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Cpl. Evan James

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=7496393&BRD=1719&PAG=461&dept_id=25271&rfi=6

SIUE student dies with Marines in Iraq

JEFF TOBIN and STEVE WHITWORTH, The Telegraph March 26, 2003

GLEN CARBON -- The cost of the war in Iraq was brought home Tuesday to this area, as a popular SIUE student was confirmed to have died in action with his unit of the Marines.

Cpl. Evan James, 20, of La Harpe, Ill., was trying to cross the Saddam Canal in southeastern Iraq Monday when he and another Marine disappeared underwater, military authorities said. Two other soldiers crossed the canal safely, and James’ body was recovered Tuesday.

The loss was shocking for James’ college roommate, Andrew Turner of Glen Carbon, who said he was speaking to James’ family by telephone Tuesday when they got the news of his death.

"It was initially just shock," Turner said. "There was nothing I could do about it. I couldn’t comprehend it as fast as it was coming in."

Officials at the Marine Corps Reserve Center in Peoria, the reserve unit of which James was a member, said he and other Marines were attempting to secure a water point as part of the war effort.

James and Sgt. Brad Korthaus of Davenport, Iowa, were with the 6th Engineer Support Battalion in Peoria. Korthaus still was listed as missing Tuesday night.

James’ aunt, Diane Kornegay of La Harpe, spoke Tuesday night on behalf of his family, including his parents, Mike and Donna James.

"As family and friends, it’s a great loss for us," Kornegay said. "He was an amazing young man who should have had a long life ahead of him."

Kornegay said James had written regularly to his family, with his most recent letter arriving Thursday. He also had telephoned his girlfriend about two weeks ago.

"He had a job to do," Kornegay said. "It was something he was signed up to do, and he was committed to getting it done. He was missing home; he just wanted to come back home."

Kornegay said Marine officials had told the family it probably would be two to three weeks before James’ remains would be returned to them. She said his parents were trying to cope with their loss.

"They’re struggling," she said. "It’s a grim reality that none of us wanted to see happen. There is no way to be prepared for it. We’re very proud of Evan, not only for this but for everything he has done in life. He was a remarkable young man."

James had attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, beginning in the fall of 2001, studying physical education, Turner said.

"We got stuck together in the dorm," Turner recalled, noting they had never met before becoming roommates.

As the two got to know each other, they realized they had played on competing football teams in high school: James in La Harpe and Turner at Brown County High School.

James continued in school through the spring and fall of 2002. Last year, he and Turner got an apartment together in the 100 block of Bayberry Court in Glen Carbon.

"A lot of people, you can’t along with as good as with Evan," Turner said in explaining how they grew to be close friends. "His personality was great. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to bond with somebody else like I did with him."

Because of his call-up for duty, James did not enroll at SIUE for the current semester. Turner said he last had talked to James about two months ago, when James was in California, preparing to leave for duty in the Persian Gulf.

"He was planning on coming back," Turner said. "He wanted to go back to school."

Turner said the news about James’ death was spreading quickly Tuesday night among their circle of friends.

"The phone has been ringing off the hook," he said. "Everybody has been showing their support.

"Everybody that we were close friends with who hadn’t heard, and that I felt needed to know, were notified, as much as they could," Turner said. "I saw most of the main ones tonight. Everybody is in the same boat as I am. Everybody cared for Evan the same; everybody loved him. He was probably one of the best friends of everybody on campus. He had a hard work ethic, as much as you could ask for any kid."

Turner said James loved the Edwardsville area and working at Our Health Club and Spa, 4 Cougar Road, in Glen Carbon.

The mood was somber Tuesday night at the spa, as employees and members alike mourned the loss of a friend.

James was studying to be a physical fitness trainer at SIUE and worked at the club as a trainer. Sarah Gray, 22, is a senior at SIUE and worked with James for two years at the club.

"He was fun; all the members really loved him," Gray said. "The members voted him as employee of the month last December. He had a wonderful relationship with everybody."

James was not one to talk much about his military duties, but Gray said once a war in Iraq became less of a possibility and more of a probability, he indicated that he was ready to fight for his country.

"Right before everything started, he had said he was interested in doing some recruiting, but then he was deployed," Gray said. "He didn’t say much to me about his military work, but he was almost excited to go and also a little scared. Who can blame him?"

The last contact employees at the spa had with James was a March 6 letter in which he said he was doing the "same old thing" in the Middle East.

That was typical of a man who was known for his biting sense of humor.

"He told us he was playing around with some ammunition and not doing all that much," Gray said. "That was definitely him. He could be really funny."

Many people in the club were noticeably upset, and some were sobbing. One woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said she "felt the Earth stop" when she heard what had happened.

"I just can’t believe this; I can’t believe this is really happening," she said. "I’ve known Evan for about a year, maybe a little more, and he’s one of the most wonderful people around. They don’t get much nicer and helpful than him.

"I hope now people understand what is going on over there, that it is real, and it affects all of us," she said as the tears rolled down her face.

That sentiment of disbelief could be heard throughout the health club. Although most people still were running on their treadmills and doing laps in the swimming pool, some of the members remarked about how difficult it was to keep their minds on exercise.

"You don’t think with all those troops over there that something like this is going to happen to a person you know," Gray said. "Everybody here had a very special bond, and he’s going to be missed."

Telegraph Executive Editor Dan Brannan and the Associated Press contributed some information for this article.