Marine Staff Sgt. James M. Malachowski

Died March 20, 2011 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

25, of Westminster, Md.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died March 20 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations.

Marine remembered as practical, active

The Associated Press

Jimmy “Ski” Malachowski sat with some Marine buddies one night, talking about how they’d spend the money paid for their deployments.

Gregory Pedrick, who served with Malachowski in Iraq, recalled the discussion. Three wanted to have fun: a motorcycle, a car, a trip to Brazil. Malachowski, just 18 at the time, was more practical: He wanted to buy a washer and dryer.

“Malachowski had to be the oldest 18-year-old I had ever met,” Pedrick said. Pedrick’s remarks were reported by The Carroll County Times.

Malachowski, 25, of Westminster, Md., died March 20 in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Camp Lejeune.

Malachowski was very active and enjoyed running and woodworking, his family said. He often ran up to 10 miles a day, The Baltimore Sun reported.

“If it was heavy, Jimmy would lift it,” said his mother, Alison, who also had served in the Marine Corps.

Malachowski’s sister Brandy also is in the military — and when she got her commission as an officer, her brother was the first person in uniform to salute her, she said.

Malachowski leaves behind his wife, Lindsay, and sons, Vincent and Evan.