WELCOME TO
WOODLANDS AREA
FLAG RETIREMENT BOXES

SPC Jarrett N. Kotalik, age 21, of hometown The Woodlands, Texas, unexpectedly left us on July
10, 2023 while serving in the United States Army in North Carolina. Jarrett made his fast-paced
entry into this world on June 9, 2002 in Houston, Texas. He was aptly named after NASCAR
driver Dale Jarrett, who won the 21 st Annual Pocono 500 on the day that Jarrett was born. It
was no surprise that he became an enthusiastic motorsports fan. Some of his favorite family
vacations included tours of legendary tracks like Daytona and Bristol.

One of Jarrett’s first loves was baseball. His years in Little League had him destined to be a
Chicago Cubs fan because, with each tryout, he’d end up wearing a Cubbies blue uniform.
Jarrett loved watching games with his family. He passionately supported his favorite sports
teams. During one father and son trip to Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City, Jarrett, older brother
Noah, and dad John sat with paper bags on their heads as perhaps the only Astros fans at the
game when they were having a lackluster season. When the LSU Tigers won the National
Football Championship just days before his graduation at Fort Jackson, he couldn’t wait for
family to arrive with his celebratory t-shirt. Jarrett made several trips to the home of the New
Orleans Saints to watch his little sister take the field as a Junior Saintsation during home games.
Jarrett loved cheering on the Louisiana Icegators then later the Louisiana Drillers during hockey
season. He could often be seen on the sidelines supporting his brothers in baseball, football,
and lacrosse.

Jarrett was a devoted family member. Having a larger family, including oldest brother U.S. Navy
FC3 Noah Kotalik and younger siblings, Rafe Kotalik, Reed Kotalik, and sister Grace Kotalik (of
The Woodlands), always magnified family fun.

Jarrett loved making the holidays special for them and would eagerly dress up as different
mascots for their school activities and special occasions. And when his “baby” sister decided as
a Kindergartener that she wanted to be a teacher when “she grew up”, Jarrett became her star
student. He would sit for hours as Grace taught him. He even humored her by completing
duplicate school worksheets and letting her “grade” his assignments.

Jarrett spent years as a Boy Scout dedicated in service to The Woodlands and surrounding
communities, often assisting Interfaith, Meals on Wheels, and showing appreciation to local
first responders. When Hurricane Harvey made landfall in 2017, Jarrett jumped into action with
his brothers and sister to make meals for families who had lost their homes in floods. He
helped with clean up in neighborhoods, assisted at a Red Cross shelter for those who were
displaced, and gathered food and supplies for points of supply distribution in East Montgomery
County and Cleveland, Texas. When families came to request basic necessities from those
facilities, Jarrett was there to offer a smile and comfort as he filled their wish lists.

Soon after Jarrett’s youngest brother was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and expressed a desire
to take up the sport of running, Jarrett followed Reed along 5k courses around the United
States, including one in Buffalo, New York that raised funds for the Make Lemonaide
Foundation for Cerebral Palsy. When his youngest brother became an ambassador for that
organization, Jarrett worked tirelessly to assist with fundraising efforts and awareness
campaigns to support Reed’s newest role. Once Jarrett arrived at military training and was
issued his gear, he found something to write with and inscribed a logo inside the combat boots
to remind him to be a warrior and “Fight CP” (Cerebral Palsy).

Jarrett joined Cub Scouting in elementary school. He earned his Arrow of Light as a member of
Pack 777 at Trinity Episcopal. He bridged to become a Boy Scout in 2013 where he attended
camps with brothers, Noah and Rafe, and other Scout friends. Jarrett became an Eagle Scout on
April 18, 2018, along with his brothers. They had been determined to reach Scouting’s highest
rank on the same day. Jarrett also received a Congressional commendation when he earned the
Dr. Bernard Harris Supernova Award. His youth leadership roles included service as a Den Chief
to help younger Scouts in the program. He volunteered at many community events to share his
love for the Scouting program. Jarrett was also a founding member of Venturing Crew 112,
chartered by Trinity Episcopal Church.

Jarrett’s desires to join the military and serve in the 82 nd Airborne Division of the United States
Army began as a young child. His great grandfather was a paratrooper during the Normandy
invasion in World War II. Jarrett became an avid reader because of his love of United States
Military History. He would watch military documentaries on conflicts and American war
heroes. Jarrett loved family travels that included National Military Museums. He earned the
Scouts BSA Hiking and Backpacking merit badges trekking national battlefields at Vicksburg,
Gettysburg, Manassas, Fort McHenry, and around our National Capitol with his dad and
brother, Rafe.

Jarrett was deeply patriotic and one unforgettable family trip to Arlington National Cemetery
included laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers with his brothers, Noah and
Rafe. The tribute honored and celebrated American Veterans who had been transported
through the Honor Flight Network to Washington, D.C.
Jarrett worked earnestly to graduate, ahead of schedule, from high school so that he could
enlist in the United States Army as a 17-year-old. He was determined to serve our country and
chart his own military career path. After military training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, he
successfully completed advanced training as a Fire Control Specialist at Fort Sill, Oklahoma just
before the start of the COVID pandemic. On his 18 th birthday, he was jumping from perfectly
good airplanes to earn his wings. After Airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was
transferred to his duty station at the Home of the 82 nd Airborne Division at Fort Liberty, North
Carolina (formerly known as Fort Bragg) where he served until his unexpected passing.

Specialist Kotalik’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Good
Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal,
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, and
Marksmanship Badge for Carbine.
Jarrett’s hobbies included fishing and hunting. He cast his line into streams, rivers and lakes in
many ponds around The Woodlands, in the Ozarks, Swamp regions, and most recently in North
Carolina and Maryland. His love of the great outdoors began while climbing trees with his
brothers on his grandparents’ land “in the country”. Recently, Jarrett took to playing online
games with his siblings that helped transcend the physical miles between our hometown and
their duty stations. He was known for his larger-than-life personality and always making
experiences something to remember.