IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 629-10
July 19, 2010

DOD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

They died July 15, 2010, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device.  They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Killed were:

Sergeant First Class John H. Jarrell, 32, of Brunson, South Carolina

Staff Sergeant Leston M. Winters, 30, of Sour Lake, Texas.

For more information media may contact the Fort Campbell public affairs office at 270-798-3025.

UPDATE: July 29, 2010 - Seregeant Winters was posthumously promoted to Staff Sergeant.

Staff Sergeant Leston M. Winters of Sour Lake, Texas was a 1998 graduate of Hardin Jefferson High School, Hardin County, Texas.

He enlisted in the United States Army in July of 1998 and arrived at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in April of 2010. His Awards and Decorations include, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Weapons Qualification. M4, expert.

He was a member of First Baptist Church in Sour Lake. In addition to his parents, Carl and Cheryl Spivey, Sergeant Winters‘leaves his wife, Elizabeth and three children, Jonathan, Remington, and Emma, a sister, Alisha, and two brothers, Terry and Corbin. 

He died in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device.

Army Sergeant Leston "Tony"Winters, 30, died July 15 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, after enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

War veterans gathered and led a procession that began at Sour Lake Elementary School and ended in downtown at the First Baptist Church.

Hundreds of people like Benita Davis watched with their children-honoring Southeast Texas' latest fallen soldier.

"We support our troops," said Davis. "We want them to know that we do love them and care about them."

On Monday afternoon, active servicemen and women were also in attendance.

Our nation's colors flew at half staff, a tribute that was replicated all over Hardin County.

"I got calls from other cities saying we want to join," said Hardin County Judge Billy Caraway.

"They called me;I didn't call them. They called me and that's a sign of unity that we have in Hardin County."

While some people made signs to honor Winters,others displayed photos of the Sour Lake native on their windshield.

Benita Davis says she didn't know Winters, but she wanted to use this as a teaching moment for her young son.

"I wanted to be able to teach him," added Davis. "I want to show him to always show respect. This is important to be out here and show that we do support them."

Sergeant Winters graduated from Hardin Jefferson High School in 1998. The 30-year-old leaves behind a wife and three children..

Sergeant Winters will be laid to rest with full military honors in Arlington Cemetery on 16 August 2010.

WINTERS, LESTON MICHAEL
SSG   US ARMY
DATE OF BIRTH: 08/21/1979
DATE OF DEATH: 07/15/2010
BURIED AT: SECTION 60  SITE 9526
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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