Corporal Jared Shoemaker Memorial Bridge

Corporal Jared Shoemaker, USMC, was killed in action in Iraq on September 4, 2006, while serving as a member of The 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, United States Marine Corps. He was born on April 22, 1977 and graduated from Edison High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1994. While attending Edison he lettered for three years in football and was named to the Oklahoma All State Football Team. He attended Northeastern State University and graduated with a degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice. Upon graduation, he applied to the Tulsa Police Academy. His plans were put on hold when funding for the Academy was delayed. It was then in February 2003, that Jared joined the United States Marine Corps. Two years later, Jared was accepted to the Police Academy and graduated in June 2005. In December 2005, Jared’s unit was mobilized for active duty service in Iraq. While in Iraq, Jared was hit by a powerful IED on September 4, 2006. Three Marines, including Jared, were killed and one suffered severe burns. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment ribbon, the Iraq Campaign Medal, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal. In addition, he received the Albert E Schwab, Marine Corps League, 2005 Marine of the Year. Then in November 2006, he was posthumously named the Albert E. Schwab Non-commissioned Officer of the Year. Tulsa American Legion Post 1, originally chartered in 1919 as the Joe Carson American Legion Post 1, has a tradition of adding the name of a local service member killed in action in each major war or armed conflict. Corporal Shoemaker was added to Sergeant Joseph Carson (World War I), Private First Class Alex Wilson (World War II), Sergeant Kevin B. Rigney (Korea) and Specialist Jordan Forrester (Viet Nam). The Post is currently named Carson-Wilson-Rigney-Forrester-Shoemaker American Legion Post 1 in honor of Corporal Shoemaker and these other four heroes. Corporal Shoemaker's sacrifice is honored at these websites. Tulsa Police Department https://www.tulsapolice.org/public-information/in-memory-of-jared-shoemaker.aspx https://www.tulsapolice.org/public-information/in-memory-of-jared-shoemaker/official-military-news-release.aspx Obituary http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/jared-shoemaker-obituary?pid=1000000019146275&view=guestbook&page=6 Jared Shoemaker Memorial Walk https://www.es-la.ror-ro.fbjs.facebook.com/jaredshoemakermemorialwalk/.