Pfc. Colton W. Rusk--Patriot: R.I.P

The Gulf Coast Simpleton would like to say a prayer for the family and friends of Orange Grove's Colton Rusk in their time of grief.

Semper Fidelis. Salute.


FreedomRemembered.com reports the following:

Pfc. Colton W. Rusk, 20, of Orange Grove, Texas died December 6, 2010 while conducting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Battallion, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. Colton is a 2009 graduate of Orange Grove High School where he participated on the football team. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and November 2, 2009 and was serving his first combat deployment as a K-9 handler. His awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

The Corpus Christi Caller Times reports:

ORANGE GROVE — Colton Rusk lived his motto.

“Don’t be afraid to go after your hopes and dreams, but don’t be afraid to be willing to pay the price,” Rusk wrote under his senior photo in Orange Grove High School’s yearbook.

It also was the motto he died by.

Rusk, 20, a U.S. Marine who graduated from Orange Grove High School in 2009, was shot and killed Sunday in Afghanistan.

"War Is Still Hell."

Colton, R.I.P.