Son of CDCR OCS-FAT Parole Agent killed in action in Afghanistan

By Ryan Gigilotti /FAT Southeast Region

Parole Agent I (PA) Jon Ashley of the CDCR Office of Correctional Safety-Fugitive Apprehension Team, Southeast Region, was devastated by the news that his son, Sgt. Joshua Ashley, 23, a U.S. Marine, was killed in Afghanistan.

In the early morning of July 19, Sgt. Ashley, a military police and a military working dog (MWD) handler, was on a combat operation in Helmand, Afghanistan, when he was killed by an improvised explosive device (IED).

Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. and First Lady Anne Gust Brown expressed their condolences to Sgt. Ashley’s family. Sgt. Ashley “bravely gave his life in the service to our state and nation,” the governor said in a prepared release. The governor ordered that flags be flown at half-staff over the State Capitol.

Sgt. Ashley was assigned to the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion at Camp Lejune, N.C. While in Afghanistan, Sgt. Ashley was assigned to the 1st Marine Special Operation Battalion and had been previously stationed in Okinawa, Japan, for two years.

Sgt. Ashley and his MWD, Sirius, were paired together for the last nine months.  Sirius is a 4-year-old German shepherd and had served one previous tour in Afghanistan.  Sirius survived the attack. Sgt. Ashley is survived by his parents, PA Jon Ashley and retired Correctional Officer Tammie Ashley of California Institution for Men, along with his two siblings, Jon and Jordan Ashley.  

Sgt. Ashley made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. He is a credit to his uniform and is a true hero. OCS family and his fellow Marines will mourn the loss of Joshua Ashley. Sgt. Ashley attended Etiwanda High School, in Rancho Cucamonga, where he was well-liked and the captain of his varsity water polo team.

Ashley was a strong, proud Marine and a tender-hearted son. Ashley was the middle son of a family of three boys. Sgt. Ashley was posthumously promoted to the rank of sergeant for his actions in Afghanistan. This promotion will be given during the funeral services.

Source: Inside CDCR