Royals
Since Honoring over 200 warriors at more than 50 games in 50 days on our Battlefields To Ballfields Mission, my dad has been home spending time with family and planning our upcoming All32in17 mission.
Today he is took a break from all the planning & took an overnight bus from Chicago to Kansas City to honor Army SGT Keara Torkelson and keep the legacies of ARMY PFC Shane Austin & SPC Matthew Murchison alive at the Royals game.
We would like to thank the Kansas City Royals for donating tickets for the families of these brave warriors & to Honor Americas Valor for providing custom artwork to the Gold Star moms.
Army SGT Keara Torkelson
SGT Keara Torkelson served in the Army for 7 years. She was training for an upcoming deployment to Iraq in November of 2009 when she was shot twice at the Fort Hood Shooting. Keara was medically retired in 2013. She is a proud mother of 2.
Spc. Matthew Michael Murchison, 21, son of Mike Murchison and Debbie Murchison-Perri, was born on October 11, 1985 in Hutchinson, Kansas. Mike and Debbie had two children, Melissa and Matthew. The Murchison Family moved from Hutchinson in 1990 and settled in the Stanley Kansas area. Both children attended schools in the Olathe School District and graduated from Olathe East High School.
On September 11, 2001, both children were in High School when our country was attacked. Matthew’s mom Debbie, is originally from New York and they visited New York often to be with their family. This act of terrorism infuriated Matthew’s soul and he decided at that point, to join the military when he graduated from high school in 2004. On September 23, 2005, Matthew enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for Basic and his AIT Training.
The following March, Matthew left for his first duty station in Hanau, Germany as a Military Policeman. Matthew loved Germany and at that point, decided to make his stay in the military, a lifelong career. In November of 2006, he was deployed to Iraq. He was assigned to the 127th MP Company, the 720th MP Battalion and the 89th MP Brigade.
In April of 2007, Matthew came home for R&R and was able to visit his grandmother who was dying of cancer, in Florida. They visited for the last time as his grandmother died 2 months later on June 6th. She was so proud of her grandson and wanted to stay around for when he finally came home. Little did we know, she was clearing a place for Matthew in Heaven.
Matthew made the Ultimate Sacrifice almost 2 months later, on August 4th, just outside of Baghdad, Iraq. He was killed by an EFP in the vehicle he was the gunner in, 2 of Matthews friends were also injured in the attack.
Matthew received the following honors: The Bronze Star, The Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Action Badge and was promoted to Specialist.
On August 13, 2007, Matthew was laid to rest at the cemetery on base at Fort Leavenworth.
ARMY PFC SHANE R. AUSTIN – KIA 10/8/2006
PFC Shane R .Austin was born Dec, 31st 1986. Shane was the middle boy in the family, he learned from his older brother Justin, and passed down what he learned from Justin to his younger brother Kyle.
One of Shane’s dream as a child was to be a rock and roll doctor, { A doctor that played rock and roll in concerts} Shane’s biggest dream was to join the Military, He lived his dream. Shane graduated Army boot camp Mother’s day 2006, and a few months later left for Germany in June of 2006, from there he went to Iraq.
While serving our country, patrolling a city (Ramadi) in Iraq on October 8th. 2006 Shane gave the Ultimate Sacrifice when an grenade was thrown into his tank & took his life.
Shane served with with the 1st Bn 35th Armor Regiment 2nd Brigade Combat team 1st Armor division
PFC Shane Austin is remembered as someone loved life & lived his to the fullest.
Operation Warrior Wishes was honored to have hosted SGT Torkelson & surviving family members of 2 brave heroes in their honor tonight thanks to the Kansas City Royals!
