SSGT Timothy Brian Poppenger

Timothy Brian Poppenger was born May 9, 1948 in Van Nuys, California and passed away on November 20, 2009, at his residence in Belton, Texas. After months in hospice care, he was released from his pain and suffering.

He proudly served his country in the United States Army for many years, including service in Vietnam, and retired as a Staff Sergeant.

On the day after Thanksgiving, over two dozen Patriot Guard Riders gathered at shelter two of the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery to honor this hero. A line of American flags was formed around the shelter to welcome SSGT. Poppenger’s family and friends for interment services.

After the family and friends gathered, full military honors were rendered, by an Army Honor Guard, including the firing of three volleys of fire by the rifle detail and the playing of taps. The American flag was folded into a tight triangle, and presented to his daughter, Tammy.

The family then carried his cremated remains to a nearby burial site, and SSGT Poppenger was laid to rest on the gentle slope of the hill, atop which the American flag was flying at half-staff in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, two sons, 11 grandchildren and many other dear family and friends.

Life on earth for you was no longer meant to be,
It was time to go with God so he could set you free.
God saw you getting tired as your fight was at its end.
So he took you in his arms and whispered, “come with me my friend”.
Our hearts quickly filled with great sadness and sorrow,
Because we can no longer have you for just one more tomorrow.
So we will miss you dearly as you lay down to rest,
but now we know you are with God and he is the best.

Anonymous

With thanks to the Temple Daily Telegram for biographical information.

Lance Cpl. Shawn Patrick Hefner, Killed in action

Lance Cpl. Shawn Patrick Hefner was born on December 4, 1986 and died on November 13, 2009 in Helmand Province of Afghanistan. He was killed when he stepped on an improvised bomb while on foot patrol.

L. Cpl. Hefner joined the United States Marine Corps in January, 2008 and was deployed to Afghanistan in June, 2009. He was an assault amphibious vehicle crewman with the 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

L. Cpl. Hefner was born in Kansas City, Missouri and moved with his family to Hico, Texas in 1991. He graduated from Hico High School in 2006.

According to his father, a former Marine, he love the outdoors, hunting, fishing and camping.

L. Cpl. Hefner’s flag draped casket arrived at Dover, Delaware Air Force Base in the early morning hours of November 15. His family and many Marines were on hand to view his transfer from the transport aircraft to the hearse by a Marine Corps carry team.

L. Cpl. Hefner made his final trip home on November 19th when his casket was flown to the Waco Regional Airport by a charted jet. It arrived at the airport at 10:55 a.m. On hand to welcome home this hero were over 50 Patriot Guard Riders, a Marine Corps honor guard, his family and friends.

L. Cpl. Hefner was escorted on this final trip by a woman Marine Sergeant. She stood at rigid attention, saluting, as his casket was removed from the aircraft, placed onto an hydraulic lift, then lowered to ground level. Six Marines, dressed in full dress blues, then carried the casket to the nearby hearse. A pair of bag pipes played Amazing Grace as the casket was slowly transferred to the hearse. The Patriot Guard Riders stood at attention just feet away, rendering the hand salute to honor this Marine for his service.

The funeral procession then left the airport lead by a Texas State Trooper and the Patriot Guard Riders. The procession drove to Hico, Texas to the Rutledge-Jones Funeral Home. All along the way, people stood in respect for this hero. Signs along the way counted down the miles until he was finally home.

As the procession passed through Hico, the streets were lined with citizens and the students of Hico Schools. At the end of the procession, mounted horseback riders carried American Flags.

Funeral services were held on November 20 at the First Baptist Church and L. Cpl. Hefner was laid to rest at the Hico Cemetery after the rendering of full military honors by the United States Marine Corps.

Left to cherish his memory are his mother and father, a brother, a sister, a grandfather and grandmother, and numerous other family and friends.

With thanks to The Dallas Morning News and The Hico News Review for biographical information.


Link to video of the arrival in Hico.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT-sRtnDIYw

MSGT Leland G. Coon

MSGT Leland G. Coon was born January 17, 1942 in Jackson, Michigan. He passed away on November 12, 2009 in Round Rock, Texas. Cause of death was Lymphoma caused by exposure to Agent Orange while serving his country in Vietnam.

MSGT Coon proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1962 to 1982, when he retired.

