Friends, family share stories of fallen soldier at memorial

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January 24, 2009

By Karen Middleton The News Courier Sat Jan 24, 2009, 09:07 PM CST

Mike Webster read a card from the dead soldier’s high school biology teacher and it brought gentle laughter at the end of a memorial service honoring Pfc. Ricky Lee Turner.

Emily Clem wrote in her condolences to Turner’s family that he had been a pleasure to teach.

“I will always remember when we took a nature walk behind the school and he fell in the creek,” she wrote. “He had to wear an old pair of sweat pants the rest of the day because his clothes were all wet.”

It was a little personal touch coming after Webster’s eulogy and official condolences from Limestone County, the State of Alabama and the Veterans of Foreign Wars at Majestic Chapel in the Hays Mill community Saturday afternoon.

Turner, 20, was killed near Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 16 when an improvised exploding device struck the convoy in which he was riding, according to a spokeswoman with the 82nd Airborne Division.

“He was a good person with a big heart,” said Webster in his tribute. “He wanted not only to follow in his brother’s footsteps, but to find himself. He was called ‘a gentle giant’ because of his stature and his sweet nature.”

Turner had just turned 20 while in Iraq. His memorial service, interspersed with recordings by George Strait, Brad Paisley and the Oysterband, was fitting for a young man.

And the traditional came from Webster, who read from 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course and I have kept the faith.”

“A month ago only his family and friends knew Ricky, but now he is known to all America for the sacrifice he made for our freedom,” said Webster. “He has received an honorable discharge from this earth.”

District 2 County Commissioner Gary Daly presented a memorial tribute from Limestone County to Turner’s father, James Turner, and state Sen. Tom Butler, D-Madison, presented a flag that flew over the state capitol to the elder Turner. The state Commander of the VFW Dave Alvey also presented a memorial as well as a Bible to the grieving father.

After the service Turner’s paternal grandmother, Dorothy Turner, sobbed on her son’s shoulder.

When asked what her memories were of Ricky as a little boy, his grandmother said, “He was outgoing, he loved to fish and play ball — just about anything outside.”

Col. James Walker, JROTC director of Austin High School, attended Saturday’s memorial.

“This has really been a tough week, with first Josh Rath and now Ricky Turner,” said Walker.

Services were held earlier in the week for Decatur native Rath, who was killed in Afghanistan. Walker had instructed Rath in JROTC at Austin, but had not personally known Ricky Turner, who graduated from Decatur High School.

“They are all my boys,” said Walker. “This is what Ricky wanted to do. This is what Josh Rath wanted to do. We have to be proud of them and tip our hats to these valiant young men.”

A funeral service for Ricky Turner will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Hazel Green Funeral Home. Patriot Guard motorcycle riders will be in attendance.

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