Over 150 U.S. National Guardsmen gathered at the Marion National Guard Amory located on Greene Street. Many of the soldiers haven’t seen one another in months but all arrived early Friday morning for a special tribute.
The soldiers converged to honor the legacy of the late Staff Sgt. James David Bullard, a Marion soldier killed in action October 30, 2007 while serving in Afghanistan.
“We’re having a memorial ceremony to remember his presence. He was a sharp soldier,” Capt. Willie Green said. Green is in command at the Mullins National Guard Amory and part of the 1st and 118 Infantry Battalion.
Bullard’s childhood hero was Superman and members of his family wore white t-shirts with the hero’s emblem as soldiers planted a tree on the grounds of the armory in his memory and then followed with a three-mile road march through downtown alongside family members.
Master Sgt. William Shelley said the event would take place every year. A ceremony was also held in honor of Latta native Sgt. Edward O. Philpot, who died as a result of a vehicle rollover while he was traveling with the 218th Brigade Combat Team two weeks prior to Bullard’s death.
“This helps us and it’s hard because it’s real emotional but it helps to bring back memories of two super good guys,” Shelley said, adding the reconnection is a good experience.
Bullard, who was 17 when he joined the guard, was killed by enemy fire in Sperwan Ghar, Afghanistan. He was laid to rest with full military honors at the cemetery of Little Bethel Baptist Church near Marion.
Mullins native Sgt. Jerry Reaves served with Bullard, calling him a good man and Sgt. Paul Hooks also held him in high regard.
Bullard’s parents Jeff and Karen Bullard along with grandparents Billy and Phyllis Bullard and uncle Ken Bullard were present during the ceremony. The family march alongside soldiers with wife Amber and two-year old son Hayden born just a month before the tragic incident.
“This ceremony is pretty extraordinary for us and for him,” Billy Bullard said, adding the group is a good supportive military family.
“He’s with us everyday and it’s apparent he’s with them everyday,” Phyllis Bullard said, adding one of his sister’s recently ran a 10K marathon in his honor in Washington D.C.
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