Jason Karella served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Submitted photo) |
by Yvonne LaVoie
Sunday, October 12, 2008
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Jason Karella, a 20-year-old Marine from Anchorage, has died while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
Karella died Thursday, just one month before he was expected to return to the United States.
"He was a young leader," Kevin Karella, Jason's father, said in a phone interview. "Everybody looked up to him and he cared about his Marines so much, and he cared about the job they were doing."
After spending the first part of his high school career at Bartlett, Karella decided to finish his senior year at the Alaska Military Youth Academy.
By the time he graduated, Jason Karella knew he wanted to be a Marine, so he enlisted. His first tour of duty took him to Iraq, and then Afghanistan.
"He said, We're making a difference here,'" Kevin Karella said.
According to the Department of Defense, Karella, a corporal, was part of a battalion helping to train Afghan national security forces when he died.
"He was the vehicle commander, (and had) the best seat on the armored Humvee," Kevin Karella said. "But the guy up in the turret wasn't feeling good, and so he gave up his seat ... and he climbed up in the turret.
"And had he not been in the turret, he would have not been killed."
Karella's father said even though his son is gone, he wants those he served with to honor his memory by living life to the fullest.
"We want them to know that there's a reason they're alive and there's a reason they need to go on and be happy and lead great lives," Kevin Karella said.
Officials from the Department of Defense said they cannot confirm Karella's death was the result of hostile fire, citing security concerns.
According to Karella's father, Karella had been shot just a couple weeks before his death, but his protective plate saved him.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday at the Anchorage American Legion Post 1 on Freweed from 2-4 p.m.
Contact Yvonne LaVoie at ylavoie@ktuu.com
