SPC Jason Cox

I have waited until the funeral for this young soldier, killed in Iraq by an IED was finally laid to rest to write something. I helped during the visitation and during the service as an usher and escort for Senator George Voinovich. When I got the call from the church asking me to escort the senator, I really did not want to say yes. I have been backing off from pressure situations that I have been in the past ready to jump into. Also, with the lack of testosterone, I was worried about how I would handle it. Everything came together, both with the service and me so that I was honored to have helped.

I met the senator years ago when he was mayor of Cleveland and I was in charge of the National Guard detachment that was assigned to Cleveland during the snow storms. He said he remembered me as well as some other times that I had met him when he was Governor. I was impressed by his concern for the Cox family. Greg gave a great testimony to the Senator and as I walked with the Senator back up the aisle, he was choked up. He related to the family about his loss of a daughter many years ago while she was walking to school. I saw in him and Greg the same sense of loss of a child. I remember that same sense of loss in my Grandpa Moore when my father, his only child, died. For years afterwards he called me Jackie, my dad's name. The senator asked Greg is there was anything he could do. Greg mentioned that Ryan was going back to convoy duty and expressed concern that his head may not be in the game when he returned to Kuwait/Iraq. The senator said he would call General Casey to see that Ryan had some time to adjust. Greg expressed that Ryan in no way wanted out of his duties there, but that he was concerned. The senator understood and said he would see that he was looked after.

I was glad of the professionalism shown by the military personnel who were assigned to the detail. It is a tough duty. I remember doing the same thing three times while I was in service. They were all training accidents, but none the less, they were soldier doing their duty. It made it no less hard to do. We should all be proud of these men (and women) who have volunteer to serve. Several have completed two and three tours in the middle east at their choice. I salute them all and pray to God for their protection.