Bokoshe Oklahoma native remembered as outdoorsman, proud Marine Capt. Brent Bombach salutes as pallbearers of the Marine honor guard take the body of Cpl. Scott Michael Vincent from the Bokoshe High School gymnasium to a hearse after his funeral ceremony on Friday. Posted: Saturday, May 8, 2004 12:00 am | Updated: 4:54 pm, Thu Nov 7, 2013. RHETT MORGAN World Staff Writer | 0 comments BOKOSHE -- U.S. Marine Cpl. Scott Michael Vincent grew up in LeFlore County, which sits half a world away from Iraq. But becoming a soldier wasnt a big jump for the Bokoshe native, who wore his passion for hunting on his camouflaged sleeves. He was in his element, running around with a rifle with a bunch of guys, said Capt. Brent Bombach, Vincents platoon commander in Iraq. He was definitely at home. Bombach of Columbus, Ohio, and Cpl. Coy Thomas of San Angelo, Texas, served in the same platoon as Vincent for about a year and a half in Iraq. On Friday, they attended the funeral of their friend, who died April 30 near Fallujah, Iraq. Vincent, 21, was killed in the Al Anbar province while conducting a combat mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, said Maj. Steve Sims of the Marine Reserve Anti-Tank unit at Broken Arrow. Vincent was assigned to Delta Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 1, First Marine Division. An active-duty Marine, he was on a vehicle security patrol that was hit by a suicide car bomb, Sims said. He loved his job, Thomas said. He loved being a Marine. He wanted to serve his country. Thats what he did. Vincent liked to spin stories about his lazy Basset hound and his outdoor adventures, Thomas said. Thats all he ever talked about, Thomas said. He loved to be out in the woods and being nasty, dressing up in camouflage and going hunting. An estimated 400 people packed into the unairconditioned Bokoshe High School Gymnasium on Friday to pay tribute to Vincent, known as Vinny to friends and family. Fanning themselves to keep cool, mourners listened to clergymen describe Vincent as an avid Oklahoma Sooner and NASCAR fan who liked to fish, hunt, rappel and climb rocks. They also spoke of his strong faith. Vincent was nicknamed Rev and Preacher for his willingness to speak about Christ to his fellow soldiers. He was proud to be a Marine, said the Rev. Roy Miller, who served as Vincents pastor for about five years. I wish he had another 20 years to serve. Renditions of Garth Brooks The Dance and Toby Keiths American Soldier played in the gym, and the audience watched a brief slide show chronicling Vincents life. Just outside the gym, small American flags flew on a chain link fence at the baseball field. Attached to the fence were dozens of personalized notes written on looped pieces of construction paper. i am sorry he dide (sic), read one message. He was a good man. A 2000 graduate of Bokoshe High School, Vincent enlisted in the Marine Corps in July of that year. He extended his service time by five months so he could go back to Iraq voluntarily in February of this year for a second tour in the combat zone, Sims said. Vincent was scheduled to end his active service in June, Bombach said. He was buried at Old Bokoshe Cemetery. Its not easy, Bombach said. Everyone Ive talked to has asked, Why did it have to happen to Vinny. It (death) is something that goes with what you are doing. Its at least heartwarming to know that he died doing what he loved doing, and he was there for an important cause. Memorial services for another Oklahoman, Army Staff Sgt. Eric Petty of Fort Gibson, are scheduled next week. Services for Petty will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church in Fort Gibson. Petty, 28, was shot to death Monday in Salman Al Habb, Iraq. He will be buried in Fort Gibson National Cemetery.
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 23:28:14 +0000
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