Community celebrates life, sacrifice of SFC John H. Jarrell
by Michael M. DeWitt, Jr.
--------
Dear John: You will always be remembered in Hampton County.
A community and a family said goodbye Saturday afternoon to a local soldier who gave his life for his country, but the event at Open Arms Church was more about remembering than farewell. Sgt. First Class John H. Jarrell, 32, of Brunson, died July 15 while serving with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan.
"He did what he did because he loved his job, and he loved America," pastor Claude Hydrick said. "He didn't throw his life away, he didn't lose his life, he gave his life for all of us. Today, we're here to celebrate that life, and share memories that made John unique."
During a ceremony filled with song, remembrance videos and family photos, loved ones read memories of time spent with Jarrell.
Maude Duff remembered her son first as a small child who made up for his lack of size with heart, a boy who always dreamed of being a soldier. She also had fond memories of Mother's Day 2009, the first Mother's Day she got to spend with her son in 13 years.
"John had a smile that would light up the darkest moments," she said. "John died doing what he loved, and I feel like he made a difference in our community, in our country, and all over the world."
Jarrell's sister, Lisa Winn, recalled the very day that John was born, Christmas Eve 1977. She was 11 at the time and called him the greatest Christmas present she'd ever received.
"John was a wonderful leader, and a wonderful family man," said Winn. "John died because God needed a good soldier in Heaven."
Nancy Gill, a family friend, read Jessica Jarrell's memories. Jessica, Jarrell's sister, had an emergency and could not be at the service.
Jessica recalled her brother as a scrawny kid who smiled from ear to ear. He was also a protective brother who taught her to be brave in life.
"It was a smile that could go with us for the rest of our lives," she wrote. "John may be gone, but his smile will live in our hearts forever. You'll always be my hero, John, and I'll love and miss you always."
Sgt. Nathan Baker, Jarrell's hunting buddy and fellow soldier, was in a car accident prior to the service that left him in critical condition. Gill also read his words.
"John was hardheaded sometimes, funny most of the time, and a friend all the time," he wrote. "He was one of the bravest men I've ever met in my life."
Haskell Segars was Jarrell's uncle and childhood neighbor. He, too, had been a soldier and said that serving in the military was a family tradition. Segars added that John had a choice between a desk job and serving in combat, and although he was nervous about it, he chose to return to the battlefield.
"I'm proud to be his uncle, and I want everyone to know he was a good man, a good soldier, and a great nephew. He was doing what he loved, and he loved what he was doing."
In what was planned as an informal ceremony, family members asked all attending to come dressed in Georgia Bulldog apparel to support the college football team that Jarrell loved. And even the diehard Carolina fans obliged.
"He loved that ugly mascot bulldog, and I don't know why," said Segars.
"It's hard to understand a South Carolina boy's pull for the Georgia Bulldogs, but I loved him for it," said Hydrick.
Jarrell died in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his dismounted patrol with an improvised explosive device (IED).
Jarrell was a highly decorated airborne assault infantryman. assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. During his 14-year career, he enlisted for several tours of duty in South Korea, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and earned numerous commendations, including the Bronze Star, the Bronze Star Medal with Valor device, and two Purple Hearts.
He is survived by a wife, Wendi; a daughter, Emma, of Clarksville, Tenn.; a son, Brantley, of Sweeny, Texas; and his parents, Maude and Larry Duff of Nixville, and Bobby Dean and Patricia Jarrell, also of Nixville.
The son of a large Hampton County family, he is also survived by several siblings, including Lisa Winn (Roger), Dean Jarrell, Jessica Jarrell, and Casey Long of Columbia, along with several nephews and nieces.
Jarrell's final resting place is the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West.
--Hampton County Guardian (Hampton, South Carolina), by Michael M. DeWitt, Jr. Published, September 27, 2010,
==============================
A Committal service and interment for SFC John Haskell Jarrell was interred at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery-West on July 26, 2010. McReynolds-Nave and Larson Funeral Home of Clarksville Tennessee, had arrangements for the services.
According to the cemetery records and the records of the Nave Funeral Homes, SFC Larson's remains were relocated to Oaklawn Memorial Gardens, Hamilton County, Indiana in August 2011 at the request of his wife.
The National Cemetery Administration's National Gravesite Locator website has no record of his relocation or current burial.
The marker photo on this memorial was taken at KVC-W and posted before his remains were relocated. The the contributor of the photo is no longer active on FindaGrave.
The above tribute was copied as published and is an appropriate tribute to the memory of SFC Jarrell.
