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TOP 10: No. 6 City's first Iraqi war casualty
Albert R. Jex, who grew up on Olcott Street and defended other children, died in service to his country
Pfc. Albert R. Jex became Lockport’s first casualty of Operation Iraqi Freedom when he was killed in a suicide car bombing Feb. 9 in Mosul, Iraq.
Four soldiers were killed, including the battalion commander. Jex, who was a top gunner on a Humvee in a war zone in Iraq, was the commander’s bodyguard.
Jex was an “Olcott Street Kid,” one of the children who grew up in the close-knit Lowertown. He was remembered fondly by neighbors, schoolmates and teachers.
He was also honored with the Bronze Star, for military distinction, the Purple Heart and Good Conduct Medal. A public memorial service for Jex was held at Veterans Park, and Jex’s family laid a new brick in the memorial walkway around the Veterans Monument. On Oct. 23, he was honored at a Remembering the Brave ceremony.
Hundreds of residents lined the frigid funeral route Feb. 19 with flags, salutes and shivers while hundreds more gathered at the Mount Olive Lutheran Church on Chestnut Ridge Road. Friends, family and dignitaries filled the church.
Jex, 23, was buried at the Cold Springs Cemetery, where his widow, Monica Jex, was presented the folded coffin flag by Brig. Gen. Thomas Cole.
At the funeral service, Cole said, “He was the solider everyone wanted to be around. He was concerned more about the welfare of soldiers than about himself. He had a natural instinct to care for others and make sure everyone around him was doing OK.”
Jex was always a protector, according to classmates who grew up with the Lockport soldier. Cassandra Trautwein and Ian Tone, who watched the funeral service in the basement of the Mount Olive Lutheran Church on a special television feed, were reunited by the tragedy. Albert was nicknamed “Albie” after a video game puppet.
Cassie, Ian and Albie were classmates at John E. Pound Elementary, Emmet Belknap Middle School and Lockport High School. They laughingly described themselves as dorks, and Albie kept the bullies away.
“He was a sweetheart,” Cassie said. “He was there for everybody. He really was. It didn’t matter who you were, what your social, political goal was, he was there for you. He accepted everybody.”
Jex did not graduate from Lockport High School, but got his GED through Lockport Opportunity Projects.
A Lockport Soccer Club U-12 game was dedicated to Jex. James MacFarlane, Andrew’s little brother, played for the Lockport team.
Gov. David Paterson had directed that flags on state government buildings across New York be flown at half-staff in honor of Jex.
Marcia Bucolo, who lives on Olcott Street, started putting flags and yellow ribbons on the telephone poles and trees after Sept. 11, 2001. When she learned that Albert was killed, she put up new posters with his picture.
“It’s a very close-knit street. We’re here for one another all the time,” Bucolo said. “We call this ‘The Street.’ Any child born or lives on the street we call ‘Street Kids.’ ”
Contact reporter Bill Wolcott
at 439-9222, ext. 6246.
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