Though hundreds of people showed up, it still felt like a private affair. The family requested that we not videotape them, but they still wanted the media there. Staff Sergeant Ronald C. Blystone's father, Lonnie, said he believed it was our duty-- that's something the family has come to know a lot about.

R.C. received several medals of valor during his service. He was deployed four times--once at Guantanamo Bay and three times in Iraq.

34-year-old Blystone was killed Wednesday, April 23, during his third deployment to Iraq. He had lived his entire life in Springfield and was a Glendale High School graduate, though he was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas.

Blystone and his wife, Kelly, have three children. Maggie age 13, Molly age 10, and Zackery age 9.

While R.C. was in the military, he received several awards, including two Bronze Stars, The Purple Heart, Valor Unit Award, four Good Conduct Medals, two Army Service Ribbons, the Army Commendation Medal, the Expert Infantry Badge, two National Defense Service Awards, two Iraq Campaign Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal.

The family has set up an educational fund for the Blystone children at BanCorp South. You can donate at any bank location or mail them to: The Blystone Educational Fund, BanCorp South, P.O. Box 4023, Springfield, MO 65808.