Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SANDY — A Utah family is remembering their Marine son, who was killed Saturday in a motorcycle accident in Palm Springs, Calif.
The parents of 21-year-old Joshua Vielstich describe him as energetic, an adventure seeker, and a Marine.
"He's been active in the Marine Corps for about three and a half years," Craig Vielstich, Josh's father, said Monday.
Josh's first tour of duty was to Afghanistan, where he served for nine months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. One call to his father and mother shook them to their core.
It was a heartbreaking moment to see (the Marine officers) standing there, because deep down I knew what they were here to tell us.
–Annette Vielstich, mother
"She had hung up after about 5 seconds, and I said, ‘Why didn't you talk longer?'" Craig Vielstich said, "and she said, ‘Well, he said he had to go, and I heard "tat,tat,tat."' And I don't think she realized at that moment they had come under attack."
Josh returned uninjured to his home base at 29 Palms in Palm Springs, Calif., last July. But his service tragically came to an end on Aug. 18.
"It was a heartbreaking moment to see (the Marine officers) standing there, because deep down I knew what they were here to tell us," said Annette Vielstich, Josh's mother.
Those men in uniform told Annette and Craig that their son had died in a motorcycle accident off base.
"He swerved and hit a car, and that was about it," Craig Vielstich said.
Josh died instantly, but the memories of him as both an Alta High School graduate and a corporal in the Marines will not be forgotten by those who knew him best.
"He was our boy, a big part of our family," Craig Vielstich said, "and we're going to miss him so much."
The family said Josh had planned to go back to school next year and fly helicopters. A funeral service for him will be set up in the next week or so.
