Army Spc. Jerod H. Osborne

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. Jerod H. Osborne, 20, of Royse City, Texas

Spc. Osborne was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 73rd Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died July 5, 2010 in Yakuta, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Spc. Keenan A. Cooper.

Spc. Jerod Heath Osborne, age 20, was born February 23, 1990, at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, TX, and passed away July 5, 2010, in Afghanistan. He was on active duty as a combat medic in the 82nd Airborne stationed there. When Jerod was young, his family moved from the Rockwall, TX, area to Seattle, WA, and then to Honolulu, HI, for five years. He never met a stranger and knew all of the people near his home and on the beach. The family moved back to the Rockwall area to help care for his grandfather, who died in 1997. The family decided to stay and made Rockwall their home.

Jerod graduated from Rockwall-Heath High School in 2008, after spending his senior year preparing to go into the Army to become a medic. Jerod began his Army career in boot camp in Ft. Leonard Wood, and then was assigned to the 182nd Airborne. He transferred to Ft. Benning, GA, for training, then in March of this year transferred to Ft. Bragg. Jerod received several medals for his dedication above and beyond regular duty. On March 26, 2010, he was sent to Afghanistan after a visit with family and friends.

"Spc. Jerod Osborne proved himself as an outstanding medic while attached to Alpha Troop, 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment," said 1st Sgt. Edmund Scarborough, Osborne's first sergeant.

"His dedication to his fellow Paratroopers and to the people of Afghanistan was proven time and time again. Spc. Osborne is solely attributed to the saving of several Afghan civilians after their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. Spc. Osborne's dedication to duty and the compassion that he showed to others will be missed greatly by his fellow Paratroopers, family and friends."

Osborne's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Medic Badge and the Basic Parachutist Badge.

Jerod is survived by his parents: Sharon Grillett and husband Gary of Royse City, TX, and Allan G. Osborne, III, of Caddo Mills, TX, sister: Hayley Grillett, brothers: Wau-tash, Nako and Nah-tah-ni Grillett and grandparents: Charlotte Henson of Rockwall, TX, Marilyn Osborne of Baltimore, MD, and Patricia Burchwell of TX.

Army Spc. Jerod H. Osborne was killed in action on 7/5/10.