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Leonard Cowherd Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Leonard Cowherd
Charles Hector
June 16, 2024
Dear Cowherd family, especially Leonard II and Mary Ann. I am sorry it has taken me so long to write this, and I doubt Leonard talked about me much, but he made a large impression on me. My name is Charles Hector, also West Point class of '03 until medically discharged in '02. Your son was in my Beast platoon (1st Platoon, Bravo Company "The Brickyard") I was first squad and he was third. I remember seeing him on R-day. He wasn't hard to spot with that clubbed left foot of his. I distinctly remember wondering how he made it past the med boards, they almost didn't let me in when they found out about my previously torn MCL, lol. On top of boot we had several academic classes and water survival training together. During that time, Leonard taught me more about strength, heart, and determination than anyone else in my life, including my parents (though they did give me a good basis to be able to watch your son and learn). What he taught me has served me well to this very day, a little over 20 years later. He was one of the best soldiers and men I have ever known, a man of true honor and a real life hero. Mr and Mrs Cowherd, please believe that you molded one of the best men to ever grace this mud ball we call Earth. It was an honor to have known him and I'm sorry for your loss.
Sincerely,
Charles "CJ" Hector
Class of 03
Peter Palmer
May 30, 2016
Dear Cowherd family. I learned of your loss by watching the HBO series Letters From Home. Thank you for sharing such a personal story.
Your loss became my loss. Became my loss. Your burden became my burden. In honor of your son in have planted a Minnesota Red Pine at my cabin in northern Minnesota. Every time that I go there I will remember your son.
God bless you.
Peter Palmer
Minnesota
November 4, 2012
In memory of Leonard Cowherd.
Peggy Childers
May 16, 2012
To the family and friends of 2nd Lt. Leonard M. Cowherd:
Always remembering Leonard. "Some gave all."
2LT Ryan Garnett Cowherd
February 29, 2012
I respect our veterans for their service to our country, my thoughts are always with you.
Dean Settle
May 31, 2011
To Leonard and Mary Ann, I stopped by Arlington over the weekend to pay my respects to your son and his immense service to our country.
I hope that God has placed his hands on your family and helped you heal in this loss. I am in awe of your sacrifice as I am with Leonard lll's sacrifice for his fellow man. I fully expect(as a marine) to see at least two United States Army Tankers guarding the pearly gates when I get there.
All my love, Dean Settle
L Neal
May 29, 2011
To the family of 2nd Lt. Leonard M. Cowherd:
Please know that just as your loved one remains in your hearts and minds; his sacrifice, and that of your family, remains with the people he died defending. Words cannot express the gratitude we feel for his bravery and selflessness, or the heartache we feel for your loss. God bless and keep you always.
Peggy Childers
May 16, 2011
To the family and friends of 2nd Lt. Leonard M. Cowherd:
Please accept my remembrance of Leonard on the anniversary of his passing and know that he will never be forgotten.
Peggy Childers
May 16, 2010
To the family and friends of 2nd Lt. Leonard M. Cowherd:
Remembering Leonard on the anniversary of his passing. May our fallen heroes never be forgotten!
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org
Kenna larra
October 12, 2009
”Honor and Remember” - “Project Compassion” We love our Soldiers! We love our country and we cannot express enough love and compassion to the families of our fallen heroes. War does not discriminate – It breaks our hearts to see the faces of the fallen. We want to give this gift to you. We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization! Over 1,800 portraits have been completed and shipped to the parents and or spouse - at no cost as this is a gift from one American to another!
Mothers and/or Fathers, of our heroes, please be aware that the Project Compassion sponsors will now help cover the costs of the portraits for you to have one - regardless if the spouse of the hero has one or not!
Contact us directly at [email protected]. or go to www.heropaintings.com . If you have already had a portrait completed, we pray that you are enjoying the portrait and bless you.
Sincerely and Respectfully,
Kenna
Project Compassion
P.O. Box 153
Manti, Utah 84642
Peggy Mertz
August 19, 2009
To the family of 2nd Lt. Leonard M. Cowherd, my thoughts and prayers are with your family. We, the Military Affairs Committe of Hampton, Va recogize those we have lost on 9-11 and those we have lost on the war on Terror. We invite family members that have lost loved ones to a observance we hold every 9-11 in Hampton, Va. We have read your son's name during our ceremony since 2007. If you are ever interested in attending our observance, you are always welcome.
