In light of the recent overseas casualties that have rocked the communities surrounding Joint Base Lewis-McChord, one man was inspired to do something.

"I just wondered how many residents of DuPont have been killed in action since September 11, 2001," said retired Col. Phil Courts. The longtime DuPont resident is familiar with the Army not only from his own military career but also that of his son, Col. Michael Courts, who is the deputy chief of staff for I Corps.

In DuPont, which boasts about a 40 percent military population, it seemed a memorial was overdue. So Courts approached Councilman Larry Wilcox, and within a blink of an eye, Wilcox had managed to get the city's approval for the research and construction of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial. A committee to collect the names of any DuPont resident who gave his or her life in defense of our country over the past nine years was formed.

The structure will be built in Ross Plaza, which is a central landmark along Wilmington Drive in the city. Wilburn Ross was a DuPont resident who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1945. Though the committee is still reviewing designs, they are leaning toward a three-part monument that will have one eight foot wall in the middle dedicated to the servicemembers and then a six and half foot slab on both sides, one with the names of the fallen and one describing the war on terrorism.

Funding for the memorial will come through donations and support from the local business community. According to Courts, an active donation drive will start in the near future. After the structure is unveiled, it will be donated to the city, which will take over the maintenance.

So far the committee has collected seven names, but the search is still on. Because soldiers don't always list their home of record as Washington even if they lived here for years makes the process more difficult. All service members and civilians who lived in the city of DuPont prior to their death will be added to the list. Additionally, the committee is considering including servicemembers who have been wounded and received the Purple Heart and were or are residents now. After the memorial's creation, which Courts hopes will be done next fall, names can continue to be added and engraved as they are found.

The committee requests that anyone with information contact Phil Courts at (253) 964-6894 or e-mail him at courtship@comcast.net.

"We know there are more, but they're hard to find," said Courts. "We won't give up until all those who sacrificed are recognized."

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