VANDERGRIFT, PA, USA U.S. Marines SGT, B CO, 1ST BN, 8TH MAR, RCT-7, 1ST MAR DIV, CAMP PENDLETON, CA FALLUJAH, IRAQ 11/09/2004
Since he was a little boy Lonny Wells knew he would be a Marine. Lonny was an athletic, friendly kid growing up in the Pittsburgh suburb of Vandergrift. Living in the Steel City didn’t hinder his passionate zeal for the Dallas Cowboys. Wells was a good student who also excelled playing football and baseball, and loved singing Kenny Rogers songs in the car and he loved the Marines.
As an instructor for Marine Combat Training, Wells made an incredible impact on those around him. His energy and professionalism inspired many young Marines, he was a true role model.
Sergeant Wells was assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. He had been in the Marine Corps for eight years and served in Kosovo, France, Spain and Germany before being deployed to Iraq.