John M. Runkle

1st Lt. John M. Runkle, age 27, of West Salem, Ohio, died on May 26, 2011, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Pray for John

His awards and decorations include: Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Air Assault Badge; Parachutist Badge; Pathfinder Badge and Ranger Tab.

Lt. Runkle is survived by his father, John Runkle of Woster, Ohio and mother, Christine Runkle of Salem, Ohio.

Lt. Runkle had been in the Army prior to attending West Point. He had been deployed to Iraq for 10 months before starting the class of 2009. He graduated in the top 10 percent of his class.

Let us pray to God the Father, Jesus, all of the saints and all of the angels that John M. Runkle is in heaven. Let us pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen.