Jarrell "Jd" Duncan Southall

He was born Aug. 15, 1964 in Lake Village, Ark., to Jarrell E. and Barbara Southall. He received his bachelor’s degree in Geology from the University of Oregon in 1999 and also received a certificate in foreign language from the University of Indiana and in Civil Affairs from the U.S. Army’s John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.

He served more than 20 years in the U.S. Marines, the Oregon National Guard, and Army Reserves. He deployed to Iraq twice, first in 2004 as a Captain with the Oregon National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry, then again in 2007 as a Civil Affairs reservist recalled to active duty with the 478th CA Bn. He played a critical role in helping turn the tide in the Sunni death triangle as part of Babil PRT. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2009-10 for one final combat tour as a CA Major with 405th CA BN/ PRT Nuristan. He retired from the military in 2012 with full honors.

JD played a key role in a 2004 episode in which Oregon National Guard troops rolled into an Iraqi government compound to stop the abuse of civilians by Iraqi officials in the newly established post-Saddam Hussein regime. The intervention made international news, though higher-ranking U.S. officials ordered the Oregon troops to leave and return custody of the civilians to the Iraqis. Southall was the first Oregon soldier to go on record about what happened.

He was a child welfare specialist with the State of Oregon from 2014 until the time of his death. He volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America, the Department of Veterans Affairs and was the founder and former chairman of the Veterans Employee Resource Group of the Oregon Department of Human Services. He also was an automobile enthusiast, holding special affection for the Ford Mustang he owns and took for joy rides with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Southall of Portland; a daughter, Sara Long, of Conway, Ark.; a son, Jackson (Wally); and two grandchildren, Emily and Owen Long. He is also survived by a brother, Charles, of Carmel, Ind., and his father, Jarrell, of Phoenix, Ariz. He is preceded in death by his mother Barbara.

The family plans a private burial, with a public celebration of life to follow at a later date. The family suggests remembrances in J.D.’s name to the PTSD/Traumatic Brain Injury programs at the Portland VA Medical Center, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR 97239.

Semper Fi, Marine

We love you and will forever miss you so much. Til' we see you again in Valhalla.

Love Jen & Wally.