Self, John

   Age:                     29

   Hometown:        Pontotoc, Mississippi

   Rank:                  Staff Sergeant: United States Air Force - 314th Security Forces Squadron, 314th Mission Support Group, 314th Airlift Wing

   Cause:                Died near Baghdad, Iraq, on May 14, 2007, from wounds suffered in combat

Sergeant John Thomas Self, 29, of Pontotoc, Mississippi, died on May 14, 2007, from injuries resulting from the explosion of an improvised explosive device in Baghdad, Iraq.  He was stationed with 314^th Airlift Wing based at Little     Rock Air Force Base. Sgt. Self was a member of Algoma Baptist Church in Algoma, Mississippi, and was an avid hunter and fisherman. 

He is survived by his mother, Jill Long Self, and step-father Terry Self of Pontotoc; his sister, Misty Gann, and her husband, Johnny, of Armory, Mississipp; sister, Sandy Pennington, and her husband, J.T., of Pontotoc; brother, Ronnie Self, and his wife, Jennifer, of Birmingham, Alabama; and brother, Sam Self, and his wife, Amanda, of Thaxton, Mississippi. He also leaves numerous grandparents, nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles.  He was preceded in death by his father, Robert A. Self.