My name is Peggy Mertz, you can reach me at [email protected]
Peggy Childers
May 16, 2009
To the family of 2nd Lt. Leonard M. Cowherd:
Leonard gave the ultimate sacrifice and will be held in the hearts of Americans forever. I cannot and will not let our fallen heroes be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to you. "Some gave all."
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org
The Neal family
May 24, 2008
To the family of 2nd Lt. Cowherd,
Please know that just as your loved one will remain in your hearts and minds, his sacrifice and that of your family, will remain with the people he died defending. Words cannot express the gratitude we feel for his bravery and selflessness, or the heartache we feel for your loss. God grant you the peace that passes all understanding.
In Memory of Leonard ~ (Debra Estep)
May 16, 2008
Holding you all in my thoughts and prayers.
The Wind on The Downs
“I like to think of you as brown and tall,
As strong and living as you used to be,
In khaki tunic, Sam Brown belt and all,
And standing there and laughing down at me.
Because they tell me, dear, that you are dead,
Because I can no longer see your face,
You have not died, it is not true, instead
You seek adventure in some other place.
That you are round about me, I believe;
I hear you laughing as you used to do,
Yet loving all the things I think of you;
And knowing you are happy, should I grieve?
You follow and are watchful where I go.”
(Written by Marian Allen during World War l )
Two lines that I wish you to keep near your heart…….
“You seek adventure in some other place.
That you are round about me, I believe”
I did not know Leonard, but I am remembering
his service. He is my hero. !
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Other Side
i'm over on the other side
where life and death softly divide.
left my skin and bones behind
now i'm over on the other side.
can you feel me there with you?
my breath is gone but i'm not through.
loved you then and i still do
from over on the other side.
i can fly. really fly.
below the earth ... all through the sky.
tell em all i did not die.
i'm just over on the other side.
it's good here on the other side.
the sweetest songs...the bluest skies.
thank you for the tears you cried
but it's good here on the other side.
i can fly. really fly. below the earth...all through the sky.
tell em all i did not die.
i'm just over on the other side
the world is smaller than a needle's eye.
where life and death softly divide.
when you leave your skin and bones behind
i'll be waiting on the other side.
i can fly. really fly. below the earth ... all through the sky.
go tell em all i did not die.
i'm just over on the other side.
Song lyrics by Don Conoscenti
C Desert Muse/SESAC
www.donconoscenti.com
(Used with permission)
“I hope it brings great comfort to any and all.
Peace on you. DonCon” 4-2008
Visit this link to hear the song.
The Other Side –
http://tinyurl.com/3o8gol
Sincerely,
Deb Estep ~ Ohio
Proud Air Force Mom and MIL
Remembering The Fallen – Blog
http://tinyurl.com/3z8p55
Please contact me and I will email you back a copy of my
Angel and soldier drawing I have shared here.
April 5, 2008
You are remembered and respected. Thank you 2nd Lt Cowherd!
Floyd Austin Peek
December 20, 2007
Another fallen hero, he will not be forgotten. I also lost my son Michael in Iraq. There are so many that are truly thankful for your sons unselfish service for all of us in this country.
Charles Kottmyer
September 4, 2007
I had the pleasure of flying over to Iraq with LT Cowherd. We went through training at Baghdad International Airport and my unit supported the Armour Battalion he was in. We spoke many times and he would always tell me "Thanks 1SG for all the help getting me over here". I got to speak to him shortly before his death in our tent in Karbala and he came up and gave me a hug and said how it was good to see each other. He will be missed dearly by all his brothers in arms.
Rest in peace Brother.
1SG Charles E. Kottmyer
Former B Co. 16th Engineer Battalion First Sergeant
August 9, 2007
There is nothing that I can say or do to take away the pain or bring you peace in your time of sorrow, but I will offer you and your family my heart felt condolences. I also offer you my prayers that in time the pain will easy and the memories of your HERO will carry you through each day and night. I want to thank your HERO, for his/her selfless act of becoming a member of the armed forces, his/her willingness to defend the United States of America, all that we hold sacred and for the sacrifice that will forever be etched in the memories of all those who knew him/her. Though tears can never bring him/her back, we hope that our tears express our gratitude for the sacrifice that he/she made and our sorrow at his/her passing. I believe for every fallen HERO there is a star shining brightly up above to remind us of the precious gift we were given.
Your mission on earth is complete and you are now a member of GOD’s Heavenly armed forces. Stand down brave warrior and take your rightful place in Heaven with all the HEROES who have passed before.
