Joelle Jeffrey Pamplona

Sgt. Joelle Jeffrey “Jay Jay” Pamplona

• Joelle Jeffrey Pamplona, fondly known at Jay Jay, was born in Artesia, California on August 21, 1995.

• Jay Jay attended Washington Elementary School, Bellflower High School, Magnolia High School, and California State University, Fullerton where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology.

• He was an active kid and was into athletics and martial arts. While in college in 2018, he broke the state squatting record for his weight class during a powerlifting competition.

• Jay Jay joined the US Army in 2021 and went to basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma before heading to Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston for job training.

• Following his completion of phase two of physical therapy training at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii, he was assigned to his first duty station at Madigan Army Medical Center on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington in 2022.

• Jay Jay rose to the rank of Sergeant as Physical Therapy Specialist.

• He drowned while visiting Oahu’s North Shore with friends and died a hero saving another military soldier from drowning.

• Jay Jay is survived by his parents Joan Pamplona and Oliver Fortuno, brother Ben, grandparents Guy and Noli Pamplona, and many cousins, uncles and aunts.

• Funeral services are scheduled for December 5, 2024 at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Cypress.