Camp Pendleton-based Marine is killed in Afghanistan

**Silvahalo** · September 12th, 2009, 01:47 AM

The wife of this soldier, we are friends. She is in town, (Bastrop), with family trying to cope with the tragic news, (he died Sept. 5th). She called me earlier this evening to tell me. I'm at a loss to find the words to comfort her, what to say to ease her anguish.

I decided to post this as I'm terribly sad for her and angry that yet another soldier has been killed and leaves behind loved ones in the wake of his death. Just breaks my heart for her. She's expecting their first child....I mean what do I say to that? to tell her words that cannot possibly heal her wounds. I'm so, so sad for her.

I appreciate if you all just take a moment of silence for this man who will never see his family again, and the son who will never know his father other than from pictures and stories. My heart goes out to this family and my friend. This has been a day of sorrow. I think I want to call it a day.

A Marine from Camp Pendleton has been killed in combat in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced.
Capt. Joshua Meadows, 30, of Bastrop, Texas, died Saturday in Farah province, on the Iranian border.
He was assigned to the 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, Marine Forces Special Operations Command at Camp Pendleton.
Meadows earned Eagle Scout honors in high school, graduated from Texas Tech University with a business degree and became a Marine helicopter pilot, according to the Elgin (Texas) Courier.
During an earlier deployment with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Pendleton, he was part of an anti-piracy mission in the Persian Gulf region.
Meadows' wife is expecting the couple's first child.

Source.

Meadows joined the Marine Corps on Sept. 28, 1996 and was trained as a Pilot UH-1N Qualified. He was promoted to Captain on July 1, 2006, joining MARSOC on May 28, 2009. His decorations include a Purple Heart, a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, the Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, one Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal, a Navy Unit Commendation, four Letters of Appreciation, three Meritorious Masts and a Certificate of Commendation.

Source.

It took a bit, but I found his picture....

Rest in peace Capt. Joshua Meadows.

**carolinablue** · September 12th, 2009, 07:24 AM

silva, i am so sorry for your friend and for all who love this fine man. there really is nothing else i can say except that a grateful nation honors his sacrifice.

all gave some, some gave all.

**Pete Bondurant** · September 12th, 2009, 12:13 PM

**Deja** · September 16th, 2009, 07:33 PM

Holy shit Silva - 30 years old, a baby on the way - it's just unbelievably sad. So unfair - there are so many people on this planet who deserve to die, why do we lose the good ones?
My prayers are for you and your friend - she has a long road ahead of her.

**AngelFire** · September 16th, 2009, 07:35 PM

Silva, I am so very sorry for friend. Rest in Peace Joshua Meadows

**Vanik** · September 16th, 2009, 07:37 PM

What's unfair is that half of the people that die in Iraq (not to go too far offtopic) are spewed at. Even the news filters out what is said about the BRAVE soldiers that are out there.

Silva, make sure you give your friend the information for the Patriot Guard Riders. If anyone shows up to protest, they show up to make sure nothing happens and to drown out all of the spewing. Hopefully it won't come to that, but I'd call just to make sure. There is a lot of problems with protestors showing up to funerals causing problems. I find it rather disrespectful.

Here's their website: http://www.patriotguard.org/

Hopefully your friend doesn't get treated like crap at his own funeral. I'm sorry for your loss, death can be a hard thing to come to grips with.

**sleepinwithangels** · September 16th, 2009, 08:23 PM

i am so sorry for your loss and your friend's loss...

I know she is living the very nightmare every Military family fears everyday their soldier is overseas.

I have many a time panicked over an unexpected knock at the door..and if that was bad i cant even imagine how that must have felt to her...oh man im rambling and getting emotional..

ill just leave it at Im so Sorry!