I made a special promise to LE RON A. WILSON (KIA on 07/06/07) on the day he was laid to rest as I touched his coffin, that I would never forget him nor would I forget those that gave their lives for our country before him, with him and after him and so when I came across www.legacy.com, I thought what a great way to keep my promise to Le Ron, so I will continue to leave tributes in each guest book until the day there is no longer the need to leave these tributes to a FALLEN HERO.
REST IN PEACE, HERO, YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!!
PROUD MOTHER OF A U.S. SOLDIER
Althea Barrett(Queens, NY)
July 10, 2007
Thank you for the sacrifice made by 2nd Lt Cowherd and the sacrifice made by everyone who loves and misses him! May God bless all of you!!
Garnet Jenkins
May 16, 2007
May the Peace of God and the memories of 2nd Lt. Leonard M. Cowherd, remain in your heart always.
Please know how deeply sorry I was, to learn of the loss of your Brave Young Soldier. A Multitude of Thanks, for his Courage, Dedication and Service to our Country and for Freedom.
Those who Made this Ultimate Sacrifice, So Many and So Young, shall Never Be Forgotten, my brother among them. Killed in action in Vietnam in 1967.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." - John 15:13 ~
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Cindy Hollerich
February 14, 2007
Len and MaryAnn:
You two are very special people. I am so grateful for the chance to meet the two of you.
Thanks you for the tour of Arlington. As long as you two are around I know other families will find peace with your help.
Your friend
Cindy
Roy Cowherd
February 6, 2007
I am Roy Cowherd, of the Cowherds of Taylor County, Kentucky, extracted from those of Culpepper County. We have a very strong military tradition, and to boot I have twin Cowherd sons, small ones, so reading about Leonard's death in the NY Times was triply shocking. One of them, Robert Henry Cowherd, is, like Leonard, also a "III". I could only hope one my twin sons grows up to be like either Leonard or Charles, is all I can say. Leonard II isn't unlucky. He was lucky to have Leonard III as a son.
Tom Gugliuzza-Smith
May 17, 2006
My heartfelt sympathy to the Cowherd family in the loss of Leonard. I did not know Leonard, but my heart is broken and I am saddened for your loss of such a fine young person and hero. May God bring you peace in your heart as you reflect on all the wonderful memories you hold so close. Please know that you are in my heart and prayers. Leonard it has been 2 years since you were taken. You are a hero and you will never be forgotten.
I send each of you a hug from the most inner part of my heart.
Love and Peace
Tom
To live in the hearts
of those you leave behind
is never to die"
~Robert Orr~
Jamie Graves
September 25, 2005
God Bless~Land of the free,because of the brave..(Jamie,Navy wife)
Leonard M. Cowherd II
August 7, 2005
Many thanks to all who have written in this guest book.
Leonard's Dad
Alexander Clary
February 25, 2005
To the Family of Lt. Cowherd:
I am a retired Police Officer from Va. (also Culpeper area '91-'98) and I am currently working in Karbala Iraq as an Advisor to the Iraqi Police. I can tell you that Lt. Cowherds service to this nation lives on everyday. I see constant change in a positive way and receive constant Thanks from the locals for our nation being here. Lt. Cowherd is a true hero in the building of a new nation of Democracy. After 35 years as a Cop, his sacrifice and others has re-invigorated us to continue the "mission" ! THANK YOU !
linda & wayne brooks
June 18, 2004
Dear Sarah, Beth and family.
Our thoughts are with you at this tragic time. I have known you all for so long and think the world of you and your family.
We pray for you at his grievous time. May your family know you and yours are loved.
Jan Gonyaw
June 11, 2004
With deepest sympathy. My prayers will be with you and your family.
Garnett Hutchinson
June 8, 2004
You don't know me by name, but I see both Sarah and Beth at Curves on a regular basis. I read this obituary but didn't put two and two together until today. I am so very sorry for this loss. I pray for God's comfort for you. I am so thankful for brave men like Leonard who selflessly fight for our freedom. Please accept my heartfelt condolences.
Nigel Paling
June 7, 2004
With deepest sympathy from all of Tony's UK colleagues.
