Army Sgt. 1st Class Ronald W. Sawyer

Remember Our Heroes

Army Sgt. 1st Class Ronald W. Sawyer, 38, of Trenton, Mo.

SFC Sawyer was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Aug. 25, 2009 in southern Afghanistan of wounds sustained when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Also killed were Capt. John L. Hallett III, Capt. Cory J. Jenkins and Pfc. Dennis M. Williams.

Kirksville Daily Express and Daily News -- AFGHANISTAN – A Laredo, Mo., soldier was killed in southern Afghanistan Tuesday, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Defense.

According to the release, Sgt. 1st Class Ronald W. Sawyer, 38, of Trenton, Mo., was one of four soldiers killed when enemy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

Laredo is located approximately 12 miles southeast of Trenton, Mo.

Sawyer was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash., along with the three other soldiers killed: Cpt. John L. Hallett III, 30, of California; Cpt. Cory J. Jenkins, 30, of Arizona; and Pfc. Dennis M. Williams, 24, of Federal Way, Wash.

According to unit records from the Fort Lewis Public Affairs Office, Sawyer enlisted Dec. 30, 1992 and reported to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., for basic training March 8, 1993. He then reported to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, for Advanced Individual Training as a health care specialist.

Sawyer served in many locations during his military career, including Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort Hood, Texas; Kaiserslautum, Germany; Los Angeles Recruiting Battalion; Camp Kasey, Korea; and Fort Lewis, Wash. His overseas service time includes three years in Germany, a one-year tour in Korea, and deployments to Kosovo and Cuba.

Sawyer’s civilian and military education include a high school diploma, two years (60 or more semester hours) of college credit, the Health Care Specialist qualification course (1993), Warrior Leader Course (1996), Defense Language Institute “Gateway to Germany” course (1997), Hazardous Materials transport course (1997), Basic NCO course (1998), Unit Prevention Leader course (1999), Equal Opportunity Program Manager course (2000), Recruiting Management course (2002), Advanced NCO course (2003), Emergency Medical Technician- Ambulance course (2005), Tactical Combat Medical Care course (2007), and the FBCB2: Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below course (2007).

His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal (six awards), Army Achievement Medal (eight awards), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award, U.S. Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation, Army Good Conduct Medal (five awards), National Defense Service Medal (two awards), Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, NCO Professional Develop-ment Ribbon (three awards), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, US Army Recruiter Badge-Gold with two Sapphire Achievement Stars, Expert Field Medical Badge, and the Drivers and Mechanics Badge.

According to the Trenton Republican-Times, Sawyer was a graduate of Grundy R-5 High School.

His father, Ron, resides in Laredo, and his mother, Judy Thompson, is a resident of Commerce, Okla.

His grandfather, Dale Sawyer, lives in Trenton, and his grandmother, Grace Parsons, is of Chillicothe, Mo.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Ronald W. Sawyer was killed in action on 8/25/09.