Two Texas Soldiers were killed together during a humanitarian mission in Wardak province, Afghanistan on Oct 16, 2009 — Sgt Anthony Gabriel “Gabe” Green of Yorktown and SSG Christopher Staats of Fredericksburg, TX.
Two Texas Soldiers killed together in Afghanistan
Yesterday afternoon, I rode with 119 other PGR riders and numerous cages to attend the funeral of SGT Green in Yorktown, and was once again blown away by the patriotism, respect, and moral values of another small-town Texas community.
Gabe graduated from Yorktown High School in 2000 and in 2005 he married his sweetheart Lindsay Afflerbach and together they lived and worked on her family’s farm.
Gabe’s father described a son who was devoted to his wife and their two daughters Madison, 3, and Kaydence, 6.
SGT Green's widow, Lindsay, and their two children
Although soldiers cannot wear jewelry in combat, Green died wearing his wedding band.
During the eulogy, Green’s father related the story of his son’s visit to a Victoria tattoo parlor before his deployment to Afghanistan:
“Hey, I have an emergency,” Cornell said, quoting his son. “I’m leaving tomorrow to go to Afghanistan, and I want you to tattoo a wedding band on my ring finger.
“Hey, man, this will be permanent, and you can’t get rid of it later,” he quoted the tattoo artist.
Green’s reply: The wedding ring is also forever.
Gabe was deployed on his third combat tour, with two previous tours in Iraq. During his second tour in Iraq he was wounded by an IED and earned a Purple Heart, but declined a desk job afterward.
The National Guard sent him to school at Texas A&M and Purdue University to obtain additional knowledge of farm animals and veterinary skills. He was deployed to Afghanistan as part of the 143rd Infantry Detachment, part of a team of Soldiers sent on a humanitarian mission to aid farmers in that country as the team veterinarian. He also assited with teaching irrigation and conservation to the local farmers.
During our flag line, I was talking with a local WWII Veteran, Harvey Williams, who was representing the local VFW post, and he sadly informed me that SGT Green was the first KIA from Yorktown in more than 45 years.
We parked our 119 bikes a block away from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Yorktown, and formed a flag line around the church as the friends and family of SGT Green began making their way to the church:
PGR motorcycles lined up four wide up and down the block
Looking back down the street at the 119 PGR motorcycles before the funeral
The PGR forming a flag line beneath the branches of hundreds year old Live Oak Trees
PGR riders standing the flag line
Small Town Texas Values
I cannot say enough about the people of Yorktown. On a perfectly sunny 73 degree south Texas day, the entire town (pop. ~2100) turned out to honor their local hero.
I’ve ridden in a lot (too many) PGR funeral and escort missions over the last 4 years. And there is such a difference in the respect shown by small town Texas vs. cities like Austin, Houston, and Dallas. In small town Texas, every body stops what they are doing — they get out of their cars and hold their hands over their hearts when the funeral procession passes. Businesses close, school children are dismissed from class and line the city streets, flags are flown at half mast all over town.
In bigger cities, cars seldom pull over, much less have the drivers get out to show their respect. The only people who show up for the funeral are those who directly knew the soldier. In a small town, EVERYONE shows up, even if they didn’t know the Soldier.
After the church services were over, we mounted our bikes and joined a procession through town before heading out to the St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery. It seemed more like a parade than a procession, as the entire route was lined with thousands of people — almost all holding flags, and all either saluting or holding their hands over their hearts as their local hero passed by.
PGR riders mounted and ready to escort SGT Green through the streets of Yorktown
The outpouring of support reminded me of riding just ahead of Lady Byrd Johnson’s funeral procession into Johnson City a couple of years ago.
When ever I hear the stories of service, courage, and sacrifice of Soldiers like SGT Green, I always ask myself, “Where do we find such men?” And then I visit their small hometowns, and I’m reminded again. Small-town Texas (and America) are raising these young men, even today:
Notice the kid in his combat fatigues in the left corner --- a future US Soldier? Possibly.
(The full image directory from the pics I took are located here)
The Ride Home
I made the 110-mile ride from Austin to Yorktown with 20 other riders from the Austin area on a chilly but sunny morning. After these funeral missions I almost always prefer to make the ride home alone, where I can take my time to reflect on the mission. I often stop along the way home to read historical markers and take pictures of sites of interest along the way (like the old post office in Hochheim, TX).
Sadly, I didn’t have much time, as I wanted to make sure I got home before dark (to avoid anymore deer vs. motorcycle collisions), but I did have time to make a pit stop at Smitty’s Market in Lockhart to pick up a couple of lbs of brisket.
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