One Of OUR Own

We often talk about every Soldier being one of our own. Well Jay-D Ornsby-Adkins was.

Born in Australia, he moved to America at the age of 5 with his mother and went on to join the US Army. He was Aussie born, American bred and died a hero....

News10.net -- 21-year-old infantryman, Pfc. Jay-D Ornsby-Adkins moved to the United States from Australia when he was five years old. His family says he loved his adopted country, volunteered for the Army last year, and volunteered to go to Iraq. The Army informed his family Saturday that he had been killed by an improvised explosive device on April 28th in Salman Pak, Iraq. He had served in Iraq for just six weeks. In Ione, his mother, Robyn Ornsby said he was proud of his dual heritage, adding, "We're Australian citizens. He served the American Army with pride and respect. He died with pride and respect." On Tuesday, residents of Ione and surrounding communities came to the Main Street hair salon owned by Ornsby's mother to pay their respects with notes and cards. Family friend Richard Gonzales says he understands how the young soldier felt. "He went because he wanted to. I'm a Vietman veteran. I know what he's talking about. Because of him, people can write their editorials against the war." A friend described Ornsby-Adkins as, "Always moving a million miles an hour, with a devilish grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye." Ornsby-Adkins married 19-year old Ashley Ornsby in December when he was finished with boot camp. She says she is moved by the community's response, adding, "It's beautiful. Let's him know it's time to come home and it's ok to." Ornsby-Adkins was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Georgia. A memorial mass is planned for this Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ione. The funeral is scheduled for Wednesday May 9th at Sunset Cemetary in the nearby town of Martell.

I was first made aware of this young Soldier on Myspace with this article..

Sunday May 6 17:46 AEST Australian and American flags fluttered side by side in a quaint Californian town as about 1,000 locals, many with tears flowing down their cheeks, welcomed home war hero Jay-D Ornsby-Adkins. Jay-D had lived in the US for most of his life, but he was a true blue Aussie, his mother and father said. The Perth-born 21-year-old was killed in Iraq last Saturday when an improvised explosive device triggered by insurgents destroyed his military vehicle. Two other American soldiers were killed in the attack. "He was an Australian citizen," his mother Robyn Ornsby told AAP. "He loved America, he loved the US army, but he loved being an Aussie." Robyn and her son moved to the US 16 years ago to make a new lives for themselves and landed in the quiet town of Ione, about two hours east of San Francisco. With a population of just 3,000, Ione is set among rolling green farmland and appears as though it could be the set of a sweet Hollywood movie. Robyn opened her own beauty shop, Robyn's Nest, in the centre of the town, and became an integral part of Ione. Jay-D became one of the most popular kids, and five months ago married his sweetheart, Ashley. He decided the best way to better himself was to join the US army, which accepted him despite his Australian citizenship. Jay-D wanted to go to college and the army would pay for his tuition. "The army was good for Jay in every way, except for this tragic thing that happened," Robyn said. "He did not go to war for the politics. "He wanted to make something good out of his life. "He wanted to turn his life around. "He wanted to take advantage of the good things that the army has to offer and he wanted to go to college." Jay-D became a Private First Class, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, based at Fort Benning, Georgia. Although he had entered a new phase of his life, he kept his cheeky Australian streak. During a recent conversation, his mother asked him what he was going to study at college when he completed his army stint. "He said he wanted a degree in clown school or a degree in blowing glass," Robyn said. "He wouldn't give me a straight answer. "He was just being a smart-arse." Jay-D will be buried at Ione on Wednesday. The funeral at the local Catholic church is expected to be overflowing with hundreds of family and friends. Ione mayor Jerry Sherman said speakers will be set up outside the church for the overflow of people. About 1,000 people lined Ione's main street as Jay-D's coffin was brought through the town in a procession involving local police, sheriffs and firefighters. A lone bagpiper played Amazing Grace as the convoy slowly passed through. Jay-D's family, which included his father Shad Adkins and seven other relatives who flew in from Australia, were stunned by the community's response. Jay-D was the first person from the town killed in Iraq. Robyn's beauty shop has become a shrine to Jay-D, with Australian and American flags, candles, notes and cards covering the front. "It was incredible," Shad said of the community's response to the procession. "It was the happiest and saddest I've ever been in my life. "The amount of people who turned out in the street who were crying and waving flags shocked me. "They were all there for Jay." The reunited family sat at Robyn's home telling stories about Jay-D. Robyn and Shad were rodeo stars in Perth when they married. They believe Jay-D inherited their adventurous spirit. They laughed about the Mother's Day a few years back when Robyn surprised her son by telling him they were going skydiving. "He was petrified," she said. "But we had such a great time." Jay-D also had plenty of other talents, such as wrestling and playing the didgeridoo, an instrument that few Americans could attempt successfully. "He was a good-hearted and loving kid," Robyn said. "But, he was also wild in many ways and had a great spirit. "He wasn't always perfect, but neither was I or his dad." ©AAP 2007

This stands as a reminder that we really are all in this together.

My sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Jay-D. His life and sacrifice will be honoured by both our countries.

A_C