Spears, Jordan Lee

Also known as: CPL, VMM 163 (REIN), 11TH MEU, I MEF, CAMP PENDLETON, CA

Combatant

Male Verified

DiedOctober 1, 2014

Age21 years old

Location of DeathARABIAN GULF, UNKNOWN

Cause of DeathLost at sea following an MV-22B Osprey aircraft mishap during a training mission

Conflict Operation Inherent Resolve

Corporal Jordan Lee Spears, 21, of Memphis, Indiana, was a U.S. Marine with VMM-163. He died on October 1, 2014, in the Arabian Gulf during Operation Inherent Resolve.

Their Story

Jordan Lee Spears was a 21-year-old Marine corporal from Memphis, Indiana. He served with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (Reinforced), part of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Pendleton, California.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, Spears died on October 1, 2014, in the Arabian Gulf. Official reports state he was lost at sea following a mishap involving an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft during a training mission. His body was not recovered, and he was declared deceased.

Spears died during the opening phase of Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led military intervention against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria. The operation began with airstrikes in August 2014, shortly after ISIS forces captured large territories in northern Iraq. The 11th MEU was deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of operations in support of this campaign.

The Marine Corps announced his death on October 3, 2014. In a statement, his squadron commanding officer said Spears was 'a dedicated and professional Marine' who was 'respected by all.' His status was changed from 'duty status whereabouts unknown' to deceased after search and rescue efforts concluded.

Corporal Spears was posthumously promoted to the rank of corporal. He is memorialized on the Veterans Memorial Wall in his home county in Indiana and at the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.