Fallen Soldier Remembered

By Pat Peterson Reporter

Army Staff Sgt. Darris Dawson laid to rest in Pensacola...questions surrounding his death remain Fallen Soldier Remembered

Published: Thu, September 25, 2008 - 3:33 pm Last Updated: Thu, September 25, 2008 - 7:23 pm

Pat Peterson

A military hero was honored in Pensacola Thursday. U-S Army Staff Sgt. Darris Dawson was laid to rest with full military honors at Barrancas National Cemetery. Dawson was shot and killed earlier this month in Iraq by another U-S soldier.

"You don't expect to bury your son, you expect your son to bury you," says Dawson's father, Darryl Mathis. "It's real hard, my heart is hurting, but I just can't say enough about my son, he accomplished a lot in such a short time."

The funeral provided some closure for Dawson's family, but they still have questions about his death..questions they hope the Army can answer.
Military officials spoke at Dawson's funeral and sang the young soldier's praises...however officials would not talk about Dawson's death and the events surrounding the shooting.

"He was loved and he loved the military and we couldn't be prouder of the fact that he volunteered to serve his nation in a time of war," says Maj. General Anthony Cuculo of the U.S. Army.

A U.S. soldier has been arrested in connection with Dawson's death. Dawson, a husband and father, was 24 years old.

"My heart is hurting," says Dawson's father. "But he was a good boy and I just can't say enough of my son and what he accomplished in such a short period of time."