Marine from Sharpsville killed in explosion in Afghanistan

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David Wallace III

By William k. Alcorn

The 25-year-old served two tours in Iraq and was deployed to Afghanistan in November 2008.

SHARPSVILLE, Pa. — Marine Corps Sgt. David W. Wallace III, 25, a 2002 graduate of Sharpsville High School, was killed Tuesday by an improvised explosive device while sweeping a road for mines in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Also killed Tuesday in Helmand Province was Marine Sgt. Trevor J. Johnson, 23, of Forsyth, Mont.

The Marines were assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Wallace, a Marine combat engineer, was the son of Carol Wallace of Sharpsville and the late David Wallace. His brother, Steven, is stationed with the Navy in Guam.

Wallace also leaves his wife, Erica, of Jacksonville, N.C., a stepson, Landon, 5, and a daughter, Brooklyn, 2. Erica’s father is also a Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune.

John McCay, a family friend, said the family last saw David in September 2008 just two months before he was sent to Afghanistan. McCay described David as “lighthearted” and a “very nice, pleasant man” who was a Marine through-and-through.

Wallace, who enlisted in the Marine Corps on Sept. 23, 2002, was deployed twice to Iraq, in 2004 and 2005 and again in 2007 and 2008, and then to Afghanistan in November 2008.

His many awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

Funeral arrangements are pending at the Donaldson-Mohney Funeral Home in Sharpsville.

alcorn@vindy.com