LCpl. Jeremy Bohlman, U.S.M.C (KIA)

06/23/2004
Friends Say A Final Farewell To Lance Corporal Jeremy Bohlman

Lance Corporal Jeremy Bohlman was killed in hostile fire in Iraq two weeks ago. And while we may never know exactly what happened, we do know there are many people the 21-year-old left behind who love him. Wednesday, they showed up in numbers to pay their final respects to the fallen Marine.

Wednesday was a difficult and emotional day for everyone who attended the memorial service for Lance Corporal Jeremy Bohlman. But it was especially hard for the people who knew him best. Friends describe the Marine as a courageous, loving person, who had a big heart.

Saying good-bye is never easy. But when it comes in the form of a final farewell it hits home even harder. Adam Blahosky says, "He's a really good friend of mine and even though he went away to war you know, he deserves that, he deserves that respect, he deserves to be remembered."


And that's what friends and family did Wednesday. They remembered Bohlman the only way they could, with happy memories. Roy Cooper says, "He was a goofy, you know, real kind hearted person."

Blahosky says, "Had a really confident way about him. You know if you were having a bad day he would always make you smile and try hard to make you feel better."

Now Bohlman's friends are relying on each other for comfort. And some are even spreading their love for the Marine throughout the country he died serving. Cooper says, "As we traveled, you know, we had the shirts on and what not, people would stop and ask us what was going on, so we spoke with people across the U.S. telling them what had happened and explaining to them the situation."

Friends say Bohlman died doing what he loved, and for that they couldn't be more proud. Blahosky says, "He decided to do something with his life and serve our country you know, it's sad that he's gone, but at the same time he served a purpose and that's what life is all about."

Bohlman is the eighth South Dakotan killed during the Iraq war.

We asked people to share memories of Jeremy Bohlman, and received several e-mails, even from people who didn't know the U.S. Marine. Here are some of the responses we received:

"When Jeremy was sixteen-years-old he needed a job. My son was a manager at the 10th Street Steak and Buffet. He hired Jeremy and he was thrilled to have a job. He was a great worker and had a smile on his face when he would bus tables. He was a shy kid but he was so full of life. Kim, his mother has a heavy heart tonight, loosing her son. God Bless this family in this time of grief."

"You will be missed a lot. You did a proud thing to service your country. This a special friend of my son Ryan Kelly. I'm sorry for the loss of a loved one. All my thoughts are with your family and your close friends."

"I am a Marine Mom of a nineteen-year-old Marine from Watertown, South Dakota, and my family's sympathies go to Jeremy's family and friends. It is as though we are one big family in the Marines and my heart breaks anytime I hear of a death in the military, but especially when it happens to a Marine family."

"My sympathies to the family of Lance Corporal Bohlman. It is a two edged sword, it weakens your knees to think of such fine young men and women giving their life in a place like Iraq and yet it strengthens your resolve to not let that loss of their life be for naught. God bless them and their families."

"I thank him for serving our country and it's greatly appreciated! I may not know him but gotta love him for the things he has done for our country."

If you have any memories of Lance Corporal Jeremy Bohlman you would like to share with us we've set up a forum at KELOLAND.com, under Local News.