Staff Sergeant Jonathan Kilian Dozier

Jonathon Kilian Dozier was a native of Great Bridge and the son of LTC(R) Carl Dozier, past commander of Post 2498. Jon was born in Norfolk on September 30th, 1977 to Carl and Martha Dozier (now Martha Cabe) and grew up in Chesapeake, Virginia, attending schools in Great Bridge before graduating from Fork Union Military Academy in central Virginia.   

He enlisted in the Army Reserves in 1997 and spent the next four years balancing military service and college.  He attended Virginia Commonwealth University 2000-2001 and Middle Tennessee State University 2001-2003 before leaving in 2004 to join the Army. Between 1998 and ’99 he served in Korea before returning to the US and tours in Georgia, North Carolina, and Washington. Noted for his maturity, knowledge, and skills, he quickly rose through the ranks.

After 9-11, he felt an obligation to his country and entered the US Army full-time.   

In April 2005, he reenlisted while assigned to Special Operations Command (SOCOM) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In September 2006, Jon transferred to Rose Barracks, Vilseck, Germany and joined a scout platoon with Hammer Company, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment (“Second Dragoons”),  1st Armored Division. The Second Dragoons trace their lineage back to the early part of the 19th century where the 2nd Cavalry has the distinction of being the longest continuously serving regiment in the Army. 

On 11 August 2007 Jon was deployed to Iraq and, one month later, celebrated his 30th birthday. In November he raised his right hand and reenlisted for another tour. In a letter home, Jon wrote: “I am a loyal American soldier. I believe in things larger than myself and making sacrifices for the greater good.” 

With the start of 2008, Jon was promoted to Staff Sergeant. A week later, on January 9th, 2008, he led a group of soldiers in the search of a house in Sinsil, Diyala Province, about sixty miles north of Baghdad, Iraq. The structure had been checked out and cleared of hazards about two weeks earlier, but insurgents apparently had returned and rigged it with explosives.   

After Jon and his men entered the building, a pressure detonated, massive, improvised explosive device (IED) ignited, killing all six soldiers.

 Killed alongside Jon were SPC Todd Davis (30) of Raymore, Missouri; SSG Sean Gaul (29) of Reno, Nevada; SGT Zachary McBride (20) of Bend, Oregon; SFC Class Matthew Pionk (30), of Superior, Wisconsin; and SGT Christopher Sanders (22) of Roswell, New Mexico; as well as an Iraqi translator, Mohammed al Latefe. In October 2011, a seventh soldier, Jordan Riddle, who had been critically wounded in the blast, died as a result of his sorrow and a broken heart. Now they are all collectively known as the “Sinsil 8" .

On 22 January 2008, Jon was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery as the 402nd member of the military killed in Iraq to be buried there. He is buried in Section 60, Site 8727 and posthumously promoted to Sergeant First Class.

During the ceremony, folded flags were touched for a long moment to the container holding his remains before being given to his wife, Amy Dozier and daughter Emma, his father, and his mother.   

"He was a warrior," "He looked after the welfare of his soldiers. He was a brave soldier. He chose to be in the sniper recon. He knew the dangers that were  inherent."   

During his tenure in the Army, Jonathan was awarded: 

• Bronze Star for Meritorious Valor, 

 • Purple Heart

 • Meritorious Service Medal 

• Army Achievement Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters 

• Army Good Conduct Medal 

• National Defense Service Medal 

• Iraq Campaign Medal 

• Global War on Terrorism Service Medal 

• Korean Defense Service Medal 

• Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon 

• Army Service Ribbon 

• Two Overseas Service Ribbons 

• Combat Infantry Badge 

• Parachute Badge 

• Expert Rifle Badge