Marine Cpl. Stephen C. Sockalosky

Remember Our Heroes

Marine Cpl. Stephen C. *Coty* Sockalosky, 21, of Cordele, Ga.

Cpl. Sockalosky was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Oct. 6, 2010 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations.

Coty was born in Bartow, Florida and grew up in Cordele, GA which is the Crisp County seat and has a population of under 12,000. This community has been deeply saddened since learning that this 2007 graduate of Crisp County High School and JROTC member had been injured on October 3rd by an improvised explosive device in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan.

Coty was transferred to a hospital near Frankfurt, Germany where on Tuesday his wife, mother and grandmother flew in to be at his bedside. On Wednesday morning Coty succumbed to the injuries he sustained.

From his obituary: Cpl. Stephen Coty Sockalosky of the United States Marine Corp died October 6, 2010 at a hospital near Frankfurt, Germany. He was wounded in Afghanistan on Sunday, October 3, 2010. Coty was born in Bartow, FL. He was a 2007 graduate of Crisp County High School where he was a member of the JROTC and was a member of the Baptist faith. He completed his basic training at Parris Island, SC and had been named the Marine Of The Quarter.

Coty's friends said that he'd always talked about becoming a Marine and serving his country.

"There is so much I could say about him, but I just can’t right now," said Sockalosky’s grandfather, Roy Porter Wednesday.

His friends have been leaving tributes to him on his facebook page. One reads:

"You will always be in our hearts. You have done so many amazing things in your life, not just for yourself but everyone you came upon and it will never be forgotten.. Love you"

One of his teachers signed his guest book:

Knew Coty as a middle school student...bright, charming, cute, and a joy to know...fast forward to a stong, Marine who raised his hand and promised to protect and defend his country. Now he has given his life for all of us...God welcomed in a new hero, and said "welcome home job well done"...RIP Coty Sockalosky.. It was an honor to have known you.

Marine Cpl. Stephen C. Sockalosky was killed in action on 10/6/10.