1st Lt. Jared M. Landaker
May 3, 1981 – February 7, 2007
On August 18, 2006, 1st Lt. Landaker deployed to Iraq’s Al Anbar Province in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. There, he quickly earned his designation as a Helicopter Aircraft Commander (HAC) with over 490 flight hours. He was scheduled to return early for Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) School in Yuma, Arizona.
Tragically, just one week before his departure, Jared and his crew responded to a call to evacuate three wounded Marines. After successfully delivering them to Balad Hospital, they were tasked with a secondary mission to transport urgently needed blood supplies to Fallujah. During that flight, their helicopter came under heavy enemy fire and was shot down near Karmah, Iraq. All aboard were killed in action on February 7, 2007.
Jared was laid to rest on February 17, 2007, at Riverside National Cemetery. His father, Joe, a Vietnam Marine, reflected:
“He did more in 25 years than most of us will do in 75.”
Jared’s life left a lasting impact on those who knew him.
“He always wanted to fly,” said childhood friend Luke Wagner. “Flying and helping others were his passions—and that’s exactly what he was doing every day in Iraq.”
“He waited for the buzzer to go off so he could go save a Marine’s life,” added 1st Lt. Matt Jackson, a fellow helicopter pilot and close friend. “He died doing exactly that.”
Jared once defined a hero as:
“Anyone who has put their life on the line serving this country.” — JROD
Jared Michael-Vincent Landaker was born on May 3, 1981, to Joe and Laura Landaker at their home in Madera, California. His family later moved to Big Bear City when his father, a California Highway Patrol officer, transferred to the Running Springs area.
Jared grew up in Big Bear Valley, where he thrived both academically and athletically. He excelled in soccer, baseball, and football at Big Bear High School. As a senior, he was honored as an All-CIF defensive back and selected to play in a showcase game in Hawaii.
After graduating in 1999, Jared attended the University of La Verne, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Physics. Following the attacks on September 11, 2001, Jared felt a strong sense of duty to serve. While still in college, he began training through the Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Course during summer breaks. Upon graduation in 2003, he accepted his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and began training at The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, Virginia.
Jared continued his path at flight school in Pensacola, Florida, where he graduated in the top 5% of his class and earned a place on the prestigious Commodore’s List. Choosing helicopters over jets, Jared said, “I want to fly Marines in—but more importantly, fly them out.” He trained to pilot the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter with Squadron HMMT-164 at Camp Pendleton before joining the “World Famous Purple Foxes” of HMM-364, where he also served as the squadron’s Intelligence Officer (S2).
