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Published: February 9th 2009
DoD Identifies Army Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the death of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died from wounds suffered when two OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters crashed Jan. 26 in Kirkuk, Iraq. They were assigned to the 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.
Killed were:
Chief Warrant Officer Philip E. Windorski, Jr., 35, of Bovey, Minn.
Chief Warrant Officer Matthew G. Kelley, 30, of Cameron, Mo. Chief Warrant Officer Joshua M. Tillery, 31, of Beaverton, Ore.
Chief Warrant Officer Benjamin H. Todd, 29, of Colville, Wash.
The incident is under investigation.
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A son, a husband, a father of 2 young children and an awardee of the Bronze Star, Matt was one of the best of us. Our country mournes with his wife, children and family, we have all suffered this loss. Matt was born in NOV 1978 and enlisted in the Army in MAR of 2003. He wasn't fresh out of high school like many enlistees. Matt had run his own business for several years but wanted to join the Army. Boot camp can kick the butt of young 18
One of the many signs in town.
Flags were everywhere in Cameron. As we headed out to the cemetary there were crowds lining the road.year olds, going through it at 24 has to be even harder. Matt attended airborne school and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne. In Nov 2005 Matt recieved a commission as Warrant Officier and soon learned to fly Kiowa Helicopters. Matt had flown over 100 combat hours and was serving as the Battle Captain.
His funeral was at the United Methodist Church in Cameron. The Patriot Guard group from Kansas City started meeting at 10AM that morning they were meeting way south of where I live so I opted to get myself to Cameron. It was 72F and a great day for a ride. Lizard (an ALR member and state captain for the KS Patriot Guard) had emailed out the addresses of the visitation at the funeral home that was Friday night and of the church for Saturday. Cameron is not a large town, less than 10K population. The highway heading into town sported an American flag in front of every house. Once in town that continued and signs appeared in yards and in front of businesses thanking CW2 Kelley for his service and sacrifice. One sign stated "Anti-Military Not Welcome Here". I heard the weirdo picketers from Topeka
Riders Meeting
Riders start to accumulate for the meeting. did show up to protest, but left moments after getting to Cameron. I don't blame them, you don't screw with farmers and ranchers they are used to taking care of problems on their own, not the type to call the police over issues they can deal with. You can mess with people in the city, they are handicapped in dealing with you. But small towners don't have to put up with it and usually there will be a few that will point that out to you should you not know it.
The family of CW2 Kelley had requested that anyone with the right to wear a uniform should wear it. There were a lot of local police, firemen and members of the sheriffs office at the funeral. There were several military, a one star Army General. Even a Cub Scout came in uniform.
Medic (ALR member and local PG road captain) told me that when they escorted the body of CW2 Kelley from the airport to Cameron, every intersection was blocked by a fire truck. Fire departments from all surrounding areas were used as every single road that intersected HWY 36 was blocked. I had noticed lot of
different FD's at the funeral. Medic told me that CW2 Kelley's brother was a fireman in St. Joesph, MO. When I arrived at 12:06 pm on Saturday 2 roads were blocked off by the PG and were covered with motorcycles. One road they were 4 abreast the other was 2 abreast making it now a one way leading into a parking lot. It was in that parking lot that I parked. As I got there and took my helmet off riders were spreading the request for our attendance at the riders meeting. The riders meeting happens at every PG mission. It informs the riders of what the schedule is and how we will fit into that schedule. During the meeting we were informed where the flag lines would be, we were not to smoke, chat, eat or drink in the flag line. There were so many of us that others would come by and tap you out, so allow them to do that. If you needed a break then wave of them down to relieve you. When the services started here the PG would move to the cemetary set up the flag line there. We were informed we were not
STEAMER TALKING
Part of the riders meeting. Steamer from my American Legion Riders Post #370 spoke to the group. there to protest any protestors so if we see any we should ignore them. The father of another fallen hero was there he told us how much he and his family had appreciated the show of support shown when his son was buried and thanked us for doing this. Others spoke including Steamer (ALR member and PG Road Captain) and then there was prayer, these meetings always close with prayer. After the meeting was dismissed we all headed for the flag line.
