Daily Oklahoman
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
August 7, 2004, p 1A
 Oklahoma
ties
Local Marine killed in Mideast
Mary Sneed said her grandson planned to return to his Nicoma
Park home in September for his first vacation from fighting
since Christmas.
"We were all going to get together when Joey came home next
month," Sneed said. "We'll just have to get together a
month earlier for bad reasons."
Sneed learned Wednesday her grandson died that day as a result
of enemy action.
The Marines would not release additional information regarding
his death.
"'Joey ain't gone,'" Sneed told herself when she
learned her grandson was dead. "'Joey's going to call me
tomorrow.' Joey didn't call."
Sneed said she raised Nice and his two brothers from the time
Nice was 5 years old. In 1998, she brought the boys to Oklahoma.
Nice enlisted in the Marines after he graduated from Choctaw
High School in 2003.
He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine
Division, Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Ground
Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
"The Marines was his life," Sneed said. "If you
didn't know any better, you'd think he was in the Marines for
30, 40 years. That's how devoted he was."
Nice was born in Newark, Ohio, where his father, Lloyd, still
lives.
"All through his life he wanted to do something for his
country," Lloyd Nice said. "He's told me several times
after he got out of high school he wanted to join the service
and be a part of defending his country. He's made his family
very proud."
Lloyd Nice said he last talked to his son 2 1/2 weeks ago.
"He wanted to know how I was dealing with him being over
there," he said. "He just wanted to let me know he's
fine and he's well. He was waiting to come back home."
Cody Largent, 20, of Choctaw said he was Joseph Nice's best
friend throughout junior high and high school.
"He was willing to fight for his country, and he was
willing to do what he had to do. He paid the price,"
Largent said.
Nice joined the Marines as a way to pay for his education. He
planned to attend the University of Oklahoma and become a lawyer
when he finished his service, Sneed said.
"Joey wanted to be somebody," Sneed said. "His
life wasn't finished."
Birth: Apr. 6, 1985, Newark, Licking County, Ohio, USA
Death: Aug. 4, 2004, Iraq
Lance Cpl. Joseph L. Nice of Nicoma Park, Oklahoma lived with
his grandmother, Mary Sneed in Nicoma Park, Oklahoma during his
high school years graduating from Choctaw High School in 2003.
He was a member of the soccer team and played saxophone in the
marching band. He loved video games, fishing and hanging out
with his friends. Joe enlisted in the Marines in December of
2002 and left for boot camp in San Diego, California in June of
2003. He seemed to be interested in everything. The straight-A
student played the saxophone, was learning the drums, drew
landscapes and played several sports. He dreamed of becoming a
lawyer, and a Marine. He was fulfilling his dream. He stood his
ground on what he wanted out of life. His grandmother often
joked around with him, gently chiding Joe when he'd spend an
hour in the bathroom to make sure everything was "just so." Joe
used to cook for her. She was planning a belated birthday party
for him upon his return. Joe was the son of Lloyd Lee Nice and
Marilyn Ames Nice. Joe was preceded in death by his grandfather,
Henry Sneed. He was killed at age 19 by enemy action in Anbar
province, Iraq while serving his country in the United States
Marines.
Burial: Arlington Memory Gardens
Source: The
Oklahoman.
Contributed by Marti Graham, March 2007. Information
posted as courtesy to researchers. The contributor is not
related to nor researching any of the above.
|
