Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

Home › News › Local News

Burying one of their own

Entire honor guard knew fallen Highlands Ranch soldier

By Myung Oak Kim, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 21, 2008 at 9:48 a.m.
Updated November 21, 2008 at 11:53 p.m.

Text size  
A beam of light illuminates Launa Stiles as she holds the flag given to her at the funeral for her husband at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver. Stiles was killed last week in Afghanistan after a bomb blew up near his vehicle in Jalalabad while he was serving with the Army National Guard. He had survived a similar attack in October.

Photo by Darin McGregor / The Rocky

A beam of light illuminates Launa Stiles as she holds the flag given to her at the funeral for her husband at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver. Stiles was killed last week in Afghanistan after a bomb blew up near his vehicle in Jalalabad while he was serving with the Army National Guard. He had survived a similar attack in October.

A horse-drawn hearse carries the casket of Sgt. Jon Stiles during his funeral on Friday.

Photo by Darin McGregor / The Rocky

A horse-drawn hearse carries the casket of Sgt. Jon Stiles during his funeral on Friday.

Please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player, or enable JavaScript for your browser to view the video player.

Related Links

More Local News

More stories »

Map my news

This time, the six sergeants in white gloves and crisp blue uniforms couldn't keep their composure as they saluted the polished wooden casket.

Tears rolled down the cheek of Staff Sgt. Brian Carver.

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Landers' chin shook violently.

Each member of this honor guard, all Colorado National Guardsmen, had carried caskets in many funerals for soldiers and Marines who had died overseas.

But now they were preparing to bury one of their own.

Sgt. Jon Stiles, 38, of Highlands Ranch, was buried Friday at Fort Logan National Cemetery in a service he knew inside and out.

Before deploying to Afghanistan in March, Stiles had volunteered for years in the honor guard, presenting U.S. flags to relatives of dead soldiers.

"He understood that these guys who served before us deserved to have somebody fold the flag and present it to the next of kin," said Staff Sgt. Leonard Fahrni, who played taps and had participated in 20 to 30 funerals with Stiles.

"Jon was the kind of guy who would step up to the plate and do that kind of thing. He realized that he's part of a tradition that's ongoing."

Fahrni said the entire honor guard at the funeral knew Stiles and wanted to be there.

"We all hoped that years from now . . . that somebody would do this for us. Unfortunately, with Jon's case, it happened now."

Stiles was the third Colorado National Guardsman to die in recent fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. He died Nov. 13 after an improvised explosive device blew up near his vehicle in Jalalabad.

Maj. Gen. H. Michael Edwards, commander of the Colorado National Guard, praised Stiles for his commitment to his country. He said Stiles volunteered for a particularly dangerous mission - to clear roads of IEDs.

That's why Stiles had deployed with the Louisiana National Guard, which didn't have enough soldiers for the job.

He had been in Afghanistan since March and spent his days as a gunner atop vehicles in road-clearing missions.

In October, Stiles was injured in a similar explosion but still helped rescue other members of his unit, Edwards said.

Stiles was born in Bartlesville, Okla., and graduated from Broomfield High School. He spent about a decade in the Marines and the Army before returning to civilian life.

He was devoted to his wife, Launa. They would have celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary last Tuesday.

In 2006 and 2007, he studied aviation at Metropolitan State College of Denver.

Ryan Vergara-Manga took classes with Stiles. He said Stiles was generous and helped other students study for exams.

Vergara-Manga, a member of the Colorado Air National Guard, said Stiles didn't like civilian life and decided to enlist full time in the Army National Guard in 2007.

"It was what he really wanted to do - be a soldier," he said.

A service was held at Mount ainview Community Christian Church in Highlands Ranch.

In addition to his wife, Stiles is survived by his father, Lynn Stiles, and Lynn's wife, Cecelia; his mother Linda Barnett and her husband Larry of Missouri; sister Natalie Stiles of Lackland Air Force Base in Texas; brother Charles Lynn Stiles and his wife and children of Missouri; Kenneth Stiles of Ohio; grandparents Maxine and Kenney Stiles of Missouri.

Comments

  • November 21, 2008

    12:35 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Squatch writes:

    Thanks for your service and Rest in Peace Sgt. Stiles my prayers are with your Family.

  • November 21, 2008

    1:31 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    rovertinca writes:

    Our country is lucky to have men like Jon: a real role model, hero, and patriot. Thank you Jon...

  • November 21, 2008

    1:51 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    bubba17 writes:

    Using a soldier's funeral to vent one's political frustrations is a disgrace. Incidentally, Ritter is out of the country on an economic development mission to Asia. Lieut. Gov Barbara O'Brien was at the funeral today.

  • November 21, 2008

    2:14 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SlouchingTowardBoulder writes:

    A grateful nation gives you its gratitude Sgt. Stiles for your honorable service and your ultimate sacrifice.

    My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, his family and his friends and I thank you for Sgt. Stiles' service in protecting our country.

  • November 21, 2008

    3 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Squatch writes:

    It's a shame that over the last few days people have left hundreds of negitive post about the Marine who faked his death but cant come to this story and post a heart felt condolence for Sgt. Stiles.

  • November 21, 2008

    3:43 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Fancy_chance writes:

    God Bless him and may he rest in peace. Another great American lost. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

  • November 21, 2008

    3:51 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    opinionatedcolo writes:

    Farewell to a brave man. He served our causes well and freely and he is due great respect as upholding the ideals we hold dear. May his family remain in our thoughts.

  • November 21, 2008

    4:32 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    seeker writes:

    Rest in peace, Jon. Your sacrifice is more than anyone should have to give. Thank you for your service. God bless your family and friends and thank you from a grateful nation. Jon was a hero who served his country and you should be proud of him. Semper Fi!

  • November 21, 2008

    6:25 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    HollyGoLightly writes:

    I watched the video posted above and I am grateful I did. I shed tears of pain for his family left behind and tears of gratitude for his service for our country. My condolences to his family and friends. May this hero now rest in peace. Thank you for your service, Good Sir.

  • November 22, 2008

    2:29 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    leonard55 writes:

    Ms Kim states that we have performed many ceremonies for soldiers who died overseas. Actually, in the 600+ for which I have been the bugler since 2005, the great majority were veterans who served in WWII, Korea, Viet Nam or during the times between those conflicts.
    Also, I concur - the Governor was on a trip to China and the Lt Governor was absolutely the picture of grace for the couple of seconds it took to shake her hand.
    Thank goodness for men like Jon