Command Sergeant Major Donald Jaszkowski, United States Army, Ret.

Donald Jaszkowski was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1927 and passed away October 25, 2011 at Harker Heights, Texas at the age of 84.

Donald proudly served his country in the United States Army for over twenty years and retired with the rank of Command Sergeant Major. His service included Vietnam, for which he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

After retiring, Donald served as Executive Director of the Killeen Housing Authority. He was a member of the Retired Sergeants Major Association, the Korean Veterans Association, the Vietnam Veterans Association, the VFW, the DAV and the American Legion.

Funeral services were held on October 28 at the Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen, Texas. In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags at the entrance to welcome the arriving family and friends. After the service, the Riders led the funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen.

Present at the Cemetery were other Riders and fifty American Flags, blowing briskly in the cold Texas wind.

After the flag draped casket was moved from the hearse to the committal shelter, the Riders formed a line of American flags around the shelter.

A United States Army Chaplain said the final prayers. The Army Honor Guard rendered full military honors. The detail of five rifles fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country. The bugler played taps.
The American flag that draped the coffin was carefully folded into a tight triangle, ceremoniously passed to an Army Staff-Sergeant and presented to Donald's dear wive, Dorothy, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for Donald's honorable and faithful service.

Command Sergeant Major Donald Jaszkowski was then laid to rest on the sloping hill of the cemetery as the flag flew at half-staff on the hill above, in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, a son, a daughter, one brother, one sister, numerous nieces and nephews and many other dear family and friends.






With thanks to the Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home for biographical information.

Donald Cory, United States Army Veteran

Donald Cory was born January 4, 1926 at Kane, Illinois and passed away November 6, 2011 at Killeen, Texas at the age of  85.

Donald proudly served his country in the United States Army during World War II and the Korean War.

He lived the last five years in the Killeen area and was a member of the IOOIF and the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Graveside services were held on November 9 at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen.  In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags at the the front of the committal shelter to honor this veteran of a great generation. Six of the Riders acted as pall bearers and moved the flag draped casket from the hearse to the shelter.

Final prayers were offered by the minister, followed by Military Honors by the United States Army Honor Guard.  The Army bugler played taps, and the American flag that draped the casket was folded into the traditional triangle.  The folded flag was presented to Donald's dear wife, Isabel, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for his years of honorable and faithful service.

Donald Cory was then laid to rest on the gentle sloping plain of the cemetery, and the flag flew at half-staff at the top of the hill in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, three daughters, two brothers, four grandchildren and a host of other dear family and friends.

With thanks to the Killeen Daily Herald for biographical information.

Sgt. Linwood House, United States Army (Ret.)

Linwood House was born January 21. 1935 in Inez, North Carolina and passed away October 13, 2011 at a Temple, Texas hospital after a battle with cancer due to his exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam.

Linwood served two tours in Vietnam and retired from the United States Army as a Sergeant.

After retiring from the Army, Linwood worked as a mechanic for Salvage Auto Parts, since 1986. He was also an avid mechanic of race cars.

Linwood was known as a patriot, and was a member of the Copperas Cove, Texas VFW, the Moose Lodge and the American Legion.

Memorial services and inurnment were held on October 25 at the Central Texas State VeteransCemetery at Killeen, Texas. In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags around the committal shelter.

Final prayers were offered by an Army Chaplain and full military honors were rendered by the United States Army Honor Guard.

The Army detail of three rifles fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country. The bugler, standing on the hill above, played taps.

The American flag, that laid on the table with the Silver Urn, was unfolded and refolded into the traditional triangle and presented to Linwood's dear wife, Edith, by an Army Staff-Sergeant, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciate for his years of dedicated and faithful service.

The Silver Urn, containing Linwood's cremains, was then sealed into a niche of the wall, for all time, as the American flag flew at half-staff on the hill above.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, three children, one sister and a host of other dear family, friends and co-workers.









With thanks to the Killeen Daily Herald for biographical information.

Walter J. Lawrence, Jr., World War II Veteran

Walter Lawrence, Jr. was born March 16, 1923, in Portchester, New York, and passed away September 29, 2011 at Georgetown, Texas, at the age of 88.

