Pasadena Star-News

Slain Marine eulogized as leader

J.P. Blecksmith killed in Iraq following September deployment

By Cindy Chang

Staff Writer

Saturday, November 20, 2004 - SAN GABRIEL -- More than 1,000 people gathered Saturday to mourn James P. Blecksmith, a 24-year-old Marine who died Nov. 11 leading his platoon in house-to-house combat in Falloujah, Iraq.

At a memorial service at The Church of Our Saviour in San Gabriel, Blecksmith was remembered as a fun-loving, generous young man who took his juniors under his wing and who in his short time in Iraq proved to be an exceptionally brave soldier.

Known as "J.P.,' 2nd Lt. Blecksmith grew up in San Marino and was a football and track star at Flintridge Prep. He played wide receiver at the United States Naval Academy before being commissioned as a Marine Corps officer in May 2003.

He was deployed to Iraq in September, serving there for less than two months before he was killed by a sniper's bullet in a major military effort to capture the rebel stronghold of Falloujah.

"He picked up his rifle and he didn't flinch, he didn't balk. He counseled his platoon, trained them, prepared them, led them,' said Lt. Col. Eric Smith, who served with Blecksmith in Iraq.

"The fighting in Falloujah was some of the fiercest fighting in history,' Smith added. "How J.P. as a new lieutenant was able to actually lead that platoon, most people don't understand how. I don't understand how.'

J.P.'s older brother, Alex, recalled how J.P. was willing to give up his spot on a 4-by-400 CIF relay team after he made the team but Alex did not.

"There was no opinion or approval I coveted more than his. For if J.P. approved of it, I knew it was the right thing to do,' Alex said.

Alex Blecksmith read from an e-mail his brother sent him shortly after arriving in Iraq, in which the young officer described his pride in the accomplishments of the men who served under him.

"It's not about us, it's not about more ribbons on our chests or the promotions; it's about putting my men in a position where they can be successful, and making them do something they wouldn't otherwise do - and the rewards of watching their success,' J.P. wrote.

The church's rector, the Rev. Canon Denis O'Pray, cautioned the mourners against feeling that Blecksmith's death, in a war that critics argue was unnecessary and waged under false premises, was in vain.

One impulse among the grief-stricken, O'Pray said, might be "to condemn the war, to say that J.P. should never have been put in harm's way.'

"He didn't feel that way - why should we?' O'Pray said.

Blecksmith believed wholeheartedly that the American military was in Iraq to spread freedom and democracy and was optimistic that those goals would soon be achieved, friends and family said.

Blecksmith's flag-draped coffin was carried from the church to the adjacent San Gabriel Cemetery by a solemn procession of Marines. He was honored with a 21-gun salute and a flyover by four stunt planes performing the "missing man' maneuver, where one plane breaks off from the rest and heads skyward.

A scholarship fund at Flintridge Prep has been established in Blecksmith's name.

-- Cindy Chang can be reached at (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4586, or by e-mail at cindy.chang@sgvn.com .

The 5th US Marine Battalion march along the hearse during the funeral for US Marine 2nd Lt. James Patrick "JP" Blecksmith who was killed in Iraq was held at the Church of our Saviour in San Gabriel. (Staff Photo Keith Birmingham)

The rifle detail of the 5th Marine Battalion march along hearse during the funeral for US Marine 2nd Lt. James Patrick "JP" Blecksmith. (Staff Photo Keith Birmingham)

Alex MacGillivray plays the bagpipes as the flag draped casket of JP Blecksmith is carried to his final resting place by the The 5th Marine Battalion. (Staff Photo Keith Birmingham)

The dog tag of fallen marine JP Blecksmith hangs from the casket as the The 5th Marine Battalion pall bearers carry him to his final resting place. (Staff Photo Keith Birmingham)

Ed and Pam Blecksmith watch as the flag draped casket of their son is marched to his final resting place. (Staff Photo Keith Birmingham)

The 5th US Marine Battalion acting as pall bearers salutes their fallen comrade before the funeral for US Marine 2nd Lt. James Patrick "JP" Blecksmith. (Staff Photo Keith Birmingham)

Ed and Pam Blecksmith walk with the flag draped casket of their son is marched to his final resting place . (Staff Photo Keith Birmingham)

Ed and Pam Blecksmith watch as the flag draped casket of their son is marched to his final resting place. (Staff Photo Keith Birmingham)

Ed and Pam Blecksmith take a moment in front of the flag draped casket of their son before the funeral for US Marine 2nd Lt. James Patrick "JP" Blecksmith who was killed in Iraq was held at the Church of our Saviour in San Gabriel. (Staff Photo Keith Birmingham)

US Marine Matthew KlingDefazio of the 4th LAD unit out of Pasadena plays the bugle during the funeral for US Marine 2nd Lt. James Patrick "JP" Blecksmith. (Staff Photo Keith Birmingham)

A fly over during the funeral for US Marine 2nd Lt. James Patrick "JP" Blecksmith who was killed in Iraq was held at the Church of our Saviour in San Gabriel. (Staff Photo Keith Birmingham)

The Condor Squadron performed a "missing man maneuver" out of the western sky.

