CullmanTimes.com - Cullman, Alabama

Top News

Related Photos

  • Photos of Marine Corporal Adam Fales are seen at his families home in Fairview in this December 19, 2005 file photo. Marine Corporal Adam Fales died in Iraq, Friday, December 16, 2005 at the age of 21. File/Amanda Shavers-Davis

    Adam Fales

  • Jacob Fales, left, and brother James are seen in this December 19, 2005 file photo holding a photograph of their brother Adam. Marine Corporal Adam Fales died in Iraq, Friday, December 16, 2005 at the age of 21. File/Amanda Shavers-Davis

    Adam Fales

Discussion

September 11, 2011

Life comes full circle for Fairview resident

By Justin Graves The Cullman Times

CULLMAN — Life has come full circle for Jacob Fales.

Ten years ago Fales, a Fairview resident, was sitting in a classroom at Wallace State when the unthinkable happened:

The United States was attacked on its own soil.

A September morning that will never be forgotten, the Middle Eastern terror organization al-Qaida orchestrated a devastating attack on America — killing thousands while stunning millions by flying commercial airplanes into New York City’s World Trade Center twin towers and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

Fales watched the terror attacks on television as a young college student. Shortly after, he gave up his education and joined the U.S. Marine Corps.

Now a decade later, Fales is back where he started — at home in Fairview and continuing his college education. But the long journey to this point didn’t come without sacrifice and heartache.

Fales served with the Marine Corps during the initial U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. But while Fales returned home from his tour of duty unharmed, his younger brother, Adam, wasn’t as fortunate.

Cpl. Adam Fales, a Fairview High School graduate who always dreamed of being a Marine, died from a gunshot wound in 2005 while serving his country in Iraq.

“Adam grew up wanting to be a Marine,” Jacob Fales said. “That wasn’t the case for me. I wanted to play college football. But Adam, being a Marine was his dream. He was incredible.”

Jacob Fales admits that losing his 21-year-old brother is still tough on his family today. But a close-knit circle of family and friends has helped ease the sting.

* Read more about 9/11 remberances in the Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, print of e-edition of The Cullman Times.

 

Text Only
Top News