I only met him once and we spoke briefly. January 6, 2005 0845 hours as I helped my son, Mike Stokely set chairs out for the departure ceremony from their Armory in Griffin GA. Echo Troop 108 CAV was about to join up with the other 3900 soldiers of the 48th Brigade Georgia National Guard at FT Stewart near Savannah GA for five months of train-up prior to deploying to Iraq. It was a brief conversation as many families were coming in and chairs were needed for the 0900 ceremony to begin on time. The Armory was full, and parents and other loved ones like me were anxious. The day had come and our "boys" were about to take the next all important step to go to war.
Echo Troop 108 CAV wound up going to the Triangle of Death in mid June, 2005 - barely a month in country. Mike Stokely's 2nd Platoon went to Yusufiyah about 15 miles southwest of Baghdad while SSG George Draughn and the other three platoons went to Mahmuhdiyah, both towns forming the northern points of the triangle with Latifyah forming the southern point. The Fiyahs as they are commonly called, was Sunni country and until the last 18 months, they were not our friends and were strong supporters of the insurgency. Yusufiyah and Mahmuhdiyah were key points in the battle for the Baghdad beltways. These areas were heavy with IEDs and in the Baghdad beltway the Georgia Army National Guard 48th Brigade lost 17 of their 26 KIA in a five week period. SSG George Draughn Jr. and SFC Robert Lee "Bobby" Hollar Jr. were number 16 and 17, when they died from wounds in the same IED explosion of September 1, 2005. Both left very small sons behind, their deaths coming two weeks after their friend and fellow CAV Scout, SGT Mike Stokely was KIA on August 16, 2005 near Yusufiyah, eight miles west of their patrol base. The war in Iraq had suddenly and violently become a reality to the town of Griffin. Now it was personal.
George Draughn was from Louisiana and is now buried there. His three sisters live in the Atlanta area. His parents still live in Louisiana and his small son lives with his mother in Houston TX. George Draughn drove a Coca Cola delivery truck in civilian life. He was, by all accounts, a great person who loved life and cared about those around him. He died much too soon, but was willing to make that sacrifice for his country.
The City of Griffin made sure that he will be remembered for all time to come. Armory Way is the route into the Griffin National Guard Armory where Echo Troop 108 trained for many years prior to going to Iraq. It is also the main route into local fairgrounds. The SSG George Draughn Jr. Way will be a road traveled by many, including those slated to deploy in early summer 09' with the 48th Brigade to Afghanistan. For generations of soliders to train at the Griffin GA National Guard Armory, they will start and end their training on SSG George Draughn Jr. Way.
I had the privilege to be invited to speak a few words at the dedication ceremony Saturday December 13, 2008. I told those in attendance that I do not use the word hero with the looseness that many in our society do. To me a hero is someone who puts on the uniform of our country and goes into harms way ready to defend us even if it is going to cost them their life. In publicly remembering SSG George Draughn Jr we Remember With Honor his sacrifice and we also send a very important message to the living soldier - should you give your life we will not forget you.
SSG George Draughn Jr. may not have been born in Georgia and his time in our state may not have been all that long compared to the life span he lived. He is buried in his home state near his parents home in Louisiana. But he is a TRUE SON OF GEORGIA and forever more, he is the adopted son of Griffin Georgia. We are thankful and proud to have had SSG George Draughn Jr. as one of our own. For me personally, if I had to give a son in the service of America, it is a measure of comfort to know that he served with someone like SSG George Draughn Jr. and SFC Robert Lee "Bobby" Hollar Jr. While the Stokely, Hollar and Draughn families never knew each other before our loved ones were killed in action in Iraq, we are forever linked as one family.
~ DUTY ~ HONOR ~ COUNTRY ~
Robert Stokely
Proud dad of SGT Mike Stokely KIA 16 AUG 05 near Yusufiyah Iraq
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