Command Sgt. Major Richard Gossard, United States Army, Ret.

Richard Marion James Gossard was born December 21, 1925 at Urbana, Illinois.  He passed away November 5, 2012, at the age of 86, in Temple, Texas after an extended bout with cancer.






Richard proudly served his country in the United States Army for more than thirty years.  His service included duty in World War II, the Korean War and  Vietnam.  His distinguished career brought him many campaign medals and countless awards and decorations.

Richard met his dear wife, Hazel, in Idaho after his return from World War II and they've been married for 67 years.  Richard retired from the Army in 1979 and retired to the family home in Killeen, Texas, where they had lived since1959.



A funeral service was held on November 9 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 procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, south of Killeen, where the family was greeted by fifty American flags, blowing briskly in the southerly 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 two sides of the shelter, as a minister led the family in final prayers.




The United States Army Honor Detail rendered full military honors.  The detail of five rifles fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country, followed by the mournful notes of taps.





The flag that covered the casket was folded into the traditional triangle, passed to a Non-Commissioned Officer, and presented to Richard's dearly beloved wife, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for his honorable and faithful service.

CSM Richard Marion James Gossard was laid to rest on the wind swept plain of the cemetery as the American flag flew at half-staff on the hill above in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, a son, two daughters, seven grand children, two great-grandchildren and Bambi, his favorite little dog.

"Soldier"

I was that which others did not want to be.

I went where others feared to go,

and did what others failed to do.

I asked nothing from those who gave nothing, 

and reluctantly accepted the

thought of eternal loneliness..should I fail.

I have see the face of terror;

felt the stinging cold of fear;

and enjoyed the sweet taste of a moment's love.

I have cried, pained, and hoped...but most of all,

I have lived times others

would say were best forgotten.

At least someday I will be able to say

that I was proud of what I was

...a soldier.

George L. Skypeck

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

SPC Cody James Lee, United States Army, Ret.

Cody James Lee, "Toad" to family, was born August 3, 1984 in Idaho, and passed away September 22, 2012, at the age of 28, at his home in Little River Academy, Texas.



Cody attended West High School in Anchorage, and later moved back to Idaho.  He joined the United States Army in 2006, serving 3 1/2 years, including deployment to Afghanistan and Iraq.  His service took him to Killeen, Texas where he met and married his love, Angela.  They had a beautiful baby boy, Landon Scott Lee on September 13, 2010.


Cody was retired for medical reasons  from the Army in 2010.  He was a volunteer firefighter for the local fire department, and had just received his Certification in Phlebotomy.


Cody's hobbies included  outdoor activities and spending time with his family and friends.











A Celebration of Life was held on October 30 at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen.  In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags around the committal shelter.


A United States Army Chaplain led the gathered family and friends in final prayers, and read the scripture, John 11, 25-26.

 "Jesus said unto [Martha], I am the resurrection, and the life:  he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.  Believest thou this?"
















The United States Army Honor Detail afforded full military honors. The detail of five rifles fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country.  The Army bugler played taps.









The American flag that had rested next to the cremains, was carefully unfolded and refolded into the traditional triangle.  It was ceremoniously passed to a Non-Commissioned Officer who presented it to Angela on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for Cody's honorable and faithful service.









Cody's step-father addressed the gathering and thanked them, on behalf of Cody's Alaska family, for being present.






Angela then spoke.  Amongst her comments was the explanation of a photograph that was on display that showed Cody and Landon with shaving cream on their faces.  She said that Landon always insisted on "shaving" with his daddy.







Angela placed Cody's cremains into a niche of the columbarium wall, where they were sealed for all of time.

Throughout the service, two year old Landon played around the area, blessedly unaware of the significance of the proceedings.

"If the essence of my being has caused a smile to have appeared upon your face, or a touch of joy within your heart, then in living - I have made my mark."  Thomas L. Oden Jr.

With thanks to legacy.com for biographical information and to Ceej Foy for additional photograph.

Vernon Gibson, United States Army Veteran

Vernon Gibson was born March 3, 1963 in Buffalo, New York, and passed away November 16, 2012 in Temple, Texas at the age of 49.

Vernon proudly served his country in the United States Army.

An interment service was held on November 26 at the Central Texas State Veterans cemetery.  In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who set out fifty American flags along the roadway to the committal shelter.

