Justin M. Whitmire

A LIFE REMEMBERED

We speak the name.

Army Pfc. Justin M. Whitmire died Dec. 27 in Paktya, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by an improvised explosive device. Also killed were Army Sgt. Noah M. Korte and Army Spc. Kurt W. Kern. &lsquoA loving young man with a good heart&rsquo By Katie Jones The Greenville (S.C.) News Justin Whitmire&rsquos family is doing as well as can be expected after learning he was killed while serving his country, said Terry Rogers, pastor of Faith Renewed Outreach Center, the family&rsquos church in Mauldin, S.C. Whitmire, 20, an Army medic from Simpsonville, S.C., was killed Dec. 27 while serving in Afghanistan. Whitmire had been in Afghanistan for about 19 days and in the military for a little over a year, Rogers said. The vehicle he was in hit an improvised explosive device, killing him and two other soldiers, Rogers said. Whitmire graduated from Hillcrest High in 2010, Rogers said, and immediately joined the military. &ldquoThe reason he went there was just because he wanted to help people, and he felt like he was doing that,&rdquo he said. Rogers said the family received a call at about 8 p.m. Dec. 27 that Whitmire had been killed. He said he had received a call from a chaplain to come to the family&rsquos home. Whitmire had expressed a desire to stay in the medical field after the military, Rogers said, but that from childhood, Whitmire knew he wanted to serve in the military. &ldquoAs a young boy, he knew that&rsquos what he wanted to do,&rdquo Rogers said. &ldquoJust for him, the decision became which one it would be. He tossed around which branch of service he would be in and then decided with the Army.&rdquo Rogers said he was Whitmire&rsquos youth pastor for several years as well as his senior pastor. Rogers said the last time he spoke with Whitmire was over Skype on Christmas Eve. Whitmire talked about how he felt he was making a difference, he said. &ldquoHe was excited about what he was doing there,&rdquo Rogers said. Whitmire was the middle child of three, Rogers said. His 21-year-old brother, 16-year-old sister and his parents live in Simpsonville, he said. Rogers said Whitmire was a big brother to a lot of younger guys at church, including Rogers&rsquo 14-year-old son. During that last Skype session, Whitmire talked about fishing with Rogers&rsquo son when he returned, Rogers said. &ldquoHe was one of those guys, just a big brother to everybody,&rdquo he said. Whitmire was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, before going to Afghanistan. He was scheduled to return in February on leave, Rogers said. One day before his death, Whitmire wrote on his Facebook page that he &ldquohad a great Christmas talking to the family and the love of my life on Skype. Can&rsquot wait to be home with everyone again soon.&rdquo Whitmire&rsquos Facebook page has filled with those remembering him and thanking him for his service. His grandmother requested prayers for the Whitmire family on her page. &ldquoPlease remember our family in your prayer. Our grandson, Justin Whitmire, was killed in Afghanistan today,&rdquo she wrote. &ldquoHe was supposed to be in a safe location. But it appears that it is not safe anywhere over there. He was only 20 years old and had been over there for three weeks. Thank you for your prayers.&rdquo Rogers said he and the family have received emails, texts and tweets about Whitmire, even from people who only met him once. &ldquoIf you met him, you&rsquod remember him being a good guy with a good heart,&rdquo Rogers said. &ldquoHe&rsquod drop what he was doing to come help you. He&rsquod drop anything to come help you.&rdquo Whitmire had a heart of gold, loved to help people and had a smile that would light up a room, Rogers said. &ldquoJustin&rsquos a good boy, never any trouble,&rdquo he said. &ldquoWanted to help people and that&rsquos why he became a medic.&rdquo Rogers said that&rsquos how he will remember Whitmire &mdash as &ldquoa loving young man with a good heart, who knew Jesus.&rdquo