Lance Cpl. Charles S. Sharp

Lance Cpl. Charles S. Sharp, 20, of Adairsville, Ga., died July 2 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

"As I was thinking about Seth, [I remembered] when he went to Iraq on his first tour, Ric [Sharp, Seth's father], told me every Sunday, 'Remember Seth,'" the Rev. Steve Morrow said. "One day Ric came to me and said he got a letter from Seth and he was wanting some crayons and coloring books." Morrow said Sharp's family honored that request. "Seth handed them all out [to Iraqi children]. Seth not only died for his country and for his family, but he died for those little kids over there in Iraq who he didn't even know," he said. "He died and put his life on the line for people he never saw, never looked into their eyes. It was a deep calling upon his life that he must do this for his country and for himself." Sharp, who attended Adairsville High School, enlisted at age 17 and served a previous 7-month tour in Iraq. He had been in Afghanistan, serving in Company E of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines Squadron, for six weeks.