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September 21, 2009

Start the player below to view a slide show of photos taken Monday in Parsons Kan., at events honoring Cpl. Daniel Cox, U.S. Army, who was killed in Afghanistan in Sept., 2009.

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Mon Sep 21, 2009, 10:41 PM CDT

By Roger McKinney

rmckinney@joplinglobe.com

PARSONS, Kan. — One of the hundreds of people Monday afternoon lining Parsons’ Main Street in a drenching rain said his slight discomfort didn’t matter.

“It’s the least I could do for his family,” said Michael Moore, of Dennis, speaking of Cpl. Daniel Cox, whose funeral was conducted at Parsons Municipal Auditorium. Cox, 23, died Sept. 12 in Afghanistan.

Moore said he wanted to watch as the funeral procession passed the auditorium “to honor this young man and his family. It’s quite a sacrifice.”

The funeral came a day after the 203rd Engineer Battalion of the Missouri National Guard, with units from Joplin, Neosho and Kansas City, left for training in Wisconsin before returning to Afghanistan in October.

Dangerous profession

Cox was a 2005 graduate of Parsons High School. He had been in the Army since shortly after his graduation, based with the 10th Mountain Division in Fort Drum, N.Y. He was in his second deployment to Afghanistan. The Fort Drum public affairs office said Cox and Staff Sgt. Nekl B. Allen, 29, of Rochester, N.Y., were killed in Wardak province when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb and small-arms fire.

“He volunteered for the infantry, the toughest, most dangerous profession,” said Brig. Gen. Edward Cardon, from Fort Leavenworth, during the service. “He volunteered knowing full well the risk.”

Cardon said his fellow soldiers knew Cox as a quiet professional.

“He was a good man,” Cardon said. “A great soldier. One who could be counted on. One who made a difference.”

Cardon said he regretted never having met Cox.

The flag-covered casket was rolled into the auditorium by the casket bearers. Bagpiper Charles Liles led them. Members of the family were seated after the casket was placed in front of the stage.

Ron Cox, Cox’s uncle, said his nephew exhibited seven character traits during his life: Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.

“Daniel demonstrated more courage than anyone I’ve ever known,” Cox said.

“Daniel was my friend,” he said. “He was my nephew. He was my hero.”

Diane Winans, of Norwich, N.Y., is the mother of Cox’s fiance, Liza Winans.

“He was a very quiet man, who was very unusual in my very loud family,” she said at the service.

Winans said her grandchildren adored Cox, and when he was in New York state last Halloween, he escorted them while trick-or-treating around the neighborhood.

Cox also joined her family last Thanksgiving. She said when she and her daughter initially asked about any special dish he wanted them to prepare, he initially requested rolls. She said after being pressured, he asked for a pecan pie. They prepared it, and she said judging by the smile on his face, Cox enjoyed it.

She said Cox loved her daughter, and her daughter loved him in turn.

While those on stage spoke, photos of Cox from various stages of his life were projected on a screen behind them.

Mark Pound, an assistant high school football coach, said Cox visited with him before his first deployment to Afghanistan. Pound said he asked him if he was nervous, and Cox admitted that he was, but that he was well trained.

“I told him to keep his head down,” Pound said of their last conversation.

“When it comes down to it, Daniel died for us, for our freedom,” Pound said. “Daniel wanted to be part of something bigger than himself, and now he is.”

A few members of the Rev. Fred Phelps’ Westboro Baptist Church, based in Topeka, staged a protest a few blocks from the auditorium, 18th and Main streets, said Parsons city spokeswoman Kari West. She said there was a counter-protest and the Phelps group left after about 40 minutes. The group stages frequent pickets near soldiers’ funerals.

Pound referenced them in his talk saying some people may have seen their signs describing things and people God hates.

“The God I know doesn’t hate, people do,” Pound said. “When you see things like that, you just have to feel sorry for them. Daniel died for them, too.”

Patriot Guard

The Patriot Guard had 322 motorcyclists outside the funeral, leading the funeral procession. Patriot Guard director Mark Urbanek, said the group is made up of members of American Legion posts from around the state. The group started to block the Phelps protesters from the view of soldiers’ family members, but Urbanek said they also want to show their honor and respect for the fallen comrades and their families.

Others waiting outside the auditorium shared their reasons for standing outside in the rain.

“I just was compelled to come out and pay my respects and represent what I feel is the best part of our country,” said Ronni Bain, of Parsons.

“He was a young man from Parsons,” said Julie Stevenson, of Parsons, who said her nephew is serving in Afghanistan now. “I wanted to honor him and thank him.”

Minister Doug Baty officiated.

Cox was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Parsons. He is survived by his parents, Kim and Sharon Cox, and two sisters.

764 deaths

The U.S. Department of Defense reported that as of Sunday, there had been 764 U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan since the 2001.