IA sailor killed in Afghanistan laid to rest - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

IA sailor killed in Afghanistan laid to rest

HENRYETTA, Okla. — An Oklahoma sailor who died in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan was remembered in funeral services for his fire and determination.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 2nd Class Tony Michael Randolph, 22, was killed while riding in a convoy in southern Afghanistan on July 6.

Kenny Speer, Randolph’s high school football coach, eulogized the young sailor Wednesday, his voice often cracking with emotion.

He recounted a story of how Randolph kept running around the track because he wouldn’t say “yes, sir” when Speer asked him whether he had enough. Randolph, the coach said, finally said “yes, sir,” but in Spanish.

Speer told mourners that Randolph also had a serious side when he spoke about the military and his mission.

“He was a born leader,” Speer said.

Randolph was a three-year starter and standout on the football team, where he played tackle. He also was involved in champion-class power lifting.

He graduated from Henryetta High School in 2005 and joined the U.S. Navy the following year. He deployed in March to Afghanistan, where his job was to defuse bombs.

The Rev. Jim Paslay, who officiated at the service, said he last saw Randolph in December and described him as a “man on a mission. He seemed to understand what he wanted to do.”

Paslay said the news of Randolph’s death overwhelmed him, as it did much of the community who knew the sailor.

Paslay told mourners he had read the Navy’s creed, and three words — honor, courage and commitment — stood out.

“That’s what the Navy is all about,” Paslay said, “and that’s what Tony was all about.

“We should be grateful today as people for having someone like that.”

For years, Randolph was stationed at Norfolk, Va. He also attended Navy schools at Panama City and Pensacola, Fla.

Randolph was a demolitions expert and was classified as an explosives ordnance demolition technician. He was based at Sigonella, Sicily, before he deployed to Afghanistan.

He was buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in Weleetka.