RANGERS 2 Blessing, Jay Anthony

[John Robertson]

• SURNAME

Blessing ​

• FORENAME

Jay Anthony ​

• UNIT

75 Ranger Regiment (HQ 2 Bn) (armourer) ​

• RANK

Sergeant ​

• NUMBER

​

• DATE OF DEATH

14th November 2003 ​

• AGE

23 ​

• GRAVESITE

unknown​

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

born 4.1.1980 Washington​

resided Tacoma,Washington​

son of James A. and late Caroline Lee M.Blessing​

DOW after vehicle hit explosive device,Kunar Province,Afghanistan ​

​

Army Sgt. Blessing was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, Washington, as an armorer. Blessing was injured and later died when his humvee struck a home made land mine in Asadabad during 'Operation Mountain Resolve'. Jay joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington and volunteered for the Army after he graduated in August 1998. He joined the military to follow in his father's footsteps – he was in the Navy. He completed basic combat training and advanced individual training in the military operational specialty of Infantryman at Fort Benning, Ga. He continued his military training at Fort Benning when he attended the Basic Airborne Course in November 1998 and graduated from the Ranger Indoctrination Program in January 1999. On January 28, 1999, Jay was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Lewis, Wash. He went on to graduate from the U.S. Army Ranger Course, the Primary Leadership Development Course and was promoted to sergeant in June 2002. After graduation, Jay returned to his high school several times to visit teachers and friends, proudly wearing his uniform. He shipped out to the Middle East only two weeks before being killed. Being a Ranger was what he really loved and what he always wanted to do. He once said, "I want to take this to the highest level I can". Jay's awards and decorations include the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge and the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment Combat Shoulder Sleeve Insignia and Ranger tab. ​