Lizard pointed me toward an open spot in front of the bikes. The PG had a flag line that went around the entire block. About every 2nd or 3rd person had a flag. Our ALR group provided the flags for the line, I know we have 200 flags in our trailer. I was standing there when Steamer walked up behind our section of the line and asked if anyone here was an Army vet. 2 men responded and he asked for them to follow him. A couple moments later he asked for 2 vets from any service, I responded along with another and we were asked to follow him. The first 2 veterans were formed into a
Patriot Guard Ready to Leave
As soon as the Ceremony started in the UM Church we all packed up to go the the cemetary. flag detail. They were to maintain an Army flag and a US flag that was posted by the church doors. Myself and the other veteran were assigned door detail. I was given the honor of opening one of the double doors for his family and friends as they entered and exited the church on the day of his the funeral. Thanks Steamer.
This detail continued for the next 2 hours. Many people came to the church but did not go in, instead they gathered on the outside of the PG perimeter. One of the fire departments were there with their color guard. The lone piper I have seen at other PG missions was there with several buddies today. There were around 8 of them this day. They were all dressed in regalia and marched the area entertaining the PG members standing the line. Several people from the church came out to listen to the bagpipers. Didn't we all enjoy that distraction. There was a gentleman from the church that came outside to hand out programs to those going in. I asked for one and he gladly handed me one. I put it in my pocket.
As the ceremony
Patriot Guard Ready to Leave
It took me a while to get to the bike, I had been opening the door to visitors. inside started we all packed up and headed toward the cemetary. The roads were indeed full at this time, bikes had been coming the entire time I was there. Whether they came in groups or one at a time, they had been filtering in.
There was only a few miles between the church and the cemetary. CW2 Kelley was going to lay to rest in a small country cemetary, located on the gravel roads in the middle of pastures. There was a long line of bikes getting to the cemetary. All along it citizens and flags were seen lining the roads. We parked in a pasture. Another riders meeting and we were headed to line the country lane with flags. Being pokey I ended up almost at the end, which translates to 'all the way at the far end'. On my journey there I noticed some other ALR riders I knew and went to collect my hugs from them. It was while standing in line that I remembered the program. I got it out and started to read it. I admire these men that will give thier lives for others. That is one of the really sad things about
war is we loose the good ones. In a country with so many worthless scum leaching or stealing, we are loosing men like CW2 Kelley. When I glanced down and saw he had previously been awarded the bronze star it hit me how special he was.
On the back of the program that was handed out was the following essay by a 5th grader. It is one of the strangest things that I have read on a funeral program, but somehow it fit.
I want to be a pilot when I grow up because it’s fun and easy to do. Pilots don’t need much school, they just have to learn numbers so they can read instruments. I guess they should be able to read maps so they can find their way if they get lost. Pilots should be brave so they won’t get scared if it’s foggy and they can’t see or if a wing or motor falls off they should stay calm so they’ll know what to do.
Pilots have to have good eyes so they can see through the clouds and they can’t be afraid of the lightning or thunder because they are closer to them than we are. The salary pilots make is another thing I like. They make more money than they can spend. This is because most people think airplane flying is dangerous except pilots don’t because they know how easy it is. There isn’t much I don’t like, except girls like pilots and all the stewardesses want to marry them and they always have to chase them away so they won’t bother them.
I hope I don’t get airsick because if I do I couldn’t be a pilot and would have to go to work.
A 5th Grader
I had heard 500 bikes came. I would guess that to be correct or even low. As I was walking up the line of bikes in the pasture I stopped counting at 250, there were plenty more, I just got tired of counting.
It was a day ride of 137 miles for me, it was a ride to eternity for CW2 Kelley. Thank you Matt. Your sacrifice and those of your family is recognized by a grateful nation. We do not take it lightly, or with little regard what you have done for us. I want to tell you that I am sorry you had to give so much. I know our
country is not a better place with you gone. Gods speed to you, my prayers for your family.
The Patriot Guard forum on this mission:
Patriot Guard To join the Patriot Guard (Freedom isn't Free but Membership is) go here:
Patriot Guard Home Local media coverage of the funeral:
Fox 4 CameronNews
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Lizard
non-member comment
Thank You
Harley Mom/Techie/US Marine, Thank you for giving your beautiful observations of the days' events. I loved your choice of pictures to pull this all together. You have done justice to this last journey our hero Matthew has taken and I thank you!