1LT Frank B. Walkup of Woodbury, TN was the oldest of ten brothers and sisters.  A family that was familiar with the Army life and their frequent moves, Frank had no problem making friends because of his outgoing personality. He graduated from Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro TN, where he was a devoted member of the Junior Reserve Offers Training Crops though high school.  He then went on to graduate from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville where he joined the ROTC program.   It was there he met his future wife Sabita.  Upon graduation, he was commissioned as an 2LT.   He joined the Army in June 2005 and although he could have picked any job he wanted, 1LT Walkup chose the Infantry.  While serving as an Infantry Platoon Leader in Iraq 1LT Walkup was killed by an improvised explosive device near Rasheed, Iraq.  1LT Walkup awards and decorations include: the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantryman's Badge.

PFC Robert Kelsey Repkie, age 20, passed away on June 24, 2010, while proudly serving in Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne 4 BCT, 782nd support battalion. Full military honors were presented by the U.S. Army. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the 82nd Airborne Division of Ft. Bragg, N.C. He was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.  Robert attended Sweetwater High School in Tennessee until he left to join the Army in August 2008. He graduated Army basic training at Ft. Jackson, S.C., in December 2008, and then attended AIT in Ft. Lee, Va., from January 2009 to March 2009. After graduating AIT he was stationed at Ft. Bragg, N.C., until his deployment to Afghanistan in August 2009. Robert was preceded in death by paternal grandfather, Kenneth Fred Repkie Sr. of Auburn, Mass., and grandmother, Lucille Meredith Caylor of New Tazewell, Tenn. Surviving are his parents, Russell Repkie, USN, retired, and wife, Susan, of Sweetwater, Tenn.; step-sister, Letisicia Loepp and husband, Steve, and nieces, Madison and Marina, all of Knoxville, Tenn.; paternal grandmother, Rose Ann Repkie of Auburn, Mass.; uncles, Kenneth Fred Repkie Jr. and family of Tucson, Ariz., and William Reed Repkie Sr. and family of Tobyhanna, Pa., and great-uncle, Robert Shapiro and family of Little Egg Harbor, N.J.

William Craig Koprince Jr., (Lance Corporal United States Marines) - age 24 of Lenoir City, passed away December 27, 2006 at 2:45 a.m. EST while serving with the Third Battalion, Second Marine Division, India Company First Platoon in Iraq. Billy was a 2001 graduate of Lenoir City High School and a member of New Life Church of the Nazarene in Oak Ridge. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Morgan Wickman, Dr. Robert Koprince and Evelyn Koprince. He is survived by his parents, William and Bernice Koprince of Lenoir City; sister, Morgan Koprince Moore and husband, Andrew of Kingston; grandmothers, Olive Wickman of Lenoir City and Anne Koprince of West Bloomfield, MI; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Army Specialist Harrison, George Daniel—age 22 of Knoxville, made the ultimate sacrifice for his country on December 2, 2004, while proudly serving in Mosul, Iraq. Daniel was assigned to the 293rd Military Police Company. He lost his life coming to the aid of his fellow soldiers. He will always be our hero.

Daniel graduated from Carter High School in 2001. He attended Pellissippi State Community College. He worked at Sears, Wolf Camera, Lift Truck Sales, and Ed Financial before joining the Army on February 19, 2003.

Daniel, our first-born son, was very precious to us. When Daniel was just a few weeks old, he learned to smile—an infectious smile that stayed with him throughout his life. It was a smile that will always be engraved on our hearts. Daniel’s enthusiasm and love for life touched many people.

Daniel’s death is an inconceivable loss to our family. However, this loss strengthens the bond of love we feel for each of you. The Word of God tells us in John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Daniel accepted Christ at an early age. Greeting him in heaven are his maternal grandparents, George and Evah Vannoy and his uncle, Brad Vannoy.

Daniel is survived by his loving parents, Doug and Kim Harrison; devoted younger brother, Joshua Harrison; great-grandmother, Amanda Harrison; grandmother, Alice Maples; grandfather and step-grandmother, Daniel and Carolyn Harrison; uncles and aunts, Barry and Tammi Bowling, Bill and Suzanne Gann; uncles, Geoff Vannoy, Greg Vannoy; cousins, Christi Bowling, Zack Bowling, and Carey Anne Gann

Cpl. Ryan C. McGhee, 21, was an automatic rifleman assigned to 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Ga. He was born on Nov. 4, 1987 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

He was killed by small arms fire while conducting combat operations in Central Iraq, when his unit came in contact with enemy forces. The unit was conducting operations to rid Iraq of a weapons facilitator and suicide vest cell known to be operating in the area.

McGhee was on his fourth deployment in support of the War on Terror with three previous deployments to Afghanistan.

After graduating from Massaponax High School, McGhee enlisted in the U.S. Army from his hometown of Fredericksburg, Va., in August 1, 2006. He completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning Ga., as an infantryman. After graduating from the Basic Airborne Course there, he was assigned to the Ranger Indoctrination Program also at Fort Benning.

He graduated from the Ranger Indoctrination Program in February 2007 and was then assigned to Company B, 3rd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment March 1, 2007. McGhee served as a Rifleman and Grenadier in Company B before serving as a Weapons Squad Team Leader with Company D.

His military education includes the Basic Airborne Course, Ranger Indoctrination Program, and the U.S. Army Ranger Course.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with V-Device, Purple Heart, Meritorious Award Metal, Ranger Leadership Tab, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Combat Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Combat Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge and Parachutist Badge.

Ryan made 2nd string all state defensive lineman and gave up a partial scholarship to a private college to be an Army Ranger. The events on September 11, 2001 and his roll model, Pat Tillman were the motivating factors to enlist in the military. 9/11 had a termendous impact on his belief that he had to do something to protect our freedoms. McGhee is survived  by his mother Sherrie Battle McGhee of Knoxville,TN., by his father Steven McGhee of Myrtle Beach, S.C.;and maternal grandparents Dr. William C. and Joann Battle of Knoxville, Tenn.; paternal grandparents Mike and Roberta McGhee of Newsport News, Va., and his brother SSG Zachary McGhee of Fredericksburg, VA.  Ryan was also engaged to be married to Ashleigh Mitchell in June 2010. Ashleigh was attending the University of Virginia studying law at the time of Ryan's death.

Ryan was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on June 2, 2009 in Section 60, Site 8870. "RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!"

 

 

John Alvin Franklin
Sergeant

PERSONAL DATA

Home of Record:  Rossville, GA

Date of birth:   01/25/1942

MILITARY DATA

Service:         Army

Grade at loss:   E5

Rank:            Sergeant

MOS:             11B4P: Infantryman

                 (Airborne Qual)

Unit:            C CO,

                 2ND BN, 501ST INFANTRY

                 101ST ABN DIV, USARV

CASUALTY DATA

  Start Tour:      12/14/1967

  Incident Date:   04/26/1968

  Casualty Date:   04/26/1968

  Age at Loss:     26

  Location:        Thua Thien Province

                   South Vietnam

 

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Marion Frank Walden Jr
Private First Class

PERSONAL DATA

Home of Record:  Miami, FL

Date of birth:   09/24/1949

MILITARY DATA

Service:         Army

Grade at loss:   E3

Rank:            Private First Class

MOS:             11B10: Infantryman

Unit:            A CO, 1ST BN,

                 18TH INFANTRY,

                 1ST INF DIV, USARV

CASUALTY DATA

Start Tour:      10/24/1968

Incident Date:   12/13/1968

Casualty Date:   12/13/1968

Age at Loss:     19

Location:        Bien Hoa Province,

                          South Vietnam

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