U.S. soldier who was killed trying to help others honored at memorial service

Soldier killed by car honored at memorial
By Dan Blottenberger, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Friday, April 23, 2010

SCHWEINFURT, Germany — Hundreds of friends and family packed Ledward Barracks chapel in Schweinfurt on Thursday to remember a U.S. soldier who was killed trying to help others.

Staff Sgt. Thomas H. Oakley, 33, of Coventry, R.I., was struck and killed by a car April 14 near Bamberg after he stopped to help some motorists involved in a car accident. To those attending the memorial, it was no surprise that Oakley died trying to help others.

"He left this world the same way he lived in it — in the service of others," said Capt. Lee Gray, Oakley’s company commander, during the service. "Staff Sergeant Oakley didn’t have to stop late at night — to help others involved in the accident on the autobahn — he knew that his family was waiting for him at home, but [helping others] was programmed in his DNA."
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