Jesse Daniel Tillery

Of the three stars on the back of Martin Tillery's hat, one of them would now be colored gold. This gold star would indicate the death of the Tillery's youngest son, Jesse Daniel Tillery. Jesse, Jim, and Jared were all serving in the U.S. military in Iraq, until one day when a roadside bomb hit the amphibious vehicle Jesse had been driving.

Jesse loved to read. Even as a young child he would read about military history. World War II was one of his favorite topics because it was the war in which his grandfather had fought. His parents thought he would become a sailor someday because he often read books about shipwrecks.

Not long after Jesse started school did his parents realize that he was very interested in history. He was not only interested in the military, he was fascinated by it. When he reached high school, there were certain historical events that he knew more about than his teachers did. Jesse did not take the time to play sports when he was in school; he focused on his friends and family.

Tyler Hamel was a boy that Jesse had been friends with throughout elementary school. Unfortunately, they began to lose touch after sixth grade. Tyler and many other people who knew Jesse described him as genuine and down to earth. His father said, "Anybody who knew Jesse liked him."

Jesse often helped out on Tyler's dad's farm as he was growing up. Dave Hamel operated a small farm in Vesper. Jesse would help bale hay and plant trees during the summer. The Hamel's knew Jesse very well. Dave once described him as very respectful and very polite.

Tillery graduated from Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids in 2005. Since he was not very athletic, he began getting in shape for boot camp. His mother was very proud to see him at his boot camp graduation. Jesse shipped out for training at Camp Lejeune in August of that year.

Jesse soon became a member of the 2nd Division of the United States Marine Corps. He enjoyed driving the vehicles and he was good at it. Unfortunately this interest of his led to his death on December 2nd of 2006. A roadside bomb struck the vehicle he was driving. He was the 64th Wisconsin service member killed in Iraq. Jesse will be in the hearts of those who knew him forever.

Written By: Mariah Anne Urban
Marshfield Senior High

Jesse Tillery was a respectful young man that served for the everyday American person. He was born on May 18th, 1987. Friends and family both agree that Jesse was a fun, easy to love great guy and that anybody could get along with him.

Jesse graduated from Lincoln High School in 2005. As a senior in the class of 2005 he had already enlisted and had been selected into the Marines. By the time he graduated he had two months to celebrate before being shipped off to Camp Lejeune in August.

Surviving only on friends, family and prayers he trained and fought for our country. Jesse was in Iraq driving an amphibious assault vehicle when it was hit by an improvised explosive device. Jesse died from his wounds.

Our country is very proud to have men and women like Jesse Tillery who are brave and unselfish enough to serve for the love of their own country. Thank you, Jesse Tillery for helping us to be the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Written by:

Shay Sparks, Student East Junior High