CO Killed in Iraq

National Guard Sgt. John Ogburn III, 45, a resident of Fruitland, Idaho, was conducting peacekeeping missions in Iraq when he died in a vehicle accident on May 22 near Kirkuk. Assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 116th Brigade, he belonged to Local 3940 (Council 75) at the Snake River Correctional Institution in Ontario, Ore.

"Sgt. Ogburn's incredible willingness to serve, for the sake of his values and his country, will be a source of pride to Oregon for generations to come," said Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski, who attended the CO's funeral service on May 25. The governor also ordered both the U.S. and the state of Oregon flags to be flown at half staff.

Ogburn was the fourth AFSCME member to die in Iraq-related military action. The most recent was another AFSCME corrections officer, Marine Pfc. Brent T. Vroman of Oshkosh, Wis. (See Public Employee, March/April 2005).

AFSCME has established a tax-deductible fund to help the families of all four of the deceased. Please make check payable to the "AFSCME Fallen Heroes Fund" and mail it c/o the fund at AFSCME, 1625 L St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-5687.