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    DILLON BLACK FOX MEMORIAL

  • Jan-Michael Stump

    DILLON BLACK FOX MEMORIAL
February 20, 2010

Fallen soldier is mourned

'Free spirit,' father died in Afghanistan

BY SHERI McWHIRTER

Traverse City -- Soldier and poet. U.S. Army Sgt. Dillon Black Foxx fit into both worlds.

An explosion in western Afghanistan killed Foxx, 22, of Traverse City, on Feb. 5 as he served his second tour of duty. His memorial service on Friday in Traverse City began with a poem he wrote for family and friends during his first tour in Afghanistan.

It was meant to be read if he died in action.

"I'm sure there will be some heartache, and I know that you'll cry tears. But your son is a soldier now, Mom. There is nothing you should fear," recited the Rev. Justin Grimm, who officiated at the service.

Nearly 400 mourners attended the memorial at Northwestern Michigan College's Hagerty Center. They were greeted by a black and white photograph of Foxx, cradling his infant son's head in the palm of his hand and lifting the child into a ray of sunlight, a wide smile on his face.

The photograph drew the attention of Cathy Crowley, of Peshawbestown, a longtime friend of Foxx's mother, Trina Pfau, of Manton.

"I look at that sheer joy on his face and know his family and friends had that joy for him," she said.

Others fondly remembered Foxx.

U.S. Army Spc. Jonathan Buchs came from Foxx's unit in Afghanistan to attend the memorial service. Buchs served with Foxx during both his deployments.

"He'd asked if I'd be his escort if anything should happen, and I asked if he'd do the same for me. When we said it, we didn't think we'd ever have to do it," Buchs said, tears welling. "He was an awesome soldier, a great guy. He was such a free spirit. He was always smiling and always wanted to have a good time. I'm just going to miss him, you know?"

The memorial service included military honors, complete with gun salute. Pfau clutched a neatly folded American flag presented to her, then kissed her fingers and touched the bronze urn that held her son's ashes.

Family members were overwhelmed with grief, often dabbing eyes with tissues or trying to quiet the cries of Foxx's 7-month-old son, Kaiden Levi Foxx.

"He had a bigger heart than anybody I've ever known. He was my world," said Linda Gale, Foxx's grandmother, unable to hold back tears. "I taught him to put a worm on a hook and taught him to fish. I taught him to drive and I bought him his first bicycle."

Foxx's older brother, Lance Cpl. Chad Stewart of the U.S. Marines, said he worries about missed time with his brother.

"You can't make up for that now. It's gone and it won't come back," he said.

Stewart said he'll miss his brother's mesmerizing smile. Stewart is set to serve in Afghanistan later this year, he said.

Foxx was a forward observer with the U.S. Army's 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

Reports from the U.S. Department of Defense said Foxx died when a bomb exploded near his unit while on patrol in the Murghab District in western Afghanistan.

Foxx enlisted in the Army in May 2006 when he was 18, about a year after moving back to Traverse City from Tennessee. He was deployed to Afghanistan for a 15-month tour in January 2007, then was promoted to sergeant two years later. He went to Afghanistan in August for a second tour of duty, according to military records.

Foxx received many awards and decorations during his time as a soldier, including the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Action Badge and the Basic Parachutist Badge. Foxx's family was presented with his Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart during the memorial service.

Foxx is the sixth soldier from northwestern Lower Michigan to die in Afghanistan or Iraq in recent years, the second from Traverse City. His name will be added to a memorial at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Cherryland Post 2780 in Traverse City, said Jack Pickard, the post's service officer.

Area soldiers killed in recent years

Northwestern Michigan residents to die in recent years while deployed with the U.S. Army:

Sgt. Dillon B. Foxx, 22, of Traverse City, died Feb. 5, 2010, in Bala Murghab, Afghanistan.

Pfc. John T. Bishop, 22, of Gaylord, died April 23, 2008, in Golden Hills, Iraq.

Sgt. 1st Class Matthew D. Blaskowski, 27, of Levering, died Sept. 23, 2007, in Asadabad, Afghanistan.

Pfc. Justin T. Paton, 24, of Alanson, died Feb. 17, 2007, in Taramia, Iraq.

Maj. Douglas E. Sloan, 40, formerly of Charlevoix, died Oct. 31, 2006, in Wygal Valley, Afghanistan.

Sgt. Spencer C. Akers, 35, of Traverse City, died Dec. 8, 2005, in a Texas military hospital after being wounded in Habbaniyah, Iraq.

Source: U.S. Department of Defense

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