Fallen Hoosier Heroes Memorial for Enduring Freedom

U.S. Marine Sgt. Jeremy McQueary, 27, was the son of Deborah Kleinschmidt and the late Dallas McQueary and the brother of Rebecca Willison. He was married to Rae McQueary, of Brown County, and had a 5-month-old son, Hadley. McQueary's mother and stepfather, David Kleinschmidt, were traveling Friday to Dover, Del., for a dignified transfer ceremony for McQueary's body. Funeral arrangements were not available Friday. "I'm numb," said a tearful Deborah Kleinschmidt.

David Kleinschmidt said the family had limited information about McQueary's death.  He said McQueary was outside of his vehicle when he was hit by an improvised explosive device.

The last time McQueary spoke to his mother and stepfather, he told them he was serving in the Helmand Province, in south-central Afghanistan. "Jeremy has been a good kid, and he was always straight and level," Deborah Kleinschmidt said. "He was kind of a private person, and he didn't talk about the military too much." Helmand Province includes the town of Marja, the site of recent fierce fighting between U.S. and Taliban forces. Information from the U.S. Department of Defense was unavailable Friday night.

McQueary, whose unit was based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., was serving his first tour in Afghanistan. He previously had served two tours in Iraq, his family said. He enlisted with the Marines in January 2002, following his early graduation from Columbus East High School. Deborah Kleinschmidt said the family has a strong heritage of military veterans, and her son always expressed an interest in becoming a Marine.  Rebecca Willison said her brother felt a strong desire to help people, inspired by his father's work as a Bartholomew County Sheriff's reserve deputy.

The death of McQueary's father in 1992, when McQueary was 9, amplified his desire to serve others, she said. McQueary considered a new career, including law enforcement, before re-enlisting with the Marines, and he decided to stay in the military because it was the right fit, Willison said. McQueary received a Combat Action Ribbon and other service decorations. The family has been told McQueary will receive a Purple Heart, Willison said.

McQueary survived a roadside bomb in June 2008 when his Humvee was hit in Iraq. He chose to go back to Iraq after the incident. "He's a leader," Willison said. "He always volunteered to help others." She said her brother had a soft spot for children and often talked about working with children in Iraq. Willison recalled Mc-Queary's beaming smile in a photo of him holding his niece. McQueary's young son took after his dad, David Kleinschmidt said. "He looks a lot like him," Kleinschmidt said.