Joshua Harmon remembered

Cpl. Joshua Scott Harmon

Funeral Mass for Cpl. Joshua Scott Harmon, 20, of Mentor-on-the-Lake, will be 10 a.m. Friday at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 7575 Bellflower Road, Mentor.

Joshua died Aug. 22, 2007, in Multaka, Iraq.

He was born Nov. 25, 1986, in Euclid.

Joshua was a U.S. Army Veteran Specialist E/4, assigned to the 25th Light Infantry Division, (nicknamed "Tropic Lightning") 35th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion. He served as a Combat Medic attached to the Scouts Sniper Platoon and received the Army Medal of Commendation of Valor for performing extraordinary life-saving measures. Additionally, Joshua was awarded the Combat Medical Badge. Joshua was deployed to Iraq Aug. 5, 2006, serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, stationed in Kirkuk, Iraq.

When returning from a mission Aug. 22, 2007, Joshua Harmon lost his life when the UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter that was transporting him crashed in Multaka, outside of Kirkuk. Thirteen fellow soldiers also lost their lives as a result of the Black Hawk crash.

Joshua joined the Army in August 2005, and served his country as a Combat Medic. He was promoted posthumously to Corporal Aug. 22, 2007, and was awarded the Bronze Star. In a recent letter to family and friends Joshua said, "I just stay focused on my job as platoon medic to make sure my soldiers are taken care of night and day. Sometimes it is a tiring job, but I have found great pride and satisfaction in performing."

Joshua married Kristin Rathjen May 10, 2007. Kristin was the love of his life and he could not wait to get back into her arms.

Joshua was a 2005 graduate of Mentor High School and an accomplished musician on the guitar and drums. He enjoyed many sports, including bowling, soccer, Kenpo karate, and working on cars.

Joshua loved animals, especially the family dogs, Mercedes and Ginger. He adored his little black cat, Sheila. His face lit up every time he saw Sheila. Joshua always had a smile and was a very giving and caring person. He was a good friend, wonderful son, devoted husband, and good citizen.

He had previously worked as a master mechanic at Classic Ford in Mentor before joining the U.S. Army.

Survivors are his wife, Kristin N. (Rathjen) Harmon; mother, Donna (nee Kriz) Harmon; father, Richard (Leslie) Harmon; brother, Jason Harmon/Kriz; grandmothers, Mildred Kriz and Dolores Harmon; aunts and uncles, Frank (Ann) Kriz, Jim (Robin) Kriz, Kenneth (Linda) Kriz, Chris (Carol) Harmon, Kevin (Dorleen) Harmon, Kim Harmon, Patricia Kidd and Donna Stock; parents-in-law, Susan (Timothy) Collins and Jon Rathjen; brother-in-law, John Rathjen; many very loving cousins too numerous to list; lifelong friends, Eric Lemr and Brandon "Norm" Alexander; good friends, Jayme Vines, Scott Walland, Nate Damm and Kyle Fisher; and those who made a significant difference in Joshua's life, Jeff and Marie Lemr, Ron Vines and Jana Abplanalp.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Albert F. Kriz, Richard F. Harmon and Marilyn Rose Harmon.

Friends may call from 1 to 3 and 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Monreal Funeral Home, 35400 Curtis Blvd., Eastlake. Father Tom Johns will celebrate the Mass. Burial will be in Mentor Cemetery.

The family suggests contributions be made in Joshua's name to his favorite charities. They are Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517, or at http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org, or the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 29119, Phoenix, AZ 85038-9119 or at http://www.makeawishky.org.

From the News Herald

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