Rogers Says Goodbye To Fallen Hero
Last updated Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:12 PM CDT in News
By John Henley Jr.
The Morning News
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ROGERS - Friends and family said goodbye on Tuesday to another Rogers soldier.
Services for Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Lynn Woodham were at the Southside Church of Christ in Rogers with Jackie Chesnutt of Southside officiating.
Woodham died July 5 while serving at Camp Adder, in Tallil, Iraq. His death was noncombat-related.
Images of Woodham - and a few of his father, Lyndle Woodham, who also was a soldier - played on a video screen before the service.
Onlookers were able to see Woodham's transformation from child to teenager to young man to soldier to husband and father, all while remaining a brother and son throughout his life.
Gathered in the sanctuary were more than three dozen men and women in military uniform: generals, colonels, captains, lieutenants, sergeants and other service members.
"Today is all about this family and paying honor and respect to the dedicated service of Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Woodham," said Maj. Gen. William D. Wofford, the adjutant general of the Arkansas National Guard.
"We want to make sure that all military honors are provided and received," Wofford said, emphasizing that Woodham died while in service to his country.
"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived," Wofford told the crowd, reading a quote from Gen. George S. Patton Jr.
Woodham was awarded posthumously the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal and the Arkansas Distinguished Service Medal, which were presented to his family.
Shawn Money, a childhood friend, spoke briefly about the friendship he and Woodham forged as children, about how his friend, Woodham, laughed when Money shot at - and missed - his first deer, and when he dove head-first into the shallow end of a pool and Woodham had to drag him from the water.
Money said Woodham was the first person with whom he shared the news that God had called him into the ministry.
Money remembered faith in God as one of the things he and Woodham shared with one another as teenagers.
Faith was a strong part of Woodham's life, Chesnutt said, recalling that Woodham told his wife, Crystal, "If something happens, I'm ready" and "You'll be taken care of."
Chesnutt encouraged everyone to live as they remembered Woodham living; to "love your family the way you remember Anthony loved his family."
Woodham's casket was wheeled out of the sanctuary after the service and stood open in the foyer of the church.
Several hundred people filed by the casket, paying their respect to Woodham before his body was taken to the Fayetteville National Cemetery in a 2-mile-long processional, according to Rogers Mayor Steve Womack.
Woodham was a mechanic assigned to the Arkansas National Guard Delta Company, 39th Brigade Support Battalion, 39th Brigade Combat Team of Heber Springs. Anthony was deployed to Camp Adder in Iraq in March with the 1st Squadron, 151st Calvary Regiment, 39th Brigade Combat Team out of Warren.
This was Woodham's second deployment. Woodham was six months shy of having his 20 years of service, after which he planned to retire.
At A Glance
Anthony Lynn Woodham
How Woodham was remembered:
• By Jackie Chesnutt, Southside Church of Christ:
As a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a true friend, and a wonderful person.
• By members of the New Mexico National Guard:
As "Shush," which is Navajo for "Bear"; as a friend, as a demanding, knowledgeable section leader, as an adviser and as a leader.
• By others who served with Woodham:
As a brother-in-arms, as a big brother, as "Big Daddy," as someone who was quiet and hardworking, but who could always be counted on to get the job done.
• By Maj. Gen. William D. Wofford, adjutant general of the Arkansas National Guard:
As a true patriot, and as a soldier, which is "the single greatest compliment that can be paid to an individual in uniform."
Source: Staff Report
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