The body of one of the Georgia National Guard soldiers who died during “non-combat incidents” in Iraq has returned to Georgia.
Spc. Owen James Elliott, 23, died July 31 in Baghdad during an incident, according to the Army National Guard.
Georgia National Guard Spc. Travis Jordan Pameni also died in Baghdad after a separate incident at an undisclosed location.
Elliott’s body arrived at the East Georgia Regional Airport in a charter plane around 4:10 p.m. on Monday.
“For a brief second when I was told they were flying him home I had joy, then I realized she was talking about his body,” Elliott’s mother, Sandie Elliott, wrote on Facebook in a post where she shared the last photos her son sent to her from Iraq. “I know I’ll never hug my baby again. God gave me 23 years with him, and for that I’m grateful. I know he’s dancing in heaven.”
After Elliot’s body was removed from the plane, it was received by his grieving wife and eventually carried to a hearse by a military funeral detail for the procession to the funeral.
A crowd of people holding American flags and signs lined the road during the procession.
Elliott was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery Regiment, and deployed to the Middle East in December.
The Savannah-based unit was focused on air defense artillery, according to the Georgia National Guard.
His mother revealed Elliott’s son Atticus was born Aug. 2, 2023, and had his first birthday just two days after his father died.
According to his obituary, “Owen enjoyed riding dirt roads, spending time with friends and was known as a jokester. Owen was kind of a homebody, He loved watching movies. His son, Atticus, was his whole world.”
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth “Liz” Elliott; parents, Jamie and Anita Elliott of Twin City; son, Atticus Elliott; maternal grandfather, Willie Freeman; brother, Morgan Elliott (Savannah) of Adrian.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at Chapman Funeral Home in Swainsboro, GA.
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