Soldier had turned life around
By Elizabeth Ridenour
Assistant City Editor

FORT GIBSON — A Tulsa soldier killed in Afghanistan had gone from hanging out with the wrong crowd to becoming a highly decorated, well-respected Army corporal whose life was dedicated to serving his country.

Cpl. Derek A. Stanley, 20, was buried Thursday at Fort Gibson National Cemetery.

Stanley was found dead June 5 in Salerno, Afghanistan. He had been shot.

“The cause of his death is under investigation, but is not suspected to have been caused by enemy action or foul play,” an U.S. Army release states.

Stanley had been assigned to the 710th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y. His unit deployed to Afghanistan earlier this year, and Stanley served as a decontamination specialist. At the time of his death, his rank was that of a specialist. Because he had been taking college classes since 2004, he was promoted following his death.

“He completed a college course in 2 1/2 months in Afghanistan,” said his mother, Darlyn Smith.

Stanley’s awards and decorations include the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. His mother and father were presented with the Army Commendation Medal at the ceremony Thursday.

Approximately 75 students of Thunderbird Youth Academy in Pryor lined the cemetery route in honor of Stanley, a 2003 Thunderbird graduate. Each uniformed student, wearing red berets, stood at attention, armed with flags.

“He had a very loving mother and a very supportive family,” said Maj. Steven Tunnell, director of Thunderbird Youth Academy.

Stanley came to Thunderbird with typical teenage problems, but set a goal and met it, he said.

“He was like a lot of kids — disillusioned, he fell in with the wrong crowd, but he was never in trouble or arrested,” Tunnell said. “His goal when he arrived here was to earn his GED, complete the program and enlist in the military and make a career in the military.”
Not only did he achieve those goals, Stanley graduated in the top 10 percent of his class.

“He was a peer mentor and a leader,” Tunnell said. “He set a good example for the other kids.”

Another 60 members of the Patriot Guard Riders, a motorcycle group, provided an escort for Stanley’s family.

“We’re here to protect the family, honor a fallen soldier and pay our respects,” said Don Serner, 51 of Owasso, a member of the Patriot Guard.

Muskogee resident Rick Ewing played bagpipes as soldiers from Fort Sill placed Stanley’s flag-draped casket for services at the cemetery.

Smith, 42, of Boise, Idaho, sobbed as the final words were spoken and the flag was removed from the casket and folded. Wisps of her blond hair blew in the warm breeze as Brig. Gen. James E. Chambers, who was sent from the Pentagon, bent down on one knee before her to present her with the flag. A second flag was presented to Stanley’s father, Faron Stanley, 46.

Derek Stanley’s brother, Aaron Stanley, 22, of Tulsa said his brother was a good person who wanted to serve his country.

“He believed in what he was doing,” he said. “We all love him and miss him very much.”

Derek Stanley’s sister-in-law admired him, she said.

“He was cool,” said Amber Osburn, 24, of Tahlequah. “He was one of the strong, silent types. He loved to go on long walks. I’ll miss him to death.”

Reach Elizabeth Ridenour at 684-2929 or eridenour@muskogeephoenix.com.

Originally published June 16, 2006

This story was originally published in the Muskogee Phoenix.

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Susanna Celso