Lucas T. 'Luke' Pyeatt

Corporal Lucas Todd Pyeatt

Lucas Todd Pyeatt was born in Lakenheath, Suffolk, England on March 5th, 1986. He is the son of Lon Scott and Cynthia Louise Pyeatt of West Chester, Ohio. He is the little brother of Emily Nicole Smalley and husband Jon of Hamilton, Ohio and the proud uncle of Emilys two children Travis and Makenna.

Luke spent his early years travelling with his USAF family and lived in a number of locations including England, California, Germany, Texas and North Dakota, but he proudly calls Newport News, Virginia his home. Luke and his family spent nine years in Virginia and he graduated from Woodside High School in June of 2004. He attended college for a semester at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. As a youngster living in Virginia Luke developed a keen interest in Civil War history, and he explored many of the national battlefields throughout the area. He enjoyed the challenges of school and excelled at history. Luke was an accomplished musician and played the string bass throughout his middle school and high school years. Another talent Luke developed was using sign language so that he could talk with one of his school friends. He became good enough to be able to act as his friends interpreter during school hours

Luke is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and was very active in his church and community. He was active in the scouting program and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Continuing his interest in history, Lukes Eagle project involved restoration work at Endview Plantation, a Revolutionary and Civil War archaeological site in Newport News. He was called to and faithfully served in many church youth leadership positions. At the age of 19 Luke was called to and served a church mission in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Luke joined his parents and sister in West Chester, Ohio a short time following his church mission. He enrolled at the University of Miami at Ohio in Oxford, Ohio where prior to beginning his studies he learned of the death of a friend, a member of the United States Army, who was killed in action in Iraq. He immediately began his quest to join the United States Marine Corps and reported to the Recruit Training Depot, Parris Island South Carolina in April of 2007. Luke entered the Crypto-Linguist MOS and attended Russian language training at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. Upon graduation from DLI he was assigned to the 2nd Radio Battalion, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and at the time of his deployment was assigned as a Team Leader and was a proud member of Charlie Company.

Luke deployed with the 2nd Radio Battalion, OCE 2 and was assigned to Forward Operating Base Zeebrugge. Corporal Pyeatt was killed in action at Helmand Province, Afghanistan on February 5th, 2011, exactly one month shy of his 25th birthday. As was his wish, Luke will be buried near his Virginia home along with his brothers and sisters in-arms at Arlington National Cemetery on February 28th, 2011.

Lucas T. 'Luke' Pyeatt, son of Scott and Cindy (nee Baker) Pyeatt, brother of Emily (Jon) Smalley and uncle of Travis and Makenna Smalley, grandson of Jim Baker and the late Jacqueline Gagne and Gene and Joy Pyeatt, Sr., nephew of Nancy Roberts, Amy Hutchins, Shelly Gagne, Jacqui Fenn, Debby Pyeatt, Mark Kelsey, Gene Pyeatt, Jr. and Ed Pyeatt. Luke was a proud Marine who passed away Saturday, February 5, 2011 in Afghanistan while serving his Country. Visitation at MUELLER PARKER FUNERAL HOME, 6791 Tylersville Road, Mason, OH 45040 on Friday, February 18 from 4-8 PM. Service will be at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 7118 Dutchland Parkway, Liberty Township, OH 45044 on Saturday at 10:00 AM. Military Honors and interment will take place on February 28 at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. For details or to send a condolence, visit www.muellerparker.com 513-398-9100