Ian, Scotty, & Ellie Turnbull
Children of
Jonathan & Samantha Turnbull
The Corporal Christopher Kelly Willis Foundation’s 2026 Scholarship Recipients are Ian, Scotty, and Ellie Turnbull.
Ian Turnbull, Ellie Turnbull, and Scotty Turnbull are the children of American hero Major Jonathan Turnbull and Samantha Turnbull. Through the generosity of our corporate and individual sponsors, each of the Turnbull children will receive a primary, secondary, and future use college education scholarship intended to cover the needs of their educational expenses.
Jon Turnbull grew up in Gaylord, Michigan. He graduated from West Point Military Academy in 2010 and went on to become a Major in the Army. He has three children– two sons, Scotty and Ian, and a daughter, Ellie, and is married to Samantha.
In January of 2019 Jon was to head home from his mission in Syria but decided that with all the positive impacts his team was making, he wanted to stay and be of more help. The next day, Jon and his Special Ops team were meeting near one of their vehicles in Manbij, Syria when a member of ISIS approached and detonated a suicide vest from just five feet away from Major Turnbull. This bombing killed four Americans and over a dozen Syrians. Jon and two other American soldiers survived but not without grave injuries. Major Turnbull was lodged under a vehicle and when he was recovered, he had lost his right eye, had a puncture in his left eye, and had a traumatic brain injury.
Subsequently, Jon has legally died three different times. The doctors told him and his family that he had a 0% chance of surviving. God continued to be with Jon Turnbull and his family and healed him beyond what the doctors thought possible. By the grace of God, Major Turnbull is here with us, able to walk and talk. Major Turnbull volunteered to lay down his life for others and is a true American Hero.
We are proud to honor his sacrifices during our Salute to Service Event and appreciate your support for his children, Ian, Scotty, and Ellie’s educational future.
The Warrior Tribute Ride will take place before the Growler game begins. The ride is from Homer Stryker Field to Fort Custer Memorial Cemetery and returning to watch the game.
