Army Pfc. Dennis was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Dennis died of wounds sustained during a firefight with enemy forces in the vicinity of Ne Shkin after his platoon was ambushed. Jerod graduated from Antlers High School in May 2002 where he was a popular and fun-loving student. He was quite an achiever – one who went all out on anything in which he was interested whether it was winning championships in tennis or aggravating the teachers in that endearing way of his. His tennis skills won him trips to the state championships in high school; his pranks won him the record for being paddled by the principal and his fun-loving personality won him friends. Jerod liked his algebra teacher, but each day he tried to take the American flag from the classroom and was caught every time. When he was late for class, he would try to crawl in through a window. Teachers usually noticed the 6-foot teenager trying to fit through the window. He was also a member of the high school drama club and Bearcat band. He joked later that his band experience made the Army's close order drill a snap. One day, the military visited Antlers, Oklahoma and Jerod took a qualification test – he aced it. All of the military branches were hunting him down but he liked the Army's presentation the best and left for basic training a month after graduation. He proudly wore his Airborne Wings and the Combat Infantry Badge and shot expert in weapons qualification. His awards include the National Defense Ribbon and now, the Purple Heart. It was his goal to go to Ranger School when he returned from Afghanistan. Jerod is remembered as an all around great guy. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, country music, camping, basketball and baseball. He was proud of what he was doing and it is what he wanted to do – he never wavered in his position. Jerod told his family, "You have to be proud of what we have in America."