“Forever Loved, Never Forgotten”
The Navy Gold Star Program is eternally grateful for the sacrifice of those Service Members who have died in service to our country. To help us to never forget, we have set up this tribute page to honor and remember the memory of those lives. If you would like to honor the memory of your Sailor, Soldier, Marine, Airman or Coast Guardsman through the Navy Gold Star website please submit your thoughts and a photo.
John A. Reiners was born in Haines City, FL on 12/23/1985. His first duty station was at the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Division, 10th Mountain Division (Light fighters) at Fort Drum, NY. During his time at Fort Drum, he was able to serve two different tours, honorably, as a United States army Infantryman, in Iraq once during the “Surge” in 2005 and then again in 2007 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. His second duty station took him 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division (Ivy Division) at Fort Carson, CO. He was afforded the chance to become squad leader and lead Soldiers into Combat action in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. On February 13, 2010, Staff Sergeant Reiners was killed in action, as a hero, in Zhari Province. His wounds were sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with improvised explosives devices (IED).