In Honor of the Fallen: Marine Cpl. Todd J. Godwin
ZANESVILLE - Every day is Memorial Day for Kathy Godwin.
Every day Kathy mourns the death of her son, Marine Cpl. Todd Godwin, 21, who died from injuries received during enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq on July 20, 2004.
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Monday, May 29, 2006
Todd was assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
An explosive device went off just 25 yards from Godwin, a 2001 graduate of Zanesville Christian School, and six other marines. Shrapnel hit Todd in the neck and he died instantly.
Todd was awarded the Purple Heart for his valor.
Being a scout sniper was Todd's dream, Kathy remembers.
"The last picture I have of him is on the very Humvee he was killed on with his scouting sniper partner," Kathy said. "He loved doing what he was doing. He felt it was an honor to do something for his country."
The wife of Sgt. Juan Davila, Danielle, wrote on the Web site's memorial page that her husband fought along side Todd and he will forever be "honored for his bravery and sacrifice."
A father of another Marine who served with Todd, Kenneth Halal, said his son, Mike, was also lost in Iraq after Todd's death.
"I can vividly remember Mike writing home telling me about the loss of your son and how it upset him," Halal wrote. "That message home instilled the fear that I may lose my eldest son."
His fear was reality when he did lose Mike, but his grief does not keep him from praying for the dedicated soldiers and servicemen that remain behind to fight for freedom.
A neighbor, Ang Rosta, remembered Todd as a "true gentleman."
"He was a quiet person and a very courteous man," Rosta said. "He was never any trouble and used to help with chores around my house."
Rosta tied a yellow ribbon around a post in his front yard and kept a U.S. flag flying on his property when he heard of Todd's deployment to Iraq.
Kathy said as a parent she feels, as do many parents who have children in the armed services, grateful to a nation for wanting to remember and pay tribute to their children on Memorial Day.
"We're forever proud of them," Kathy said. "The bottom line at the end of each day is we miss them. We love them. We are so very proud of them."
Kathy was told by members of Todd's unit, their battle cry became "For Godwin."
"He would have liked that," Kathy said. "He wanted to make a difference. I think he did."