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An Oklahoma National Guard Soldier killed in Paktia Province, Afghanistan on Nov. 1 will be laid to rest in Arkansas on Friday, Nov. 11, the Oklahoma National Guard Office of Public Affairs announced today.
Spc. Sarina N. Butcher, 19, of Checotah, Okla., and formerly of Blevins, was killed along with another Oklahoma Guard Soldier, Sgt. Christopher D. Gailey, 26, of Ochelata, Okla., after an improvised explosive device detonated near their military vehicle. The Soldiers' unit was on a resupply mission and both were assigned to Company F, 700th Brigade Support Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, based in Tulsa, Okla.
Funeral services with military honors will be held at the Brazzel-Cornish Funeral Home in Prescott, at 2 p.m., and burial will follow in Friendship Cemetery near McCaskill.
Spc. Butcher was posthumously promoted and is the first female Oklahoma National Guard Soldier to be killed during wartime. She is also the youngest Oklahoma Citizen-Soldier to die in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Spc. Butcher joined the guard in April 2010 and was a trained automated logistical specialist. Prior to her death, she had been awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Oklahoma Good Conduct Medal.
"Spc. Sarina Butcher left her friends, family and a young child to help defend our nation," said Maj. Gen. Myles Deering, adjutant general for Oklahoma. "She was a brave young woman who selflessly gave all she had for her country and the other Soldiers that served alongside her. She'll be remembered more for being an outstanding soldier than being the first female Oklahoma National Guardsmen killed in combat."
In all, 14 Soldiers from the 45th have died in Afghanistan since the end of July. In all, 19 Oklahoma Guard Soldiers have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11.
See the full obituary in the "top stories" section.
An Oklahoma National Guard Soldier killed in Paktia Province, Afghanistan on Nov. 1 will be laid to rest in Arkansas on Friday, Nov. 11, the Oklahoma National Guard Office of Public Affairs announced today.
Spc. Sarina N. Butcher, 19, of Checotah, Okla., and formerly of Blevins, was killed along with another Oklahoma Guard Soldier, Sgt. Christopher D. Gailey, 26, of Ochelata, Okla., after an improvised explosive device detonated near their military vehicle. The Soldiers' unit was on a resupply mission and both were assigned to Company F, 700th Brigade Support Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, based in Tulsa, Okla.
Funeral services with military honors will be held at the Brazzel-Cornish Funeral Home in Prescott, at 2 p.m., and burial will follow in Friendship Cemetery near McCaskill.
Spc. Butcher was posthumously promoted and is the first female Oklahoma National Guard Soldier to be killed during wartime. She is also the youngest Oklahoma Citizen-Soldier to die in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Spc. Butcher joined the guard in April 2010 and was a trained automated logistical specialist. Prior to her death, she had been awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Oklahoma Good Conduct Medal.
"Spc. Sarina Butcher left her friends, family and a young child to help defend our nation," said Maj. Gen. Myles Deering, adjutant general for Oklahoma. "She was a brave young woman who selflessly gave all she had for her country and the other Soldiers that served alongside her. She'll be remembered more for being an outstanding soldier than being the first female Oklahoma National Guardsmen killed in combat."
In all, 14 Soldiers from the 45th have died in Afghanistan since the end of July. In all, 19 Oklahoma Guard Soldiers have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11.
See the full obituary in the "top stories" section.
