Corporal Jacob Rudeloff Fleischer, U.S. Army, was killed in action near Deh Rawood in southern Afghanistan on Novemeber 24, 2004, while on patrol with the 2nd Platoon, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry (Light), which is operating as a part of the 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light). He was 25 years old. He was killed when an improvised explosive device (roadside bomb) was detonated.

Jacob was born on January 2, 1979 in Creve Coeur, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, to Sarah Jane Fleischer and Colonel Harold C. (Rad) Fleischer, III, U.S. Army Reserve, Retired.

He had one brother, Harold C. (Kurt) Fleischer IV.

Jocob grew up in Manchester, Missouri, and graduated from Parkway South High School in 1997.

Jacob played in the band all four years of high school. Band Director, Chris Becker stated that Jacob, who played tenor saxophone, loved taking part in competitions and special appearances.

He attended Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications on August 4, 2001. He then studied Political Science at the University of Missouri at St. Louis, when in 2002 he decided to enlist in the U.S. Army with the rank of Specialist. He was trained as an infantryman and then as a paratrooper at Fort Benning, Georgia, before joining the 25th Infantry Division (Light) at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Company C, 2nd Battalion (Light), 5th Infantry deployed to Afghanistan on May 1, 2004 and had been engaged in security and assistance missions since their arrival. Jacob has been awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Parachutist's Badge. Jocob was posthumously promoted from Specialist to Corporal.

NOTE: PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL OF OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES.