https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/jonathan-d-welch/ The latest user comments on Jonathan D. Welch en-us https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/jonathan-d-welch/#c185525 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/jonathan-d-welch/#c185525 It's been 7 years today. Chewbaca Jon is how I remember you, as time goes on, we all still think of you, have those amazing memories, and still have you in our hearts. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family today. Love and miss you!! Cheers Wed, 31 Aug 2016 11:03:56 -0700 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/jonathan-d-welch/#c180410 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/jonathan-d-welch/#c180410 But I think that these things just happen when discussing Jon. I feel like everything with Jon has to start with the phrase "No s**t, there I was..." Jon, you were more full of life than any other human being I have ever met, and I doubt that anyone will come close in my future endeavors. You had a gift. You made the mundane extraordinary with little more than personality and presence. That which was already extraordinary became legendary. I fondly remember all the weekends playing Axis and Allies with you, Stanker, Aamot, and Pressey. Sometimes Gooch would join us. They were some of the best times I had in the Army, and they were simple. Just a board game and friends, with volume and insanity bumped up to 11. And it seemed like wherever you went, you had that effect. A lot of hipsters and people who've seen Dead Poet Society tend to spout Carpe Diem like it's going out of style, but not one of them has any idea what that really means. You had that philosophy nailed to a T, and I'm pretty sure you wouldn't know what the phrase even means. That weekend partying in Seattle where you accidentally (re)broke my nose still lives on in song and praise. We went to war together, and the odds were looking pretty bleak. To quote Ssg Dexter, "At least we'll probably get one hell of a movie made about us." Some of those who had gone to combat before and some of the senior leaders who hadn't had a conversation before we left, in which we were discussing who was the most likely to make it back. You were my pick, and several of the others agreed with my argument. When everything went bad, and we heard your name as one of the dead, I couldn't believe it. It took me days to wrap my head around the idea that you had gone. Part of it was shock, part of it was missing one of my best friends, but the majority was that I honestly couldn't believe that anything could have done this. I kept expecting to see you show up, helmet crooked and a cigarette hanging out of your mouth, cracking jokes and b******g about the heat and weight of your gear. All that being said, I still miss you, brother, and this round of whiskey and smokes is on me. Till we meet again in Valhalla. Sun, 24 May 2015 10:25:47 -0700 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/jonathan-d-welch/#c180407 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/jonathan-d-welch/#c180407 I miss you John.....When I found your mom I was hoping I see you again. After losing touch with you guys I was so excited to be able to talk to you until your mom broke the news to me.........Until we meet again..... Sun, 24 May 2015 08:33:30 -0700 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/jonathan-d-welch/#c180380 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/jonathan-d-welch/#c180380 Chewbacca Jon. i will never forget you..memorial day is coming up, and i immediately thought of you. we had so much fun together. The last time i saw you was two weeks before you were deployed to afghan. you brought a military buddy with you, & we had a ball. i know youre up there watching us all. You changed so many peoples lives. you were one of the funniest people i have ever met jons mom calls"jon whatre you doing?" "Were shooting heroin into our buttholes mom!!!hahahahha" Your laugh, everything. ill never forget you. Fri, 22 May 2015 08:57:33 -0700 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/jonathan-d-welch/#c162877 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/jonathan-d-welch/#c162877 What a shame. RIP brother. Oi! Thu, 24 Jul 2014 11:01:47 -0700 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/jonathan-d-welch/#c69710 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/jonathan-d-welch/#c69710 I really miss you right now. I miss so much. I can't believe you are just gone... Sat, 18 Feb 2012 01:20:57 -0800 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/jonathan-d-welch/#c63402 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/jonathan-d-welch/#c63402 It is very disheartening for me to learn about the passing away of Jon. As many friends have mentioned, Jon was a man of the people. I came to know him at at FT Benning when he and I were in the same platoon for Basic Training (BCT) and Advanced Individual Training (AIT). During the time we spent togther at Benning, I found Jon to be interesting and friendly towards everyone, irrespective of cultural background. I felt heart broken when a friend informed me that Jon had passed away in 2009. What a great loss! May your soul rest in perfect peace Jon! I will definitely see you again when my time comes. LT Tebo, Christopher Fri, 02 Dec 2011 03:30:18 -0800 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/jonathan-d-welch/#c58924 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/jonathan-d-welch/#c58924 hey man,its been a long time since i talked to you that last night on gaurd in arghandab,i remember our convo too this day..not a day goes by that i dont think of you brother,or ammot,gooch,stanker,walze,jackson,dela rosa,williamson,brochu,walsh,gonzales,griffen,and if you seen him yet sherf is with you too. i love you and the guys more then again,and i regret every single day that i am not with you. RIP brother Sat, 24 Sep 2011 06:44:17 -0700 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/jonathan-d-welch/#c53787 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/jonathan-d-welch/#c53787 Kevin posted a facebook post honoring you today. I dont think you were around when facebook really got 'cool' and 'hip' but if you were here you'd probably have one and I'd most likely write on your wall to see if you wanted to hang out this weekend. I miss you like crazy. I got sent to rehab shorty after you passed, changed my life up a bit. I couldn't make it to your funeral because they had me locked up in there but I was thinking about you every day. After you went away, someone got on your old myspace account and deleted the pictures of you and me. Didn't delete any of the others though.I dont have those pictures anymore and that really pisses me off. I'm pretty sure we can both guess who it is. Screw them and their use of a selfish mind, people get weird over death. I think its bullsh*t and I know you would too. Screw em', whatever. I have an amazing boyfriend, he treats me like gold. He's a goofball. I'm probably going to marry the kid one day, I wish you could be here. You guys would get along. I'm also in the process of car shopping. Wish I could freakin come pick you up for old times sake. I miss you. So much. Its weird I honestly try not to think about you too often or I'll get myself in a rut. You'll always be in my heart no matter what, and thats okay. Its when you get in my mind that really messes sh*t up. I love you forever. I'll see you again. Love always, Keex Thu, 23 Jun 2011 06:56:20 -0700 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/jonathan-d-welch/#c53786 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/jonathan-d-welch/#c53786 You never failed to make me laugh, I wish I had more time. I wish I would have written you like I said I would. I wish I would have taken that extra time to see you, made the excuse, broken curfew, said screw the rest. You don't realize what a good friend someone is until they're gone. I'm so glad you were in my life, we all miss you. Thu, 23 Jun 2011 06:32:05 -0700