Army Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan A. Lowery

Remember Our Heroes

Army Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan A. Lowery, 38, of Houlton, Maine

SFC Lowery was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas; died Dec. 14, 2007 in Mosul, Iraq, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit using small-arms fire.

Boston Globe -- Residents of a town in rural Maine near the Canadian border grieved the death of a native son this weekend with the news that Army Sergeant First Class Jonathan A. Lowery died in a gunfire attack in Mosul, Iraq.

Lowery, 38, a former drill sergeant and father of two, was killed Friday when his unit came under small arms fire, Army officials said. The sergeant's brother, Lawrence, said he had no additional details about the circumstances surrounding the death, which he said remains under investigation. He said it was his brother's second tour in Iraq.

"He was very well versed in combat . . . and he was a commanding presence," Lawrence Lowery said in a phone interview yesterday. "He was very proud of what he did in the military."

Born and raised in Houlton, a town of 6,500, Lowery grew up the second youngest of six children. He was fond of hunting and fishing in the remote town, home to a Smith & Wesson plant and pudding manufacturer Tate and Lyle.

After graduating from high school, Lowery took some college courses and served in the National Guard before enlisting in the Army. Lawrence Lowery said his brother's decision to join the military was influenced by an older brother who had joined the Air Force.

Lowery stayed in the military for the next 19 years, stationed at points across the United States and abroad. He fought in Kosovo, and most recently, the soldier, who was divorced, worked as a senior drill sergeant at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, not far from where his two sons, ages 8 and 11 live. At the time of his death, he was assigned to the Third Squadron, Third Armored Cavalry Regiment, III Corps in Fort Hood, Texas.

Lawrence Lowery said Jonathan had been promoted to sergeant first class earlier this year.

Army officials said flags will be flown at half-staff on the day of Lowery's funeral. A date and time has not been set. His remains have not yet been returned to Houlton, where his father and other family members live.

Paul Cleary, chairman of the Houlton Town Council, said the news has deeply affected many in the town. Lowery was remembered at church services yesterday. Cleary said he would offer a request for a resolution honoring Lowery and recognizing his years of service at the next Council meeting.

"We all joke about how small Houlton is, and how we all know each other," he said. "At a time like this, it's a good thing. We work to help each other through."

Army Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan A. Lowery was killed in action on 12/14/07.