Ed and Pam Blecksmith listen to the Bishop speak during the funeral for US Marine 2nd Lt. James Patrick "JP" Blecksmith. (Staff Photo Keith Birmingham)

The 5th Marine Battalion pall bearers prepare to hand over the flag to the family during the funeral for US Marine 2nd Lt. James Patrick "JP" Blecksmith . (Staff Photo Keith Birmingham)

US Marine Capt. Prescott Wilson hands JP Blecksmith’s girlfriend Emily Tait a flag. (Staff Photo Keith Birmingham)

US Marine Capt. Prescott Wilson hands JP Blecksmith’s purple heart to his mother Pam Blecksmith. (Staff Photo Keith Birmingham)

US Marine 2nd Lt. Jay Reeves and friend of JP Blecksmith hugs Ed Blecksmith during the funeral for US Marine 2nd Lt. James Patrick "JP" Blecksmith. (Staff Photo Keith Birmingham)

The rifle detail of the 5th Marine Battalion during the funeral for US Marine 2nd Lt. James Patrick "JP" Blecksmith. (Staff Photo Keith Birmingham)

The rifle detail of the 5th Marine Battalion march along hearse during the funeral . (Staff Photo Keith Birmingham)

'One good, decent man'

J.P. Blecksmith was remembered for his life, his dedication and sacrifice by more than 1,000 friends, family.

By Darleene Barrientos

News-Press and Leader

November 22, 2004

SAN GABRIEL — Those who knew J.P. Blecksmith best told more than 1,000 people Saturday not to mourn for the loss of his life, but celebrate his dedication to his country, the sacrifices he made, and know that Blecksmith lived life exactly as he wanted.

James Patrick Blecksmith, who was most commonly known as J.P., was a warrior of God, his brother Alex Blecksmith said.

"As we grieve for J.P., we should know that he accomplished all that he was supposed to," he said. "To J.P., being a Marine wasn't simply about wearing a uniform. It was about being a man."

Alex said his brother never wavered, even when he learned he was to fight in Fallouja, a hot spot of insurgency in Iraq. Alex Blecksmith recounted a conversation with a mutual friend.

"J.P. told him, 'I'm not worried about myself. I want to be a strong leader and to protect my friends,' " Alex Blecksmith said. "J.P. was mature beyond his years."

Blecksmith, 24, a 1999 graduate and former star quarterback at Flintridge Preparatory School in La Cañada Flintridge, was killed as his platoon, in conjunction with Iraqi forces, fought to take control of Fallouja. Blecksmith was a 2nd lieutenant with the Marine Corps and a platoon commander.

Blecksmith, who lived in San Marino, was remembered in a memorial service at the Church of Our Saviour in San Gabriel. Mourners overflowed from the church, into the parish hall and even filled overflow seats, leaving dozens standing. Soldiers performed a 21-gun salute in Blecksmith's honor and the Condor Squadron performed a "missing man maneuver" out of the western sky. Flags were presented to Blecksmith's mother, Pam, and his girlfriend Tait. The Purple Heart was also presented to Pam Blecksmith.

Alex Blecksmith and his sister, Christina, both spoke, as well as J.P.'s girlfriend, Emily Tait. Tait recounted her first date with Blecksmith fondly.

"He had the most special way of making me feel like the most special person on earth," Tait said. "J.P. will always be my inspiration to live life to the fullest. J.P., I'll always love you."

Friends, like Midshipman Patrick Rollo, also talked about his own fond memories of the man he called his mentor and big brother. Rollo said he invited him to have dinner with his family on his 21st birthday, but it so happened that Blecksmith had been training and had lost weight.

"The restaurant had a hard time keeping food in front of him. Man, that guy could eat," Rollo said, as the congregation chuckled.

Without these memories being spoken aloud, Lt. Col. Eric Smith said he would never have known the man behind the military officer.

"Some people will ask, 'Was it worth it?' " Smith asked, recounting Blecksmith's sacrifice in Fallouja on Nov. 11. Smith asked the congregation to remember the 40 men in Blecksmith's platoon, whom Blecksmith died trying to protect.

"Those men will come back, rejoin their families. Some will meet wives and create families," Smith said. "That ripple grows and grows. That is probably what should be remembered today. That is what should be remembered today — the sacrifice of just one good, decent man."

Those wishing to honor JP may make a gift to:

The JP Blecksmith Memorial Scholarship Fund

Flintridge Preparatory School

4543 Crown Avenue

La Canada-Flintridge, CA 91011

The man would most likely still be alive if not for the lies of the Bush agenda.

We need men like this here stateside to protect us here where we live. Not on the other side of the planet getting killed in a war for oil, corporate greed and empire.

Down with Bush. Bush is a war criminal.

Shame on Bush. And shame on all those that support Bush.

That's easy. Waste of time and anger. Feel their pain as a noise backdrop to the schools that allowed these finest of our young generation to be subjected to shallow education and recruiters; TV that glorified violence and false reality and parents now finding out they neglected to analyze the nature of their real enemy.

How could you say this man died for oil?

He died defending his people from other religious fanatics that would've loved to attack more innocent american women and children.

RIP - now I know who you are. I won't forget you're name man. You sacrificed the ultimate for me and I'd like to follow in your footsteps defending the pretty girls of this great nation.

he died for a cancer that is consuming the Earth.

The politics of Lies. Like the one about freedom that has no reason behind it. Another lie.

I blame bush and all the corrupt government! You don`t see Mexico going to war for oil. America needs to change its politics and respect people and their culture.