Spokane7
50°
June 25, 2010 in City
Valley Marine dies in Afghan IED blast
Joshua Dumaw’s wife is pregnant with their first child
Marine Joshua Dumaw was killed in action in Afghanistan on Tuesday, June 22. He is pictured with his wife, Kailyn, in this image from his Facebook page.
(Full-size photo)
A 23-year-old Marine from Spokane Valley was killed this week while supporting combat operations in Afghanistan.
Cpl. Joshua R. Dumaw, assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force, was killed Tuesday during operations in the Nimruz province, the Department of Defense said in a news release.
Details of Dumaw’s death were not immediately available from the U.S. Marine Corps public affairs office, but according to his family, Dumaw was with his platoon securing an area in the Nimruz province, in southwestern Afghanistan, when he stepped on an improvised explosive device.
Dumaw’s mother, Jennifer Gorman of Spokane Valley, told family friends he will likely receive a Purple Heart, and that he will eventually be brought back to Fairchild Air Force Base, where he will be welcomed by the honor guard.
“He was always one of those kids that shined,” said Stacie McGarvey, who spoke on Gorman’s behalf.
Gorman, who was on her way to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware Thursday to greet Dumaw’s body as it arrived, declined to comment.
The family was overwhelmed and grateful for the condolences and thoughts pouring in from all over, McGarvey said.
Dumaw, who graduated from West Valley High School, was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina. His wife of nearly one year, Kailyn, is pregnant with the couple’s first child, family friends confirmed.
Dumaw had completed previous tours of duty in Iraq, but this was his first tour in Afghanistan. He had planned to return home in a few months for the birth of his son, due in September. The couple had decided to name the boy Bode Alexzandyr Dumaw, so that his initials would be BAD.
“He wanted his son to be B-A-D,” McGarvey said.
McGarvey said Dumaw had enlisted in the Marine Corps right after high school.
“He was very proud of what he was doing, serving his country,” McGarvey said.
Ashley Byrd, a longtime family friend, said Dumaw was the guy known for helping everybody out.
“He was the nicest guy I ever met. He would always have a smile on his face,” Byrd said. “He’s going to be loved and missed by everybody.”
Plans for a memorial service in Spokane have not been finalized. The family is asking that anyone wishing to make memorial contributions contact the family through his wife’s Facebook page. They are planning on using contributions to send care packages to Dumaw’s platoon in Afghanistan.
Past and present 
BigE on June 25 at 7:43 a.m.
Cpl. Dumaw,
Thank you for your service and making the ulitmate sacrifice for America, we salute you.
My thoughts, prayers and support go out to your family.
As a Marine, you have a long history of brave service, be proud and rest well young man, your son will be one BAD fella.
Gone but not forgotten.
We will show up in force at your service, proud Americans with our flags, showing the support you and your family deserve.
eagleproducer on June 25 at 9:44 a.m.
Condolences to the family of this fallen Marine.
I believe “proud Americans” can do more than show up at funerals or wave flags to show they support the troops. This can be done primarily by seriously questioning the need to remain in Afghanistan and begin to have that debate truly for the first time. The entire region has be destabilized by the presence of foreign troops and most of those still fighting the U.S. were not anti-U.S. before 9/11 but have been radicalized by our presence and execution of policies.
I’ll wait for the “patriots” to heap their derision on my thoughts but I can’t help but believe we are pouring money and lives down a bottomless hole.
BigE on June 25 at 10:46 a.m.
Spoketucky, Agreed, I want the war to end but until it does we have a duty to support those that fight and those that die.
eagleproducer on June 27 at 11:08 a.m.
BigE: I don’t believe supporting the troops means we continue to be voiceless as a citizenry about the policies that are leading to their deaths.