LABORDE, John Keith, Sgt. Maj 1957-2010
LABORDE, HOL, SNYDER, YOUNG, VANDERKOOI
Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 5/19/2013 at 00:59:06
[The Associated Press]
Army Command Sgt. Maj. John K. Laborde 53, of Waterloo, Iowa; assigned to the 649th Regional Support Group, U.S. Army Reserve, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; died April 22 at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained in a non-combat-related incident.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------John Laborde made it a priority to take care of those around him, whether they were family members or comrades.
At Thanksgiving, he didn’t eat until everyone else had food. In Afghanistan, he made sure soldiers stayed hydrated in the triple-digit heat, and he lent them his phone and computer to talk with relatives on holidays. He also helped them register for classes to continue their education, said Lt. Col. Lawson Coapstick, who served with Laborde in the Army Reserve and called him “a soldier’s soldier.”
The 53-year-old from Waterloo, Iowa, collapsed after a physical training session and died of a heart attack April 22 at Kandahar Air Field. His unit was based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Laborde grew up and attended school in Marksville, La. His three decades of globetrotting military service began when he enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1975. He joined the Army Reserve in 1985, months before marrying his wife, Lori.
He enjoyed hunting, golfing, John Wayne movies and, as his daughter Tiffany recalled, fishing. But he had one rule: You had to bait your own hook. He also taught classes for high school students at his Catholic church.
Survivors include his five children.
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[Waterloo Courier, April 29, 2010]Command Sgt. Maj. John Keith Laborde, 53, Reinbeck, died Thursday, April 22 while on military duty in Afghanistan.
He was born in Marksville, La., on March 2, 1957, son of Preston and Edith Laborde. He married his wife Lori on Nov. 25, 1985.
CSM Laborde was educated in Marksville, then joined the U.S. Marines. He served in the Marines for 10 years and earned the rank of SSG in 1985. He then joined the U.S. Army Reserve. He was employed as the supervisor of the AMSA 28 in Cedar Falls until he was deployed to Afghanistan.
Survived by: his wife two daughters, Tiffany E. Laborde and Theresa E. (Philip) Hol; three sons, USMC SGT Terrance E. Laborde, Navy PO3 Shawn J. (Carran) Laborde and Adam J. Laborde; two grandsons; and four sisters, Claudia Snyder, Rebecca Young, Elizabeth (Bryan) VanderKooi and Jennifer Laborde.
Preceded in death by his parents; and a brother-in-law, Roger Snyder.
Services: 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, Reinbeck, with burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, Oelwein. Public visitation from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the church, with a 5 p.m. vigil service. French-Hand Funeral Home, Reinbeck, is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be directed to Lincoln Savings Bank, Reinbeck.
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