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Bomb kills local soldier
  
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Robyn Lydick
Launa and Jon Stiles loved to eat fish and chips, and the best, they said, between London and Denver are at Landsdowne Arms.
Instead of making reservations for an anniversary dinner, even with her husband stationed halfway around the world, Launa Stiles was seated at a table on the restaurant’s upper patio, flanked by two friends, describing the love of her life days after learning he would never come home to her.
Jon Stiles, 38, died Nov. 13 in Afghanistan, five days before the couple’s eighth anniversary.
He was assigned to an engineer company with the Louisiana National Guard. He was killed by a homemade bomb.
Stiles was also injured in October when he pulled three people out of a burning vehicle that has been targeted by a suicide bomber. Granted 30 days to recover, Stiles had burns in his lungs and vocal cords. He returned to work early.
Stiles was a sharp shooter, and Launa Stiles believes that is why he was assigned to his detail in Jalabad, Afghanistan.
Launa sat with her best friend Paige Brown clasping her had. On her left sat Chris Newell, a friend of Jon Stiles’.
“Jon’s mom told me as a small child he always wanted to be a soldier. It was in his DNA,” Launa Stiles said. “He was a soldier’s soldier and we are free because of him.”
A wife’s duty, Launa Stiles said, is to support her husband 100 percent.
“He was designed by God to be a soldier,” she said. “I prayed, hoped and knew the sacrifice he was making, we were making.”
In a way, the Stileses were lucky. Jon was able to call home almost every night. The calls were the start of Launa’s day. They had typical husband and wife conversations — what did you do today; give the dogs some hugs and kisses.
Jon Stiles had 90 days left on his 400-day hitch. Many of their conversations centered on their plans for a cabin in the Sangre de Christo Mountains west of Pueblo. There, Jon hoped to enjoy the true wilder side of Colorado, camping and fishing.
“He was always tired and beat down,” Launa Stiles said. “But he was passionate about our efforts in Afghanistan. He trained in something specifically to be deployed. He needed to be part of it.”
Whatever fears Launa held, she kept private.
“As a military family you have to be a rock, you have to be strong,” she said. “They have jobs to do and can’t be worrying and distracted. They have to know we are in control and stand behind them.”
Stiles will be buried Nov. 21 at Fort Logan National Cemetery with full honors.
Without Jon, Launa will remember his humor.
“He was a really funny, goofy guy with an energy that filled the room,” she said.
He wasn’t obviously military when home, said family friend Paige Brown.
“You couldn’t tell he was military other than his shaved head,” Brown said, a smile of memory widening across her face. “He wasn’t balding with grace.”
Launa and Jon met and quickly became engaged.
“When Jon came into Launa’s life, something clicked,” Brown said, “They fell in love quickly.”
Stiles, a former Marine, tried civilian life for Launa. After six years, he returned and signed up for the National Guard.
“The life returned to his face,” Launa Stiles said.
To honor Stiles’ service, the Veteran’s Monument committee will install a plaque in his name next summer.
On Thanksgiving, the Colorado National Guard Foundation will have a team running in the chamber of commerce’s Turkey Day 5K in honor of Stiles.
Stiles is the second Highlands Ranch resident to die in combat. Sgt. Chris Falkel died Aug. 8, 2005 in Dar Afghan.
Launa and Jon Stiles loved to eat fish and chips, and the best, they said, between London and Denver are at Landsdowne Arms.
Instead of making reservations for an anniversary dinner, even with her husband stationed halfway around the world, Launa Stiles was seated at a table on the restaurant’s upper patio, flanked by two friends, describing the love of her life days after learning he would never come home to her.
Jon Stiles, 38, died Nov. 13 in Afghanistan, five days before the couple’s eighth anniversary.
He was assigned to an engineer company with the Louisiana National Guard. He was killed by a homemade bomb.
Stiles was also injured in October when he pulled three people out of a burning vehicle that has been targeted by a suicide bomber. Granted 30 days to recover, Stiles had burns in his lungs and vocal cords. He returned to work early.
Stiles was a sharp shooter, and Launa Stiles believes that is why he was assigned to his detail in Jalabad, Afghanistan.
Launa sat with her best friend Paige Brown clasping her had. On her left sat Chris Newell, a friend of Jon Stiles’.
“Jon’s mom told me as a small child he always wanted to be a soldier. It was in his DNA,” Launa Stiles said. “He was a soldier’s soldier and we are free because of him.”
A wife’s duty, Launa Stiles said, is to support her husband 100 percent.
“He was designed by God to be a soldier,” she said. “I prayed, hoped and knew the sacrifice he was making, we were making.”
In a way, the Stileses were lucky. Jon was able to call home almost every night. The calls were the start of Launa’s day. They had typical husband and wife conversations — what did you do today; give the dogs some hugs and kisses.
Jon Stiles had 90 days left on his 400-day hitch. Many of their conversations centered on their plans for a cabin in the Sangre de Christo Mountains west of Pueblo. There, Jon hoped to enjoy the true wilder side of Colorado, camping and fishing.
“He was always tired and beat down,” Launa Stiles said. “But he was passionate about our efforts in Afghanistan. He trained in something specifically to be deployed. He needed to be part of it.”
Whatever fears Launa held, she kept private.
“As a military family you have to be a rock, you have to be strong,” she said. “They have jobs to do and can’t be worrying and distracted. They have to know we are in control and stand behind them.”
Stiles will be buried Nov. 21 at Fort Logan National Cemetery with full honors.
Without Jon, Launa will remember his humor.
“He was a really funny, goofy guy with an energy that filled the room,” she said.
He wasn’t obviously military when home, said family friend Paige Brown.
“You couldn’t tell he was military other than his shaved head,” Brown said, a smile of memory widening across her face. “He wasn’t balding with grace.”
Launa and Jon met and quickly became engaged.
“When Jon came into Launa’s life, something clicked,” Brown said, “They fell in love quickly.”
Stiles, a former Marine, tried civilian life for Launa. After six years, he returned and signed up for the National Guard.
“The life returned to his face,” Launa Stiles said.
To honor Stiles’ service, the Veteran’s Monument committee will install a plaque in his name next summer.
On Thanksgiving, the Colorado National Guard Foundation will have a team running in the chamber of commerce’s Turkey Day 5K in honor of Stiles.
Stiles is the second Highlands Ranch resident to die in combat. Sgt. Chris Falkel died Aug. 8, 2005 in Dar Afghan.
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