Funeral Held for Local Marine

The funeral for Lance Cpl. John R. Wimpey Cagle took place this afternoon in front of almost three hundred people at a church in Stone Mountain.

Cagle, 19, from Tucker, was killed Sept. 28 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while on duty supporting Operating Enduring Freedom. He was part of an infantry unit and had been involved in more than 90 combat patrols since enlisting.

The service was held at and was officiated by Pastor Michael Shreve, who had known Cagle for many years and remembered him fondly. Shreve called him "an extraordinary young man, multifaceted, a poet," and added that Cagle was a mentor to children, describing him as "unusually compassionate." 

"It was a priviledge to watch him grow," Shreve said, describing how Cagle was asthmatic as a child and "willed himself out of it so he could join the Marines!" This was met with laughter, as was the pastor's assertion that the soldier was "something of a ladies man."

A Gold Star for honorable service was presented to Cagle's mother, Carolyn A. Cagle of Tucker and his brother Andrew L. Wimpey Cagle, also of Tucker. The service ended with the playing of Taps.

In a recent email to his mother from Afghanistan, Cagle wrote: "Don't worry about me. I'm right where I want to be, doing what I want to do."

Cagle will be buried on Friday at Empire Memorial Gardens in Empire, Ala. Memorial donations can be made in his name to Wounded Warriors.