yellowwing
04-24-10, 05:12 PM
A Brother Marine becomes Command Sgt Maj, passes onto the Pearly Gates in Afghanistan.
Iowa Army soldier dies in Afghanistan
Des Moines Register (http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2010/04/24/iowa-army-soldier-dies-in-afghanistan/)
April 24, 2010
An Army soldier from Reinbeck has died in Afghanistan, defense officials said today.
Command Sgt. Major John “Keith” Laborde, 53, died Thursday at Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan from non-combat related incident, according to officials.
Details about the incident have not been released.
Laborde was part of the 649th Regional Support Group in Cedar Rapids.
First Lt. for the 103rd Expeditionary Support Command Michael Meyer confirmed the death.
“Command Sergeant Major Laborde led a distinguished career of over 31 years in the military. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family here in Iowa, and to his comrades-in-arms still serving in Afghanistan,” Meyer said in a statement.
Laborede, who was deployed overseas 10 times and claimed to have never lost a soldier, enlisted in the Marine Corps in July of 1975. He enlisted in Camp Pendleton, Calif., as an infantry assualtman and served in active duty in Europe, Africa and southwest Asia.
He enlisted in the Army in 1985 and was part of the 1st 389th Engineer Battalion in Middleton and worked as a construction equipment repairer. He transferred to the 649th Regional Support Group in Cedar Rapids in 2007 and was promoted to Command Sergeant Major.
Laborde was deployed with 50 soldiers from the 649th in August to provide management and support operations for forces in Afghanistan.
Laborde was born in Louisiana, according to Army officials. He was an active member of the Reinbeck Lions Club, American Legion Post 242, Holy Family Parish Catholic Church, and was a High School Catechist/Teacher.
He is survived by his wife Lori Laborde, five children and two grandchildren. His family, through Meyer, requested privacy and declined Saturday to speak with the media.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Laborde is the 74th person with Iowa ties killed in Iraq, Afghanistan or other places from combat, illness or accident since the Iraq war began in March 2003.
Iner Larsen, who lives across the street from the Laborde, called him a “terrific serviceman” who had dedicated his life to the military.
Laborde grew up in Louisiana and had lived in Reinbeck for at least a decade, Larsen said.
“He was a terrific serviceman, I’ll tell you that,” Larsen said.
Iowa Army soldier dies in Afghanistan
Des Moines Register (http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2010/04/24/iowa-army-soldier-dies-in-afghanistan/)
April 24, 2010
An Army soldier from Reinbeck has died in Afghanistan, defense officials said today.
Command Sgt. Major John “Keith” Laborde, 53, died Thursday at Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan from non-combat related incident, according to officials.
Details about the incident have not been released.
Laborde was part of the 649th Regional Support Group in Cedar Rapids.
First Lt. for the 103rd Expeditionary Support Command Michael Meyer confirmed the death.
“Command Sergeant Major Laborde led a distinguished career of over 31 years in the military. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family here in Iowa, and to his comrades-in-arms still serving in Afghanistan,” Meyer said in a statement.
Laborede, who was deployed overseas 10 times and claimed to have never lost a soldier, enlisted in the Marine Corps in July of 1975. He enlisted in Camp Pendleton, Calif., as an infantry assualtman and served in active duty in Europe, Africa and southwest Asia.
He enlisted in the Army in 1985 and was part of the 1st 389th Engineer Battalion in Middleton and worked as a construction equipment repairer. He transferred to the 649th Regional Support Group in Cedar Rapids in 2007 and was promoted to Command Sergeant Major.
Laborde was deployed with 50 soldiers from the 649th in August to provide management and support operations for forces in Afghanistan.
Laborde was born in Louisiana, according to Army officials. He was an active member of the Reinbeck Lions Club, American Legion Post 242, Holy Family Parish Catholic Church, and was a High School Catechist/Teacher.
He is survived by his wife Lori Laborde, five children and two grandchildren. His family, through Meyer, requested privacy and declined Saturday to speak with the media.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Laborde is the 74th person with Iowa ties killed in Iraq, Afghanistan or other places from combat, illness or accident since the Iraq war began in March 2003.
Iner Larsen, who lives across the street from the Laborde, called him a “terrific serviceman” who had dedicated his life to the military.
Laborde grew up in Louisiana and had lived in Reinbeck for at least a decade, Larsen said.
“He was a terrific serviceman, I’ll tell you that,” Larsen said.