Lance Cpl. William J. Leusink, 21, of Maurice, Iowa, died May 22, 2006, from wounds received while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar province, Iraq. Lance Cpl. Leusink was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. He joined the Marines in August 2002 and served tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq. William was survived by his wife, Miranda, his parents, Bill and Elaine Leusink, his sister, Abby Leusink, her fiancé, Clint Sheppard, and his brother and sister, Cody and Katie.

“Leusink was what I would call patriotic, believed in his country, believed in what he was doing,” said Rev. Wayne Sneller. “He always said, ‘If something happened to me, this is what’s supposed to happen. I’m doing what I’ve been called to do.’”

The Travis Manion Foundation honored Lance Cpl. William J. Leusink through a Challenge Grant for Nick Collier and his fellow Marines, Nathan Noble, Ross Graves, Matt Dixon, and Jordan Mazar from August 10 to August 22, 2011, when they hiked the Appalachian Trail to honor Cpl. Leusink and other Fallen Heroes. Through the mental and physical challenge of the hike, the men honored the lives of the fallen and shared in the camaraderie of the Marine Corps.