Morgan County mourns a Hero
January 10, 2009 by Nicki Faulk
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Sergeant Rath’s loved ones:
Morgan County Soldier Killed in Afghanistan
An Army Sergeant from Morgan County has been killed in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan.
22 year old Josh Rath’s family received the news yesterday. Rath was a graduate of Austin High School, where he still had friends in the front office.
WAAY 31 spoke with one of Rath’s former soccer coaches, Lewis White, who’s now a counselor at the school. “I feel regret.” White told WAAY 31. White says his own military service may have inspired Rath to enter the Army after graduation. “He and his best friend from high school joined the Army together. And the day they joined, I was the first person they came to tell because they had joined the Army the way I had and joined to do the same job I had done in the Army. And they were very proud to of follow in what I had done 20 years earlier.”
White says Rath visited him just a couple of weeks ago during a pre-Christmas leave from the front lines. The two talked about plans after Rath got out of the Army, including what to study in college.
“Josh was a very patriotic young man and did exactly what Josh wanted to do. I think that’s one of the things that’ll leave a long term impression on his family, is that Josh was doing what Josh really wanted to do.”
No funeral plans for Sgt. Rath have been announced.
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Me and my family first met the Raths 22 years ago in Sheridan ,Ill. I still consider Lee (Leroy) to my best friend. When Josh went to the army , i prayed for him every day and for his family. Right now my heart is broken along with the rest of my family.There is little to say but that we WILL see Josh again . Time will level and lessen the hurt and sorrow , because Love Always defeats death.My prayers/tears go out to the Rath family. Greg
A hero, in fact. All of us here in Decatur and across the nation mourn the loss of this brave soldier. War is oh so easy for many of us and ultimately difficult for some. I hope his family and friends find peace in the coming days and months. They should never forget that they do not cry alone in this tragic event.
Phil Ellis
http://www.divesportsblog.com