SGT Joel Dallas Wilkins

SGT Joel Dallas Wilkins (rank posthumously awarded), age 28, of Powder Springs, GA passed away Sunday, October 2, 2016, while serving his second tour in the United States Army in South Korea. Funeral Services will be held 12pm Wednesday, October 12th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Powder Springs. Burial will follow at 2:30pm at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton with full military honors. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service.
SGT Joel Wilkins was born in Palm Springs, California, 7 February, 1988. He attended Dowell Elementary School, Tapp Middle School, John McEachern High School, and graduated from Brigham Young University Independent High School Study Program. He also served a 2 year LDS mission in Ventura, CA. He joined the Army in Atlanta, Georgia and attended Basic Combat Training at Ft. Benning, GA. Upon graduation, he attended Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Gordon, GA, and he was awarded the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of Multi-channel Transmission Systems Operator/Maintainer – 25Q (Signal Corp).
SGT Wilkins was first stationed at Camp Red Cloud in Uijeongbu, Korea as a part of the 2nd Infantry Division. He served for eight months in Korea before returning to the United States. He was then assigned to Ft. Campbell, Kentucky attached to the 101st Airborne “Screaming Eagles”, working for the 39th Engineer Battalion. While assigned to Ft. Campbell, SGT Wilkins attended and graduated from the Sabalauski Air Assault School on 14 August, 2013 and was awarded the Air Assault skill identifier.
SGT Wilkins was assigned to Charlie Company, 304th ESB in Camp Humphreys, Korea on 3 June, 2016. He was assigned duties on Command Post Node 545 as a Satellite Transportable Terminal (STT) operator. As the senior 25Q, SGT Wilkins mentored junior soldiers that shared his MOS. He provided professional development for the STT operators, not only on his team, but on the other teams within the platoon. SGT Wilkins was beloved by both his peers and leadership. He was an integral part of the battalion and is a dearly missed member of the “Ready” family.
SGT Wilkins is a recipient of the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korea Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon – 2nd Award, the Air Assault Badge, and the Army Driver and Mechanic Badge.
He is survived by his parents, Calvin and Janet Wilkins, Powder Springs, GA; 7 siblings, Tessa (Troy) McGrew, Peter (Khaleelah) Wilkins, Caleb (Kendra) Wilkins, Laura (Robert) Hoggard, Leah (Corey) McLeod, Claire Wilkins and Kara Wilkins; Grandfathers, Darwin Wilkins and William Weatherman; 16 Nieces and Nephews
Those who wish to make a donation in his name please go to: www.ldscharities.org .