Bev Slaughter
May 28, 2004
My most sincere condolences to the families of Leonard and my greatest respect for this fallen son. "No greater love has any man then to lay down his life for his country"
Alicia Smith
May 27, 2004
Dear friends and family: I taught CDT Cowherd at USMA. I was proud of him then as a bright shining young man, and cannot express how proud I was of his becoming an officer of the United States Army. He epitomized all that we hope for in the officer corps: honor, loyalty, strength of character, and integrity. I give honor to the town and the people who helped to make him a hero from the day he left Michie stadium in 2003. I grieve for his family, his widow and her family, and for his soldiers. Know please that my prayers are with you all, that God will strengthen and comfort you now and always. Respectfully, Major Alicia Smith
Michael Hoffpauir
May 24, 2004
One of America's (and Virginia's) finest sons who has paid the ultimate price to preserve the freedoms we so deeply cherish. Our deepest condonlences to his young bride, his family, and friends from the Long Gray Line.
Pat and Kathy Patton and Family
May 23, 2004
Words can not express the grief we feel for your families. He was very loved and respected and will be truly missed by all. Our prayers will be with you now and always. GOD BLESS
Johnise and Steve Nuttycombe
May 22, 2004
Dear Sarah and Family, Our thoughts are with you during this time. We hope that your happy memories will bring some comfort to you...God bless. Johnise & family
Bernard,Mildred,Janet Lockstampfor
May 21, 2004
Dear Families,
You are in our thoughts and prayers.We prayer daily and throughout the day for Our Military. We are thankful for All our military. May Our God give you comfort at this time of loss. Matthew 5:4 says, Blessed are those that mourn for they shall be comforted. May His loving arms surround you and give you peace.
God Bless You.
In Christian Prayer, The Lockstampfor's
John 3:16
Joanne Burgio
May 21, 2004
What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.
May God grant rest to Leonard and peace to the Cowherd and Cerri family.
Joshua E. Cooper
May 21, 2004
My condolences are with the families of this fallen hero. May God continue to bless each and every one of you holistically and in peace.
Sincerely,
Joshua E. Cooper
Joint Forces Command
Joint Experimentation
William Fleser
May 21, 2004
I wanted to express my condolences to you and your family on the loss of this great American. We are all poorer for his loss, but at the same time are in awe of his honorable service. Our prayers are with you.
Debra Stokes
May 21, 2004
Sarah and The Family, (CERRI's and COWHERD's)
May God be with you all during this tragic time. I do not know you personally, but does have a great respect for your Father (Tony). My thoughts and prayers will be with you and the family and remember if God bring you to it, He will bring your through it.
Debra Stokes (Worked for Tony Cerri at J9, Suffolk, VA)
Nancy O'Malley
May 21, 2004
Tony and Beth
My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Nancy
Hugh Blanchard
May 21, 2004
My wife Kate and I both want to express our sorrow and our sympathy for your loss. We will keep you in our prayers.
Sincerely,
Hugh and Kate Blanchard
Majors, US Army (Retired)
Dawn Hyer
May 21, 2004
May you have and receive all of the love and strength you need during this difficult time and to live happily, remembering him with joy.
Cathy Moran
May 21, 2004
I work for Tony Cerri and will continue to pray your family during your adjustment to this tragic loss.
Lt Colonel (Ret) Kevin Rasmussen
May 21, 2004
Words cannot express my sympathy for your loss. As a former West Point guy who went to the Air Force I was in awe after reading about Leonard's life. I'm sad and proud for him and your family, a hero who like a brightly burning candle...God rest his soul.
Lee Sawyer
May 21, 2004
Thank God for brave men like Leonard who gave his life for our freedom and for the freedom of others. Remember that Christ gave His life for us to free us from the burden of sin. May God richly bless the family during this time.
Tom Mathias
May 21, 2004
My thoughts and prayers are with you and yours.
Nadine Carmody
May 21, 2004
Although I did not know 2LT Cowherd I send heartfelt sympathy to his family and especially to Sarah.
Fondly,
Nadine
Nicky Hargrove
May 21, 2004
Your memories of your love one will be your strength. Continue to share your stories and his memory will live forever.
Melinda Cowherd Cook
May 21, 2004
I am so sorry I didn't get to meet this special cousin at the Cowherd Reunion. God Bless the loved ones he left behind.
Scott and Eleanor Cowherd
May 21, 2004
Dear Cowherd Cousins,
We really can't find the right words to express our deep sorrow, but hope that it helps to know how much we care and share in your great loss. What more can a young man give for God and country than to sacrifice his precious life. You have been in our thoughts and prayers since we heard this sad and devastating news from another cousin early Tuesday morning.
Praying, Scott and Eleanor
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