Gregory Rund was born on Sep. 25, 1983, in Denver, Colorado, but was raised in Littleton. He was a freshman at Columbine High School when two teenage gunmen killed 13 of his classmates. He enjoyed sports and played on the Columbine High School football team that won a state championship his senior year. After the attacks on 9/11, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in November, but didn’t attend recruit training until after graduating high school. He completed boot camp in October 2002, and from the School of Infantry in January 2003. He was then assigned to the “Fighting Fifth,” the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, India Co, 2nd Platoon at Camp Pendleton, California.
Rund deployed to Iraq in 2004, his second tour there. On December 11, his fire team entered a house, and they were immediately engaged in close quarter fighting and hand-to-hand combat. Rund provided covering fire while his team exited the building. He was mortally wounded by small arms fire and died shortly after, according to his memorial website. For his action on that day, he received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. He was 21-years old.
“He used to bring my newspapers and mail in,” said neighbor Beverly Bell to the Associated Press in 2004. “He always had a big smile.” Bell attended a block party in Rund’s honor after his first deployment.
Lance Cpl. Gregory Rund was laid to rest at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Colorado. To post a tribute or comment in his honor, please visit his Veterans Legacy Memorial page.
We honor his service.
Carry The Load Memorial May National Relay
For the sixth consecutive year, VA joins forces with volunteers to march in honor of Veterans and service members during the Memorial May National Relay starting on April 27. The annual collaboration with VA’s National Cemetery Administration includes rallies at 38 national cemeteries during a 20,000-mile march along five separate routes covering 48 states. All five routes converge on Memorial Day weekend for a final rally in Dallas, Texas. The list of national cemeteries, along with the dates and times that they will be visited by Carry The Load marchers, can be found here.
Nominate a Veteran
Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s “Honoring Veterans” social media spotlight is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.
It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.
Writer: Trinity Green
Editor: Tayler Rairigh
Researcher: Raphael Romea
Graphic Designer: Kiki Kelley
Graphics: Kiki Kelly
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