Mississippi National Guard Warrant Officers give back to family of fallen

Photo By Capt. William Hill II | Chief Warrant Officer 2 Rachel Henson and members of the Mississippi Magnolia Chapter stand with the Blackstock family at the Mississippi Blues Marathon in Jackson Jan. 10, 2015. Henson and fellow military service members ran in the marathon to raise money for the family. (Photo courtesy of Mississippi Magnolia Chapter)  

JACKSON, MS, UNITED STATES

01.10.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. William Hill II 

155th Armored Brigade Combat Team

JACKSON, Miss. - Warrant officers from the Mississippi Magnolia Chapter of the U.S. Army Warrant Officer's Assoc. raised money to give to the family of Sgt. Chad Blackstock, a Mississippi veteran who was tragically killed in a car accident in April of 2014. The warrant officers presented the check to the family at the Mississippi Blues Marathon in Jackson Jan. 10, 2015.

When the precious life of a veteran is lost, it is a tough situation for all involved. Kacee, Ty and Brynn Blackstock of Pickens, Miss., know the feeling all too well. Their husband and father, retired Army Sgt. Chad Blackstock, was killed in a car accident in April 2014.

Chad had served in the Mississippi National Guard with Bravo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 114th Field Artillery Regiment, 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team. He had survived deployments in Operation Desert Storm, Panama, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was medically retired as a result of injuries suffered while deployed. The Blackstock family is still dealing with their loss, but a gift from the Mississippi Magnolia Chapter of the United States Army Warrant Officer’s Association is helping to ease the burden of such a tragic event.

Warrant officers from the Mississippi National Guard saw an opportunity to help the family of a fellow soldier and quickly jumped into action. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Rachel Henson, president of the Mississippi Magnolia Chapter, had a chance encounter with Cheryl Bruce, founder and director of the Wounded Warriors of Mississippi, in May of 2014. Henson heard the story of the Blackstock family: Chad had been a wounded warrior, his 14-year-old son had won multiple rifle marksmanship awards, and his seven-year-old daughter was tops in her class academically. Henson knew that there was a way to bless this family that had dealt with such tragedy.

“Miss Cheryl told me about Chad’s passing and his family’s situation,” said Henson, of Brandon. “I brought it to the organization and we knew it was something we wanted to do. We decided to raise money for the kids. ”

The Mississippi Magnolia Chapter, led by warrant officers who are all a part of the MSNG, was able to raise more than $3,000 to donate to the family. The money was raised through a raffle, donations from local businesses, and pledges for Henson and her fellow warrant officers who ran in the Mississippi Blues Marathon. The check was presented on Jan. 10 to the family at the marathon in Jackson.

“The Mississippi Magnolia Chapter of the USAWOA was established by all junior warrant officers of the Mississippi National Guard,” said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Bobby Tanksley, the top-ranking Warrant Officer in the state. “They’re all W2’s and W1’s. They stood the chapter up less than a year ago and have done great things in a short period of time - to include raising money to help the family of this fallen soldier.”

A portion of the Warrant Officer Creed states that they will, “Contribute their past experiences, service and knowledge to a dedicated effort for a betterment of the future.” Henson hopes that the warrant officers who comprise the newly formed Miss. chapter have exhibited this principle in contributing to the betterment of the future for the Blackstock family.

• Date Taken: 01.10.2015
• Date Posted: 01.30.2015 12:54
• Story ID: 153147
• Location: JACKSON, MS, US
• Hometown: BRANDON, MS, US
• Hometown: PICKENS, MS, US