Friends fondly recall Garrison (Fallen in Iraq)

Freeport Journal-Standard ^ | 5 May 04 | Travis Morse

[Mr. Silverback]

The story about his funeral was not available online. A Brigadier general who spoke called Garrison a hero three times over because he was a firefighter, a cop and a soldier. He was born to his final rest on the back of a Port Byron fire truck and accorded full honors by his colleagues from all three of his brave vocations.

If you would like to leave a message for his family, you can do so here. Obituary follows:

Sgt. Landis W. Garrison
RAPIDS CITY -- Sgt. Landis W. Garrison, 23, of Rapids City, died Thursday, April 29, 2004, while serving his country in Abu Gharb, Iraq, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, from a 9mm accidental discharge.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. [May 9th] at Riverdale High School in Port Byron.

Pastor Kathy Remley of First Baptist Church in Cordova will officiate the services.

Burial will be at Coal Valley Cemetery.

The family requests that memorials be made to the Port Byron Fire Fighters Association or to the family.

Landis was born Jan. 8, 1981, in Moline, the son of Randy and Leah Garrison of Rapids City. Landis was a graduate of Riverdale High School with the class of 1999.

Landis graduated boot camp and AIT at Fort Leonardwood, Mo., on March 31, 2000, Co. A 795th MP Battalion. Landis was currently assigned with the Army National Guard unit, 333rd Military Police Co. of Freeport.

While with the 333rd, he helped with the Quad Cities flood of 2001 and served airport security duty after Sept. 11, 2001, at Chicago O'Hare and Peoria airports for several months. Landis completed training with the 333rd in Germany and Nicaragua.

He attended several Fire College classes while with the Port Byron Fire Department and was completing police training with the Hampton Police Department before departure to Iraq. Landis was deployed Feb. 9, 2003, with a departure ceremony for Operation Iraqi Freedom on March 3, 2003. Landis left for Iraq in April.

While in school, Landis was involved in Cub Scouts Den 4 Pack 304, Port Byron. He was an East Moline Police Explorer with Post 9594, an achieved rank of Captain. While still in high school, he joined the Port Byron Fire Department. He was a volunteer with DCFS as a mentor.

Landis was involved in the family businesses of Quality Repair Inc., Quality Snow Removal, Quality Trucking Inc., all in Colona. Landis was employed part-time at Grisham's Towing Service in Hampton. Landis was a part-time police officer for the Hampton Police Department.

Landis loved life and a good challenge, family, friends and flashing lights (the more the better).

He was an avid WLLR country music fan and enjoyed line dancing, was a John Deere toy collector (big and small). Landis loved working at the shop, driving a semi, running heavy equipment, and especially plowing snow. Landis made everyone laugh no matter what their mood. Nothing was more dressier then a pair of Wranglers, big belt buckle, cowboy hat and a pair of Oakley sunglasses.

He was proud to serve his country, fellow officers and help people of all walks of life.

Survivors include his parents, Randy and Leah Garrison of Rapids City; a brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth and April Musser of Port Byron; sister and brother-in-law, Amber and Bradley Peterson of Orion; grandparents, Landis and Elizabeth Garrison of Coal Valley and Lela Roselieb of Erie and Sally Musser of Cordova; uncles and aunts, Mike and Cindy Garrison, Jeff and Pam Miller, Rick and Pat Edie, Darrell and Marilyn Roselieb, Jerry Roselieb and David and Georgia Cooper; several cousins; and two very special nephews, Hayden Musser and Brady Peterson.

Landis had a secondary family whom are very special to him, John, Trena, Tony, Jessica and Adam DeCap, and many other special friends who know who they are.

Landis was preceded in death by his grandfather, Oscar (Ted) Roslieb.

[Mr. Silverback]

O Beautiful for heroes proved...

Please ping your lists, come over, etc. I think we should give this young man a proper Freeper sendoff.

[lilylangtree]

Thanks. I posted a short message to his family. Sad!

[StarCMC]

Sad news ping -- he looks like he was a great guy!! Prayers for his family!

[Johnny Gage]

Sgt. Landis W. Garrison
Rest In Peace Soldier

 

Attention All Stations:
It is with deep regret that we announce the
Death of FF/Soldier Sgt. Landis W. Garrison
Alarm Bell 5-5-5-5 shall now sound
All Stations are Clear and In Service

[Mr. Silverback]

Ping.

[Darksheare]

He resembles Sgt Miller from my old unit.

[Mr. Silverback]

Thanks Johnny. Should have thought to ping you, and I'm glad you came.

[dandelion]

Thank you for the link - I left a message for his family at the FallenHeroes website. War is all hell; no one can honestly say that it is anything but hell. Thus, the meaning of sacrifice - to give up that which is beautiful and lovely, in exchange for death.

Why?

To Landis Garrison, we were worth it. Freedom was worth it. We should never forget that in this War on Terror, thousands of men and women thought WE were worthy of their personal sacrifice, and willingly gave their lives to save us from these monsters who would behead us, torture us, blow us to bits...

We should try our best to be worthy of gift, bought in blood.

[Soaring Feather]

So sorry.

[Conspiracy Guy]

My prayers to his family and friends in their time of loss.

Dear Heavenly Father may Sgt Garrison's loved ones find peace in having known this man while on his life journey. Father, comfort them with the knowledge that You have taken him into Your loving arms.

Amen

[apackof2]

Hero bump

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS

[Americanwolf]

Thanks for the post reminding us of the cost of freedom.

A slow Salute to another brave warrior. He sounds like a man who lived to serve. There are too few that we hear about anymore. I Thank God everyday that we have people like Sgt. Garrison in this world. He and his family like all soldiers defending freedom and liberty around the world will be in my prayers always.

"It is sad as I watch another brother pass on his way to his final post in the sky, but as you turn and a smile and offer a sharp salute I know that in time I will again serve by his side. I tip my glass drink a toast, and offer you my brother a slow salute till we meet again to serve our duty again."
--- Mark Mothersead
A toast of honor and respect to all of our fallen brothers and sisters that have passed defending freedom and liberty everywhere.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Sgt. Landis W. Garrison, 23, of Rapids City, Illinois - died April 29th as a result of an accidental gunshot wound while serving with the Freeport-based 333rd Military Police Unit, of the Illinois National Guard, currently stationed in Iraq.

"I can't remember a day when I didn't see at least a little bit of a smile on Landis' face," said Mike Poel, a close friend of Garrison's and assistant fire chief for the Port Byron Fire Department, where Garrison served as a volunteer firefighter. "Every picture I've got of him, (he's) grinning ear to ear. ... He was the quintessential guy that could take the lemons and make lemonade."

Mr. Silverback: "The story about his funeral was not available online. A Brigadier general who spoke called Garrison a hero three times over because he was a firefighter, a cop and a soldier. He was born to his final rest on the back of a Port Byron fire truck and accorded full honors by his colleagues from all three of his brave vocations."

          

          ~*Sgt. Landis W. Garrison*~

                             ~  ~

                         

[SAMWolf]

Firefighter, soldier, bump

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Criminal Number 18F]

RIP Landis Garrison,

... a brother I never met.

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F.

[SandRat]

Sgt. Landis W. Garrison
Rest In Peace Soldier/Fireman