A Hancock soldier who was killed in Iraq on Saturday had breakfast with his brother just hours before he died.
Staff Sgt. Justin R. Whiting, 27, was killed when his vehicle struck an explosive device while on patrol south of Mosul.
He was on his third tour in Iraq, serving as a Green Beret with the Third Battalion, Fifth Special Forces Group. He was a Special Forces medical sergeant who had two previous combat tours to Iraq in 2004 and 2005.
Nathan Whiting, 24, is also a Green Beret who serves in the same battalion, in the alpha group. Justin Whiting was in the bravo group.
While the brothers were stationed at Fort Campbell in Tennessee, they worked in the same building and lived together in a house Justin purchased, Nathan said Thursday.
When they were deployed to Iraq, the were stationed in the same area but only saw each other every two to three weeks.
"I got to see him that morning only by chance," Nathan said Thursday. "We ate breakfast and then gave each other a hearty handshake and said goodbye, although we didn't know it was goodbye. He looked me in the eye and said I'll see ya.' That's all, just I'll see ya.'
"Justin was a very simple man," his brother said. "He didn't put up with much, and you always knew how he felt. I never met anyone who was so determined."
Justin Whiting was born in Temple, Texas, on Sept. 24, 1980, and his brother, Nathan, was born in March 1983. The family moved to Hancock in 1983.
Justin graduated from Hancock Central School in 1999. He volunteered for military service and enlisted in the Army on Dec. 15, 1999. He earned the Green Beret in 2000.
Randy Whiting, Justin's father, said Justin was a highly trained Army medic. He had gotten out of the service in the fall of 2006, but decided to re-enlist in April 2007.
"Justin was a great deer hunter, there was nothing he liked more," Randy Whiting said. "Although he had gotten to be a pretty good guitar player, too. He loved country music, particularly George Strait."
Randy Whiting said that after Justin was discharged, he spent six weeks hunting in Tennessee and then came home and went to work with his best friend, Pauly Somers.
"Justin and Pauly were inseparable. They loved spending time together," Randy Whiting said. "They were in school together and both played on Hancock's championship football team in 1998."
Randy Whiting said after about six months at home, Justin decided to return to the Army.
"He thought the best thing was to go back to Iraq," Randy Whiting said. "And I thought it was best too, but he was the one that had to make that decision."
Randy Whiting said Justin was "quite a storyteller. When he and Nathan had breakfast, he told him about a funny incident that had happened the day before. They got to share that.
"Justin was fun to hang out with," his father added. "He had a great sense of humor and could see the humor in everything, even really serious things."
Randy Whiting said the streets of Hancock were lined with people Thursday when the military procession escorting Justin's body came though the village.
"Our pride is deeper than our grief at this point," Randy Whiting said. "I admired who he was and how good he was at being a medic and a soldier.
"The outpouring from the community has been just overwhelming," he added.
Military service runs in the Whiting family. Nathan said his father was in the Army stationed in Texas when all three children were born.
Randy Whiting said his daughter, Amanda Stambach, 29, is a captain in the Army and her husband, John, is also a Green Beret. They are stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington.
"My stepson, Greg Martin, just received his Green Beret in October, and he is at Fort Campbell," Randy Whiting said.
On Wednesday, the Delaware County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution in memory of Justin Whiting that ended, "Now, therefore, let it be resolved that this board expresses its gratitude for Staff Sgt. Justin R. Whiting's service to his country and its condolences to is family."
Hancock Supervisor Sam Rowe said, "I didn't know Justin, but I know his dad real well. Justin is a real American hero."
Board Chairman James Eisel added, "This was a terrible tragedy, but Justin Whiting is truly an American and Delaware County hero and we honor him for that, but this is very, very sad."
Whiting is also survived by his mother, Estelline, of Colorado Springs, Colo.
Calling hours are from 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Emory United Methodist Church in Hancock. A military memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday in the Hancock Central School auditorium.
___
Patricia Breakey can be reached at 746-2894 or at stardelhi@stny.rr.com.
