St. Cloud Marine dies in Iraq

Mark Pino
Sentinel Staff Writer

May 16, 2006

ST. CLOUD -- Jason Burnett knew how to make people laugh, family and friends say. But when it was time to be serious -- either by helping the poor through his church or playing competitive soccer -- Burnett got down to business.

Burnett, a 20-year-old lance corporal, drowned with three other Marines when their tank plunged off a bridge during a combat patrol in an accidental crash in Al Anbar province, Iraq, on May 11, the Department of Defense said Monday.

Shelley Burnett still remembers her son's first call from Iraq.

"It was typical Jason. He told me that he was going to learn to speak the language over there. He said all the people wanted was a better life," she said Monday. "He wanted to be able to say 'good day' and 'things will get better.' "

Her son also had a fun side, she added.

"He was happy-go-lucky, crazy, goofy," she said. "You never knew what he was going to come up with. He truly enjoyed life."

The 2004 graduate of St. Cloud High School chose the Marine Corps because he wanted to serve his country in the toughest division of the armed forces, his mother said. He pre-enlisted before graduation. His tank crew had been in Iraq since March.

"He felt that it was something he needed to do. He wanted to serve his country," Shelley Burnett said. "He knew he had the drive and stamina and pride in himself to live up to expectations."

The Burnetts have lived in a rural area south of St. Cloud for about 15 years. It was a perfect place for a boy who loved the outdoors -- four-wheeling with friends or being on the water.

And while friends remember the way Burnett could make people laugh, Kevin Moss, the youth pastor at First Baptist Church of Poinciana, will always remember him working on summer mission trips.

"He would work hard the whole day and get back at it the next day," Moss said. "I'll always remember him with a hammer in his hand helping people."

The church has about 400 people who come to services on Sundays. Moss said he will never forget when the entire Burnett family -- Jason; Shelley; his father, Ron, a major with the Osceola County Sheriff's Office; and younger brother, Ryan -- all came forward to be baptized.

Burnett had been assigned to the 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.

The others killed in the accident were Lance Cpl. David J. Grames Sanchez, 22, of Fort Wayne, Ind.; 2nd Lt. Michael L. Licalzi, 24, of Garden City, N.Y.; and Cpl. Steve Vahaviolos, 21, of Airmont, N.Y.

Burnett loved the outdoors and had lived in Florida almost his entire life. His brother, Ryan, 18, is a Marine stationed in Hawaii.

Burnett was on the high-school soccer and wrestling teams, his mother said. St. Cloud High plans to retire his No. 3 along with the number of a player killed in a car accident this year, said Mark Neenan, the soccer coach.

Shelley Burnett said soccer was her son's No. 1 love.

Two teammates recalled seeing him during the Christmas holiday when soccer alums often gather to play.

"He was excited," said Brett Ballard, who was a year behind Burnett at St. Cloud High. "It looked like he was enjoying what he was doing. I was happy for him."

The pair played on a team that unexpectedly won the district tournament. Ballard credited Burnett's leadership for the team's success.

Ballard recalled that Burnett's playfulness in practice sometimes meant coaches would order the team to "run a little extra. But it was worth it. He was totally serious when it was game time."

Neenan said Burnett, a defender, would do whatever he was asked and had no qualms about staying after practice or working on an off-day.

"He played very aggressively and wasn't afraid," Neenan said. "He took the game seriously. He was a very hard worker who was always willing to do what it took to be a better player."

Funeral arrangements are pending, but in lieu of flowers the family asked donations be made to the Poinciana church's youth ministry.

"We would very much like everyone to continue to pray for servicemen and service women," Shelley Burnett said.