Community celebrates life, sacrifice of SFC John H. Jarrell
by Michael M. DeWitt, Jr.
--------
Dear John: You will always be remembered in Hampton County.
A community and a family said goodbye Saturday afternoon to a local soldier who gave his life for his country, but the event at Open Arms Church was more about remembering than farewell. Sgt. First Class John H. Jarrell, 32, of Brunson, died July 15 while serving with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan.
"He did what he did because he loved his job, and he loved America," pastor Claude Hydrick said. "He didn't throw his life away, he didn't lose his life, he gave his life for all of us. Today, we're here to celebrate that life, and share memories that made John unique."
During a ceremony filled with song, remembrance videos and family photos, loved ones read memories of time spent with Jarrell.
Maude Duff remembered her son first as a small child who made up for his lack of size with heart, a boy who always dreamed of being a soldier. She also had fond memories of Mother's Day 2009, the first Mother's Day she got to spend with her son in 13 years.
"John had a smile that would light up the darkest moments," she said. "John died doing what he loved, and I feel like he made a difference in our community, in our country, and all over the world."
Jarrell's sister, Lisa Winn, recalled the very day that John was born, Christmas Eve 1977. She was 11 at the time and called him the greatest Christmas present she'd ever received.
"John was a wonderful leader, and a wonderful family man," said Winn. "John died because God needed a good soldier in Heaven."
Nancy Gill, a family friend, read Jessica Jarrell's memories. Jessica, Jarrell's sister, had an emergency and could not be at the service.
Jessica recalled her brother as a scrawny kid who smiled from ear to ear. He was also a protective brother who taught her to be brave in life.
"It was a smile that could go with us for the rest of our lives," she wrote. "John may be gone, but his smile will live in our hearts forever. You'll always be my hero, John, and I'll love and miss you always."
Sgt. Nathan Baker, Jarrell's hunting buddy and fellow soldier, was in a car accident prior to the service that left him in critical condition. Gill also read his words.
"John was hardheaded sometimes, funny most of the time, and a friend all the time," he wrote. "He was one of the bravest men I've ever met in my life."
Haskell Segars was Jarrell's uncle and childhood neighbor. He, too, had been a soldier and said that serving in the military was a family tradition. Segars added that John had a choice between a desk job and serving in combat, and although he was nervous about it, he chose to return to the battlefield.
"I'm proud to be his uncle, and I want everyone to know he was a good man, a good soldier, and a great nephew. He was doing what he loved, and he loved what he was doing."
In what was planned as an informal ceremony, family members asked all attending to come dressed in Georgia Bulldog apparel to support the college football team that Jarrell loved. And even the diehard Carolina fans obliged.
"He loved that ugly mascot bulldog, and I don't know why," said Segars.
"It's hard to understand a South Carolina boy's pull for the Georgia Bulldogs, but I loved him for it," said Hydrick.
Jarrell died in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his dismounted patrol with an improvised explosive device (IED).
Jarrell was a highly decorated airborne assault infantryman. assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. During his 14-year career, he enlisted for several tours of duty in South Korea, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and earned numerous commendations, including the Bronze Star, the Bronze Star Medal with Valor device, and two Purple Hearts.
He is survived by a wife, Wendi; a daughter, Emma, of Clarksville, Tenn.; a son, Brantley, of Sweeny, Texas; and his parents, Maude and Larry Duff of Nixville, and Bobby Dean and Patricia Jarrell, also of Nixville.
The son of a large Hampton County family, he is also survived by several siblings, including Lisa Winn (Roger), Dean Jarrell, Jessica Jarrell, and Casey Long of Columbia, along with several nephews and nieces.
Jarrell's final resting place is the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West.
--Hampton County Guardian (Hampton, South Carolina), by Michael M. DeWitt, Jr. Published, September 27, 2010,
==============================
A Committal service and interment for SFC John Haskell Jarrell was interred at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery-West on July 26, 2010. McReynolds-Nave and Larson Funeral Home of Clarksville Tennessee, had arrangements for the services.
According to the cemetery records and the records of the Nave Funeral Homes, SFC Larson's remains were relocated to Oaklawn Memorial Gardens, Hamilton County, Indiana in August 2011 at the request of his wife.
The National Cemetery Administration's National Gravesite Locator website has no record of his relocation or current burial.
The marker photo on this memorial was taken at KVC-W and posted before his remains were relocated. The the contributor of the photo is no longer active on FindaGrave.
The above tribute was copied as published and is an appropriate tribute to the memory of SFC Jarrell.
Gravesite Details
Interred: 12 Sep 2011
Family Members
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