Navy Construction Mechanic 1st Class Ross L. Toles III

Remember Our Heroes

Navy Construction Mechanic 1st Class Ross L. Toles III, 37, of Davison, Mich.

Mechanic 1st Class Toles was assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team Sharana in Afghanistan; died June 18, 2008 as a result of wounds sustained from an enemy rocket attack in Zerok, Afghanistan. Also killed was Hospitalman Marc A. Retmier.

A "free spirit" who was willing to lend a helping hand.

That's how Jeff Coolidge describes his friend and co-worker, Ross L. Toles III, of Davison, who died in a rocket attack while serving as a petty officer first class in the Navy Reserve in Afghanistan.

"He was just a vibrant person," said Coolidge, who worked with Toles at GM's Pontiac Assembly Center for roughly two years where both were fleet managers for Premier Manufacturing Support Services.

That vibrant life was cut short this week when Toles died from wounds suffered in a rocket attack on the northern Paktika province.

Tolles and Hospitalman Marc A. Retmier, 19, of Hemet, Calif., were assigned to a reconstruction team in Afghanistan, and both were killed in the Wednesday attack.

Coolidge learned of his friend's death on Thursday, when a memo was sent around the plant.

He said it saddened a lot of people at various GM plants throughout the state, where Toles worked.

Coolidge said Toles supervised GM workers in repairs of mobile equipment used inside the plant.

"He always had a smile and he was always outgoing," Coolidge said.

The last time he saw him was at the company picnic. Toles, he said, rode his motorcycle in front of Coolidge's vehicle to show him some back roads out of Pontiac.

Navy Construction Mechanic 1st Class Ross L. Toles III was killed in action on 6/18/08.