Yesterday the army announced that Jason Kessler was killed in fighting in Iraq. From the News Tribune of Tacoma, Washington:
A 29-year-old Army Ranger from Fort Lewis was killed Monday in northern Iraq, the military said Thursday.
Cpl. Jason M. Kessler, a college graduate and veteran of two previous Iraq deployments, died after his tactical vehicle was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade, according to Department of Defense press releases.
He was assigned to C Company of the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment from Fort Lewis. Officials at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, N.C., said they could provide no further details about the incident.
Kessler was from Mount Vernon in Skagit County. He graduated from Mount Vernon Christian High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies at The Master’s College in Santa Clarita, Calif., the Special Operations Command said in a press release. He was also studying philosophy at the University of Washington.
He enlisted in the Army in 2005 and completed infantry and airborne training and then the Ranger indoctrination program, all at Fort Benning, Ga. He was assigned to the Fort Lewis Ranger battalion in August of that year.
He is survived by his parents, C. Michael and Pamela Kessler, his brother Mark, his sister Katelyn, all of Mount Vernon, and his long-time girlfriend Erin Jacobson of Kirkland, the Army said.
Kessler is the fourth Fort Lewis Ranger to be killed in the Iraq war.
Jason was at IBEX in the fall of 1997. He was a bright student who was one of a very small number that chose to take the dreaded archaeology class with me. He excelled in his studies and in his campus job. I gave him some difficult tasks but he was always faithful and careful. That he later qualified in the elite Army Rangers is not a surprise to me. May the Lord comfort his family and Erin in this hard time.
Jason at IBEX, fall 1997
Update (4:00 pm): A friend sent a bio of Jason (pdf) by the Army Rangers. Jason was an amazing guy.
I’ll be praying for Jason’s family, and for Erin.
Mike Bonebright
— Fall ’97
My prayers also go out for Jason’s family and Erin. Jason was such a great guy and I will always remember the times we spent together in the fall of 97 at IBEX, especially watching him do all of todd’s little jobs, I even believe he cut his hand pretty good chopping firewood. Jason will be missed.
Matt Hutchinson
– Fall 97
I will be praying. I too was so encouraged by Jason at Ibex. He will be missed.
Yetta Garwood
Jason was my RA my Junior year at Master’s. He was also a graduate of the Youth Ministry that I’m now the pastor of. Our church is mourning his loss greatly. The family is grieving as those with hope, which is a joy to behold. Thank you all for your continued prayers. Jason’s funeral service will be held Thursday at 1:00pm at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, WA.