Lance Cpl. Drew Michael Uhles

Lance Cpl. Drew Michael Uhles, 20, of Du Quoin, passed away at 1:00 A.M., Wednesday, September 15, 2004 in Iraq.
Drew was a member of the First Battalion Seventh Marine Weapons Company serving in Iraq.  He began active duty on October 29, 2002.  He completed boot camp at MCRD, San Diego, California on January 22, 2003.  Drew then went to SOI at Camp Pendelton, California for advanced infantry training which he completed on April 8, 2003.  He was promoted to Private First Class on April 1, 2003.  He was then stationed at Twenty-nine Palms Marine Base, California with the First Battalion, Seventh Marines, Weapons Company.  Drew arrived in Kuwait on June 28, 2003.  He received his Grey Belt in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program at An Najaf, Iraq on August 2, 2003.  After completing a tour with his unit in the areas of An Najaf and Babylon, he returned to the states in October of 2003.  He attained the rank of Lance Corporal on December 1, 2003.  On August 25, 2004, Drew departed for his second tour of Iraq.  He received the National Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.
He was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ in Du Quoin and Dowell Volunteer Fire Department.  He was a graduate of Du Quoin High School.  Drew played summer baseball and had also played roller hockey on a Carbondale league.  Drew also played basketball and football at the Du Quoin Youth Club.  He played football his freshman and sophomore years of high school.  He had run track and played basketball in Junior High School.  Drew was a proficient drummer in the Du Quoin Junior High and High School bands.  He was the co-winner of the Band Director's Award in the eighth grade.
He was born September 19, 1983 at Du Quoin, IL, the son of Daniel and Marla (Galloway) Uhles.
He is survived by his parents of Du Quoin, one sister - Melissa Uhles and Kelly Waldrup of Shiloh, two brothers - Sean Uhles and wife Heather of Aurora, IL, and Neil Uhles of Du Quoin, paternal grandmother - Norma Uhles of Du Quoin, maternal grandparents - Olin and Louise Galloway of Du Quoin, aunt - Robyn Roach of Du Quoin, two uncles - Chris Uhles of Du Quoin and Gary Galloway of Du Quoin, great aunt - Frieda Emling of Du Quoin who was like another grandmother to him, great aunt - Ellabel Holmes of Wagoner, OK, great uncle - Jim Marshall of Katy, TX, great uncle Bill Marshall of Bartlesville, OK, and godparents - Jennie and Leroy Knapp of Du Quoin.  Also surviving are Drew's double cousins - Amy Hill and husband Adam, Nicki Asbury and husband Aaron, and Erin Galloway.
He leaves behind many friends, both in Du Quoin and among his Marine family.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother - Thelma Galloway, his paternal grandfather - Robert Uhles and an uncle- Robert Michael Uhles.
Funeral services were at 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, September 22, 2004 at the St. John's United Church of Christ in Du Quoin with Layman Bud Wirth officiating.
Friends called from 4 to 9 P.M., Tuesday at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin.
Interment was in the Sunset Memorial Park at Du Quoin.
Military rites were conducted by the U.S. Marine Corps.
Friends may make memorials to Du Quoin Junior High and High School Bands or the Dowell Fire Department.
