Jeremiah Thomas Wittman
Army SGT
From: Darby, Ravalli County
Date of Death: 2/13/2010
Conflict: Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan
Sergeant Jeremiah Wittman, of the 12th Infantry Regiment, met his tragic end on February 13, 2010, while serving his third deployment in the Middle East, in Afghanistan, at the age of 26. Born on July 9, 1983, in Billings, he attended Bench and Lockwood Elementary Schools and graduated from Lockwood Junior High in 1998. Later, he enrolled in the Job Corps, where he honed his carpentry and firefighting skills for the United States Forest Service. Wittman earned his high school diploma from Trapper Creek High in Darby and enlisted in the United States Army in 2004. Wittman’s upbringing in the Pine Hills area instilled in him a passion for dirt biking, camping, fishing, and hunting. He loved riding his dirt bike with his family and friends in the Western Montana mountains. During social gatherings, he was a friend to everyone and had a unique talent for making people laugh. He was the life of the party, known for his sense of humor, soft heart, and love for his family and friends, traits that will forever be cherished. While serving as a forward observer in the Alpha Company for the 2nd Platoon, Sergeant Wittman lost his life while patrolling to help secure the local Afghan population. Throughout his military service, he was bestowed with several honors, including the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, NATO Medal, and the Combat Action Badge.
