Jason Thomas Palmerton was born on February 21, 1980 in Hamburg, IA. Denise Moenning and Steven Palmerton’s second child displayed a flair for the dramatic by starting his life with a startling decline and an emergency intestinal malrotation surgery. Shortly after this, Jason’s parents divorced. His mother moved him and his older sister, Amanda, to live with his grandparents on their farm outside of Auburn, NE.

A few years later, Jason’s hips and legs required braces to help them grow straight, but Jason didn’t let this stop him from following his sister or getting into trouble. A bright and happy boy, Jason was a creative, brave, and ambitious youth; excited to throw himself into new experiences. For example, he and his older sister threw themselves into a pigpen on the family farm to get a better look until a rather large, unhappy pig, disgruntled at being disturbed, chased them both back out again.

Denise met and married Ken Schlange, and Jason became the family’s middle child when she brought home his sister Elizabeth. Jason did well in school, and although he wanted to play football, there were concerns, primarily by his mother, that his legs might cause him issues. He was disappointed not to be allowed his chance, but Jason soon changed his focus and had remarkable success participating in competitive speech, musicals, and theater.

Jason graduated from Auburn High School in 1998 and moved to Lincoln, where he worked hard, attended school, and rented an apartment with his older sister. When he was 19, Jason was inspired to “seize the day” after watching a movie with themes of mortality and lost chances. He walked from the movie theater to downtown Lincoln, entered a local bar, and participated in their open-mic stand-up comedy night. He was kind of funny. After many material rewrites and a little obsessive practice, he elevated his stand-up to very funny.

Jason was working his way through a challenging time and was struggling to find direction in life when, on September 11, 2001, normal life in America changed forever. Deeply affected by the national tragedy, eager to contribute more to his country, and determined to be the absolute best, Jason entered the Army in July of 2002.

After graduating from Basic Training in Ft. Benning, GA, Jason moved on to throwing himself out of airplanes for the 101st Airborne Division. During this time, Jason crashed a party for graduating veterinarians and met Shelly Austin, who was immediately won over by his charm. They began dating soon after.

In February 2005, Jason graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course and was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C. as a detachment communications sergeant.

Jason deployed to Afghanistan in June 2005. Six weeks later, on July 23, 2005, He was on patrol near Qal’eh-Ye Gaz, Afghanistan, when his unit was ambushed. During the ensuing firefight, SGT Jason Palmerton was shot and fatally wounded, dying in the field.

Jason’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Basic Parachutist Badge, and the Special Forces Tab. Jason was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal for valor, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.