July 27, 2010
Flags lowered to honor war casualty
Under a proclamation signed by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, the United States flag and the Illinois flag are to be at half-staff at all State of Illinois facilities in honor of a U.S. Army medic killed earlier this month while serving in the war in Afghanistan.
Flags are to be flown at half-staff beginning immediately, Tuesday, July 27, until Thursday, July 29, in honor of U.S. Army Sgt. Jesse R. Tilton.
Reports indicate that Tilton, 23, of Mount Zion, died July 16, at a hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, from wounds received in a July 13, attack in Kandahar City, Afghanistan. Reports indicate that insurgents attacked Tilton’s unit with rifle, rocket propelled grenade, and small arms fire. Tilton, according to reports, was treating another soldier under enemy fire when he was severely wounded.
Tilton joined the Army in 2006. This was his second tour in Afghanistan. He was first deployed from January 2007 to April 2008. He deployed for a second tour in August 2009. He attended Mount Zion High School and graduated from Lincoln Challenge Academy in Rantoul.
Tilton was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, out of Fort Bragg, N.C.