Joseph M. Lilly
Sergeant, United States Army
September 22, 1986 – June 14, 2012
Age – 25
Flint, MI
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom
18th Engineer Company, 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA
Died two days after an improvised explosive device exploded while on patrol
SGT Joseph Lilly was born in Flint, MI. He was a 2005 Carman-Ainsworth High School graduate, where he was active in stage crew. He was also involved in reenacting the French and Indian War.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army and sent to Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri for combat engineer training. After training he was sent to South Korea for a year, then deployed to Iraq for a year. In December 2011, Joe volunteered for Afghanistan.
SGT Lilly believed so strongly in the Army’s mission that he volunteered to serve his latest tour there. This is what he loved. He loved being a U.S. Army soldier. He would say that it sounded weird, but he loved his job.
In May of 2012, Joe was hit by a sniper’s bullet only weeks before his death, resulting in a wound on his chin that required a few stitches. Joe was just upset that he was sidelined.
The morning of June 12, he had been released to rejoin his unit in a noncombat role, but was not medically cleared for combat duty. When he returned to his unit, one soldier had a bad feeling about going out on a mission. Joe volunteered to go instead and put on the other soldier’s name to take his place on patrol t clear I.E.D’s. While on patrol, Joe spotted a marking in a tree that the enemy used to show the placement of an I.E.D. Joe and his partner, SFC Pinnick stopped to investigate, but Pinnick stepped on the explosive. SGT Lilly was medevac’d out. Luckily the nurse at the medical triage hospital recognized that the soldier was Joe Lilly – not the soldier whose name tag he was wearing. The triage unit was waiting for a lung-bypass machine to arrive from Texas so they could transport him to Landstuhl, but he passed away before it could arrive.
Michael Lilly, 55, said he was proud of his son’s choice to fight for his country and said his son’s ideals have much to teach. Joe knew what the consequence was. It was worth it to him because he believed in what he was doing. He was trying to keep us free out of the clutches of terrorism. He accepted the risk. That right there is someone who has a lot of guts.
He was remembered by a fellow soldier as follows:
Joe it has been an honor to have served next to you over the last 6 years. Words seem inadequate to express the sadness I feel about the loss of a great man, father and friend and a great soldier your family is in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless and Rest In Peace Brother.
Phillip Iverson
SGT Lilly made such an indelible impression on LTCDR Wilgus, the nurse that recognized him, she honored him with this tattoo to always remember a hero.
