MSG David Nowlin, United States Army, Ret.

David Jon Nowlin passed away May 17, 2012 at Killeen, Texas at the age of 56.  David proudly served his country in the United States Army for more than twenty years, retiring with the rank of Master Sergeant.

On May 24 the Patriot Guard Riders gathered at the Heritage Funeral Home in Harker Heights, Texas.  The Riders led the funeral procession carrying David's family and friends to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen for inurnment service with full military honors.

At the columbarium of the cemetery awaited more Riders and American flags surrounding the committal shelter.

An Army Chaplain offered the final prayers and rite of committal.

The Army Honor Guard rendered the military honors.  The detail of five rifles fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country.  The Army bugler played taps.  The Honor Guard then carefully unfolded the American flag that had rested next to David's cremains and refolded it into a tight triangle.  The flag was passed to a Non-Commissioned Officer who presented it to David's dear wife on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for David's honorable and faithful service.




The cremains of MSG David Nowlin were placed into a niche of the columbarium wall as the family and friends gathered around and the American flag flew at half-staff at the top of the hill in his honor.

Col. H. C. Copeland, USAF (Ret.)

H.C. Copeland was born in Brady, Texas on February 13, 1931 and passed away in Round Rock, Texas on June 12, 2012, at the age of 81.

H.C. proudly served his country in the United States Air Force.  He was commissioned a Second Lt. on April 30, 1953.  His many duty stations in his early career include Webb AFB, Texas, McGhee Tyson, Tennessee, Fort Knox, Kentucky, Tin City, Alaska, Fairchild AFB, Washington, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona and Takhli Royal Thai AFB, Thailand.

H.C. was a jet pilot, having earned his wings in April, 1956.  On July 17, 1967 he was piloting a F-105 Thunderchief jet on a mission over North Vietnam when his aircraft was struck by enemy fire.  He was forced to eject from his aircraft and was taken prisoner by the North Vietnamese.  He spent 2068 days in captivity, until his release during Operation Homecoming on March 14, 1973.

Col. Copeland was briefly hospitalized  for his injuries at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas.  He then served on the staff of Headquarters 12th Air Force at Bergstrom AFB in Austin, Texas from August 1973 until his retirement on August 1, 1979.

A memorial service with military honors was held on June 15 at the Cook-Waldren/Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville, 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.

The service included a slide show of photos of Col. Copeland with his family accompanied by the songs "The Dance", by Garth Brooks. and "Go Rest High on that Mountain" by Vince Gill.

After the service, the flag draped casket was moved to the outside portico, where the Patriot Guard Riders had formed a line of American Flags.  The United States Air Force Honor Guard rendered military honors.

The American flag that draped the casket was carefully folded into the traditional triangle.  The three rifle detail fired three volleys of fire representing Duty, Honor and Country.  A military bugler played taps.

The folded flag was then presented to Col. Copeland's son, Glenn, 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 Col. H.C. Copeland.

Graveside services were held on June 16 at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens in San Angelo, Texas.

Left to cherish  precious memories are his son and his daughter and their spouses, four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and a host of close friends and other relatives.

With thanks to Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home for biographical information and photo.

James Anderson, United States Marine Corps Veteran

James Dean Anderson was born May 12, 1940 and passed away in Central Texas at the age of 70.  James proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps and achieved the rank of Corporal.

James was a valuable member of the Methodist Church and was a secret benefactor to many of its members.  He was a poet and a patriot.

An inurnment service was held on May 11, 2012 at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.  In attendance were James' friends and the Patriot Guard Riders, who formed a line of American flags around the committal shelter.

The Pastor of the church that James attended said the final prayers and performed the rite of committal.

The Marine Corps Honor Guard rendered military honors.  The Marine bugler played taps.  The American flag which had rested against James' cremains was carefully unfolded and refolded into the traditional triangle.  A Senior Non- Commissioned Officer presented the flag to a family friend, as James' next of kin, a sister was unable to attend, on behalf of the President of the United States, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and a grateful nation as a symbol of our appreciation for James' service to Country and Corps.

