Sgt. 1st Class James "Tre" Ponder died June 28, 2005, in eastern Afghanistan when his MH-47D helicopter was shot down by enemy fire during combat operations.
He was born June 24, 1969 in Alabama, and was a native of Clarksville, Tenn.
Sgt. 1st Class Ponder joined the Army in March 1990 as a Chinook helicopter repairer. After graduating from Basic Training, Fort Eustis, Va., he was assigned to Camp Humphries, Korea. He arrived at the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) in December, 1992, and served in a variety of positions, including 2nd Battalion, 160th Flight Engineer instructor, 2nd Bn Standardization Instructor, and Regiment Standardization Instructor. This was his fourth rotation to Afghanistan.
Ponder's military schools include: the Primary Leadership Development Course, the Combat Lifesavers Course, Survival Evade Resist Escape Level-C Course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course, the Equal Opportunity Representative Course, the Air Assault, Airborne, and the Army Advanced Noncommissioned Officers Course.
His awards and decorations include: the Air Medal with Valorous device, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Valorous Unit Award, the Army Superior Unit Award, the Good Conduct Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Overseas Service Ribbon. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal and an Air Medal with Valor device.
Ponder is survived by his wife Leslie of Clarksville, Tenn., and two daughters, Samantha, and Elizabeth.
In lieu of flowers, the Ponder family has established a trust fund for the children.
US Bank (Any Branch)
Check Made Out to: Ponder Family Donation Fund
Address: US Bank
Attention Laurie Dove
1816 Madison Street
Clarksville, TN 37043
He was born June 24, 1969 in Alabama, and was a native of Clarksville, Tenn.
Sgt. 1st Class Ponder joined the Army in March 1990 as a Chinook helicopter repairer. After graduating from Basic Training, Fort Eustis, Va., he was assigned to Camp Humphries, Korea. He arrived at the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) in December, 1992, and served in a variety of positions, including 2nd Battalion, 160th Flight Engineer instructor, 2nd Bn Standardization Instructor, and Regiment Standardization Instructor. This was his fourth rotation to Afghanistan.
Ponder's military schools include: the Primary Leadership Development Course, the Combat Lifesavers Course, Survival Evade Resist Escape Level-C Course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course, the Equal Opportunity Representative Course, the Air Assault, Airborne, and the Army Advanced Noncommissioned Officers Course.
His awards and decorations include: the Air Medal with Valorous device, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Valorous Unit Award, the Army Superior Unit Award, the Good Conduct Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Overseas Service Ribbon. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal and an Air Medal with Valor device.
Ponder is survived by his wife Leslie of Clarksville, Tenn., and two daughters, Samantha, and Elizabeth.
In lieu of flowers, the Ponder family has established a trust fund for the children.
US Bank (Any Branch)
Check Made Out to: Ponder Family Donation Fund
Address: US Bank
Attention Laurie Dove
1816 Madison Street
Clarksville, TN 37043
Sgt. 1st Class James "Tre" Ponder died June 28, 2005, in eastern Afghanistan when his MH-47D helicopter was shot down by enemy fire during combat operations.
He was born June 24, 1969 in Alabama, and was a native of Clarksville, Tenn.
Sgt. 1st Class Ponder joined the Army in March 1990 as a Chinook helicopter repairer. After graduating from Basic Training, Fort Eustis, Va., he was assigned to Camp Humphries, Korea. He arrived at the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) in December, 1992, and served in a variety of positions, including 2nd Battalion, 160th Flight Engineer instructor, 2nd Bn Standardization Instructor, and Regiment Standardization Instructor. This was his fourth rotation to Afghanistan.
Ponder's military schools include: the Primary Leadership Development Course, the Combat Lifesavers Course, Survival Evade Resist Escape Level-C Course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course, the Equal Opportunity Representative Course, the Air Assault, Airborne, and the Army Advanced Noncommissioned Officers Course.
His awards and decorations include: the Air Medal with Valorous device, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Valorous Unit Award, the Army Superior Unit Award, the Good Conduct Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Overseas Service Ribbon. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal and an Air Medal with Valor device.
Ponder is survived by his wife Leslie of Clarksville, Tenn., and two daughters, Samantha, and Elizabeth.
In lieu of flowers, the Ponder family has established a trust fund for the children.
US Bank (Any Branch)
Check Made Out to: Ponder Family Donation Fund
Address: US Bank
Attention Laurie Dove
1816 Madison Street
Clarksville, TN 37043
He was born June 24, 1969 in Alabama, and was a native of Clarksville, Tenn.
Sgt. 1st Class Ponder joined the Army in March 1990 as a Chinook helicopter repairer. After graduating from Basic Training, Fort Eustis, Va., he was assigned to Camp Humphries, Korea. He arrived at the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) in December, 1992, and served in a variety of positions, including 2nd Battalion, 160th Flight Engineer instructor, 2nd Bn Standardization Instructor, and Regiment Standardization Instructor. This was his fourth rotation to Afghanistan.
Ponder's military schools include: the Primary Leadership Development Course, the Combat Lifesavers Course, Survival Evade Resist Escape Level-C Course, the Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course, the Equal Opportunity Representative Course, the Air Assault, Airborne, and the Army Advanced Noncommissioned Officers Course.
His awards and decorations include: the Air Medal with Valorous device, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Valorous Unit Award, the Army Superior Unit Award, the Good Conduct Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Overseas Service Ribbon. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal and an Air Medal with Valor device.
Ponder is survived by his wife Leslie of Clarksville, Tenn., and two daughters, Samantha, and Elizabeth.
In lieu of flowers, the Ponder family has established a trust fund for the children.
US Bank (Any Branch)
Check Made Out to: Ponder Family Donation Fund
Address: US Bank
Attention Laurie Dove
1816 Madison Street
Clarksville, TN 37043
