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Soldier killed in Afghanistan promoted posthumously

Photo courtesy of the Parsons family

Spc. Jason R. Parsons, 24, of Lenoir, was among the soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Jason Parsons’ medals and accolades:

• Bronze Star

• Purple Heart

• Army Good Conduct Medal

• National Defense Service Medal

• 2 Bronze Service Stars

• Afghanistan Campaign Medal

• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

• Army Service Ribbon

• Overseas Service Ribbon

• NATO Medal

• Combat Infantrymen Badge

• Expert Weapons Badge

* Promoted posthumously to sergeant (was slated to be promoted in a few weeks)

By Sarah Newell Williamson | Hickory Daily Record

Published: January 14, 2009

HUDSON - Margaret Pritchard last heard from her son on New Year's Day. He e-mailed her a photo of himself in desert camouflage and wished her a happy New Year.

Jason Parsons was in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army's 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment out of Hohenfels, Germany.

Margaret said she knew Parsons was not coming home when two men knocked at her door Friday night.

"It was 10 o'clock Friday. Two military officers arrived and knocked at the door and I knew immediately," she said. "One was carrying a Bible."

Parsons, 24, died Friday in Afghanistan when an improvised explosive device (IED) blew up near his convoy in the Zabul province. Parsons was driving the first of four Humvees in a routine patrol, said Ken Pritchard, Parsons' stepdad.

"He was driving the lead vehicle with an officer and another enlisted person," Ken said. "All three died in the vehicle."

The other soldiers killed were Maj. Brian Mescall, 33, of Massachusetts, and Spc. Joseph Hernandez, 24, of Indiana.

Margaret said Parsons was supposed to be home at the end of February to visit. Pritchard said he'd talked about bringing his wife, whom he'd met and married in Germany, and her children. She said he talked about taking them to Disney World.

Brittney Pritchard, Parsons' sister, said he always took care of those he loved. Four years younger than Parsons, she said although he was the "typical older brother," he also looked after her.

"He was a senior at South Caldwell when I was a freshman," Brittney said. "He took me into his crowd. He made sure I was with everyone, and made sure I was with friends."

High school was when Parsons first actively pursued the military, although he'd been interested in it most of his life.

"He had a great recruiter," Brittney said. "They made you do 20 push-ups to get a T-shirt, and he'd do 80 just to get it. He wanted to prove he was the best."

Parsons first enlisted in 2001, before re-enlisting in 2007.

Chris, Parsons' older brother, said, "He was obsessed with cars. He liked to drive the biggest truck and shoot the biggest guns."

Brittney said Parsons even let her practice driving his car a few times, as long as she didn't tell mom.

Ken said Parsons liked being stationed in Germany because of the Autobahn — a freeway on which people drive at high speeds.

"He liked it because you get to go fast," Ken said.

Parsons also met his wife, Ellie, there. He brought Ellie and her children to the U.S. in 2007 when he came home. Margaret said he wanted to impress them, so he had them picked up from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in a limo.

That's the last summer his uncle, Gene Bristol, saw Parsons. The family had a cookout before he left.

"He was so happy to see everybody, and his wife was such a sweet woman," Bristol said.

Bristol said he remembers Parsons from when he was little, walking around with little Army men in his pocket. Now he was grown up, in the Army for real.

"He was a prankster, and so full of life," Bristol said. "We miss him terribly now."

His aunt, Brenda Piper, said Parsons was a classic, all-American boy who always smiled from the heart. She, too, remembers the cookout as the last time she saw Parsons.

"I remember his warm smile and outlook on life," Piper said. "He didn't let anything hold him down or hold him back."

Margaret said Parsons planned to make a career out of the military. He wanted to eventually retire and move into a house in her neighborhood.

"He wanted to make a career out of it, and retire at 37," she said. "He was always such a big dreamer. He had big plans, and goals laid out for him. And he loved life."