Today my walk was dedicated in honor of:
Army Sgt. John J. Savage, Age 26 of Weatherford, TX.
KIA Dec. 4, 2008 Operation Iraqi Freedom
He was assigned to the 103rd Engineer Company, 94th Engineer Battalion, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
He was killed when a suicide bomber in an SUV broadsided his armored vehicle 50 feet from his base in Mosul. Jared’s family moved to Mineral Wells, Texas when he was very young. After the ninth grade, his mom took him out of the public school and home schooled him until he graduated at 16 years of age. But he had always had dreams of being in the military. Even as a youngster, he replaced his bed with an Army cot and footlocker, painted his room black with netting on the walls, wore camouflage and built a Quonset hunt in the backyard. In 2000, he made his dream come true and joined the military.
He spent a year in the National Guard before transferring to the Army. While in the Army, he served three years in Germany before deploying to Iraq on his first tour and was deployed again in September – he only had four days to go before going on leave. Jared was a charismatic young man with a great sense of humor and a practical joker. He loved Mineral Wells and planned to purchase land and start up an automotive business with his dad when he got out. He had told people that he was fighting the war in Iraq for them so they could live free.
When Jared did make it home, about 100 people filled the sidewalks and grass between the airport terminal and the tarmac – it was their way of saying thank you to the man who gave up so much for them.
We had a great 10.33 Mile walk this morning. We started walking out in the country and ended up down town at the War Memorial Park. I want to thank my friend Robert for walking with us this morning and I want to thank all who honked, waved, and saluted in helping me honor this hero. We had an amazing 244 honks this morning.
Army Sgt. John J. Savage will not be forgotten !
(Note) I want to thank Tabors Pawn & Gun for flying our beautiful colors !
