Reported by: Lance Barry
Web produced by: Neil Relyea
Photographed by: Matt Alexander
First posted: 4/16/2006 10:51:29 PM
It was a heartbreaking Easter Sunday for the family of a local marine killed this weekend in Iraq.
They tell 9News their pain over the loss of 22-year-old Justin Sims, of Covington, is only slightly eased because he was killed doing what he loved to do -- serve.
According to military paperwork obtained by 9News, when Lance Corporal Sims died this weekend on Saturday, he was wearing a full set of kevlar to protect him.
Underneath all that however was apparently a big heart, with the Marine often asking his family to have candy mailed to him there to be able to hand it out to local children.
That's because Sims' family tells me he didn't only feel honored serving "our" country, but also those in the newly formed democracy in Iraq.
Like so many others proud of the uniform they wear, Lance Corporal Justin Sims was always quick to point he wasn't a soldier, he was a marine.
"He was proud of what the Marine Corps stood for," said his father, Beechie Sims.
Justin's father spoke first to 9News on Sunday, just hours after two Marines arrived at his Bridgeport home Saturday night.
"When I opened the door, and saw the Marines out there last night, I just went numb, I knew what it was when I saw them," said Sims. "It numbs you. It won't hit me until he gets here."
A month into his second tour in Iraq, Sims was killed Saturday morning by enemy forces while on patrol in Ramadi.
9News has learned through military paperwork that his death was likely instantaneous.
"A RPG hit his Humvee. He was a gunner on top of it," said his father, "and it hit where he was at."
9News was told by his family a love of the brotherhood that exists in the Marines was only equalled by his love of country.
Seen in a December 2004 wedding photo with his wife, the couple chose a red, white and blue theme.
Sims was a 2003 Holmes High School graduate, receiving an education there that led him directly to basic training at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina.
"It started in high school, when he was doing ROTC," said his father.
Beechie Sims said he didn't talk to his son much during his time in Iraq.
He says in hindsight he thinks perhaps his son was trying not to worry him that a day like this one would ever come.
"You always think about it. It's a war zone. What else could you think, said Sims, "but you hope and pray that day never comes, but there is a real possibility."
Sims remains aren't expected to come back to the States until later this week.
His death marks the 23rd casualty from the Tri-state in the Iraq war.
His family ask that not only to pray for them, but for all soldiers serving on this Easter Sunday, and everyday.
Lance Corporal is the second Holmes High School graduate to be killed in Iraq.
Army Sergeant First Class Jason Bishop was killed in a suicide bombing on New Year's Eve.
Bishop, a highly decorated soldier, was laid to rest in Louisville.
