Army Spc. Luther W. Rabon Jr.

Remember Our Heroes

Army Spc. Luther W. Rabon Jr., 32, of Lexington, S.C.

Spc. Rabon was assigned to the 1221st Engineer Clearance Company, South Carolina National Guard, Graniteville, S.C.; died Oct. 1, 2010 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his military vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Staff Sgt. Willie J. Harley Jr.

Two soldiers with the South Carolina Army National Guard were killed in Afghanistan, the state adjutant general’s office announced Monday.

Spec. Luther Rabon, 32, of Lexington and Staff Sgt. Willie Harley, 48, of Aiken died last Friday when an improvised explosive device hit the vehicle they were riding in, Adjutant General Stan Spears said in a statement.

Both soldiers were assigned to the 1221st Engineer Clearance Company of the state Army National Guard with units in Graniteville and Batesburg, Spears said.

The 1221st deployed to Afghanistan in July. Its mission is to clear roadways for military convoys. The unit is set to return to South Carolina next summer.

WLTX-TV showed footage of Rabon taken as the company prepared to leave. Rabon was seen kissing his mother, who said her son was going to miss his wife and four young children.

“He’s really got a lot to leave behind,” Martha Rabon told the television station. “But he’s willing to do that for our freedom and to defend our country, and I’m really proud of him.”

Sgt. Rabon's Obituary

Sgt. Rabon was born August 21, 1978, in Lexington, SC, and passed away on Friday October 1, 2010, while serving his country with the South Carolina National Guard in Afghanistan.

Will joined the National Guard in February, 2007, and after graduating AIT, he trained with the 1221st Engineer Clearance Company out of Batesburg-Leesville. Will and the 1221st were deployed in July of 2010.

He was a son of Luther Willard Rabon Sr. and Martha Elizabeth Martin Rabon.

Will enjoyed hunting, boating on the lake, dirt track racing, riding motorcycles, shooting pool, playing golf and spending time with family and friends.

Sgt. Rabon is survived by his wife, Catherine Rabon; father, Luther Willard Rabon Sr., mother, Martha Rabon; daughters, Summer, Grace and Trinity Rabon; son, Noah Rabon; sister, Amy Terry; brother-in-law, Anthony Terry; half brother, Kyle Martin; nephews, Matthew and Dillon Terry.

Army Spc. Luther W. Rabon Jr. was killed in action on 10/01/10.