Sgt. Jason Amores

Jason Amores was born on a balmy Florida Friday, June 26, 1981, in Naples. He died protecting the freedoms he so dearly loved far away from home and his beloved family in a place called Sangin, Helmand Province, Afghanistan on Jan. 20, 2011. He was 29, the father of two children – Korbin, 9 and Violet, 4. Both Jason and his wife Jennifer grew up in Lehigh Acres.

Jason enlisted in the Marine Corps along with his brother Jeremiah in March 2004. The Amores “twins” (they really are 3 1/2 years apart) went through Boot Camp together at Parris Island. Years of sibling wrestling matches and hours consumed playing paintball helped prepare the boys for some of the rigors found in Marine life.

When Jason was a youngster growing up in Lehigh Acres, he enjoyed playing Little League baseball from age five all the way through to high school, where he was a member of the award-winning marching band – the Lightning – where he played tenor and baritone sax.

Jason received the affectionate nickname “Mowgli” in his high school days due to the fact he had long black hair and ran around under the Florida sun with nothing on more than a smile most of the time. OK, his mother did make him wear a pair of shorts.

Jason had a few siblings and an “extended” non-traditional family that included (in chronological order) his sister Shoshana (Goldie), brother Jeremiah, sister Emerald, brother Joshua, sister Rebecca and sister Samantha.

He learned, at an early age, that as the oldest sibling it was not only his privilege to annoy and pester his younger siblings, but it was his duty to watch over them, too.

As a squad leader in the Marine Corps, Jason listened to his innate and compelling drive to watch over his “men.” It was what he did and did well, on and off the field of combat.

At the Remembrance Day ceremonies held to honor the Darkhorse Fallen on April 29, 2011, Lt. Col. Jason Morris, battalion commander said, “Sgt. Amores was that true Marine hero who always ran to the sound of gunfire.”

Jason sought to always protect his specific Boys of 3/5 and this is what he did each and every day deployed in Afghanistan where such heroic and selfless actions compelled the U.S. government to posthumously award him the Bronze Star with Valor.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:13

Curt Middleton is the stepfather of Jason Amores.