Marine Sgt. John P. Huling

Remember Our Heroes

Marine Sgt. John P. Huling, 25, of West Chester, Ohio

Sgt. Huling was assigned to 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died May 6, 2012 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of gunshots fired by someone wearing an Afghan National Army uniform.

J.P. as he was known, joined the Marine Corps in 2006. He deployed to Iraq in 2007. He was serving his second tour of duty. He re-enlisted after serving in Iraq.

DoD identifies Marine killed by Afghan soldier
The Associated Press

WEST CHESTER, Ohio — A Marine killed in Afghanistan on Sunday was from southwest Ohio, the Department of Defense said Monday.

Military officials said in a release that 25-year-old Sgt. John P. Huling of West Chester, who was trained to dismantle bombs, died in Helmand province. They said he was killed by gunshot wounds inflicted by a person wearing an Afghan National Army uniform. Officials are investigating his death.

Deborah Huling of West Chester told the Cincinnati Enquirer her son was killed while on foot patrol and was ambushed by a man who appeared to be an Afghan military policeman. She said Huling suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. He was flown to a hospital, where he later died, she said.

John P. Huling enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2006. He deployed to Iraq in 2007, and was on his second combat deployment. He was an explosive ordinance disposal technician, assigned to the 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group at Camp Pendleton in California.

Deborah Huling said her son, who had recently graduated from ordnance disposal school, wasn’t supposed to deploy to Afghanistan until October, but went early because of losses in his unit. His mother said he had reservations about going overseas this time.

“He was worried because he hadn’t finished his training, and he didn’t feel like he would be prepared to be over there,” she told the Enquirer.

Huling was still undergoing additional training when he was called to deploy, his mother said.

“He was brave and selfless and gave his life for his country so everybody could enjoy the freedom that we live now,” she said.

John P. Huling grew up in West Chester before attending Moeller High School in Cincinnati. He also attended culinary school at Cincinnati State and Technical Community College, but left to join the Marines.

He is survived by his wife of two years, Priscilla; a brother who also is a Marine, a sister, and a 12-year-old niece, his mother said.

“I am so proud of what he became, what he stood for, what he endured,” his mother said.

His awards include:
Purple Heart
Sea Service Deployment Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal.

JP leaves behind his loving wife Priscilla Huling and his parents John and Debbie Huling.

Marine Sgt. John P. Huling was killed in action on 5/6/12.