My name is Nick Barrell.. Shout out to James and Amy 2 posts up! :P. Ivan was a very good friend of mine. I remember meeting him in Hich School thinking he was nuts. He was always full of life and energy. We shared a lot of good times back in those days. After high school we both went our seperate ways. I remember when i went to College in Eureka, my quad-mates asked me where I was from. When I replied "Clearlake," the first thing they asked was "Do you know Ivan?!" They too had some crazy stories about him. Haha! The RA at the time still carried the nick-name Ivan gave him (Lets not share the name here, its a little crude..LOL!!) All in all, Ivan was a good friend and I was deeply saddened to hear of his passing. Lots of people have been touched by Ivan's service. People who don't even know him are coming out to pay their respects. I will be there with an organization called The Patriot Guard Riders. We're a group of people who go to funerals and memorials of fallen soliders to pay our respects. We show up like a sea of steel on our motorcycles to ride with respect... They too love Ivan for his sacrifice.

Ivan.. You will always be remembered for your friendship and service. I love you, buddy!

Our son, “doc” Daniel, a US Navy Corpsman, was present when Pfc. Ivan Wilson died. He called us from Afghanistan to tell that Pfc. Wilson was an excellent Marine. With another Marine, they planned to fly home together at the end of the tour. But Pfc. Wilson arrived in a better place before the three of them home. He was a very good friend of Edwin.

Don & Rosye Salz, Sacramento, CA. Parents of Edwin Daniel. Edwin could not write this himself because he is still in the field, in Afghanistan.

I remember back in Elementary school Ivan and my brother were the best of first in the first grade, My brother Jesse Yokum and Ivan would both get out of class to go to the bath room. I remember one time the turned on all the sinks and over flowd the toilets in the bathroom. Jesse gave him the nick name of Ivan the trouble. His fun but yet outrageous behavior, made him a character in everyone eyes. Of course me being the older sibling to Jesse, I lost contact of how Ivan as doing. Then I few days ago I get a phone call from my mother telling me of the news of Ivan. I was speachless. I didnt know what to say. Then the words How did it happen, how is his family, and how is Jesse taking since they were so close, all those years ago? emerge. All I know is that Ivans family will be in my prayers and thoughts. And I will always hold on to those oh so adventerous Ivan the Trouble. Although now him serving the country to him was the best thing for him from what I have read.

Ivan has touched the hearts of many with his bravery. He is seen as a hero to many and indeed he was. His dedication to his country will never be forgotten. Ivan is an inspiration. May he rest in peace.