Marine Lance Cpl. John R. Wimpey Cagle, 19, of Tucker, Ga.
LCpl Cagle was assigned to 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Sept. 28, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while supporting combat operations.
Lcpl Cagle graduated from Chamblee Charter High School in 2010 where he participated in JROTC. He joined the Marines June 2010 just after he graduated. He was promoted to lance corporal in March.
As a child, Cagle was full of energy and extremely loyal, his former youth pastor said Friday. That fierce loyalty to family and friends made him an ideal candidate for the Marines.
Adam Barker, who served as Cagle's youth pastor for several years at Pleasantdale Church of God, said as a young boy Cagle had a unique personality that set him apart.
"He was a very excited child," Barker said. "He had a lot of energy and was extremely loyal to other kids."
"No matter what you did, it never got him down," Barker said. "He always was in a good mood. Always encouraging.”
Sometimes, Cagle's energy was hard to contain, Barker said, remembering a time when he told a rambunctious Cagle to sit in the hall so he wouldn't cause a disruption to the youth group.
Cagle followed the order, but stood outside the door and peered through the window. When the youth group sang a song, complete with hand motions, Cagle followed along. Through the glass, Barker watched Cagle singing and moving his arms, not letting his punishment stop him.
Longtime neighbor, Gilbert Archuleta, "I didn't expect it to hit me so hard, I was in tears myself," Archuleta said. "I couldn't even begin to imagine the loss."
Lcpl Cagle's awards and decorations include:
National Defense Service Medal
Afganistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Marine Lance Cpl. John R. Wimpey Cagle was killed in action on 9/28/11.
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