Jonathan David Hall was so intent on serving his country as a medic that he enlisted the help of his East Brainerd grandfather, a 40-year military veteran, to get into an elite Tennessee National Guard “active first” program.
For seven months, Pfc. Hall, who grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, lived with his grandparents, Jan and Don Priddy. With Mr. Priddy’s help, he prepared for his enlistment, military testing and eventual acceptance as a medic. On Valentine’s Day he was deployed to Afghanistan with the U.S. Army’s 3rd of 187th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky.
Pfc. Hall, 23, was fatally injured April 8 when an improvised explosive device blasted his vehicle.
His grandparents and family will lay him to rest Monday in Chattanooga National Cemetery.
“He loved Chattanooga,” said his grandmother Wednesday, struggling not to cry.