On the recordFebruary 24, 2010
On Thursday, February 18, 2010, Indiana lost one of its brave sons. Marine Sergeant Jeremy McQueary was killed in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan, by an IED while on foot patrol supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Sergeant McQueary, a Columbus, Indiana, native, had survived two prior IED attacks while in Afghanistan. Jeremy, a model Hoosier, enjoyed fishing, four wheeling and giving back to his community by mentoring troubled high school students. He married his high school sweetheart, Rae, and together they had a baby boy, Hadley. He was only a month old when Jeremy shipped out for his third tour, this time to Afghanistan, having already served two previous tours in Iraq. Eager to join the Marine Corps, Jeremy graduated from high school early and enlisted in 2002. Jeremy's passion for the Corps was so strong that he completed basic training on a broken foot, informing his superiors of his injury only after he had finished basic training. This level of commitment shown by Jeremy to the Corps and our country is an example to us all. Jeremy McQueary was a devoted father and family man who paid the ultimate sacrifice serving his country. I mourn the loss of Jeremy. I want to thank Jeremy and his family for his service to our country. He and his loved ones are in my prayers.