Walter proudly served his country during World War II in the United States Army Air Corps as a pilot of C-47 cargo planes. His combat service included the Battle of Burma, the China Offensive and "flying the hump", the name given by Allied pilots to the eastern end of the Himalayan Mountains over which they flew military transport aircraft from India to China to resupply the Chinese war effort of Chiang Kai-shek and the units of the United States Army Air Forces in China. His many military decorations include the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster.

Walter left the service as a Captain.

Walter worked as a purchaser for Exxon Mobil for 35 years prior to retiring to Sun City Texas 14 years ago. He led an active lifestyle during his retirement and enjoyed extensive bicycling activities with his Sun City Cyclists friends. He also enjoyed tossing horseshoes and washers and love to play bridge.

Interment services were held on October 7 at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas. In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags around the committal shelter during the services.

Final prayers were said by Chaplain Dean Hamilton, followed by military honors by the United States Air Force Honor Guard. The bugler played taps. An American flag was folded into the traditional triangle by the Honor Guard and presented to the family on behalf of the President of the United States, the Department of the Air Force, and a grateful nation for the faithful and dedicated service of Captain Walter Lawrence, Jr.

The urn containing Walter's cremains was then buried at the foot of the hill, atop which flew the American flag, at half-staff, in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory are four sons, a daughter, 11 grandchildren and many other dear family and friends. He was predeceased by his dear wife, Jane Marie, a daughter and his parents.

With thanks to Ramsey Funeral Home for biographical information and photo.

Sgt. Paul Rivera, United States Army, KIA, Afghanistan

Paul Rivera was born March 19, 1985 and passed away on October 22, 2011.

Paul grew up playing with Micro Machines and video games with his best friend Nick Carmona. He was known by all as charismatic, kind-hearted and deeply religious. Paul was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Austin, where he had served as an alter boy.

Paul grew up in Round Rock, Texas and was a member of the first graduating class of Stony Point High school. He was the manager of the school's basketball team.

Paul graduated from high school in 2003 and joined the United States Army, inspired to do so by the events of September 11, 2001.

At the time of his death, Paul was assigned to the 709th Military Police Battalion. He was on patrol in Logar Province, Afghanistan, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces, causing the vehicle in which he was riding to rollover, killing him. He was the 1,818th American to die in Afghanistan.

Paul was posthumously promoted to Sergeant and awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart Medal.

A funeral mass was conducted at St. Mary's Cathedral on November 2. The mass was performed by the Reverends Albert Laforet and Bud Roland who called Paul their "spiritual son". In attendance at the cathedral were Patriot Guard Riders from all over central Texas, who formed a line of American flags at the entrance to welcome the arriving family and friends.

After the service, the Riders led the funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas. There awaited more of the Riders and fifty American flags blowing briskly in the southerly Texas wind.

After the flag draped casket of Sgt. Rivera was moved from the hearse into the committal shelter, the Patriot Guard Riders formed a line of American flags, enveloping the shelter, the family, many friends and fellow soldiers in attendance for the committal service and the rendering of full military honors.

The Rite of Committal was performed by a Catholic Priest.

Military Honors were then rendered by the United States Army Honor Guard. The Army Detail of five rifles fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country. The Army bugler played taps, as all in attendance stood at attention.

The Honor Guard folded the flag that draped the coffin into the traditional triangle. The folded flag was passed to a Command Sergeant Major, who, in turn, passed it to Brigadier General March Inch, Chief of the Military Police Corps Regiment and Commandant of the Army Military Police School.

General Inch presented the flag to Sgt. Rivera's mother, Evelyn, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for Paul's honorable and faithful service.

Representatives of Gold Star Mothers presented a Gold Star Flag to Paul's mother and father.

Sgt. Paul Rivera was then laid to rest on the gentle sloping plain of the cemetery as the American flag flew at half-staff on the hill above.

Left to cherish his memory are his parents, Fred and Evelyn, his brother, Specialist Philip Rivera, United States Army, his grandmothers, uncles, cousins and many other dear family, friends, fellow soldiers and Senior Airman Nick Carmona, United States Air Force, Paul's childhood friend.












With thanks to the Austin American-Statesman, The Liberty Tree, Lisa Birkman and Amanda Carter for biographical information and additional photographs.


Links to news stories.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOK3PC5VZQo&feature=related

http://www.myfoxaustin.com/dpp/news/Funeral-For-RR-Soldier-Held-Today-20111102-ktbcw#axzz1d3f7oBkX

http://rrleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=1