R.I.P. Spc. Julian L. Berisford

Name: Army Spc. Julian L. Berisford

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Age: 25

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From: Benwood, W.Va.

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Assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska

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Incident: Army Spc. Julian L. Berisford died Nov. 4 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fires.

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Died: November 04, 2009

(Taken from www.theintelligencer.net) BENWOOD - The music of a bagpipe echoed through the hills of Marshall County on Monday as family, friends and fellow veterans escorted the body of U.S. Army Spc. Julian Lee Guthrie Berisford to his final resting place.

Berisford, 25, received full military honors as he was laid to rest in a family plot on Fishers Lane in Marshall County. He was killed Nov. 4 while on active duty in Afghanistan.

Hundreds attended Berisford's funeral, held at 11 a.m. Monday at Grisell Funeral Home and Crematory in Moundsville. Afterward, a long motorcade - like the one that traveled with his body from the Wheeling-Ohio County Airport to Marshall County on Friday - again accompanied Berisford on his final journey. A bagpiper played solemnly as attendees made their way to the grave site, walking behind the flag-draped casket.

Following a short committal service by Pastor Rob Berk of Trinity Episcopal Church, a bugler from the 249th Army Band in Morgantown played "Taps." An honor guard from the 16th Cavalry at Ft. Knox, Ky., fired a three-shot salute then folded the American flag that covered the casket. The flag was presented to Berisford's wife, the former Gina Marie Yankovich.

Berisford was the son of Jule and Shelley Berisford of Moundsville and a 2002 John Marshall High School graduate. He attended West Liberty State College before entering the military in 2007. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division based at Ft. Richardson, Alaska.

He and his widow have a daughter, 1-year-old Mya Jean.

During the Monday ceremony, Berisford was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star for his outstanding service by Maj. Gen. Brian Keller, who came from Bethesda, Md., to attend the event. In addition, he was awarded a Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medals, an Afghanistan Campaign commendation, Global War on Terror Commendation and NATO Campaign commendation. Also in attendance, Capt. Thomas Vetter from the 509th.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Gina Berisford released three white doves. Keller then personally thanked the honor guard members for paying homage to the fallen hero.

Berisford was fatally wounded Nov. 4 when his patrol came under attack while he was on active duty in Pakitika Province, Afghanistan. He had been deployed to Afghanistan for his first tour of duty in March and was set to return home to Benwood on Saturday, Nov. 14, for a visit to celebrate Mya's 1st birthday.

Instead Berisford's body was returned to Marshall County Friday with thousands of people lining the motorcade route from Ohio County.

According to family and friends, Berisford was more than a soldier: He was a Mountaineers fan; an outdoorsman; a music lover and an amateur guitarist. He also was a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church of Moundsville.

Memorial contributions are being accepted on Mya's behalf. They can be sent in care of Marshall County FCU, 910 Third St., Moundsville, WV 26041.