CENTER POINT — One year later and half a world away, the echo of a distant war reverberated across the Hill Country at a memorial service Tuesday for Army Spc. James Kiehl.

Family and past comrades of Kiehl, 22, shed tears as a cross was placed beside the grave of the lanky Texas newlywed who, on March 23, 2003, became one of America's first casualties of the war in Iraq. The green cross from the Former Texas Rangers Association is a modified version of those that mark the graves of 33 Texas Rangers buried in the Center Point Community Cemetery.

"He's truly a fallen hero in our eyes," association President Joe Davis said of Kiehl, a 2000 graduate of Comfort High School.

Looking on was Capt. Troy King, commander of the 507th Maintenance Co., which lost six other soldiers that day, due largely to breakdowns in equipment, navigation and communications.

"I feel honored that they allowed me to come to the service," said King, 38, unsure of the welcome awaiting him at the first memorial he has attended for one of his troops since returning to Fort Bliss last June.

At the podium was Army Chaplain Scot Koeman, who baptized Kiehl in a pit scraped out of the Kuwaiti desert just 11 days before a wrong turn led the company into enemy-held Nasiriyah as it tried to catch up to its 600-vehicle convoy.

He said Kiehl, who had married 18 months earlier and was expecting a son, seemed to sense his fate in announcing that the time had arrived to heed his parents' call to welcome Jesus into his heart.

"All I was was a harvester," Koeman told the graveside crowd of about 200 on Tuesday. "For many years there were those who had planted the seed and watered it."

After the service, Kiehl's widow, Jill, expressed thanks for the community's support, and a clear distrust of President Bush.

"It's nice to know that there's people who are still remembering James," she said.

Jill Kiehl, who traveled from Iowa with her 10-month-old son, Nathaniel, said the downfall of Saddam Hussein meant the roughly 600 American troops killed in Iraq did not die in vain.

But she's skeptical about why the U.S. invaded Iraq, noting that neither weapons of mass destruction have been found there, nor a convincing link to terrorists.

"I'd say he knew full well what the situation was and he just covered it up or changed it to his liking," she said of Bush. "The full truth I don't think has really come out as to why we went there."

No such sentiments were expressed by Randy Kiehl, James' father, who said he stands behind the president 100 percent. He's still collecting information about his son's final hours, but sees no interest in finger-pointing one year later.

"There were errors made from Fort Bliss all the way through, so who do you hold accountable?" he said.

Funeral In A Small Town In Texas

Specialist James Kiehl, age 22, from Comfort, Texas, was killed, along with six other soldiers at the same place and the same day that Jessica Lynch was taken prisoner. Funeral for Specialist James Kiehl His body was one of those that our special forces heroes dug up with their bare hands near the hospital in Iraq. They held the funeral service in Comfort at the Baptist Church, and then took him ten miles to Center Point, Texas, and buried him.

A friend visited his grave July 4th, and it was a moving experience. He was compelled to offer a salute, and a simple "thank you, son" over the small grave (since he was cremated). There is no head stone as yet, only the metal funeral home tag. At his head are two fairly large American flags, and surrounding the grave are a dozen or more small ones, on sticks stuck in the ground. People have left mementos to honor his life.

The most remarkable thing at the grave is a rather crude sign, evidently made hastily from whatever could be found in a car or van. It reads: To the parents of Spc. James Kiehl. Thank you for your son. His acts of heroism make this a better country and a better world. It is signed by the Boy Scout Troop of East Bernard, Texas, some 200 miles distant. James and Jill Kiehl. Jill, 20, is due to deliver the couple's son in May, 2003.

The follows are notes from Vicki Pierce, James' Aunt, regarding the funeral of Specialist James Kiehl.

"I'm back, it was certainly a quick trip, but I have to also say it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. There is a lot to be said for growing up in a small town in Texas.
The service itself was impressive with wonderful flowers and sprays, a portrait of James, his uniform, his awards and ribbons, his boots. There was lots of military brass and an eloquent (though longwinded) Baptist preacher. There were easily 1000 people at the service, filling the church sanctuary as well as the fellowship hall and spilling out into the parking lot. However, the most incredible thing was what happened following the service on the way to the cemetery.
We went to our cars and drove to the cemetery escorted by at least 10 police cars with lights flashing and some other emergency vehicles, with Texas Rangers handling traffic. Everyone on the road who was not in the procession, pulled over, got out of their cars, and stood silently and respectfully, some put their hands over their hearts; some had small flags. Shop keepers came outside with their customers and did the same thing. Construction workers stopped their work, got off their equipment and put their hands over their hearts, too.
There was no noise whatsoever except a few birds and the quiet hum of cars going slowly up the road. When we turned off the highway suddenly there were teenage boys along both sides of the street about every 20 feet or so, all holding large American flags on long flag poles, and again with their hands on their hearts. We thought at first it was the Boy Scouts or 4F club or something, but it continued .... for two and a half miles. Hundreds of young people, standing silently on the side of the road with flags.
At one point we passed an elementary school, and all the children were outside, shoulder to shoulder holding flags... kindergartners, handicapped, teachers, staff ...everyone. Some held signs of love and support. Then came teenage girls and younger boys, all holding flags. Then adults. Then families. All standing silently on the side of the road. No one spoke, not even the very young children.
The last few turns found people crowded together holding flags or with their hands on their hearts. Some were on horseback. The military presence...at least two generals, a fist full of colonels, and representatives from every branch of the service, plus the color guard which attended James, and some who served with him... was very impressive and respectful, but the love and pride from this community who had lost one of their own was the most amazing thing I've ever been privileged to witness."

US Veterans Dispatch - Spc James Kiehl, missing 3/23/03
Fallen Heros Memorial to Spc James Kiehl

http://howdyyall.com/Texas/Funeral/

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