Lance Corporal Chase Comley
Branch of Service: Marines
Years of Service: 2003-2005
Military Occupation: Amphibious Assault
Honors: Global War on Terror/Operation Iraqi Freedom; Purple Heart; Combat Action Ribbon; Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Iraqi Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Sea Service Deployment Ribbon; Rifle Expert Badge
LCpl. Chase J. Comley was born on November 10, 1983, in Lexington. He signed up for the Marines on his 20th birthday—also the USMC birthday. He deferred entrance until February 9, 2004. After graduating at Parris Island, he served in the 2nd Platoon, 8 Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejune, North Carolina. He was sent to Camp Pendleton for Amphibious Assault training and then to Iraq. Chase’s life was drastically cut short by a suicide bomber in Al Amiryah, Iraq, on August 6, 2005, at the age of 21, while performing combat operations against the enemy.
Chase was a 2002 graduate of Sayre School, where he attended pre-K through twelfth. He was on the basketball team and was catcher/pitcher on the baseball team, earning third team all-city catcher his senior year. After Chase’s death, Sayre’s baseball field was built and named in his honor. Chase played Little League at Gardenside until he aged out. There are several awards given every year that his coaches set up to honor him. Chase always brightened a room with his enthusiastic personality, smile, positivity, and zest for life. He never once complained about anything and was just glad to be wherever he was. He loved God, his family, friends, being a Marine, his Marine brothers/sisters, his country, baseball, the University of Kentucky Wildcats, and life itself. His family is honored, as he would be, that some of his Marine brothers and friends have named their children after his. Two of his nieces are named in his honor as well. Chase is terribly missed and was definitely one of a kind. As one of his friends commented: you sure missed out if you didn’t know Chase. He was a friend to all, and his family looks forward to being with him again.