Staff Sergeant Dallas Rae Cooper, A Soldier's Story
Staff Sergeant Dallas Rae Cooper, A Soldier's Story
Staff Sergeant Dallas Ray Cooper was born on May 28, 1955, in Jefferson City, Missouri. He spent his early years between Missouri and Kentucky, attending Eldon High School before graduating from Fort Campbell High School near the Army post that would shape his path forward.
In 1974, he enlisted in the United States Army and trained as a helicopter repair technician, work that demanded precision, patience, and trust. Aviation mechanics do not stand before crowds; lives quite literally rest in their hands. For seven years, he served on active duty before continuing his commitment in 1981 with the National Guard, joining the 1267th Medical Evacuation Company.
His service bridged the Cold War era and the opening of the Gulf conflict. In December 1990, as the United States mobilized for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Staff Sergeant Cooper was called once again to support the mission. On December 14, 1990, he died following a helicopter crash while en route to a Texas staging area for deployment to the Persian Gulf.
He was thirty-five years old.
Staff Sergeant Dallas Ray Cooper is laid to rest at Union Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery in Jefferson City, Missouri — remembered not only as a soldier, but as one of the many quiet professionals whose steady hands keep others safe.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.
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