Marine Cpl. Gregory S. Stultz

Remember Our Heroes

Marine Cpl. Gregory S. Stultz, 22, of Brazil, Ind.

Cpl. Stultz was assigned to the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan; died Feb. 19, 2010 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

“Cpl. Stultz was the kind of Marine that was liked by everyone,” 1st Sgt. Ingo Rasch, Stultz’s company first sergeant in Afghanistan, was quoted as saying in a Marine Corps Bases Japan news release. “His loss will be felt throughout the recon community for some time.

“Daily he displayed high moral character, was eager to learn and always prepared to give his all.”

According to information from www.facebook.com, where family members set up a page honoring Cpl. Stultz, he was shot in the abdomen area. Cpl. Stultz died while being airlifted to a nearby hospital.

Family members flew to Dover, Del., Saturday, as his body was flown back to the states. According to the page set up on facebook, Cpl. Stultz was born June 7, 1987.

While attending Northview High School, Cpl. Stultz wrestled for the Knights. He advanced to the regional as a senior in 2006.

NHS wrestling coach Dan Mikesell said he remembered Cpl. Stultz as a grappler who made tremendous improvements throughout his career, both in wrestling and in life.

"He got on the straight and narrow because of wrestling," Mikesell said. "It's something that kept him focused."

Mikesell said when he learned the news of Cpl. Stultz' death, he was "pretty shook up."

"He was on one of my first teams," Mikesell said. "It was pretty tough for me. I was pretty close to Greg."

Mikesell said while he wrestled for the Knights, Cpl. Stultz also enjoyed working with younger grapplers in the Wabash Valley Wrestling Club.

"He always helped the kids," Mikesell said. "He liked helping with the kids." Mikesell said Cpl. Stultz recently attended a NHS wrestling practice and the two had a chance to catch up and reminisce. "I told him how proud I was of him," Mikesell said, adding Cpl. Stultz said he missed wrestling, but his training helped him through boot camp.

Former NHS Principal Jim Church told The Times he remembered having many discussions with Cpl. Stultz while he was a student at Northview.

"He was a neat kid," Church said. "We got pretty tight during the years he was there. I really, really liked Greg. He and I clicked. I really liked him a lot.

"If I was going to ever recruit what I feel like what would be the perfect Marine, Greg would fit that kind of a mold. Hard-nosed, yet strong character; someone you can really count on."

Cpl. Stultz' guidance counselor while at Northview was Scott McDonald. On Sunday, McDonald told The Times he had talked with Cpl. Stultz approximately three or four months ago.

"He was out at the school and I talked to him for a bit," McDonald said. "He looked great. He was pretty much the same kid, except for a lot of, 'yes sirs' and, 'no sirs.'

McDonald said he was out of the area this weekend when he received a phone call learning about Cpl. Stultz' death.

"My first thought was how proud he was that he was in the military," McDonald said. "He was so excited about how he was doing and being able to defend his country.

"He was doing great things and, unfortunately, something like this has happened. He was a great kid with a great heart. It's just tragic."

While at Northview High School, Greg was an accomplished member, and Captain, of the wrestling team. He was also a member of the high school football team, where he played as a linebacker.

Greg graduated from Northview High School with the class of 2006. Following high school, he earned a wrestling scholarship and attended Rend Lake Junior College.

Greg was a former employee at the YMCA of Clay County, where he assisted with the day care.

He joined the United States Marine Corps in November 2007. Greg was serving as a Recon Marine, which is an elite division of the Marine Corps. He was deployed to Afghanistan in November to assist with Operation Enduring Freedom.

Amongst his accomplishments, he was awarded a Sea Service Deployment Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, National Defense Medal and a Meritorious Mast certificate as well as a letter of appreciation from a high ranking officer.

Greg actively participated in the ministry at The House of Hope along with his dad and brother Zach. He was a member of McCormick's Creek Church in Spencer, as well as the Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ in Brazil.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather William Stultz Sr., who was killed while serving in Vietnam, and uncle Steve Lalen.

Greg is survived by his mother Kim Stultz and Kevin Jackson, Brazil, father Bill Stultz Jr., Spencer, brothers Zach Stultz and Jeremiah Jackson, Brazil, sisters Jessie Stultz, Miriah Stultz, Haley Stultz, and Sienna Jackson, all of Brazil, nephew Jaxon Gregory Lee Singer, grandparents Randy and Jena Lalen, Yvonna Lalen, all of Brazil, Dorothy Cooper and Commodore Cooper, also of Brazil, uncles Randy Lalen, Dustin Lalen, Curt Cooper and Mason Cooper, cousins Dustin Joseph Lalen, Wyatt Lalen, Trista Anderson, Cade Cooper and Hayden Cooper, as well as a very close friend, Christopher Dean.

Marine Cpl. Gregory S. Stultz was killed in action on 2/19/10.