Many questions to answer after train strikes wounded veterans' float in Midland

[pinboy3niner]

8. The four who were killed in the crash...

Retired Army Sgt. Joshua Michael, 34


Sgt. Michael served 10 years in the U.S. Army and was awarded two Purple Heart medals before being retired for disability due to multiple brain injuries he had suffered after being hit by an IED while serving with the 101st Airborne Division.

He leaves his wife, Daylyn. and two children ages 7 and 14.

Marine Chief Warrant Officer Gary Stouffer, 37


Stouffer was an active duty Chief Warrant officer Three in the Marine Corps at the time of his death. He had enlisted while in college and spent the next 17 years serving in the military.

The 37-year-old solider was deployed to Albania and Kosovo, did two tours of duty in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, where he suffered a brain injury as a result of an IED blast. The decorated Marine was awaiting pending approval for a Purple Heart medal at the time of the crash.

He leaves his wife, Catherine Kennedy, and his two children, ages 12 and 16.

Retired Army Sgt. Major Lawrence Boivin, 47


SGM Boivin retired from the Army after 24 years of service which included tours of duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and several African countries.

The 47-year-old was awarded a Silver Star and a Purple Heart after he was severely injured whle helping evacuate other wounded soldiers following in an RPG attack in Iraq in 2004.

SGM Boivin lived in Southern Pines, N.C. with wife Angela. He has two stepdaughters and a grandson.

Army Sgt. Major William Lubbers, 43


SGM Lubbers served 21 of his 24 years of service with Army Special Forces. He did four tours of duty in Afghanistan and served one year in neighbouring Pakistan.

While out on patrol during his second tour of duty in Afghanistan, SGM Lubbers was shot in the arm and had to undergo more than a dozen surgeries, but made full recovery.

SGM Lubbers lived in Fayetteville, N.C. with wife Tiffanie and two children, ages 11 and 18.

Details from news reports:

Officials release names of four dead in fatal train collision; five remain in hospitals
http://www.mywesttexas.com/top_stories/article_8265d464-2ffd-11e2-a274-001a4bcf887a.html

Revealed: How heroic veteran killed by an oncoming train during parade saved his wife by pushing her off the wounded warriors float moments before the collision
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2233746/Midland-Texas-4-dead-17-injured-train-hits-parade-float-carrying-wounded-veterans.html


R.I.P.