|
|
|
|
Obituaries 10-27 |
|
|
Tuesday, 30 October 2007 |
Wayne Marshall Geiger
1984-2007
Funeral services, with full military honors, will be held today, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007 at 11 a.m. at the Lone Pine High School Gymnasium for Lone Pine resident Corporal Wayne Marshall Geiger, who was killed in action in Bagdad, Iraq, Oct. 18, 2007. Corporal Geiger, a United States Army Infantryman serving with the 2nd Stryker Calvary Regiment, was 23 years old.
Corporal Geiger is being escorted from Dover Air Force Base Maryland, to Bishop Airport by his cousin, Private First Class Ryan Decker. PFC. Decker’s deployment to Iraq was postponed so he could bring his cousin home and attend the services. Graveside services will follow at the Mt. Whitney Cemetery. A reception will be held at Statham Hall at the conclusion of the services.
Wayne Marshall Geiger was born June 10, 1984 in Ridgecrest, Calif. His family moved to Lone Pine in November 1984. Wayne attended Lo-Inyo Elementary School and Lone Pine High School. Following graduation Wayne attended Sierra Community College for two years before answering the call to serve his country.
Wayne enlisted in the United States Army in October of 2005. Prior to joining the service he toldhis family that it had always been his intent to serve. He was motivated to join after the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Wayne enlisted as an infantryman, telling his parents that he felt an obligation to “do his part” after watching our military personnel serving their country with honor in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Wayne completed Advanced Infantry training in February 2006 at Fort Benning, Ga. He was then assigned to the 25th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Wash. Private Geiger was attached to a Stryker Combat Brigade Team. During his tour of duty at Fort Lewis, Private Geiger was selected to receive training as a Combat Life Saver. In June of 2006 the Stryker Brigade Combat Team was re-flagged to the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment in Velsik, Germany.
While in Germany, Private Geiger was promoted to the rank of Private First Class, attended various training and earned his Expert Infantry Badge. Only 113 soldiers of 500 tested earned the coveted E.I.B. Private First Class Geiger was promoted to the rank of Specialist just prior to his deployment to Iraq in September, 2007. Specialist Geiger was promoted posthumously to the rank of Corporal, Oct. 22, 2007.
Corporal Geiger found his passion serving in the United States Army. He had grown into a proud, confident and generous young man who sincerely believed in duty, honor and country. Perhaps Corporal Geiger’s convictions are best illustrated by the reference to his heroes in his MySpace Web site: “My Mother and Father, of course, all the men and women throughout our history who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, and the men and women that serve today.”
Growing up in Lone Pine, Wayne’s first love was sports. He excelled at all sports but his passion was basketball. Wayne and his teammates, close friends throughout their school years, formed one of the best high school varsity basketball teams Lone Pine had seen in decades. He played with pure passion and intensity, taking a lead role as the point guard. Wayne was known for his ever-present smile, quick wit, uncanny ability to imitate people and most of all, his ability to make people laugh. Wayne Geiger will best be remembered for his love of family and friends.
Wayne leaves behind his mother and father, Kim and Randy Geiger, and his sister, Jessica Geiger, of Lone Pine; grandparents, Wayne and Beverly Geiger of LaCrescenta, grandmother, Wanda Hawn of Bakersfield; aunts and uncles, Lynn and Ken Decker of Bakersfield and Casey and Jamie Hawn of Castaic, Calif., and Kitty Clark of Dayton, Nev.; cousins, Private First Class Ryan Decker and Alex Decker of Bakersfield, Cassidy and Nathan Clark of Dayton, Nev., and Jeri, Jacque and Kevin Geiger of Ridgecrest.
Corporal Geiger was preceded in death by uncles Jeff and Chris Geiger, and cousin Chrissy Geiger.
In lieu of flowers, the Geiger family requests that you donate to the charity of your choice in memory of Wayne M. Geiger at www.reconnectamerica.com.
|
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 08 February 2008 )
|
|
|
|
