Sgt Andrew Pokorny - Memorial Day 2010

On 13 June 2003 Staff Sergeant Pokorny made the ultimate sacrifice and he did so willingly and without hesitation. During a patrol in Western Iraq, Staff Sergeant Pokorny was preparing to lead his squad on a dismounted mission for which he volunteered. Enroute to this mission the M113 APC he was riding in broke track and skidded off the road and down an embankment. During the roll one of Staff Sergeant Pokorny's soldiers, Private First Class Funderburk, was nearly thrown from the vehicle. Staff Sergeant Pokorny was able to grab Private First Class Funderburk and keep him from exiting the vehicle but was not able to brace himself for impact. Staff Sergeant Pokorny continued to keep Private First Class Funderburk in his grasp shielding him from the crushing roll of the armored personnel carrier. SSG Pokorny was found with his arms and upper torso on top of PFC Funderburk. SSG Pokorny's death was a result of crushing wounds; however, PFC Funderburk escaped with less severe and non-life threatening injuries. Without SSG Pokorny grabbing PFC Funderburk as he was thrown into midair, PFC Funderburk would have been ejected directly into the path of the rolling vehicle. In this final act as a member of 2nd Platoon "Mavericks", SSG Pokorny was able to give his life for the life of his soldier."