January 31, 2012
The Courier

The remains of U.S. Marine Cpl. Joseph Logan, of Willis, who was one of six Marines killed in a helicopter crash Jan. 19 in Afghanistan, arrived Monday morning at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.
 

Hundreds of American flags colored Monday's gray skyline in honor of the return of a Montgomery County hero.

Staff Photo by Kric S Swist

Citizens line the Wilson Road overpass in Conroe with American flags Monday in honor of fallen Marine Cpl. Joseph Logan

Tragedy spurred Montgomery County residents to line the procession route for Marine Cpl. Joseph "Joey" Logan, 22, of Willis, who died Jan. 19 with five of his Marine comrades in a helicopter crash in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
 

After a solemn ceremony to mark the arrival of Logan's body back on Texas soil at Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport Monday morning, the procession took the fallen Marine to the Lake Conroe-area neighborhood where he grew up.
 

There, his family's neighbors and friends - and those who didn't know Logan, but felt his loss deeply - stood in quiet tribute, holding flags and homemade signs honoring the 2008 Willis High School graduate.
 

One of the youngest standing watch was Vanden Johnson, 5, who stood holding a small American flag and sign that read, "Thank you for your service."
 

With a father who recently retired from more than two decades of service in the Navy, Monday's military homecoming wasn't Vanden's first, said his mother, Kristi Johnson.
 

"He's used to different kinds of homecomings with lots of people clapping and laughing, but not this kind," Johnson said. "I had to explain to him that he (Logan) is coming up - but not to us, to Jesus."
 

Staff Photo by Karl Anderson

Tom and Debi Logan clutch hands with one of their daughters, left, during the arrival of the body of their son, Marine Cpl. Joseph Logan, of Willis, at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Logan died Jan. 19 in a military helicopter crash in Helmand province, Afghanistan, along with five other Marines.

With sirens echoing from behind the wall of trees surrounding the street where Tom and Debi Logan raised Joey, his sisters Tricia Nickel and Andrea Logan and brothers Robert Logan and Tommy Logan - Andrea and Tommy also serve in the military - neighbors grew quiet to await the casket of their friend.
 

Staff Photo by Karl Anderson

Marines transport a casket containing the body of their fallen comrade, Marine Cpl. Joseph Logan, of Willis.

"Being here to support him, it just makes you really proud," next-door neighbor Lisa Wood said.
 

Wood, whose daughter often watches the Logans' cat if they go out of town, said when Tom and Debi Logan learned their son had died, they rang the Woods' doorbell to ask if someone could feed their cat.
 

They had to leave for a few days, they told Lisa.
 

"I said, ‘Why, what's going on?' and Tom just said, ‘Joey's helicopter went down,'" Wood said, "and I was just shocked."
 

Former next-door neighbor Donna Pugh stood alongside Wood, with her family holding signs of their own.
 

As a fellow Marine mother, Pugh said she can relate to her friends' pain.
 

"It's like you lost one of your own," she said. "(His death) was very shocking and sad, and such a loss because he had really straightened up."
 

Another large group of supporters gathered at the Wilson Road overpass on I-45, including members of Conroe's First United Methodist Church, employees from the nearby Wiesner car dealership, Conroe city officials and others standing on the overpass to hoist flags at its edge.
 

Staff Photo by Karl Anderson

The Patriot Guard Riders lead a procession for the body of Marine Cpl. Joseph Logan, of Willis, at Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport Monday.

"It's just the right thing to do," said Conroe Mayor Webb Melder, who stood on the overpass.

Residents gathered in other places along the route in the Willis area to show support for the fallen warrior.
 

At Mariner Realty on FM 1097, several dozen individuals stood near the road and waved American flags while holding signs of encouragement and thanksgiving for the Logans' sacrifice.
 

"A parent should never have to bury their children," said Kenneth Doucette, of Willis, one of the roadside sign bearers. "I may not agree with the war, but I support our soldiers.
 

"He was on our team."
 

Doucette said they wanted to show the Logan family they are cared for and their son's service is appreciated.
 

And that was the motive for many people who never knew the Logans - wanting to thank Joey Logan and his family.
 

"We just moved to the area and heard about this ..." said Pam Byrum, of Willis. "We thought it was an awesome thing for the community to do.
 

"It's so sad, and we just want to show support for the family."
 

Along with friends and family, Byrum stood at the corner of FM 1097 and I-45, near the Kroger store, where she met other people buying flags for the same purpose.
 

"Thank you Joey for your service," her sign read, and " Thank you Logan family for your sacrifice!"