“Honoring our Soldiers” – the next generation of young men and women who will fight to protect and defend our country’s freedoms as well as those who came before them. Our Heroes Among Us.
SFC Jonathan K. Dozier was a man dedicated to his family and his country. Coming from a proud military family in Chesapeake, Virginia, he’d often play Soldier in the woods behind his house. As a teen, he loved going to the beach with his sister and hosting back yard barbecues for his friends. As Jon grew older, he felt a deep calling to serve, leading him to join the Army after high school. Early in his career, he trained at Fort Benning (now Fort Moore), Georgia, where he built his skills and began to emerge as a natural leader. He was known for his quiet strength and a selfless approach to caring for those under his command.
Jon always dreamt of starting a family of his own. In February 2006, he married his wife Amy, whom he’d fallen in love with a year earlier over their shared loved of family, outdoor adventure and holiday traditions. Their daughter was born in December of 2006 during Jon’s first deployment to Germany. Within 2 weeks, he was at home holding his baby girl for the first time. It’s a moment the family will never forget, witnessing the pride (and maybe a little fear) in this first-time daddy’s eyes! He held that memory with him as he returned to Germany.
In August 2007, Jon led the 3/2 SCR “Wolfpack” into Iraq as a US Army Sniper. He wrote to his family often, and cherished every detail about his daughter’s milestones as Amy continued to send updates and photos. He even wrote letters specifically to his infant daughter, knowing mommy would read them aloud to her. It was really important to both Jon and Amy that their daughter would feel the presence of her daddy, even when his service to this country took him far away. On January 9, 2008, just after Amy put their 13-month-old daughter in her crib, there was a knock at the door. Amy learned that Jon and 6 of his team members had been killed earlier in the day by an Improvised Explosive Device near Baghdad.
The news devastated Amy, who now faced raising their daughter without Jon. But she found strength in his memory, ensuring their daughter would know her father’s bravery and love. His fellow Soldiers remember Jon as a leader who always put others first. Jon’s legacy lives on through the dedication of his family and friends, as they keep his memory alive by sharing stories of the life he lived on and off the battlefield. Amy and her daughter want the world to know that Jon’s sacrifice gives us all the opportunity and the freedom to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.
The National Infantry Museum’s unwavering devotion to honoring Soldiers is not only a tribute to Jon, but also a lasting contribution to our mission of honoring all Soldiers— Past, Present, and Future. It serves as a powerful reminder to the public that freedom is never free.
You can make a meaningful difference in honoring these heroes by supporting our mission. Your donation, no matter the amount, helps us preserve Jon’s story and the stories of countless brave Soldiers who gave everything. Together, we can ensure their sacrifices are remembered and their legacies endure.
With gratitude and deep appreciation,
Peter L. Jones
Brigadier General, U.S. Army Retired
President and Chief Executive Officer
National Infantry Museum Foundation
P.S. As you consider your tax-deductible year-end donations, I hope you’ll give generously to the mission of honoring Soldiers. You’ll be honoring the Heroes Among Us.