PARKER, AZ, U.S.A.
U.S.ARMY
PFC, TROOP C, 1ST SQUADRON, 61ST CAV, 4BCT, FORT CAMPBELL, KY
05/09/2008, SOUTH EAST PAKTIA, AFGHANISTAN
PFC Deysie is a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribe. Known by his middle name Tyler, he was a born peace keeper. Both his grandfather and his father were CRIT police officers. He was determined from an early age to join the military.
Tyler was at times a prankster and handful to his family growing up. PFC Deysie attended the Ombudsman school in Parker, the alternative high school, and was later enrolled in the Arizona Project Challenge program, in Queen Creek, Arizona. Project Challenge provides a military-style environment and gives teens, ages 16 to 18, a good education, plus job skills and a responsible outlook on life.
Tyler enlisted in the Army in February 2007 and arrived at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in December 2007. Tyler died in Paktia Province, Afghanistan..
Deysie’s mother, Lori Deysie, explained that, “Once he decided what he wanted to do, he made sure he got his way and got to do it, and that was to go into the military.”
Lori Deysie said she signed Tyler, or T-Man as he was known at home, up for the Army in February after he continually pestered her about it.
“Since he signed up for the military, I’ve just been sick,” she added. “But he did get to do what he wanted to do in his life.”
Lori Deysie last spoke to Tyler on Sunday, but cut him short because she was at work. The last message from him came on Tuesday, he said, “it wasn’t bothering him anymore” and that he had found peace.
She said she had just put Tyler’s dog to sleep on May 1st and doesn’t know whether he was writing about that or possibly his mission in Afghanistan. “But he had found peace, and that’s all I know,” she said.
On his myspace page, he posted thoughts about his life: “It was like watching a dream but before I knew it the dream was over.” PFC Deysie is remembered and held in the hearts of his mother, Lori Deysie, four sisters: Sidnee, Erisa, Erica, and Erina, and nephews and nieces. Tyler’s father, Eric, was killed in an accident in 2004.
After the funeral service at the Church of Latter day Saints a procession went through the Town of Parker to the Colorado River Indian Tribe Cemetery and Cry House. Traditional Native American customs were followed and services at the Cry House lasted all night with full military honors at 8am Monday, May 19, 2008 on the cemetery grounds.
Comentários