| Updated: 9/18/2012 10:12 am |
Published: 9/17/2012 9:21 pm
|
Friends and family reflected on a young soldier’s life; 19-year-old Jon Townsend was killed Sunday in Afghanistan.
By the time Townsend reached his junior year, he had his sights set far beyond the halls of his high school campus. First: graduation, then marriage, and the newlywed always wanted to serve our country.
"For a young man to serve his country, it's the highest honor." said Claremore-Sequoyah football coach Jody Iams.
Iams said Townsend decided not to play football his senior year. Instead, he wanted to focus on bulking up for boot camp. Townsend planned to join the Army.
"When he got involved with something, he had a lot of enthusiasm," said Iams.
Townsend put on a little size and everything was going as planned. He didn't need football to remain popular; everyone had a Jon story.
“He was a happy person. Jon was a happy person,” said principal Steve Johnson.
Johnson said he never saw Townsend in his office.
"He was a yes sir, no sir kid,” said Johnson.
Jon became an infantryman. His new job carried him to Afghanistan.
"He had a plan, he was going to go there and come back,” said Townsend’s cousin, Jeff Harrison.
Sunday night, around 10:30, the news came. Townsend and three others were killed. Officials said Afghan insurgents killed four Americans coming to their aid, after a checkpoint attack.
"Live every day to the fullest and don't take anything for granted," said Johnson.
Townsend is survived by his wife, Brittany, whom he married recently, while he was on leave. Grief counseling is being offered to students and faculty at Claremore-Sequoyah High.
