David Allen Cooper Jr.

David Allen Cooper, Jr. April 26, 2007 - September 5, 2007 Sergeant First Class David Allen Cooper, Jr., age 36, of 8039 Salem Place, Fort Lewis, Wash., was killed Sept. 5 2007, while serving in the U.S. Army in Iraq. David was born April 26, 1971, in Euclid, Ohio. The son of David A. Cooper St., and the former Wanda L. Wynn. From his earliest days as a youth, David's only dream was to serve the U.S. Army. he displayed academic excellence throughout his school years including two years in the gifted program, but chose to forgo college and enlisted in the Army Reserves during his Junior year of High School in 1988. During Desert Storm in 1991, David's reserve unit was activated and he served at the New Cumberland Army Depot in Camp Hill, Pa. Immediately after Desert Storm he enlisted full time in the Army and Trained as an M1 Abrams tank crewman at Ft. Knox, Ky., where he excelled . In subsequent years, he rose through the position of gunner, where he consistently shot the highest scores of the company, to that of a tank commander. As part of an armored cavalry unit, he was eligible for and completed a voluntary, rigorous training program where he won his spurs and was awarded the high honor of being inducted into the Order of the Spurs. After relocating to Ft. Lewis, Wash., David served as an Army Liaison with local reserve unites for 3 years and then trained as a Platoon Sergeant in the Army's newest fighting vehicle, the MGS Stryker. David was instrumental in helping develop the training of a new variant mounting a 105mm cannon, the fighting doctrine and crew members. He deployed with his unit to Iraq in April of 2007. David dedicated his life to his country and he beloved Army, where he served with great pride and distinction. He earned the respect of his superior officers and was revered by the men in his platoon who looked up to him as a "dad". In his last letter to his mother he wrote in part that he would rather fight bad people there himself than have his sons do it, or have them here at home. He left behind a wife, the former Michelle A. Randall, they were united in marriage April 27, 2005; two sons, Drake and Gage of Port Matilda; a brother, SSG Michael R., currently serving in the U.S. Army in Darmstadt, Germany; and his mother and father, Wanda L. and David A. Sr., of Jersey Shore, Pa. He was a beloved husband, father, brother, son and soldier. His passing has torn a piece from all of our hearts which will never heal, and we will miss him for the rest of our lives. Funeral services will be Thursday evening, Sept. 13, 2007, at 7 p.m., in the Frederick B. Welker Funeral Home, 125 N. Main Street, Jersey Shore. Rev. Bernard Wynn will officiate. Friends may call from 5 p.m., Thursday, until time of services in the funeral home. Burial with full military honors will be in the Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday, Sept., 18, 2007, at 11 a.m. A memorial service will also be held Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007, at 11 a.m., at Fort Lewis, Washington. In lieu of flowers the family suggests the memorials be made in David's name to FRG BRAVO CO Fund, Building 3243 Hanerich Ave., Fort Lewis, WA 98433.