David K. Fribley
Profile
Age: 26
From: Warsaw, Ind.
Assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Incident: Marine Lance Cpl. David K. Fribley was killed in action near Nasiriyah, Iraq.
Died: March 23, 2003
David Fribley was cruising through life in sunny Fort Myers, Fla., organizing activities for retirees, until the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
He had a job he loved, putting his Indiana State University degree in recreation and sports management to good use. But he wanted to do more. He told co-workers at Shell Point Retirement Community he wanted to join the Marine Corps.
“The greatest gift one can give another is the gift of service,” Fribley wrote as he resigned last May. “The following is my gift to you and others. With all the strength of my fellow Marines, we shall always provide you with the comforting feeling of safety that you have each day.”
Lynn Schneider, a Shell Point spokeswoman, said he was full of enthusiasm about his new role. “He felt like he was doing something really important with his life,” she said. “He was very excited about it.”
Fribley, 26, was born and raised in Atwood, Ind.
“This is what he...