Sgt. John K. Rankel
On June 7, 2010, Marine Sergeant John K. Rankel was killed fighting for his country in Afghanistan. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, I MEF, Camp Pendleton, California. He had previously served two tours of duty in Iraq and this was his first tour since he had reenlisted. He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Trisha and Don Stockhoff; father and stepmother Kevin and Kim Rankel, and brothers Tyler Rankel, who attends Center Grove Schools, and Nathan Stockhoff, who recently graduated and enlisted in the military. He was twenty-three years old.
Five years and a month ago, he and I walked across the same stage and graduated high school along with ninety-four of our classmates. Today, I walked through a Patriot Guard standing vigil with American flags, hugged his mother, cried through his funeral, and paid my respect to his memory. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done, looking at him lying in his coffin in his dress uniform. He was twenty-three and died for his country and I knew him. This was a man who could have chosen anything and he proudly joined the Marine Corps strait out of high school and became the best marine he could possibly be.
I had not seen John in five years and I wish so much now that I could have gotten to know the man he had become. I just wanted to share this with someone.
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100619/NEWS02/6190348/Hundreds+mourn+Marine+killed+in+Afghanistan
Five years and a month ago, he and I walked across the same stage and graduated high school along with ninety-four of our classmates. Today, I walked through a Patriot Guard standing vigil with American flags, hugged his mother, cried through his funeral, and paid my respect to his memory. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done, looking at him lying in his coffin in his dress uniform. He was twenty-three and died for his country and I knew him. This was a man who could have chosen anything and he proudly joined the Marine Corps strait out of high school and became the best marine he could possibly be.
I had not seen John in five years and I wish so much now that I could have gotten to know the man he had become. I just wanted to share this with someone.
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100619/NEWS02/6190348/Hundreds+mourn+Marine+killed+in+Afghanistan