Army Specialist Joe Lancour From Ludington Is Killed In Afghanistan
By Rob Preston
Monday, November 12, 2007 at 6:32 p.m.
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According to his family and friends, Army Specialist Joe Lancour had a big heart . He was determined to do great things with his life. "As much as this has been a devastating blow, I think that when I see my son in the casket, that will be probably the hardest day of my life," says Robert Lancour, Joe Lancour's father. Specialist Joe Lancour's family is struggling with the news that their son and brother was killed in action while serving his country in Afghanistan. "I will never forget the last day I spent out with him out on the golf course. And then we had a cookout at home right afterwards. That was the last day," says Robert Lancour.
Specialist Lancour's death is also hitting faculty hard at his alma mater, Ludington High School. "It hits home to a whole new level. It kind of wakes us up to what our soldiers are doing, where they're at. Where they're stationed and that they're putting their life on the line for us," says Dan Mesyar. Mesyar coaches the Ludington varsity baseball team. He says Lancour didn't make the team at first but kept trying until he finally made it during his senior year. "He came out his senior year. Said coach I'll do whatever it takes just to be a part of this, and i think that was the kind of young man he was. He was willing to sacrifice for the team," says Mesyar. "Joe is the kind of person who will do everything he can for you. When he bonds with someone, he's always there for them," says Robert Lancour. Lancour's family says they want the other troops brought home. "As long as there are other soldiers over there fighting and losing their lives, my heart will never heal," says Strala Owens, Joe's Mother. Funeral arrangements have not yet been made because the army has not released Specialist Lancour's body to his family.
