Justin J Cain
Date of Death: 10/13/2010
Age: 22
Incident Location: Helmand province, Afghanistan
Hometown: Manitowoc
Branch of Service: Marines
Unit: 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expedtionary Force
Unit Base: Camp Pendleton, California
Cpl. Justin J. Cain, 22, of Manitowoc, Wis., died Oct. 13, 2010, while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Cain was a 2007 graduate of Manitowoc’s Lincoln High School. He enlisted in the Marines on June 19, 2007, few days after he turned 18. He wanted to see the world, and he did: Iraq, Jordan, Okinawa, Philippines and Afghanistan. On his first overseas deployment to Jordan, Cain managed a quick visit to the ancient city of Petra, running through the canyon leading to the famous ruins with his buddies.
Katelyn Birringer, 20, Cain’s longtime friend, said Cain had looked forward to going to Afghanistan. “That’s what he wanted to do,” she said. “He wanted to be there, and wanted to fight for our country. He really wanted to do that.”
His battalion had been stationed in Afghanistan since September, after shipping there from Camp Pendleton, Calif., according to Cpl. Nola Zachary of the 1st Marine Division Public Affairs Office. Zachary said Cain had earned numerous awards during his service, including the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. The Marine Corps presented to his family the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Ribbon on Cain’s behalf.
Cain was a 2007 graduate of Manitowoc’s Lincoln High School. He enlisted in the Marines on June 19, 2007, few days after he turned 18. He wanted to see the world, and he did: Iraq, Jordan, Okinawa, Philippines and Afghanistan. On his first overseas deployment to Jordan, Cain managed a quick visit to the ancient city of Petra, running through the canyon leading to the famous ruins with his buddies.
Katelyn Birringer, 20, Cain’s longtime friend, said Cain had looked forward to going to Afghanistan. “That’s what he wanted to do,” she said. “He wanted to be there, and wanted to fight for our country. He really wanted to do that.”
His battalion had been stationed in Afghanistan since September, after shipping there from Camp Pendleton, Calif., according to Cpl. Nola Zachary of the 1st Marine Division Public Affairs Office. Zachary said Cain had earned numerous awards during his service, including the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. The Marine Corps presented to his family the Purple Heart and the Combat Action Ribbon on Cain’s behalf.