CPL Lucas Pyeatt, USMC

Corporal Lucas T. Pyeatt, U.S. Marine Corps

KIA February 5, 2011

An accomplished musician, Luke Pyeatt loved Civil War history and was an Eagle Scout active in his church. He spoke Russian, had taken classes in Pashto, and learned sign language in high school to talk with one of his friends – becoming so proficient he acted as his friend’s interpreter in school. Part of an Air Force family, it was the death of a good friend killed in action in Iraq that called Luke to serve in the Marine Corps.

On February 5, 2011, Corporal Lucas T. Pyeatt, USMC, was killed in an IED attack in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, exactly one month before his 25th birthday. Team leader of Signals Intelligence Support Team 6, he was assigned to the 2nd Radio Battalion of the II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group. As he requested, Corporal Pyeatt is laid to rest at Arlington Cemetery. He is survived by his parents Scott and Cindy and older sister Emily (and her family).

One of his fellow Marines remembered him as follows: “He was really a great guy, compassionate beyond belief. If you had a problem, he would help you with it, regardless of what it was.”

In one of his final emails home, Luke wrote to his family, “I’ll keep safe and keep my guys safe. If anything should happen to me though, just know that you’ve given me the best life I could have possibly had. That I’m happy. And that I’m here where I belong doing what I am supposed to be doing. I have no regrets.” According to members of Luke’s unit he volunteered for his final patrol saying he wanted to know what his team members would be facing before they went into action.

Today, Army Corporal Derek Butler is serving a Mission Continues Fellowship in honor of Luke’s service and sacrifice, keeping his memory and spirit alive volunteering at the Veterans Tribute Museum in Kissimmee, Florida.

Read more about Derek's Fellowship here.