Jimy Mac Malone

This memorial website was created to remember our dearest Jimy Malone who was born in Texas on July 27, 1983 and passed away on June 23, 2007. You will live forever in our memories and hearts.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  I'm Erica, Jimy's cousin. :) If you have any questions about him, please feel free to ask.  The picture of Jimy, is a painting by Phil Taylor, of The American Fallen Soldier Project. I have written some stuff in the "Life Story" section to the left. Although, most information is in the essay. This will be online for 2 weeks...then I'll have to find something FREE. ;)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Here is an essay I wrote in English about him. The topic was "Heroes." Notice the song lyrics; We had to find a song that fit the essay, and I chose "If You're Reading This" by Tim McGraw. I received a 98 on this essay. Enjoy!!!

    Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Literature and real life are packed

with characters who are unlikely heroes. Rosa Parks, a central figure in the Civil

Rights Movement showed great courage by refusing to give up her seat to a

white man on a Birmingham bus. G.T. revealed his inner strength by putting

others before himself, even though he is suffering from leukemia in the book

"Hope was Here." My personal hero, my cousin Jimy Malone, possessed all

the courage of a hero, even though he was a young man from a small town.

    Jimy’s smile was big, just like his heart. He never had a frown on his face,

and was sure to put a smile on yours.  There was nothing better than seeing

those pearly whites, that promised to brighten your day. His smile was just...

perfect. Jimy was short, just as his attention span. But because of that, everyone

loved him and enjoyed being around him. Those ears. Jimy resembled Dumbo

in ways that included more than the size of his ears. Jimy believed he could do

anything and everything, just as Dumbo believed he could fly. He was a

hysterical person, and was known from making long stories, longer. That

contributed to make Jimy the man he came out to be. Jimy was strong, both

physically and emotionally. He was a shoulder to cry on and provided support

for everyone. His eyes were big, beautiful, and hazel. Just by looking at them,

you could see the shimmer that filled them. But that smile. That smile is what

I miss the most.

    Jimy and I didn’t spend much time together, but he and I were definitely

close. He left on March 13, 2004 to go serve his first tour in Iraq. Exactly one

year later, he came home from serving in the Middle East. April 9, 2005, he

married his high school sweetheart, my cousin Leslie Tisdale. While stationed

at Fort Hood in Killeen, TX, Jimy and Leslie resided in Copperas Cove, TX,

a few miles from the base. Being 204 miles from family, the ability to spend time

with Jimy seemed impossible. During the holidays were the only time I saw Jimy

and Leslie. April 20, 2006, Jimy and Leslie found out God had chosen them to

be parents. During Leslie’s pregnancy, Jimy recieved news, he was headed

back to Iraq. On October 30, 2006, Jimy deployed to serve his second tour in

Iraq. January 9, 2007, Jimy and Leslie became parents to Reagan Allison

Malone. Unfortunately, Jimy wasn’t there to see the birth of his baby girl because

of deployment. Jimy came home on leave, almost 3 weeks after Reagan arrived.

He met his 17 day old daughter, and couldn’t of been more proud. Knowing he

was scheduled to come home for some R&R, rest and relaxation, our family

delayed Christmas. February 2, 2007, we celebrated Christmas as a whole,

and also got to see Reagan for the first time. Jimy did everything from preparing

a bottle, to changing a diaper for Reagan. He wanted to "do it all." February 11,

2007, Jimy headed back to Iraq, after visiting and spending time with family.

While overseas, the internet and a webcam were Jimy’s only sources of seeing

Leslie and Reagan. June 23, 2007, we recieved news that the worst possible

thing had come true. Jimy’s humvee had been hit by an Improvised Explosive

Device (IED), instantly killing the four men aboard. Jimy’s funeral was held on

July 3, 2007, at Wills Point High School, with full military honors. All in all,

sharing a part of Jimy’s life, has made me a better person.

    After the war took my cousin, I have gained alot of respect for the men and

 women serving our country. Putting their lives on the line can’t be an easy task,

yet they do it anyway. Seeing the fallen soldiers on the news has always made

me wonder. What if that happened to my family? How would I deal with the pain?
Wondering isn’t an option anymore. I’ve experienced it first hand, and it’s

something I never want to experience again. The day I found out he had been

killed, was the worst day of my life. Anger, pain, and devastation took hold of my

life. It seemed as if it was all a dream. Once I got it back into my own hands, I

began to realize that everything happens for a reason and God was calling Staff

Sergeant Jimy Mac Malone and the 3 men with him to come home. Having a

fallen soldier in my family, has taught me alot. Although, I strongly believe the

thing it has taught me most, is respect.

    Jimy may have lost his life, but I know he was proud of what he did for

his country. Heroes may come short or tall, young or old, but the sacrifices

they have made make the biggest difference.