Contributed photo
Left to right (standing): Deputy Jeremey Battles, Sgt. Clifford Daniel, Detective Shane Parrott, Lt. Chris Brown
Left to right (kneeling): 1st Sgt. John Blair, Detective Jamie Kirby
Deputies at the sheriff’s department in Gordon County, Ga., are wearing black mourning bands over their badges and are flying their flag at half-staff today in honor of their fallen comrade, Georgia National Guard 1st Sgt. John D. Blair.
The first sergeant, a 38-year-old Calhoun resident, was killed over the weekend in Afghanistan when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his vehicle.
Members of the Gordon County Sheriff’s Department, where 1st Sgt. Blair was a full-time deputy for several years, communicated with the fallen soldier by telephone and e-mail in the days and weeks preceding his death, according to a news release from Sheriff Mitch Ralston.
“John was a patriot, a truly dedicated and excellent peace officer,” the sheriff said. “He met our America’s enemies bravely, and laid down his life in the service of his people, his community and his country which he loved so much. He will be missed, but he will never be forgotten.”
A department spokeswoman said this morning that deputies will likely plan a special memorial service for 1st Sgt. Blair, who served as a deputy sheriff from June 1994 to August 1998 before leaving to assume full-time duties with the National Guard.
During his time at the sheriff’s department, 1st Sgt. Blair served as a jail officer, deputy sheriff and sheriff’s detective, serving on the honor guard and SWAT team. He was attached to the local Drug Task Force as part of the Georgia Army National Guard’s counter-drug operations for several years, according to a news release from the department.
He served as a reserve deputy from October 2006 to December 2008, when his unit was mobilized for service to Afghanistan.
For complete details, see tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.
