Sgt Joshua Ryan Ashley

Sgt Joshua Ryan Ashley was born on May 27th, 1989 in Upland, CA to parents Tammie and Jon Ashley. He was known mainly as Josh but lovingly called Joshie, Ua, Tank, Terminator, Juice, and sometimes Shrek.

Josh's primary education began when he attended East Heritage Elementary School for Kindergarten through the 3rd Grade. His favorite teacher was Miss Pasquarella and his closest friends were Kyle, Hailey, Stephen, Bradley, and Justine. After the 3rd Grade the family moved and Josh went to Lightfoot Elementary School. Josh jumped schools again, and was the first graduating class from Golden Elementary. During these years Josh started attending Hillside Community Church where he met lifelong friends. People he would continue to spend time with, even when he was on leave from the Marine Corps.

In Jr. High, Josh went to Summit Intermediate School. The school had a roller team where he was able to showcase his skills. Josh played for numerous club teams; he was usually chosen as captain but in his words, he would "just scored goals." Josh continued to attend Hillside Community Church, where he enjoyed going to youth group and attending summer camp. He was always friends with everyone, because of his caring personality.

Josh attended Etiwanda High School. He played water polo, and letter three years on Varsity. During his time at Etiwanda, Josh set the school record for 164 goals in a season. This is a mark his younger brother, Jordan, pursued but fell short of at 163 goals. Josh honed his skills at CHAWP, a club water polo team he played for in the Junior Olympics and in Hungary. He also grew to love and excel on the swim team. Josh also enjoyed photo class, and participating in Skills USA.

In his Senior Year of High School, Josh met Sergeant Jones, the Marine Corps recruiter who made a speech in one of his classes. Josh came home and had already made his decision. His Mom put her foot down, and her best friend Robin called the school. They did not want their babies going to the military. Josh's Mom told him she lost his social security card and his diploma while trying to convince him to try one year of college before he made the 5-year commitment. Without her knowing, Josh replaced those documents, and after 4 months at Chaffey Community College, Josh enlisted. He managed to pass his classes that year even though he spent most of his time at the gym preparing for boot camp. Although his formal education ended at Chaffey, Josh continued to learn and gain his greatest education in the Marine Corps.

Prior to enlisting in the Marine Corps, Josh was a Hockey Referee with his brother Jon, at Wayne Gretzky's Roller Hockey Rink. Both boys stopped reffing when they got hired on the same day to work at AMC Victoria Gardens. Josh enjoyed being the movie Po-Po, busting movie hoppers, and keeping kids older than he was from seeing rated R movies. When Josh was a supervisor and Jon was promoted to management, Josh got transferred to Ontario AMC. Josh loved the rougher crowd, and always hoped for a riot. Josh later transferred back to AMC Victoria Gardens, where he held the position of Maintenance Manager up until the week before boot camp. Josh enjoyed his job as a Manager, and spent most of his time on the clock eating Sushi at San Sai, and visiting friends at It's A Grind.

Before Josh left for boot camp, his family shed many tears at the thought of losing him for a few months. Josh understood the risk he was taking, and took boot camp head on. He knew it was preparation for his ultimate goal of deploying to Afghanistan. He told the family not to expect him to write, but he made it a point to send a letter to his mom every week written in his famous chicken scratch. After 3 months of half rations Josh graduated from MCRD-San Diego on October 3rd, 2008. He told everyone it was easy, and spoke of boot camp like it was a sleep away camp.

After Completing MCT, Combat Training at Camp Pendleton, Josh and good friend Cpl Joel Juarez went to MP school at Fort Leanord Wood. While there, the Marine Corps. asked if anyone wanted to go overseas to Okinawa, Josh and Joel were first to volunteer. While there, Josh lived with roommate Derrick Snell, patrolled the base with partner Joel Juarez, and spent holidays with the Fuller Family. During Josh’s free time, he either worked out or spent time with the dogs at the Kennels.

As his 2 years overseas approached, Josh received orders to report to the schoolhouse at Fort Leonard Wood. He was not happy, he wanted to stay in Okinawa so he had a better chance to deploy. When the Marine Corps insisted he go, he said if I’m going to that dump, I’m going in style. Josh got help from his Mom and Dad to purchase a blacked out Chevy Tahoe with 22-inch rims and the biggest system he could have fit in it. Right before he went on leave the Marine Corps came to their senses and changed his orders to Camp Lejeune. This change of plans gave his Dad and Jordan a week to spend driving Josh cross-country, in style of course.

Josh arrived at Camp Lejeune on a Sunday night and was immediately taken in by friends Cpl Robby Reyes and his wife Candice. During his time at Camp Lejeune he had the opportunity to travel, see sights, and spend time with his Uncle Joey in Virginia. Josh discovered new places his family only heard about. After about a month in North Carolina, Josh heard that K9 was looking for a couple good Marines. He immediately reported to the kennels and found that the kennel master was the same one from Okinawa. This was his in and Josh started working toward a hopeful deployment.

