!!! UPDATED FOR DESTINATION LOCATION CHANGE, SEE UPDATED TIME TABLE BELOW !!!Part 1 of 2 PartsThe Patriot Guard Riders have been invited by the US Navy and the family to honor a young Hero who died on December 7, 1941 in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Kirby Roy Stapleton was the son of William and Carrie Stapleton. He grew up with 5 siblings in Lathrop, Missouri where he graduated from Lathrop High School in 1937, he was very active in school activities including being selected as Captain of the football team his Senior year. He attended college for 1 year and then enlisted in the US Navy in October, 1940 in answer to our young men being called to war to defend our allies.
Kirby was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma which was anchored on Ford Island at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 when the Japanese attacked and the Oklahoma capsized in the harbor killing 429 sailors. Kirby had asked to be assigned to the Oklahoma so he could serve with his brother Delbert who was also on that ship. Kirby was killed, Delbert survived.
Many of them were not identified at the time, despite valiant efforts. Kirby was one of those and he was buried with 46 others in a mass grave in Hawaii. Through the efforts of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, he has now been identified and is returning home.
The PGR is honored to help bring this Hero home.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this American Hero. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero and his family from the airport to the mortuary, approx 23 miles. Please see the time table if you would like to participate. For those who would rather go directly to the mortuary, we will meet you there.
UPDATED!! Time table for Wednesday, 09 OCT 19:1130 - Stage at Wendy's, 1890 E "G" St., Ontario, CA 91764
https://goo.gl/maps/tTSHM9tt3PboBYzm91145 - Mission briefing
1215 - KSU to arrival gate
1245 - Est KSU to Miller Jones Mortuary, 26245 Palomar Rd., Menifee, CA 92585
https://goo.gl/maps/rFSkMDuSGDVwHJNu91330 - Est arrival at Mortuary
1335 - Flag Line for dignified transfer of Hero to building
R/C Craig Lane “Jip-C” USMC
SoCal PGR Ride Captainbigredroadglide@yahoo.com
760-900-0388
This mission involves an aircraft arrival. Arrival times can change at the last minute so please check this thread for any last minute changes
before leaving.
You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. Everyone is welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the R/C (Ride Captain). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
