David A. Wyatt

• Staff Sergeant
• Served: 2004 – July 16, 2015
• Iraqi Freedom, Afghanistan
• Awarded: Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal; three Good Conduct Medal; four Sea Service Deployment Ribbons; the Afghanistan Campaign Medal; the Iraq Campaign Medal; the Korean Defense Service Medal; the Humanitarian Service Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; two Navy Unit Commendation; the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation; three Letters of Appreciation; and the NATO-ISAF Service Medal

Killed while on Active Duty in Chattanooga, Tennessee, July 16, 2015. Interred Chattanooga National Cemetery. One of five  killed by domestic terroism. See Carson Holmquist, Skip Wells,  Thomas Sullivan and Robert Smith. David was born in Morganton and grew up in Arkansas. Wyatt was inspired to join the U.S. Marine Corp after 9/11, his father told WSOCTV after his son was killed. Wyatt enlisted in 2004, according to records from the Pentagon, and had been living in Burke County. He was deployed three times, including twice in Iraq and once in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. David Allen Wyatt, age 35, of Hixson, selflessly gave his life Thursday, July 16, 2015, in Chattanooga, while protecting his Chattanooga community, his country and his fellow Marines. David will always be remembered for the heroic way in which he lived, served and died. He was born Nov. 7, 1979 in Morganton, N.C. He grew up in Ozark and Russellville, Ark. One of Davids proud accomplishments was achieving the rank of Eagle Scout through the Boy Scouts of America. He graduated from Russellville High School in 1998 and attended Piedmont Community College in Morganton, N.C., Arkansas Tech, and MSU in Missoula, Mont. Following the events of 9/11, being the longtime patriot he was, David joined the United States Marine Corp. He graduated Boot Camp from Parris Island, S. C., which began an eleven year career that led him to serve in multiple locations including Okinawa, Japan, 29 Palms, California, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Kuwait, and Korea. He courageously fought in both Iraq and Afghanistan. David was a loving and devoted husband, father, son, brother, and friend and will be remembered for his dry humor. He had participated in the Toys for Tots campaign and was recently assigned as the coordinator for the up-coming drive for 2015.