Michael Moody laid to rest

DINWIDDIE — Out of grief, those in attending the graveside service of Staff Sgt. Michael D. Moody Jr. wiped their eyes. Out of humidity, they also wiped their brows.

Although the skies were overcast over the grounds of Dinwiddie Memorial Park, the clouds provided no respite for the muggy 85-degree heat.

Amid cornfields, forest and wayward june bugs along Church Road, countless family members and friends came to see Moody’s final resting place.

Moody, 31, died June 23 when his unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire. He had been serving in Baghdad.

The funeral procession began at 1:05 p.m. Saturday and included the Patriot Guard Riders, a nationwide group of motorcyclists who try to attend the funerals of any active duty military member. At about 1:10 p.m. Saturday, cars were still unloading friends, family and loved ones who filed to the blue open-sided tent where the service would take place.

Members of the 262nd Quartermaster Battalion, 23rd Quartermaster Brigade at Fort Lee acted as the honor guard and pallbearers for Moody’s silvery gray casket.

Moody was born in Baltimore and mostly grew up around Richmond. He attended Meadowbrook High School in Chesterfield County. His parents currently live in Stony Creek.

He began his training at Fort Knox, Ky., then served in Scheweinfurt, Germany, with a deployment to Kosovo. He was on his third tour of duty in Iraq.

He was the father of one daughter, Sabreeyah, 6, and one son, Maliek, 2.

After the honor guard gave Moody a 15-gun salute, Moody’s flag was folded and presented to his family.

Inside the wooden case that will hold his flag were many of the marks of Moody’s military achievement.

Posthumously, he was also given six additional recognitions: the Bronze Star, the Iraq Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Iraq Campaign Badge, the Combat Action Badge and the Purple Heart.

From the Progress Index

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