Sean Stokes

Sean Andrew Stokes
Sean Andrew Stokes
Stokes in 2007
Nickname(s) "Pathfinder"[1]
Born (1983-02-06)February 6, 1983
Fremont, California[2]
Died July 30, 2007(2007-07-30) (aged 24)
Taqaddum, Iraq
Buried Janesville Cemetery[3] (40°18′N 120°32′W / 40.30°N 120.53°W / 40.30; -120.53)
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch  United States Marine Corps
Rank Corporal
Unit 3rd Battalion 1st Marines
Battles/wars

Iraq War

Awards Silver Star
Purple Heart x3
Combat Action Ribbon
Good Conduct Medal
Website www.sasmemorial.org

Sean Andrew Stokes (February 6, 1983 - July 30, 2007) was a United States Marine who posthumously received the Silver Star for actions while serving with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines during the Second Battle of Fallujah.[4][5][6]

Career

Stokes enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.[6]

Court Martial

In early 2004, then-Lance Corporal Stokes left his unit without permission in order to help a family member escape from domestic violence. After moving her to a new house, Stokes returned to Camp Pendleton and was subsequently court martialled, reduced to the rank of Private, and transferred to Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines (3/1).[7]

Fallujah

A few months after arriving at 3/1, Stokes deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, where in November 2004, he participated in Operation Phantom Fury.[6][8][1]

Haditha

In 2005, Stokes returned to Iraq, this time near the city of Haditha.[7]

Tharthar

3/1 deployed again in 2007, and Stokes, by now a Corporal, was selected to serve on the Battalion Commander's Personal Security Detachment.[7]

Awards and Honors

 
Gold star
Gold star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Silver Star
3 Purple Hearts Combat Action Ribbon Navy Unit Commendation
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal National Defense Service Medal Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 campaign stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 2 service stars

Death

On 30 July 2007, while escorting the Battalion Commander across 3/1's Area of Operations in Iraq's Tharthar region, the convoy came to a section of road which had been rendered impassable by an improvised explosive device (IED) several days prior. Following protocol, Stokes dismounted his vehicle and began sweeping the surrounding area before attempting to move the convoy around the crater. However, he failed to see the well-concealed IED below him, which detonated when he stepped on it, wounding him fatally.[1][9]

Military historian Patrick K. O'Donnell was embedded with Stokes' platoon for one year leading up to and during their deployment to Fallujah, and Stokes is a prominent figure in his 2006 non-fiction book We Were One: Shoulder to Shoulder with the Marines Who Took Fallujah. [6]

Shootout!

In 2006, Stokes was featured in an episode of "Shootout!" on the History Channel entitled "D-Day: Fallujah", wherein his actions in 2004 are dramatized while he and other Marines recount the details.[8]


References

  1. 1 2 3 Hurt, Andy (11 August 2007). "Young legend killed in Al Anbar province". Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  2. ↑ 2008 Congressional Record, Vol. 154, Page S615 (February 5, 2008)
  3. ↑ "Sean A. Stokes, 24". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  4. ↑ "U.S. MARINE CORPS RECIPIENTS OF THE SILVER STAR MEDAL For Actions Since September 11, 2001". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  5. ↑ "Valor awards for Sean Andrew Stokes". Military Times. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 4 O'Donnell, Patrick K. (2006). We Were One: Shoulder to Shoulder with the Marines Who Took Fallujah (1st ed.). Cambridge, Mass.: Da Capo. ISBN 978-0-306-81573-7.
  7. 1 2 3 O'Donnell, Patrick. "Saving of Private Stokes" (PDF). Sean Andrew Stokes Memorial. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  8. 1 2 "D-Day: Fallujah". Shootout!. Season 1. History Channel.
  9. ↑ "IED EXPLOSION(IED) ATTK ON BLT 3/1 IVO (ROUTE LINCOLN ): 1 CF WIA 1 CF KIA 3 AIF DET". WikiLeaks. 30 July 2007. Retrieved 10 December 2017.

Further reading

  • West, Bing (2005). No True Glory: A Frontline Account of the Battle for Fallujah (Bantam trade pbk. ed.). New York: Bantam Books. ISBN 978-0553383195.
  • moddis (10 August 2007). "Cpl. Sean Stokes: Your Point Man". Human Events.
  • admin (6 November 2006). "Remember the Heroes of Fallujah". Human Events.
  • Koopman, John (16 February 2008). "War hero awarded Silver Star after his death". SFGate.
  • Spano, John. "Marine Cpl. Sean A. Stokes, 24, Auburn; killed by improvised explosive". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  • Miller, Michelle (5 August 2007). "LOP mourns Marine's death". Auburn Journal.
  • Fallen Marine Sean Andrew Stokes on YouTube
  • Sean Andrew Stokes Memorial Organization's channel on YouTube
  • "Sean A Stokes". Fallen Heroes Project.

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

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