LEWISBURG, TN, USA
U.S. Marines
SGT, DET A, CO I, 3D BN, 24TH MAR, 4TH MAR DIV
FALLUJAH, IRAQ 03/27/2007
A Middle Tennessee Marine died from wounds suffered during combat operations in Iraq, the Department of Defense announced March 29.
Staff Sergeant Marcus A. Golczynski, 30, from Lewisburg, died March 27 from injuries sustained in Anbar province, according to a news release.
He is the son of Elaine Huffines, a teacher at Forrest School in Chapel Hill, and Henry Golczynski, the co-owner of Franklin’s Printworks in Murfreesboro. According to a statement from his father, the Marine was only two weeks away from the end of his second deployment in Iraq.
“Marc knew what was worth fighting for and had the courage and strength to fight for it,” the family’s statement said. “He was willing to give it his all … and did, with honor.
Golczynski was assigned to the Marine Forces Reserve’s 3rd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, in Nashville. He joined the Marine Corps in 1995.
According to the family, Golczynski wrote in an e-mail that he felt called to return to Iraq.
“Many of us volunteered to do this a second time due to our deep desire to finish the job we started,” Golczynski wrote.
The funeral for Staff Sergeant Marcus A. Golczynski, 30, held April 4 at the Church Street Church of Christ in Lewisburg, drew hundreds of family, friends and fellow Marines.
`Marc gave his life for a cause he believed deeply in, Golczynsk’s father John Sappenfield said.
As Lieutenant Colonel Ric Thompson presented 8-year-old Christian Golczynski the flag from his father’s casket (pictured above), tears flowed freely from the mourners. Golczynski was honored with a Purple Heart during the service.
“”My Marc made the sacrifice for my freedom said Golczynski’s wife, Heather Southward Golczynski. “That is a debt I won’t ever be able to repay. `”I find comfort from looking at Christian and seeing Marc reflected” she said.
Golczynski grew up in Lewisburg, and was in the marching band on the wrestling squad and served as the mascot at Marshall County High School. The 1995 high school graduate was recognized as the sixth best wrestler in the state during his senior year. He later was a manager of a Ruby Tuesday.
He put everybody first, Jill Golczynski said of her brother-in-law. I know he treated his Marines like family and that’s why he’s no longer with us.
Marilyn Shelton, a former co-worker, said he was a gung-ho Marine and a patriot but also someone who made the workday easier for those around him. He made the day light, Shelton said. Everything was fun with Marc.
Marc was a wonderful father, said his mother, Elaine Huffines. I’ll miss watching him help his son grow up to be a good man like he was.