The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, CPL Joshua S. Harmon, who died in the service of his country on August 22nd, 2007 in Multaka, Iraq. The cause of death was listed as Helicopter Crash. At the time of his death Joshua was 20 years of age. He was from Mentor, Ohio.
The decorations earned by CPL Joshua S. Harmon include: the Combat Medical Badge, the Bronze Star,
He was a member of the Recon/Scout Platoon
Joshua S. Harmon's smile got him in trouble on his first day of boot camp. He couldn't stop grinning when an officer gave him orders. "At boot camp, he was the first guy off the bus who had to do push-ups," Ron Vines said. Harmon, 20, of Mentor-on-the-Lake, Ohio, was killed Aug. 22 when his helicopter crashed in Multaka. He was a 2003 high school graduate and was assigned to Schofield Barracks. He loved music and fast cars. He played guitar with his bands Subhumans and Headfirst. A medic who had won the medal of valor for saving a wounded soldier's life, Harmon was taking biology classes online and preparing for medical school. While Harmon was on vacation in Qatar, he snapped a picture of himself and three locals playing a board game. He didn't know the men, the game or even the language, but he was still able to coax a smile for the camera. "That's the kind of kid he was," said his mother, Donna Harmon. "He could walk into a room of strangers and leave with 10 friends." He also is survived by his wife, Kristin. The two married by proxy May 10 and were hoping to have a large wedding next summer.
Joshua Scott Harmon
CORPORAL JOSHUA SCOTT HARMON. Funeral Mass for Corporal Joshua Scott Harmon, 20, of Mentor-on-the-Lake, will be 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 31, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 7575 Bellflower Rd., Mentor. Mr. Harmon died August 22 in Multaka, Iraq. He was born Nov. 25, 1986 in Euclid. Joshua was a U.S. Army Veteran Specialist E/4, assigned to the 25th Light Infantry Division (nicknamed "Tropic Lightning"), 35th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion. He served as a Combat Medic attached to the Scouts Sniper Platoon and received the Army Medal of Commendation of Valor for performing extraordinary life-saving measures. Additionally, Joshua was awarded the Combat Medical Badge. Joshua was deployed to Iraq Aug. 5, 2006, serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, stationed in Kirkuk, Iraq. When returning from a mission Aug. 22, 2007, Joshua lost his life when the UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter that was transporting him crashed in Multaka, outside of Kirkuk. Thirteen fellow soldiers also lost their lives as a result of the Black Hawk crash. Joshua joined the Army in August 2005, and served his country as a Combat Medic. He was promoted posthumously to Corporal Aug. 22, 2007, and was awarded the Bronze Star. In a recent letter to family and friends Joshua said, "I just stay focused on my job as platoon medic to make sure my soldiers are taken care of night and day. Sometimes it is a tiring job, but I have found great pride and satisfaction in performing." Joshua married Kristin Rathjen May 10, 2007. Kristin was the love of his life and he could not wait to get back into her arms. Joshua was a 2005 graduate of Mentor High School and an accomplished musician on the guitar and drums. He enjoyed many sports, including bowling, soccer, Kenpo karate, and working on cars. He loved animals, especially the family dogs, Mercedes and Ginger, and adored his little black cat, Sheila. His face lit up every time he saw Sheila. Joshua always had a smile and was a very giving and caring person. He was a good friend, wonderful son, devoted husband, and good citizen. He had previously worked as a master mechanic at Classic Ford in Mentor before joining the U.S. Army. Survivors are his wife, Kristin N. (nee Rathjen) Harmon; mother, Donna (nee Kriz) Harmon; father, Richard (Leslie) Harmon; brother, Jason Harmon/ Kriz; grandmothers, Mildred Kriz and Dolores Harmon; aunts and uncles, Frank (Ann) Kriz, Jim (Robin) Kriz, Kenneth (Linda) Kriz, Chris (Carol) Harmon, Kevin (Dorleen) Harmon, Kim Harmon, Patricia Kidd and Donna Stock; parents-in-law, Susan Timothy) Collins and Jon Rathjen; brother-in-law, John Rathjen; many very loving cousins, too numerous to list; lifelong friends, Eric Lemr and Brandon "Norm" Alexander; good friends, Jayme Vines, Scott Walland, Nate Damm and Kyle Fisher; and those who made a significant difference in Joshua's life: Jeff and Marie Lemr, Ron Vines and Jana Abplanalp. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Albert F. Kriz, Richard F. Harmon and Marilyn Rose Harmon. Friends may call FROM 1-3 AND 5-9 P.M. THURSDAY at MONREAL FUNERAL HOME, 35400 CURTIS BLVD., EASTLAKE. Fr. Tom Johns will celebrate the Mass. Burial will be in Mentor Cemetery.
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