John D. Amos II, Iraq War CasualtyPorter County Data on Iraq War Casualties . . . .
John D. Amos, II
Private First Class, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry, 25 Light Infantry Division
Date of Birth: March 8, 1984
Date of Death: April 4, 2004
Cause of Death: Killed in Action, improvised explosive device
Hometown: Valparaiso
Newspaper Notices:
Army Pfc. John D. Amos II
VALPARAISO, Ind. — A soldier who died after an explosive device hit his
vehicle in northern Iraq was buried in his hometown of Valparaiso.
More than 200 people, including friends, family members and strangers, attended
services Tuesday for Army Pfc. John Amos II, 22, known as J.D.
“He would have loved all the attention,” said his mother, Susan Amos of
Valparaiso.
She said military officials told her that her son died April 4 following a
suicide attack in the Iraqi city of Kirkuk. She said military officials told her
his left leg had to be amputated. Medics were unable to revive him when he went
into cardiac arrest after he was put on an airplane for evacuation, she said.
Amos, who was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division (Light) from Schofield
Barracks, Hawaii, had been in Iraq for two months. Army officials posthumously
awarded him with a Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
John Amos grew up in Griffith before moving to Valparaiso, about 20 miles east
of Gary. He joined the Army after graduating from Valparaiso High School in
2002, his mother said.
After a four-mile funeral procession through the city, six soldiers carried
Amos’ casket from a hearse to the grave while a bagpiper played “Amazing Grace.”
Mourners surrounded the family at the cemetery, blocking a 25 mph wind, as an
Army burial guard provided full military honors. Amos’ older sister, Becky,
placed a white flower next to his grave and kissed his casket.
Amos is one of 22 Hoosiers who have died in the war in Iraq.
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Source: Associated Press
John Amos II
PFC John Douglas Amos II Valparaiso / Griffith PFC John
Douglas Amos, II, age 20, of Valparaiso, Indiana, passed away on Sunday, April
4, 2004 in Iraq. He was born in England, March 8, 1984. Formerly of Griffith,
Indiana; member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hammond; a 2002 graduate
of Valparaiso High School. Survived by his mother Susan Amos of Valparaiso and
his father John Amos of Las Vegas, NV; sister, Rebecca of Indianapolis; two
brothers, Hunter and Tyler Amos of Las Vegas; maternal grandparents, Doug and
Lucy Whitehead of Wisconsin; paternal grandparent, Henry Amos of Hobart, IN.
Preceded indeath by grandmother Peggy Amos. Funeral services will be held on
Tuesday, April 13, 2004 at 11:00 AM at the Dykes Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor
Wayne Rhodes officiating. Burial, Graceland Cemetery, Valparaiso, IN. Visitation
will be on Monday from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Dykes Funeral Home, 2305 North
Campbell St., Valparaiso, IN. INFO: 219-462-3125
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Source: The Times, Munster, Lake County, Indiana; April 11, 2004
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Porter County Iraq War Casualties
Information abstracted and transcribed by Steven R. Shook