MSGT Coon was awarded The Silver Rose by The Order of the Silver Rose on April 25, 2006. The Order of the Silver Rose “recognizes the courage, heroism, and contributions of American service personnel found to have been exposed to Agent Orange in a combat zone … whose lethal exposure to Agent Orange resulted in internal, invisible wounds, which are revealed only by the passage of time.”

Funeral services were held on November 18 at the Memorial Chapel of Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville. Patriot Guard Riders from all over central Texas were present to form a line of American flags to welcome the arriving family and friends.

A funeral procession, including the Patriot Guard Riders, carried the remains of MSGT Coon to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas for the rendering of full military honors and final interment.

As the procession arrived at the Committal Shelter at the cemetery, they were welcomed by 50 American flags, waving in the wind, and a line of Patriot Guard Riders, standing tall for this American hero.

Full military honors were rendered. The American flag that had draped the casket was folded into a tight triangle by the Air Force Honor Guard and presented to his life partner, Patsy. A rifle detail fired three volleys of fire, representing life, duty and country. Taps was played.

MSGT Leland G. Coon was then laid to rest, for all of eternity, under a clear blue sky, on the gentle slope of the cemetery. The American flag on the hill was at half-staff in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory are his life partner, Patsy, her daughter Donna, his daughter Cathy, grandchildren Cody, April and Justin, and many other dear family and friends.

With thanks to the Austin American Statesman and The Order of The Silver Rose for biographical information.

David Michael Brown, USAF Veteran

David Michael Brown was born on June 19, 1938 in Moundsville, West Virginia. He died on November 11, 2009 in Temple, Texas.

Mr. Brown served his country in the United States Air Force from 1961 - 1965 and achieved the rank of Senior Airman. His military decorations include the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon and Air Force Good Conduct Medal. He was a flight simulator instructor during the Vietnam era.

During the ‘60’s he was based at Connally Air Force Base, Waco, Texas. It was then that he met Jo, his future bride. They married in September 1965. He later served on the Airport Advisory Committee for the City of Temple.

On November 16, a cold and blustery, but sunny and bright day, his family and scores of friends gathered at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, Killeen, Texas for interment services. As they huddled against the cold and the wind, military honors were bestowed upon Mr. Brown. A team of Air Force Airmen folded an American flag into a tight triangle and presented it to his spouse. Taps was played.

During the services, over a dozen Patriot Guard Riders enveloped the gathering with a line of American flags, whipping in the wind. A sole Rider held proud the flag of the United States Air Force.

Jo placed the urn containing the remains of Mr. Brown into a niche in the wall of the columbarium, his final resting place.

Left to cherish his memory are Jo, a son, a daughter, three brothers and many other family and friends.

With thanks to the Temple Daily Telegram for biographical information.

Leonard Tatro, Jr.

Leonard Tatro, Jr. was born on September 27, 1954 in Montgomery, Vermont and passed away at his residence in Gatesville, Texas on October 30, 2009.

Mr. Tatro proudly served his country in the United States Army for almost seven years during the Vietnam era. He was a mechanic at A-1 Cycle in Killeen, Texas for more than 28 years.

On November 9, Patriot Guard Riders gathered at A-1 Cycle and led a procession of family and friends to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery south of Killeen. Upon arrival at the columbarium of the cemetery, the Riders formed a line of American flags around the shelter as military honors were rendered by a United States Army honor guard. Taps was played by a bugler and the American flag was folded into a tight triangle and presented to his spouse.

His family, friends and eight Patriot Guard Riders then proceeded to the Walk of Heroes of the cemetery where his ashes were scattered upon the grassy plain.

The American flag was waving in the wind, at half-staff, in honor of this Army veteran.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, two daughters, a son, brothers and many other family and dear friends.

Lance Cpl. Cody Robert Stanley

Cody Robert Stanley was born December 17, 1987 in San Marcos, Texas. He died on October 28, 2009 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan when he stepped on an IED land mine while on patrol.

Lance Cpl. Stanley joined the Marine Corps a few months after graduation from Smithville, Texas High School in 2006. He was a rifleman serving with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment and was stationed at Twenty Nine Palms, California. He had served a tour of duty in Iraq in 2008 and deployed to Afghanistan in early October 2009.

His military decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Iraqi Campaign Medal.

Cody, his brother and his parents resided in Rosanky on the Double D Ranch for 18 1/2 years. It was in that awesome setting that Cody and his brother were raised into the fine young men they are today. They were the best of friends as well as brothers. They did all of the things that country boys love to do, including fishing, hunting, riding 4-wheelers, chasing girls and drinking beer.

