SSGT Ralph A. Franke, United States Army, Ret.

Ralph Franke was born January 15, 1925 in New Ulm, Texas and passed away July 31, 2012, at the age of 87, at the Temple VA Hospital after a long illness.

Ralph was educated in El Campo, Texas and entered the United States Army during World War II and served his country for 24 years, retiring in 1968.  His service took him to the Phillipines, Germany, Korea, Panama and Fort Hood, Texas.



Ralph was a member of the Harker Heights United Methodist Church, the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.  He enjoyed gardening and was a devoted fan of the Texas Aggies and the Cowboys.



Funeral services were conducted on August 6 at the church he had attended for many years.  In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags at the entrance to welcome the arriving family and friends.  The service included vocal renditions of "The Old Rugged Cross" and "It is well with my Soul", and the congregational singing of "Amazing Grace."




After the service, the Riders led the funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas, where the family was welcomed by fifty American flags lining the roadway in front of the committal shelter.



After the Army Honor Guard moved the flag draped casket from the hearse to the shelter, the Riders formed a line of flags around the shelter.



Final prayers were offered by the Methodist Pastor, and the Army Honor Guard rendered 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 covered the casket was folded, with thirteen folds, into the traditional triangle and passed to an Army Non-Commissioned Officer.




The flag was presented to Ralph's dearly beloved wife of 64 years on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for Ralph's honorable and faithful service.

The service concluded with family members placing flowers upon the coffin.

SSGT Ralph Franke was then laid to rest on the cemetary hillside, overlooking the Texas hill country, as the American flag flew at half-staff, in his honor, at the top of the hill.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Patricia, one son, two daughters, seven grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, 7 great-great-grandchildren and numerous other dear family and friends.

If you go first

and I remain, one

thing I'd have you do.

Walk slowly down

that long, long road

and soon I'll follow you.

Love,

Patsy 

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

Sgt. Juan P. Navarro, United States Army, KIA

Juan Navarro passed away on July 9, 2012, at the age of 23, in Afghanistan when he was attacked by enemy forces with an improvised explosive device.

Juan was a native of Austin, Texas and graduated from Lanier High School in 2007. 

Juan joined the United States Army in June  2008 and completed his basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia.  He was an infantryman and warrior leader.  At the time of his death he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.  He was on his second tour in a combat zone, having served in Iraq in 2009. His many military awards included multiple awards of the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal.  He also had been awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge.

Juan's flag draped coffin was returned to his hometown, by charter jet, on July 16.  On hand to honor and receive him were the Patriot Guard Riders who stood at attention as the flag draped coffin was moved from the plane to the waiting hearse.

The Riders, and Officers of the Austin Police Department, escorted the hearse across town to the Cook-Walden Funeral home, where the Riders again stood at attention and saluted as the coffin was moved from the hearse to the funeral home.


Funeral services were held on July 18 at the funeral home where the Riders formed a line of American flags at the entrance to welcome the many family and friends.

After the service, the Riders and the Police led the procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.  When the procession arrived there, it was welcomed by fifty American flags along the roadway, blowing briskly in the Texas wind.

The flag draped coffin was slowly carried from the hearse to the committal shelter by the Army Honor Guard and the Patriot Guard Riders surrounded the shelter with a line of America flags.

Major General Anthony Ierardi, Commanding General of the First Cavalry Division, based at Fort Hood Texas, led the United States Army Honor Guard in the rendering of full military Honors.

The Honors began with Gen. Ierardi presenting the Bronze Star medal and the Purple Heart to Juan's parents.

The Army  detail   of six rifles fired three volleys of fire representing Duty, Honor and Country.  The Army bugler played taps, as the gathering stood at attention:  Veterans and Soldiers saluting, all others with hand over heart.



The Honor Guard then carefully folded the flag that had draped the coffin, on its long trip home, into a tight triangle, placed three expended cartridges into the folds, and ceremoniously passed it to Gen. Ierardi.  The Commanding General of thousands of soldiers presented the flag to Juan's parents, Victor and Cristina, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for their son's honorable and faithful service.




Sgt. Juan P. Navarro, killed in the service of his country, was then laid to rest on the sloping plain of the hill side.  Left to cherish his memory are his parents, eight sisters, two brothers, many aunts and uncles and to many other dear family, friends and fellow soldiers to mention.












Many of the gathered family and friends wore white tee shirts bearing Juan's photo and a poem he wrote about his tour of duty.   On the back of the shirts: "nuffsaid"

"God loves me enough to let me go through all these lessons I came here to learn. Even the ones that hurt the most."
By Sgt. Juan Navarro


With thanks to Statesman.com for biographical information and to Jay James, American-Statesman, and to Casey James, KXAN-TV for additional photographs.

SSG Donald Sumner Jr., United States Army

Donald Sumner Jr. was born December 2, 1970 in Columbia, South Carolina and passed away at his residence in Harker Heights, Texas on June 16, 2012, at the age of 41.  Donald was on active duty in the United States Army at the time of his death.

Donald entered the Army in November 1988 as a motor transport operator.  He had been stationed at Fort Hood, Texas since August 2010 and was assigned to the 67th Forward Support Company, 41st Fires Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.  Donald had been deployed to Iraq from February 2003 to February 2004, January 2005 to January 2006, May 2007 to October 2007 and November 2008 to October 2009.

His numerous military decorations include four Army Commendation Medals, and seven Good Conduct Medals.

On June 22 a funeral service was conducted at the Heritage Funeral Home in Harker Heights.  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, Texas where the family was warmly welcomed by fifty American flags lining the cemetery road.

The flag draped casket was solemnly moved from the hearse to the Committal shelter by the United States Army Honor Guard, and the Patriot Guard Riders formed a line of America flags around the shelter.

Army Chaplain Burden said the final prayers and led the gathering in The Lord's Prayer.  He concluded with the rite of committal:

Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God of his great mercy to take unto himself the soul of our dear brother here departed, we therefore commit his body to the ground;  earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust;  in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ;  who shall change our vile body, that it may be like unto his glorious body, according to the mighty working, whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself.

The Army Honor Guard then rendered full military honors.  The detail of five rifles fired three volleys of fire representing Duty, Honor and Country.  The Army bugler played the always mournful Taps.

The American flag that draped the coffin was carefully folded into a tight triangle and ceremoniously passed to an Army Staff Sergeant, who presented it to Donald's dear wife, Catherine, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for Donald's honorable and faithful service.

Three additional folded flags were presented to Donald's children and to another family member.

SSG Donald Sumner Jr. was then laid to rest on the sloping plain of the cemetery 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, his two children, a sister, his parents and many other dear family and friends.







With thanks to the Killeen Daily Herald for biographical information and to Ceej Foy for additional photo.