Army Spc. Kyle A. Coumas

Died October 21, 2009 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

22 year old Kyle Coumas, of Lockeford, Calif., assigned to 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Oct. 21 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

Spc. Kyle A. Coumas, 22, of Lockeford, California, was born on August 24, 1987 in Tracy, CA, the only child of Lori and Greg Coumas. Kyle was a graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Stockton class of 2005 where he was a member of the Chess Club and the Concert Band.

His earliest act of service began in 2003 when our family sponsored a platoon serving in Iraq. Kyle would pass out flyers in our neighborhood asking family, friends, neighbors and local businesses to help “support our troops”. He was a member of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division in Ft. Lewis, WA. He received the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. He deployed with his unit to Afghanistan in July of 2009. Kyle died October 21 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

Kyle was a man who believed that serving his country, being a part of a greater whole and being dedicated to preserving our nations freedom was the most honorable job a person could have. His selfless duty to his country came as little surprise to those who knew him. Kyle will always be remembered as a soldier who served with honor, dignity and pride. Kyle was the son of Lori and Greg Coumas of Lockeford; grandson of Robert and Doris Delarm of Manteca and Janet Coumas of Lodi; nephew of: Paul and Kathy Ackerman, Michael Delarm and John (Jerry) Delarm; cousin of: Jackie, Jamie, Michael, John, Robert and Rudy Delarm. Kyle’s funeral was held on November 2, 2009 and burial was in the Sandoz-Fuchs Family Cemetery in Wilseyville. Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home in Lodi served his family.

Kyle’s parents would like others to know this about their son:
“Kyle Coumas was a man who believed that serving his country, being a part of a greater whole and being dedicated to preserving our nations freedom was the most honorable job a person could have. His selfless duty to his country came as little surprise to those who knew him. His earliest act of service began in 2003 when our family sponsored a platoon serving in Iraq. Kyle would pass out flyers in our neighborhood asking family, friends, neighbors and local businesses to help support our troops. Kyle will always be remembered as a soldier who served with honor, dignity and pride. We are blessed to have been his parents for 22 years and will always love him; our only child, with all our hearts! We are especially thankful at this time that our son, Spc. Kyle Coumas, will be escorted home to his family by his life-long friend, Lance Corporal Joseph Gonzales.”