Navy Gold Star Coordinator Support

CPL Joshua C. Sticklen died December 3, 2006 when the CH-46 helicopter he was in crashed in Al Anbar province, Iraq.  He was assigned to 2^nd Battalion, 3^rd Marine Regiment, 3^rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay. Hawaii.  Josh was an Intelligence Specialist and served in Afghanistan and had been awarded the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Korean Defense Service Medal.  He was featured in a 2004 Marine Corps Magazine article in which he explained his role in creating terrain models, which give planners and commanders a realistic view of geographic areas.  

Josh, the much loved son of Maggie Sticklen of Virginia Beach, and Larry and Rebecca Sticklen of Virginia Beach, was born in Rota, Spain but grew up in Virginia Beach and was very close with his two sisters, April Swain and husband Tony of Palmyra, VA., and Tricia Koss and husband Chris of Virginia Beach, Josh was the proud and loving Uncle of four nieces that he called his “munchkins”, Kendra & Adryanna of Virginia Beach, and Breanna & Mackenzie of Palmyra, VA.   He graduated from Salem High School in 2000, where he was a leader in the Navy’s JROTC program in preparation for his life dream of becoming a Marine!   Josh attended two years at Tidewater Community College, then fulfilled his childhood dream and joined the Marine Corps in October of 2002.

IF LOVE COULD HAVE SAVED HIM, HE WOULD HAVE LIVED FOREVER!

To my precious second born son, Charles Stuart Cutshaw, when you took your first breath, it literally took my breath away and when I heard of your untimely death, a part of me died.

You are an integral part of our family and your absence is horrifically noticed.  We each know that we will see you again in Heaven as we all have professed faith in Jesus' saving grace.  Nonetheless, I want to hold you one more time.  I want to dance with you one more time.  I want to sing "I'll Love You Forever" one more time. I want to witness your great sense of humor and creativity one more time.

Those days are behind us, but as King David from the Old Testament said when speaking of his dead son, "He cannot come back to me, but I can go to him."  It is with great anticipation that I look forward to the day that we are united in Heaven with our Jesus and so shall we forever be.

We will memorialize you once again on May 4, the second anniversary of your homegoing and we will celebrate your 26th birthday on June 21st.  I lovingly used to tell you that June 21st was the day the angels danced, and I believe May 4, 2020 was a day that the angels cried over our loss of you.

I'm homesick for Heaven like never before and I want to see my precious Jesus first and after that, I want to see you.  My sweet son, you will forever be my Prince Charles.

With all my love-

Momma

Matthew was a husband, a father, a brother and a son. He served 11-12 years and had planned to retire from the USN. His two passions were motorcycles and his family. He was one of the nicest people, with a giving heart. He is still loved and will never be forgotten! 

Daddy was a true leader with a huge heart. From East Coast gentleman to an officer in Pearl Harbor, he was an example of honor, class and love. He cared for those he served to the point where decades later, his colleagues and friends have reached out to my mom, brother and I to let us know how much he and his service meant to them. He was even kind and tried to help the shipmate who ended up killing him. March 27, 2026 marked 50 years without him. My brother and I have no memories of him but are grateful to those, including our mom and Daddy's family who have helped us know the amazing man he was and I believe still is. We feel his loss deeply and strive to honor his memory. #LeadLikeBurr #28yearsand3days

This is so hard for me as I’m writing this but on May, 9, 2024 I lost my Handsome Amazing Adorable Sweet Loving Caring Son {Dontavius C. Snead} bka Tae S. #5 in the line of duty but Ik my bby is looking / shining down on Me and all his love ones but I can write more but as I’m writing this my eyes are filling up with Tears and my heart is Broken but one thing I do know about my Bby is he was the most precious caring person you can ever meet and if you know him then you would know that he would give you his shirt off of his back & I promise my Bby as long as I got breathe in me I’ll keep his NAME, Alive and Cherish His Memories Forever and Forever but I’ve always told my Bby how Proud I was of Him & All of His Achievements /Goals he Accomplish in the 21 years GOD gave me my Bbyboy and he had the Biggest Brightest Smile on His Face and I will never ever forget it either so til next time my Angel I Miss & Love You sooooooo Much