The cremains of James Dean Anderson, always a Marine, were buried nearby as the American flag flew at half-staff in his honor at the top of the hill.

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 thins to himself.

Col. John Griffith, USAF, Ret.

John Griffith was born August 11, 1931 in Port Arthur, Texas.  He passed away on May 8, 2012 in Austin, Texas at the age of 80.  John was walking, with his daughter, on a section of the hike and bike trail in Austin that is adjacent to a heavily traveled down-town street, when a speeding vehicle left the roadway and struck John, killing him at the scene.  The vehicle also struck a University of Texas Professor, who suffered serious injuries.  The City of Austin as now place barriers at that location to prevent such occurrences.

John graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur in 1949 and from Texas A&M University with a BS in Meteorology in 1959.  He loved his Aggies!  He also attended Lamar State University in Beaumont where he studied Electrical Engineering and St. Edwards University where he made progress towards an MBA.

Col. Griffith joined the United States Air Force in 1951 and proudly served his country that he loved so much.  His many assignments included Tactical Instructor at Lackland AFB, Squadron Commander of a Combat Flying Squadron (the Antique Airlines) in Vietnam, Pilot, Instructor Pilot, and Flight Examiner of Single and Multi-engine Conventional and Jet Aircraft.  He amassed 7000 hours as a pilot in T-28, T-37, T-38, C-7, C-47, C-124, C-141 and C-5A aircraft.  His many military decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star Medal.

After his retirement in 1975, John worked as a pioneer in the evolving computer industry in Austin.  He enjoyed post-military careers at Texas Instruments and CompuAdd Corp.

John was a tall man, with striking military bearing in his uniform which he continued to don after his retirement.  He was a true gentleman, a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend to all who knew him.

He was an active member of Bethany United Methodist Church.  His greatest passion in his last years was cheering his many grandchildren on in their various athletic activities.  John, himself, was an accomplished athlete, taking his high school basketball team to the State Play-Offs in Austin in 1947.  He also played catcher on both his high school and college teams.

A Service of Celebration in remembrance for John's life was held on May 11 at the Bethany United Methodist Church in Austin.  In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American Flags at the entrance to welcome the family and friends.

The Celebration included the singing of the hymn "Old Rugged Cross" and the recitation of The Lord's Prayer.

After the Service, the Riders led the funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.  There awaited the Patriot Guard Riders of the CENTEX Region and fifty American Flags lining the roadway to the committal shelter.

Also in attendance was the United States Air Force Honor Guard.  After the Honor Guard moved the flag draped casket from the hearse to the shelter, the Riders formed a line of flags along the front of the shelter, as full military honors were rendered.

The Air Force Honor Guard carefully and precisely folded the flag that draped the casket into a tight triangle, and passed it to a Non-Commissioned Officer.  The Detail of three rifles fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country.  The Air Force bugler played the always mournful Taps.

The folded flag was then presented to John's daughter  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 Col. John Griffith.  Three of the expended rifle cartridges were tucked into the fold of the flag.

A Pastor of the Methodist Church  performed the rite of committal and  led the gathered family and friends in the recitation of the Lord's Prayer.

Col. John Griffith was then laid to rest next to his dear wife, Mary, who passed away September 16, 2008, as the American Flag flew at half-staff on the hill above in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory are his three daughters, two sons, ten grandchildren, one brother and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

High Flight

"Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed and joined the

tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds -

and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of -

wheeled and soared and swung high

in the sunlit silence.

Hovering there I've chased the shouting wind along

and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air.

I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,

where never lark, or even eagle, flew;

and, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod

the high untrespassed sanctity of space,

put out my hand and touched the face of God."

