Service:  MARINE CORPS
Component:  ACTIVE DUTY
Name:  PALMER, CORY LEONARD
Rank:  CPL
Pay Grade:  E04
Date of Death:  2006/05/06
Age:  21
Gender:  MALE
Home of Record City:  SEAFORD
Home of Record State:  DE
Home of Record Country:  US
Unit:  A CO, 2D RECON BN, (RCT-5, I MEF FWD), 2D MAR DIV, CAMP LEJEUNE, NC
Incident Geographic Code:  IZ
Casualty Geographic Code:  US
Casualty Country:  UNITED STATES
City of Loss:  SAN ANTONIO

Casualty Release:
DoD Identifies Marine Casualties No. 417-06

Burial Location:
Arlington National Cemetery
1 Memorial Avenue
Fort Myer, VA 22211
Section 60 Site 8257

Obituary:

Cpl. Cory Leonard Palmer Age 21, of Seaford, DE, died on Saturday, May 6, 2006, while being transported back to the United States after suffering injuries in Iraq on May 1st.

Cpl. Palmer graduated from Seaford High School in 2002. He spent a semester at the University of West Virginia studying Computer Engineering before joining the Marines in February of 2003. He excelled in all of his military training and graduated from Sniper School, Advanced Sniper School, Jump School, Combatant Dive School and Special Survival Training School. This was his second tour of duty in Iraq, he was there from September 2004-April 2005 and returned in March of 2006 and was serving with the Marines’ 2nd Recon Battalion, A Company 1st Platoon.

Cory is survived by his parents, Charles Edward and Danna Lou Swain Palmer of Seaford; 2 brothers, Thad Edward Palmer and Kyle Thomas Palmer; his grandparents, R. Byron and Phyllis O’Day Palmer, Kristina Massie Swain, all of Seaford. Other survivors include his aunts and uncles, Ralph B. and Beverly Mahan Palmer, Tommy Lynn Swain and Gary V. Layton, Montine Carey Swain and John C. Willin, Kristopher Ryan and Kimberly Spencer Swain, Murray Alicia Swain, Valerie Kristina and Randy Kerns, and Alison Marie and G. Blair Venables; great aunts and uncles, Margaret O’Day Givens, Ralph and Peggy O’Day, Jean O’Day, Virginia Maxfield Massie, Robert Onwood and Emily Gayle Swain, Gordon and Margaret Lee Swain Harrison, William Francis and Betty Wright Swain. He is also survived by his cousins, Adam Ralph Palmer, Jackie Palmer, Bryan V. and Jennifer Layton, Natalie Ann Layton, Kristin Michelle Layton, Christie Lynn and Randy Herndon, Brent Thomas Willin, Courtney Ruth Swain, Jamie Elizabeth Swain, Taylor Kristina Swain, Morgan Carey Swain, Maggie Marie Kerns, Drew Thomas Venables, Paige Marie Venables, Dustin Blair Venables, Gray Robert Venables, Hannah Kate Venables, Amy Alicia Venables, Nathan Ryan Venables; and dozens of loving cousins, aunts, uncles and friends without whom Cory’s world would not have been complete. Cory was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Thomas Ryan Swain; and his great uncles and aunts, William and Mildred O’Day, Joseph and Hazel O’Day Mackereth, Leonard and Sue O’Day Pritchett, Linwood Givens, Frank O’Day, Jack Livingston Massie, Gordon Carey Massey, Nelson and Shirley Clemens and Joyce Swain.

A funeral service with full Military Honors will be on Sunday, May 21st, at 3 pm at St. John’s United Methodist Church, Pine and Poplar Streets, Seaford. Friends may call at the CRANSTON FUNERAL HOME, 300 N. Shipley St., Seaford, on Saturday, May 20th, from 5-9 pm. Burial will be on Monday, May 22nd, at 1 pm at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations may be made to Ducks Unlimited, 105 High St., Seaford, DE 19973; or St. John’s United Methodist Church, PO Box 299, Seaford, DE 19973; or the Seaford Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 87, Seaford, DE 19973.