figures, soccer, baseball, football video games, etc. Jake and his sister have been involved in the Johnston and Urbandale Soccer programs for years. At age 5 Jake started playing soccer in the Johnston recreational program. We later moved to Urbandale where he played recreational, select/competitive and Urbandale High School Soccer. Jake played both baseball and football for a number of years. In the end his passion was soccer and he chose to focus his energies on one sport.

Jake is an extremely intelligent person that has always had the ability to achieve great things academically. He attended University of Iowa for 1 1/2 years. Thanksgiving break 2008 Jake came home and told me he was joining the Marine Corps. He said, "I am tired of being a follower, I want to be a leader and I think I need more structure and discipline and I believe the Marines will help me achieve my goal" .

I'm not sure how you can have so much pride, admiration and fear all at the same time - but I did and I still do. LCPL Jake Maggart is well on his way to achieving his goal. He scored the second highest accumulated test result in his company, he was quickly identified as a leader in the 3rd Battalion 5th Marines Infantry Unit and was picked to be the squad intelligence liaison. Jake left for Afghanistan September 28, 2010. Since stepping off the plane in Afghanistan Jake has been on mission in a remote location with minimal contact back home to family and friends. I receive weekly phone updates from the Marines that are general and not specific to Jake however it is nice to get some news. Here is a link for you to see the updates online >>

We ask for your thoughts and prayers and not just for Jake but for all our heroes fighting for our freedom around the world.
 

Jakes Company - 3rd Battalion 5th Marines (3/5) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps. The battalion, nicknamed "Dark Horse", is based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California and consists of approximately 1,000 Marines and Sailors.

They fall under the command of the 5th Marine Regiment and the 1st Marine Division.

Members of 3rd Battalion are currently conducting operations in the Sangin District of Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. As of November 2010, 15 of the battalion's Marines have been killed in action, including the son of Lt. Gen. John F. Kelly, head of the Marine Forces Reserve.
 

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Joshua Russell Armstrong was born December 12, 1988. Like most boys, Josh played with action figures and video games but was happiest doing anything outdoors - he was always looking for an adventure. These days, Josh's favorite past time is deer and turkey hunting, he loves just being in the timber and observing nature. At the age of 12, he wrote a story about a deer he shot, which ended up being published in Deer Hunter Magazine.

As an "A" student throughout middle and high school, I was certain he was headed for college - Josh was not so sure. Then came the news - he was joining the Marines. Initially, I have to admit I was disappointed he wouldn't be going to college, but realized it was an admirable decision and his to make and I would support him 100%. Today, I couldn't be more proud of him, he is an amazing young man.
 

Josh is stationed in Kanehoe Bay, Hawaii. This is his second deployment to Afghanistan, he arrived there on November 13th and will return to Hawaii in July - shortly after that he will get a 30 day leave to home.

He belongs to 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines Weapons Company. The Weapons company's primary mission in Afghanistan is to train/develop the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) to allow them to provide security for the people of Afghanistan, independent of US forces.
 

Some of the skills Josh and the other Marines in the company are teaching are: how to properly patrol, handle weapons, properly account for their men, guard their positions, and conduct themselves as professionals.  The company also conducts daily partnered patrols with the ANSF, providing security for the Afghan people.

U16 Girls Giving Spirit
Coordinated by the team coordinator, Suzanne Morris, the U16 girls worked as a team to create care packages for the troops in Afghanistan recently and presented the care packages to Oz and Emily at the College Search tournament in Overland Park on November 21. It was an emotional presentation and the Parents, Players and Club were all very proud of this team's effort to recognize those who we personally know, but also, all of our other men and women who proudly serve for our freedom. Earlier this Fall Season, this same group of girls were able to work at Meals for the Heartland.

Quotes from some U16 Girls Players
I wouldn't consider what we did volunteer work, I just consider it a random act of kindness. To give to people we don't know is rewarding by itself, but when we can give to someone we look up to and respect as much Ozzie or to someone we share a team with like Emily, it's an entirely different level of reward. Doing what we did for the soldiers and Meals for the Heartland has not only impacted the people we gave to, but it made our team be more of a family then a team. -Haley Morris

When the person you've looked up to your whole life and respected most make a whole nation look at them that way too.. that's something to be proud of. And to Jake and all the others serving our country proud doesn't begin to describe our feelings towards you all. -Emily Armstrong

Coming over to a different club made me nervous, but everyone at JUSC makes me feel so welcome. Doing Meals for the Heartland was a great experience, and it was a great way to bond with my new teammates. I never felt as welcomed with my old team as much as I already do at JUSC! I felt so good about myself and my team after doing Meals for the Heartland. I really hope we keep doing volunteer work like this. I excited for the rest of the season! - Brittani Johnson

 

Staff Sergeant Salvatore Augustine Giunta Awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry for his courageous actions against an armed enemy in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan in October 2007. Details >>