Army Pfc. Jacob A. Dennis

Remember Our Heroes

Army Pfc. Jacob A. Dennis, 22, of Powder Springs, Ga.

Pfc. Dennis was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; died July 3, 2010 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries sustained June 30 in a weapons system accident at Forward Operating Base Lane, Afghanistan.

An Army soldier from Cobb County died over the holiday weekend after being wounded in Afghanistan.

Army Pvt. Jacob Dennis, 22, died Sunday at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, where he had been airlifted after being wounded late last week.

Dennis was a graduate of North Cobb Christian School in Kennesaw, where he played soccer. His mother, Renee Dennis, is on the school’s faculty.

Jacob Dennis was also a former member of Boy Scout Troop 204 at Roswell Street Baptist Church in Marietta.

The Department of Defense has not released information about the soldier’s death

Dennis’ family told Fox 5 that while the Army has given them details on his death, they want to focus on how he lived.

“He was in the middle of everything. That’s the best way to describe him,” brother Sam Dennis told the television station, adding that when his brother joined the Army in 2006, he wanted to be on the front lines.

Jacob Dennis was stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington, where he met his future wife, Allysha Clark. The couple had been married just over a year.

Family Says Jacob Dennis Lived To Serve

POWDER SPRINGS, Ga. — Jacob Dennis, 22, of Powder Springs was killed while on active duty in Afghanistan.

His brother, Sam Dennis, said he lived to serve other people both at home and overseas.

“He is the most loyal person I have ever met,” said Sam. “He loves to serve people.”

When Sam talked about his older brother, he didn’t have sadness in his eyes, only pride.

“I’m so proud of him,” said Sam. “I don’t think I’ll ever be half the man that Jacob was.”

Jacob joined the Army after receiving offers from every branch of the military, but Sam said he only wanted to be on the front lines.

“They gave him a nuclear submarine offer, they gave him a pretty good offer for a desk job,” said Sam. “But that’s not who he is, he’s a doer.”

Jacob was seriously injured during a weapons system accident in Afghanistan on June 30.

He was airlifted to Germany for treatment, and the army made arrangements to bring Jacob’s brother, parents and wife to be with him in the hospital. By the time they arrived, Jacob was being kept alive by machines.

“We were able to be there with him and that was huge for us,” said Sam. “To be able to hold his hand, I could feel him breathing.”

When the family got home to Powder Springs, American flags lined their street. Neighbors said they wanted to do something to support the family.

“It reminds us all that we all need to be very thankful that there are people who are willing to serve and that are proud to do it,” said neighbor Julie Frazier.

Sam said he will honor his brother’s memory by following his example.

“We learned from Jacob,” said Sam. “Jacob taught us about commitment and about being selfless.”

Jacob was also an organ donor and Sam said that, on the night he died, five lives were saved by his donated organs.

ATLANTA - A Georgia soldier was injured in Afghanistan and died in a German hospital over the holiday weekend. Private Jacob Dennis' brother remembered the soldier Wednesday.

Dennis was injured late last week in Afghanistan and was airlifted out of Afghanistan to a hospital in Germany. Dennis' family was on their way to Germany to be with him, but Dennis died before they arrived. He had been kept on life support until they arrived.

"He was in the middle of everything, that's the best way to describe him," said Dennis' brother, Sam.

Sam Dennis said when his 22-year-old brother joined the Army in 2006, he wanted to be on the front lines.

"Those are the front line guys and that's Jacob in a nutshell. He's always in front, go to be first, never a backseat guy, always a front of the pack guy," said Sam Dennis.

Pfc.. Dennis was sent to Afghanistan in January and his brother said he had the chance to come home early from his tour of duty but told his superiors he wanted to stay.

"He was trained to be there, those were his guys, his friends. He felt he needed to be there," said Dennis.

Late last week, Pfc. Dennis was injured so severely he had to be flown out of Afghanistan.

Dennis' family said the Army has given them the details about what happened, but they don't want to talk about how he died, they want to focus on how he lived.

"Musician, Boy Scout, family guy, church guy, He loved the Lord," said Dennis.

Pfc. Dennis was a graduate of North Cobb Christian Academy, where he played soccer and threw shot put.

Pfc. Dennis was stationed in Ft. Lewis in Washington, where he met his wife Allysha. The couple had just celebrated their first wedding anniversary in June.

The Dennis family said they are all struggling with their loss, but their faith is getting them through these difficult times.

"The comfort and peace, knowing he's with the Lord, is just overwhelming and it covers us with peace and comfort to know that," said Sam Dennis.

Jacob Dennis' organs were donated and his family said doctors told them by doing that he saved the lives of five people.

Sam Dennis asked the media for some privacy for his family, especially Jacob's wife Allysha, as they all try deal with their loss during this time.

Army Pfc. Jacob A. Dennis died 7/3/10 from injuries sustained 6/10/10 in a weapons system accident.