William C. Koprince
Lance Corporal, United States Marine Corps
September 16, 1982 – December 27, 2006
Age – 24
Southgate, MI
Operation Iraqi Freedom
3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, NC
Killed by an improvised explosive device while on foot patrol in the Anbar Province, Iraq
LCPL William “Billy” Koprince Jr. was born in Southgate, Mich., and grew up in Lenoir City, where he moved with his parents at age of 10. Koprince was a 2001 high school graduate and a member of New Life Church of the Nazarene in Oak Ridge.
Lance Corporal William Koprince Jr., was an outdoors man who overcame attention deficit disorder to be a source of guidance for his fellow Marines. Billy was a 2001 graduate of Lenoir City High School and a member of New Life Church of the Nazarene in Oak Ridge. He then worked for a pizza shop for a couple of years. In early 2003, he decided he should do his part to fight terrorists.
His mother never wanted him to join the military, but after nearly four years of service, she was not only behind him but supportive of the entire war effort. When Billy decided to enlist in the Marines in 2003, she tried to convince him to go to the Air Force recruiter. But he wanted to be a Marine, he wanted to be the best. This was his second tour of duty in Iraq. He was scheduled to return home in February. He hoped to start college and study landscaping upon his return. He was 24.
William was set to come home at the beginning of February. He would have been finishing up his second tour in Iraq. His family says he planned to leave the military and head to college.