Lance Cpl. Stanley made his final trip home on Wednesday, November 4 when his casket was flown by private charter jet to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Dozens of Patriot Guard Riders from all over central Texas were at the airport to honor this fallen hero by forming a line of American flags as the flight arrived. They escorted the hearse carrying the casket, to a funeral home in Lockhart, Texas. As the procession drove through downtown Lockhart, hundreds of residents lined the city streets, holding signs and American flags.

On Friday, November 6, 2009, scores of Riders from all over central and south Texas converged on the First Baptist Church in Smithville, Texas for funeral services of Lance Cpl. Stanley. The hearse delivered his casket to the church at 9:00 a.m. on a foggy morning. The casket was unloaded and carried into the church by six United States Marines wearing dress blue uniforms. As the movement occurred, the Patriot Guard Riders formed a U-shaped line of American flags and stood at attention in his honor.

The Riders then formed flag lines along the street in front of the church, and at the entrance to a nearby fellowship hall, to welcome family and friends as they arrived for the services, held at 10:00 a.m. In the fellowship hall, a slide show was displaying photos of this young man taken throughout his, to short, life.

At the conclusion of the hour and half services, the flag draped casket was carried from the church by the Marines, and placed into the back of a Dodge Ram truck, to be transported to the cemetery. This would be the Texas way!

The Patriot Guards Riders, over 100 strong, rode in the procession with hundreds of mourners for the forty five minute ride to the cemetery. All along the procession route, citizens of all ages lined the streets and highways. As the procession passed Smithville High School, where he had played football for the Tigers, the student body filled the front parking lot. At elementary schools along the way, children stood in front of their schools.

On Sunday, November 1, his friends made and erected signs all along the route from Smithville to the cemetery. The signs dotted the road side for 35 miles.

All over town and along the procession route, American flags were flying at half-staff, including the flag in front of the City Hall.

Once the procession reached the cemetery, the casket was removed from the Dodge Ram truck and carried to the final resting place of Lance Cpl. Stanley. Full military honors were rendered by United States Marines, including three volleys of fire by seven riflemen and the playing of taps.

The Marines folded the flag that had been covering the casket into a tight triangle and presented it to his mother.

Lance Cpl. Cody Robert Stanley was then laid to rest in the shade of a live oak tree in historic Clark's Chapel Cemetery, on Old McMahan Trail. The fog had cleared, the sun was bright, and the sky was blue.

Left to cherish his memory are his mother and father, his younger brother, his grandparents, his great grandmother and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

What it means to be a Marine
by Lance Cpl. Cody Stanley

To me, being a Marine means that you have taken the nation's burdens and put them on your back. The Marine Corps is the nation's reaction force and everyone that has joined since 9/11 knows that this burden is now theirs to bear. Being a Marine also means that you put yourself in harm's way so that others can live the great life that prior Marines have set forth for the United States. Marines set themselves apart from everyone else by taking pride in the fact that they are Marines. Marines set the standards that differentiate them from the other military branches. People look at Marines differently because they have pride in their service...from our cammies, to the way we perform in combat, to kicking butt and taking names. This contributes how the American populace views us and it is every Marine's job to uphold and pass on these standards to their juniors.

Claiming the title of Marine also means that you "step up to the plate" when no one else will and go out of your way to help people. The other day, there was an older man stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire. When I saw him, at least three or four cars had passed him by. When I stopped to render assistance, he told me that he was a former Marine and had fought in Korea. He could not thank me enough for my hospitality. This is an example of what a Marine is all about...going out of your way to help others. You know if you have a Marine by your side that lacks intelligence or simply cannot get his crap done right, you take a little time out of your day to extend a helping hand.

As a Marine, you have so many chances to do great things in the world. Marines better themselves every day, whether by knowledge or by doing. We do this because "when the rubber meets the road" a Marine needs to know what to do. You must be able to physically pull that devil out of a humvee that has just been hit and then pull him to safety.The bottom line of being a Marine is, "taking care of yourself and others, do what you are told when you are told to the best of your ability, and then you will have 'being a Marine' down to an art".

With thanks to The Smithville Times for biographical information and photograph.

News links.

http://www.kvue.com/news/Lockhart-welcome-fallen-Marine-69188777.html

http://www.myfoxaustin.com/dpp/news/local/110409-Fallen-Marine-Returns-to-Central-TX

http://www.myfoxaustin.com/dpp/news/local/110609-local-marine-laid-to-rest