Paul Burchard

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Mesa, Arizona, USA

U.S. Marine Corps

LCPL, 3rd Battalion, Fifth Marines

12/21/2011, Mesa, Arizona, USA

Paul Burchard, of the United States Marine Corps, was born on June 1, 1983 in Chicago, Illinois. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Infantry on his eighteenth birthday, June 1, 2001. After the events of September 11, 2001, Paul knew that he would have to serve the country in combat. He treated this as a great honor, for he loved his country. In early 2002, Paul started boot camp, completed the School of Infantry, and was stationed with Golf 2/5 at Camp Pendleton. A year later, in February 2003, Paul was deployed to Kuwait. Participating in the invasion of Iraq, Paul was awarded a Combat Action Ribbon and returned home that August.

After an injury to the tendons in his ankle during a training exercise, Lance Corporal Burchard was forced to stay home while his unit was redeployed to Iraq in September 2004. Although he could not go back into combat, Paul knew he was injured for a reason when he met his future wife, Rebecca, in October. Lance Corporal was discharged from the Marines on May 15, 2005. He then moved to Arizona to be with Rebecca in October 2005.

Paul lived a wonderful life. A lifelong fan of the Chicago sports clubs, the Bears, Cubs, and Blackhawks, Paul spent as much time as possible outdoors. He enjoyed camping, hiking, travelling, and spending time with his dogs—Harley and Dyna. Upon buying his Harley Davidson motorcycle, he joined the Leathernecks Motorcycle Club. Paul was studying to be an aircraft mechanic at the time of his death and looked forward to a career in the field. He married his wife, Rebecca, on September 2, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Paul Burchard was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in June 2006. He fought a brave battle against his illness, as any soldier would. Paul lost his struggle on December 21, 2011. Lance Corporal Burchard was an honorable Marine, swearing that he would not change anything, given the chance to do it all again. Paul is survived by his wife, Rebecca Burchard, parents Robert and Diane Burchard, sister Sara Leibfritz, nephew Sean Burchard, grandfather George Burchard, and dogs Harley and Dyna.

Paul’s portrait is also on Poster 15