Josh attended Military Working Dog School at Lackland Air Force base in 2011. Upon his return, he was assigned Military Working Dog Sirius. Josh and Sirius bonded from day one and pushed each other to complete all training at the top of their class.

Although the Marine Corps kept him busy, Josh always made it one of his priorities to visit family and friends. Whether it was going to BJ's before heading to the airport, or just swinging by someone's house, he always wanted to make sure he saw everyone while he was home. During his time on leave, Josh would spend countless hours in the gym, even though he had to modify machines at 24 hour fitness to hit the weight he desired. Josh also liked to drink. He enjoyed playing beer pong, but never seemed to get drunk. He always had a big smile on his face, and was trying to wrestle with someone.

Josh spent most of his holidays skyping, he enjoyed sending gifts, even when agreeing with his brothers only to exchange 20 dollar bills he’d send large packages. He would call home with santa hats on drinking his favorite bottle of alcohol and the family would have a gift exchange. Although the family was only together for about half of the holidays through skype, flowers and phone calls made it almost feel almost as if he were home.

Josh's time with his brother, Jordan had changed dramatically during his 4 years he was in the Marine Corps. Initially Josh would return home, and use Jordan as a practice dummy for any holds or maneuvers he had learned at his last training; Jordan even got choked out on the floor of In N Out after Josh returned from MP school, because Josh wanted to show him a new move. During his last visit in April, which was his pre-deployment leave, Josh didn't put a hand on Jordan, he even bought him a few beers. Before heading back to North Carolina, he told his Mom, "Jordan has really grown up," and his mutual love for Jordan had also turned into mutual respect. Josh knew Jordan was college bound and turning into a fine young man.

His brother Jon, or as Josh called him, “Fatty,” will always remember getting beat up by Josh as well. As Josh got older, he also got bigger and stronger; when they wrestled Jon would fake bloody noses, because even when Jon would try to tap out, Josh wouldn’t let him up. Jon’s favorite memory of Josh is when Josh replaced his Twinky box with rocks and wrote on the flap “ha ha no more Twinkies for you fatty!” Josh wanted Jon to take care of himself, and always found creative ways to motivate him. Both boys were close in age, went to the same schools, had the same jobs, and had the same friends. Jon cannot imagine life without his brother, but plans to do everything he can to make sure he is never forgotten.

Josh had a wide range of hobbies. He liked air-softing, he always had a thing for guns. He also bought a construction light you could mount on your car, and decided he would pull over people in the local neighborhoods, for no reason. It seemed as if Josh was always bound for law enforcement. During his last year with Skills USA Josh participated in the CSI competition. He and his team earned a gold medal at the state competition and moved forward to the national competition in Kansas City, Missouri.

Josh had an endless appetite, a few all you can eat sushi places banned him while on leave. Josh would tell us how he didn't mind the chow hall on base, because he could eat all he wanted. He bragged that he could eat more than 10 eggs every morning. All of that eating didn't turn to fat, he used every bit of nutrients to feed his enormous build.

During his time in Okinawa, he participated in weightlifting competitions and even trained for a body building competition. One of his greatest accolades, before his purple heart, was earning Marine of the Quarter and Marine of the Year in Okinawa.

After reporting to Camp Lejeune, Josh started listening to more Country music. He enjoyed going to Wilmington and Topsail Beach. His Mom and brother Jon went to visit him for a goodbye BBQ. They got to meet his unit, go to the beach, and stay in a hotel for a few days.

Josh and Sirius arrived in Afghanistan with the II MEF, 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion on his 23rd birthday, May 27th, 2012. When he arrived he called home to make sure mom knew he had got there safe. He was told he’d be working with Marsoc, a Marine special ops team he hoped to apply for once he returned stateside. Josh was sent to Camp Shorbak and was happy to have his own room. At first he let Sirius sleep inside, and when he skyped home his family could see Sirius walking around behind him. One day, when his Mom couldn’t see Sirius, she asked about him, and Josh explained to her that Sirius had pooped in the room.

After his first mission, which was 12 days long, Josh returned to his base energetic. He had taken pictures of all of the compounds he had stayed in. He talked about his mission like did about boot camp; It was fun for him, and he explained the details of every picture and couldn’t wait to go out again. He told Jordan being on a mission was the greatest adrenaline rush he had ever had, and he couldn’t think of doing anything better.

Josh died on July 19th, 2012 on his last mission. He was Killed in Action by an IED in combat operations while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Although he died young, he knew the risks involved and paid the ultimate price to protect his country. We will never know why he felt it was his duty to be our hero, but we will always remember and thank him for it.