Location: 4069
Date: 5/11/2008
Rank: Corporal
Branch: U.S. Army
Operation: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Jessica Ellis was born in Burley, Idaho on June 26, 1983. She also lived on Boise and Twin Falls. She graduated from Lakeview (Oregon) High School in 2002, where she was active in cross country, track and field, and the swim team. After high school graduation she attended Central Oregon Community College in Bend, while working summers as a US Forest Service firefighter. She earned an Associate of Arts degree.
In September 2004, Jessica entered the US Army with the goal of becoming a Medic. After successful completion of basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, and the Combat Medic training program at Ft. Sam Houston, TX, she was assigned to the Army’s 101st Airborne Division. CPL Ellis completed her first 12-month combat tour in Iraq in 2006. She earned the Combat Medic Badge for treating a wounded comrade under direct enemy fire on this first tour. She left for a second Iraq tour in October 2007. She served both tours as a Combat Medic with the 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Fellow soldiers called her “Doc” Ellis. The combat engineer unit Jessica was working with was attacked during a route clearance mission in NW Baghdad the evening of May 11, 2008 (Mother’s Day). The Buffalo armored vehicle in which Jessica was riding was struck by multiple EFP (explosively formed penetrator) warheads. Jessica died in the attack. She was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.