Female Oregon Soldier Killed in Iraq

She was assigned to the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

(BAGHDAD, Iraq) - The Department of Defense reports that 24-year old Corporal Jessica A. Ellis of Bend, Oregon was killed May 11th supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Jessica Ellis reportedly died in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when her vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

She was assigned to the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

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Joe May 14, 2008 11:40 am (Pacific time)

Philip, don't make assumptions. You're not good at it. As a matter of fact I'm a retired Air Force Forward Air Controller. You know, the AF guy on the line with the grunt directing air support. I got to be there 3 times, Grenada and Iraq x2. Guess that reduces your post to 2 sentences that are relevant. The rest are merely vitriol. Vic, no one is anti-war more than the soldier who must fight it or the one who has survived it. No assumption was made. Only a question was posed. No would be your answer. Unfortunately, that is not the case for everyone.

carrie May 13, 2008 9:27 pm (Pacific time)

How can you be discussing gender at a time like this. To us that loved her, she was just Jess, friend to all, and always willing to give a helping hand in anyway she could. So please stop using her as a discussion topic, we just want to remember her as our Jess.

Philip May 13, 2008 5:34 pm (Pacific time)

The reason a soldier's gender is relavent especially that the soldier is female is how many female soldiers in the past have sacrificed to be a part of the war effort. It has nothing to do with "anti-war" sentiment. I, as a male soldier, was part of the 1st groups that trained with women as part of our Basic Training company in th elate 70s. Joe, your post says quite a lot about you such as you probably have never served in uniform which would make you a "chicken-hawk" such as Dick Cheney who the military look down on just as they we looked down on Bill Clinton though Cheney was the worst as he had 5 deferments from the Vietnam conflict. The "grand scheme of things" is that Jessica was a proud female soldier and because of those female soldiers that paved the way for her she was part of a grand military tradition of which you, Joe, has no idea about. There are 25 million of us veterans and hopefully you, Joe, will not be bitching about the increase taxes to support our medical needs of the future that will be with us for a 100 years as McCain has stated. You, as a taxpayer and a non-participant in this war effort will help with this promise. I suggest you, Joe, volunteer with the Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics. If nothing elst you could provide magazines to the units so that the veterans while they wait will have something to read. Also if you are within the age group then enlist.

Vic May 13, 2008 12:53 pm (Pacific time)

Actually Joe, I am an "anti-war" person and I do not need anything to "fan the flame". This sounds like an assumption that anyone who is against war and killing makes their decisions based on merely emotions, which I do not. This is just sad and one more reason why I am against this war. I am sad for her family and mad as hell at those who use war for any other reason that national defense.

Joe May 13, 2008 11:55 am (Pacific time)

I'm always sad to hear of another soldier lost. That being said, what was the point of mentioning her gender? Using anything available to fan the anti-war flame? In the grand scheme of things she wasn't male or female, but just another soldier doing her duty. She should be honored for that alone and not used for a sensational headline to advance an agenda.

Jackson27 May 13, 2008 5:12 am (Pacific time)

I am so sorry to hear this. My thoughts and prayers are with Jessica and her family.

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