| U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Trevor L. Spink Jr. was the face of the U.S. Marine Corps from 1996-2000. Spink was selected to serve in recruitment ads for the U.S. Marine Corps based on his look and his attitude. |
FALLUJAH, IRAQ - A Farmington man who was the face for the United States Marine Corps made the ultimate sacrifice for his country late Saturday, becoming St. Francois County's first fatality of the Iraq conflict.
U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Trevor L. Spink Jr., 34, Farmington, was one of four Marines killed in a vehicle accident near their base camp in Fallujah. According to officials with the U.S. Marine Corps, Spink and his fellow Marines were conducting security and stability operations when the Humvee Spink was driving crashed into a canal. The death of Spink and the other three Marines has been classified as non-hostile by the U.S. Marine Corps.
Spink was born on Nov. 22, 1967, in Abington, Penn., and moved to Farmington with his mother Pam Oder, when he was 5 years old. Spink became an Eagle Scout in 1983 and went on to graduate from Farmington High School in June of 1984.
Following graduation Spink entered the U.S. Marine Corp and went on to serve during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
In May of 1996 Spink gave his mother a very special Mother's Day present. Spink presented his mother with a brand new U.S. Marines promotional poster which contained his face as the face of the U.S. Marine Corp.
Spink became the feature in recruitment materials of the U.S. Marine Corps because of his look and his attitude.
In a congratulatory letter sent to Spink in 1996 Ernest J. Dibenedetto, art director of the J. Walter Thompson Agency, said, "It's something to have had the look, but it was your attitude and responsibility that reassured me of our decision to use you in our ads."
Spink's picture appeared as the face of the U.S. Marine Corps ads for four years. In June of 2002 Spink returned to Iraq for a second tour which lasted until December of 2002. One month later Spink went back to Iraq and didn't return home until June of 2003.
Spink's latest tour began on June 16, 2004 and ended tragically on Saturday. During Spink's final tour, his duties included supervising the motorpool.
"Being a Marine was very important to Trevor," said Spink's aunt Cindi Lamers. "He was working a desk job and with the latest conflict in Iraq he requested to go back into the infantry so he could fight along side his fellow Marines."
Lamers said Spink enjoyed life being a bachelor and a Marine.
"In September he bought a Harley because he enjoyed riding motorcycles," said Lamers. "He was a people person who never met a stranger. He was a true Marine with service to his country as his number one priority."
Spink's mother Pam said he was very patriotic and was proud to be a Marine.
Spink is survived by his father Trevor L Spink Sr. of Florida; his mother Pam Oder of Desloge; his brother Lucas Kozloski of Farmington; his aunt Cindi Lamers of Desloge; his aunt Sharon Page of Farmington and several cousins.
Spink is preceded in death by his uncle Randy Lamers.
Funeral arrangements are pending at C. Z. Boyer and Son Funeral Home in Desloge. Funeral director Charles Boyer said it will be seven to 10 days before funeral arrangements can be finalized. The family is asking that all messages and condolences be e-mailed to [email protected].
Since May 1, 2003, when military combat operations ceased in Iraq, there have been 738 U.S. casualties reported by the U.S. Dept. of Defense.
The first time U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Michael Deason saw his 1-year-old daughter Kayler was on Christmas. War and hope separated the father and daughter while Deason was serving his country in Iraq.
Just six days before Deason was to return to his family in Farmington, a roadside bomb in Iraq ripped the opportunity for this young man and his wife to share precious memories many people take for granted.
Deason will never get to see his child's first step, or hear those �good-night, I love you daddy.� He will never have those times when his children look up at him with those big eyes of unconditional love. The roadside bomb that exploded Wednesday near the convoy Deason was traveling in, killed him.
In a letter Michael sent to David for Father's Day he said, �You can see all kinds of kids playing around here. It feels good knowing the people are free because of us.�
Michael was featured in the military publication Stars and Stripes in January. He joined the U.S. Army in April of 2000 and was an Army Ranger.
Michael graduated from North County High School in 1996 where he played basketball for the Raiders.
Michael is survived by his wife Tiffany Deason and their two children Jayden and Kayler; his father David Deason and his step-mother Cindy Deason; his mother Terry Galloway; his sisters Ashley Deason and Linda (Willis) Abbot; and his brother Ryan Galloway.