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

The minister performed a traditional graveside rite of committal and led the gathered family and friends in the Lords Prayer.

The United States Army Honor Detail afforded military honors.  The bugler played taps.  The American flag that covered the coffin was folded into a tight triangle, and presented to Vernon's dear wife, Sharon, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for Vernon's honorable and faithful service.

Vernon Gibson was then laid to rest as the American flag flew at half-staff at the top of the hill in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, a son, his parents, three brothers, one sister and a host of other family and friends.





With thanks to Branford Dawson Funeral Home for biographical information and to Ceej Foy for additional photograph.

PFC John Scott Van Dyke, United States Army Veteran

John Scott Van Dyke passed away on September 24, 2012 in a traffic accident near Springtown, Texas.  Aged, 29.

John had proudly served his country in the United States Army and was a veteran of the Iraq war.  He had been medically retired from the Army.



After his retirement, he became active with a church in Lampasas,
Texas.  Among his works there was helping staff the church fireworks stand.








An inurnment service was held on October 4 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 to honor this veteran of war.






The minister of the church spoke of John's activities at the church, of how John had served his country.  He told the gathering that Scott loved to laugh, and that his children were the apple of his eye.  He described that Scott had faced adversities, and wondered why did he die so young.




The minister read various passages from the bible, including Proverbs Chapter 3, verse 5.  "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;  and lean not unto thine own understanding."



He concluded his remarks by leading the family and friends in the Lords Prayer and told them, "please don't cry, we'll meet again some day."




The United States Army Honor Detail afforded full military honors.  The detail of six rifles, standing on the hillside above, fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country.  The Army bugler played taps.







The American flag that had rested next to the cremains, was carefully unfolded, and refolded into a tight triangle and passed to a Non-Commissioned Officer.   He presented that flag to Scott's father, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for Scott's honorable and faithful service.










Folded flags were also presented to each of Scott's children, as their mother looked on.


 

PFC John Scott Van Dyke  was then laid to rest, in a special burial area, on the sloping hillside as the American flag flew at half-staff, in his honor, at the top of the hill.

MSG Edward L. Clouds, Jr., United States Army, Ret.

 Edward Clouds was born in Beavers Fall, Pennsylvania and passed away September 27, 2012, at the age of 73.  He was a resident of Copperas Cove, Texas at the time of his passing, the result of cancer caused by exposure to Agent Orange.





Edward proudly served his country in the United States Army for twenty years, retiring with the rank of Master Sergeant.  His service included three tours of duty in Germany, and service in Kentucky, Georgia and Texas.






 He was a Vietnam Veteran and was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries suffered there.  His numerous military decorations also include two awards of the Bronze Star Medal, three awards of the Army Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.







After retiring, Ed attended Central Texas College and earned numerous certificates that enhanced his 23 year Civil Service Career.




Ed was an avid hunter, mechanic, carpenter and motorcycle enthusiast who rode with the Southern Cruisers Riding Club.



A funeral service was held on October 4 at the Grace United Methodist Church in Copperas Cove.  Present were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags at the entrance to welcome the arriving family and friends. The service, presided over by the Rev. Stephen Schmidt, included the rendition of  the songs "Amazing Grace", "Bridge Over Troubled Waters"  and "How Great Thou Art". 




After the service, the riders led the procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.  There the family was welcome by fifty American flags blowing in the brisk Texas wind.



The flag draped casket was carried from the hearse into the committal
shelter by the Army Honor Guard.  The Riders formed a line of American flags around the shelter, as the minister said the final prayers.




The Army Honor Guard rendered full military honors.  The detail of  six rifles fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country.  The Army bugler played taps, as all in attendance stood at attention.

The flag that draped the coffin was carefully folded into a tight triangle and passed to an Army Staff Sergeant, who presented it to Edward's son, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for the honorable and faithful service of MSG Edward L. Clouds, Jr.

MSG Edward L. Clouds, Jr., was then laid to rest next to his dear wife of 48 years, Brigitte, who passed away on November 13, 2008, at the age of 66.

Left to cherish their memory are two sons, one daughter-in-law, four grandchildren, three brothers and a host of other family and friends.

 God saw you were getting tired

And a cure was not to be.

So He put his arms around you

And whispered, "Come to me."

A golden heart stopped beating,

Hard working hands now rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us

He only takes the best.

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