Posted on 02/23/2007 8:26:00 PM PST by srmorton
A Camp Lejeune Marine died early Wednesday after being run over while sleeping in a training area, according to a family member.
Family members got a call Wednesday afternoon that Joshua Bailey, 18, of Vinemont, Ala., died while in the field doing combat training in the lead-up to a March deployment to Iraq, according to Bailey's cousin, Diane Beesley.
Bailey's mother, Fay Kilgo, who lives in Vinemont, confirmed that it was her son who died Wednesday at Camp Lejeune, but declined to comment further.
Beesley, of Florida, said she was informed of Bailey's death by his 16-year-old sister Renee.
"The only thing we were told is that in the early morning hours when it was still dark on Wednesday he was sleeping and he was run over," Beesley said. "His mom told me the (Marine Corps) said they didn't know whether it was a truck, a tank or what."
The Marine Corps said in a press release Wednesday that a Camp Lejeune Marine had died "from injuries sustained during a training event aboard the base" and that the incident was under investigation. Officials have not yet released the Marine's name or the cause of death.
Beesley said Bailey's family is eager for more information.
"They said they were going to release his body within three to four days after an investigation," Beesley said. "They should have taken precautions if they're having training and people are sleeping. There is something wrong with that picture."
Bailey wanted to join the Marine Corps after talking with recruiters at his high school, Beesley said. He joined in June after graduating from Vinemont High School and was stationed at Camp Lejeune in the fall, Beesley said.
Bailey was a precision machining student who attented technical school at the Cullman Area Career Center, according to a local newspaper, the Cullman Times. His guidance counselor in high school, Melissa Stewart, said she worked with him frequently.
"Josh was a very smart, kind and compassionate kid," Stewart said. "I can't believe this has happened. He was so very proud to be a part of the Marines."
He had planned to take 10 days leave starting today to visit his family before the deployment. Beesley described her cousin, who she said was more like a nephew because of their age difference, as kind, smart and someone who loved the outdoors.
"He was very clean-cut and didn't smoke or drink or anything," Beesley said. "And he had to grow up faster than your average child because his father died when he was 4 years old with cancer."
Bailey's stepfather also died of cancer a year ago, she said.
Beesley said she hopes a lesson is learned from the tragedy.
"Joshua was just a perfect person, just the best," Beesley said.
Prayers for Joshua Bailey & his family. ~Pandora~
The Streets of Heaven needed one more Guardian.
We offer our prayers for his family at this most difficult time.
Semper Fi.
Of course, to the jon carey's of the world, this young man was a fool who wasted his life. If he would have died from a drug overdose or drowned in some senator's car, then he would be a democrat hero.
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