(A sonnet written by John Gillespie Magee, an American pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force in the Second World War.  He came to Britain, flew in a Spitfire squadron, and was killed at the age of nineteen on 11 December 1941 during a training flight from the airfield near Scopwick.) 

With thanks to Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home for biographical information and additional photos, and to various Austin news sources for the details of the event that took his life.

SFC David Hale, United States Army, Ret.

David Hale was born November 21, 1921 in Burnsville, Mississippi and passed away May 16, 2012 at a Temple, Texas hospital, at the age of 90.

David proudly served his country during World War II in the Pacific Theater, including combat in the Philippines. He was retired for medical reasons after fourteen years of service, at the rank of Sergeant First Class.

Interment services were held on May 18 at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.  In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders and fifty American Flags lining the roadway at the committal shelter.

The United States Army Honor Guard carried the flag draped coffin from the hearse to the shelter, and the Riders formed a line of American flags along the front of the shelter during the service and the military honors.

Hospice Chaplain Judy Hoelscher conducted the service.  She spoke of David's life, military service and his family.  She sung "I"ll Fly Away" and "How Great Thou Art" and led the gathered family and friends in The Lord's Prayer. She read from  scripture,  John 14 verse 2, and said the final prayer.

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 flag that draped the coffin was folded into a tight triangle and passed to  an Army Non-Commissioned Officer.  He presented the flag to Jewell, David's dear wife of 64 years, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for his years of honorable and faithful service.

SSGT David Hale was then laid to rest on the gentle 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, three daughters, three sons and a host of other dear family and friends.

With thanks to the Killeen Daily Herald for biographical information.

SSG Terrence Mack, United States Army, Ret.

Terrence "Terre" Allen Mack was born March 9, 1964 in Los Angeles, and passed away May 1, 2012 in Nolanville, Texas at the age of 48.

Terrence proudly served his country in the United States Army, enlisting in 1983 after graduating from Sierra High School.  His duty stations included Germany, Fort Steward, Georgia and Fort Hood, Texas.

Terrence married the love of his life, Isabel Garcia, on October 4, 2005 in Killeen, Texas,where they lived until his passing.

In February 2011 Terrence retired from the Army, having served for 24 years as a Cavalry Scout and a Human Resources Specialist.

After retirement, he took up his passionate hobby in cycling.  He enjoyed going on rides with fellow cyclists, friends and brothers.

On May 1, at 6:50 p.m.,  Terrence was cycling with a group of friends on the access road of Highway 190 in Nolanville when he was struck by a F-150 pickup truck, suffering serious injuries.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A funeral service was held for Terrence on May 7 at the St. Paul Chong Hasang Catholic Church in Harker Heights, Texas.  In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags at the entrance of the church.

After the service, the Riders led the funeral procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas, where the procession was greeted by fifty American flags blowing in the Texas wind.

Also present at the cemetery were dozens of cyclists clad in their brightly colored cycling jerseys.  A group of six cyclists slowly pedaled around the cemetery, with a riderless white bicycle.  When the hearse entered the cemetery, that group took a position in front of the hearse as it made its way to the committal shelter.

At the committal shelter, the flag draped casket was moved from the hearse to the shelter by the Army Honor Guard.  The Patriot Guard Riders then formed a line of American flags around the shelter during the service and the military honors.

The Catholic Priest performed the Rite of Committal and led the gathering in The Lord's Prayer.  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 Honor Guard folded the flag draping the casket into the traditional triangle and passed it to an Army Staff Sergeant.  He presented the flag to Isabel on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for Terrence's honorable and faithful service.

Terrence's cycling jersey was placed into the casket, and SSG Terrance Mack was laid to rest on the sloping hill side, overlooking the Texas Hill Country, as the American flag flew at half-staff at the top of the hill in his honor.

Left to cherish his memory are his dear wife, one daughter, his father, his siblings and a host of close friends.

With thanks to Hewitt-Arney Funeral Home for biographical information and photo, and to Amanda Carter for additional photo.