Flags around Wisconsin will be at half-staff on Saturday to honor Appleton resident, Army Staff Sgt. Garrick L. Eppinger, Jr.who died in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
Army Staff Sgt. Garrick L. Eppinger, Jr. with his daughter, Lenorea, at his deployment in July. (Courtesy: Appleton Post-Crescent)
Gov. Scott Walker issued an executive order to coincide with the day Eppinger’s family and friends are holding a memorial service in his hometown.
Eppinger was killed on Sept. 17 while serving at Bagram Airbase in the Parwan province of eastern Afghanistan. His sister told The Appleton Post-Crescent that he was a member of the Appleton-based 395th Ordnance Company of the Army Reserve and had been at the base for about six weeks. She told her hometown paper “her brother was shot on base and that he worked a desk job as a supply specialist for a munitions post. She said U.S. military police are investigating his death.”
Nothing formal on the cause of death has been released by the Department of Defense.
Eppinger was profiled by his hometown paper before he deployed in July. The Post Crescent posted numerous photos of he and his now 22-month-old daughter, Lenorea, on its website. He was serving his third tour of duty. Both of his parents are Navy veterans.
Eppinger is the second Wisconsin resident this month to die serving in Afghanistan.U.S. Army Sgt. Chester G. Stoda of Black River Falls was killed on Sept. 19.
According to the Department of Military Affairs, the Wisconsin National Guard has deployed more than 14,000 Soldiers and Airmen since 9/11 and that 155 Wisconsin service members have now paid the ultimate sacrifice.
YOUTH CONCUSSIONS
Back in September, 2003, UW-Eau Claire linebacker Justin Greenwood was having the football season of his life, sacking the quarterback, making big hits, and so, getting what he called a “stinger” in a game that led to serious headaches afterwards, was blown off. One week later, on a seemingly innocuous hit covering a kickoff, he didn’t have the choice as he passed out and nearly died from a serious brain injury.
Justin Greenwood in 2003
Eight years and significant rehabilitation later, Justin is still legally blind, tunnel-visioned, has trouble remembering and forming complex thoughts. He’s also just bought a house, learned how to downhill ski and now serves as a spokesperson for the Brain Injury Association of Wisconsin to educate players, parents and coaches about the warning signs of concussions and brain injuries.
“I want people to learn from my experience without having to go through it,” he recently told a group of people gathered at the Oak Leaf Concussion Clinic in Eau Claire. “I want them to look for signs and symptoms before it comes to catastrophic injuries like mine because the only cure for a brain injury is prevention.”
Justin Greenwood now
He will testify this upcoming Tuesday at the State Capitol in favor of Assembly Bill 259 that requires greater education around concussions for anyone interacting with kids 11 to 19 in the sports world. It covers both club and school sports. It requires any athlete to be pulled out of the game if warning signs are apparent and prevented from returning without medical approval.
It’s estimated that 10-15 percent of all high school football players will suffer a concussion of some sort this season. Other contact sports like soccer, hockey and basketball are also responsible for numerous head injuries.
We followed Justin to Eau Claire last month and you can see his story on tonight’s Here and Now. We will follow up that story with an interview with Wade Labecki, who’s the Deputy Director of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, which is in favor of the measure. The WIAA has an online, free-of-charge class on how to spot concussion warning signs for anyone interested.
ALSO ON HERE AND NOW
Frederica will focus on the Wisconsin economy and the Special Session on Jobs called this week by Gov. Scott Walker. She has an interview with Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch (R-Wisconsin) and Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) on the topic.
We will also hear from Department of Health Services Secretary Dennis Smith as his agency announces more proposed savings to Wisconsin’s Medicaid program, which is the fastest growing part of the state budget. Smith was tasked with finding nearly $500 million in savings in order to help balance the budget. Even with those savings, spending on Medicaid in Wisconsin is going up as one in five Wisconsin residents now take part in one of its programs (i.e. BadgerCare Plus, FamilyCare or SeniorCare).
Here and Now airs at 7:30 p.m. tonight on Wisconsin Public Television.
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