Marine Sgt. James R. McIlvaine
Death: Apr 30, 2009
of Olney Md.; assigned to the 1st Battalion 7th Marine Regiment 1st Marine Division I Marine Expeditionary Force Twentynine Palms Calif.; Died April 30 in Camp Baharia Iraq while supporting combat operations. Also killed was Staff Sgt. Mark A. Wojciechowski. Patriotic father inspired son to serve The Associated Press James R. McIlvaine’s father was very patriotic loved the flag and country. “James felt the same way. His father missed out on serving so when James joined he was proud to have a son in the military. He was proud to see him in uniform. I was proud of him too” said Patty DeSimone his grandmother. McIlvaine26 of Olney Md. Died April 30 while supporting combat operations in Anbar province Iraq. He was assigned to Twentynine Palms Calif. He graduated from the Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock Va. where he was a member of the National Honor Society and was awarded a commission to the Virginia Military Institute. “He was full of life” DeSimone said. “And when he was around he made everybody laugh. He will be greatly missed. He’s one of those people that you knew when he was in the room.” After a deployment in Afghanistan he was on his first deployment in Iraq. Family members say he loved Washington sports. McIlvaine’s uncle said his nephew played hockey and he was teaching his 7-year-old son the game. McIlvaine is survived by his wife Cheryl and children Michael7 and Alexa3Operation Iraqi Freedom