Twenty-eight-year-old Tim Padgett died Tuesday morning when he came under enemy fire in Tarin Kwot, Afghanistan. Padgett was a member of the Army's elite Green Berets. Military officials say Padgett, who served as a medic, was able to tie-off one of his wounds and stop the bleeding. However, he had several other wounds that turned out to be fatal. Glenda Penton says her son died fighting for something he believed in. "He loved what he was doing, he believed in what he was doing, and his doing what he was doing was his choice. He believed in what he was doing!" Padgett, was born and raised in Walton County and was well known from the north end of the county to the south. A lot of firefighters knew him well. Most people knew Padgett by his big smile, which he almost always wore. His fellow firefighters often called him "smiling Tim". Tim volunteered with the Argyle Volunteer Fire Department when he was a teenager and joined the Army National Guard when he was 17 years old. Tim later joined the South Walton Fire District (SWFD) as a firefighter/paramedic. Padgett's daughter, Summer Lynn, turned eight years old three days before her father was killed. Tim will be buried with full military honors and received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his service.
1st Battalion,
7th Special Forces Group,
Fort Bragg, N.C.
According to military records, Tim was the 589th soldier to die in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Obituary (Northest Florida Daily News: 13 May 2007)
Staff Sgt. Tim Padgett, age 28, of Fayetteville, N.C., passed away serving and defending his country in Operation Enduring Freedom in Southern Afghanistan on May 8, 2007. He was born on Jan. 13, 1979, in Geneva, Ala., to Tommy Gene Padgett and Glenda O'Neal Penton. Tim lived most of his life as a Walton County resident. He graduated from Walton High School in 1997. Later, he served as a licensed fire fighter and paramedic with the State of Florida. Tim joined the United States National Guard on Jan. 19, 1996, and entered into active duty Army on March 14, 2003. Upon completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2006, he was assigned to 7th SFG (A) Fort Bragg, N.C., as a Special Forces medical sergeant. Tim's awards and decorations with the United States Army include: Good Conduct medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, Special Operations Dive Badge and the Special Forces Tab. Tim's military education includes: Special Operations Combat Course, Medic SK SUS, Airborne School, SERE (high risk) Training, Warrior Leader Course, Basic NCO CRS (BNCOC), Combat Diver Qualification Course, Dive Medical Technician Course. Tim is preceded in death by maternal grandparents: Hansel and Gladys O'Neal. Tim is survived by his father: Tommy Padgett and wife Marilyn of Waller Texas; mother; Glenda O'Neal Penton of DeFuniak Springs, Fla.; paternal grandparents, Eloise and Jack McDonald of Milton, Fla., and Eugene Padgett of Bambride, Ga.; one daughter; Summer Lynn Padgett of Gaskin, Fla.; one brother; Rex Padgett and wife Wendy of Molino, Fla.; and one sister; Serena Padgett of Pensacola, Fla., and fiancé Stacey Chapman of Key West, Fla. A time of visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, May 15, 2007, at the First United Methodist Church, 88 West Circle Drive, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, 2007, at the First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Jason Campbell officiating. In honor of Tim's request his final resting place will be in the Glendale Natural Preserve Cemetery in Glendale, with full military honors. Floral arrangements are being accepted or donations may be made to the First Apostolic Church, 440 West Orange Ave., DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435. United States Army Green Berets will serve as pallbearers and Walton County Fire Fighters will serve as honorary pallbearers. Clary-Glenn Funeral Home is in entrusted with the arrangements.
Updated Information (Northwest Florida Daily News: 14 May 2007)
The body of Army Sgt. Tim "Timmy" Padgett was flown into the DeFuniak Springs Airport at 10:15 a.m. Monday and carried in a procession through town. Residents began gathering at 10 a.m. on 11th street with flags to honor the procession as it headed toward Clary-Glenn Funeral Home on Park Avenue. Padgett was killed May 8 by enemy fire in Afghanistan. The lifelong Walton County resident was a Green Beret in the Army Special Forces assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, N.C. His body was flown in to Hurlburt Field on a C-130 and then transferred to a Special Forces helicopter for the final leg to the airport near his home, authorities said. Joel Glenn, of Clary-Glenn Funeral Home, said he had never had a war hero flown home in this fashion before. He added that Padgett's family was very honored that the U.S. Army was flying him in to the airport near his home. Glenn said U.S. Congressman Jeff Miller was planning to be on hand to greet Padgett's body. All first responders from South Walton Fire District and DeFuniak Springs Fire Department, where Padgett once worked, were also planning to attend. In addition, members of the Patriot Guard will be on hand this morning.
1st Battalion,
7th Special Forces Group,
Fort Bragg, N.C.
According to military records, Tim was the 589th soldier to die in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Obituary (Northest Florida Daily News: 13 May 2007)
Staff Sgt. Tim Padgett, age 28, of Fayetteville, N.C., passed away serving and defending his country in Operation Enduring Freedom in Southern Afghanistan on May 8, 2007. He was born on Jan. 13, 1979, in Geneva, Ala., to Tommy Gene Padgett and Glenda O'Neal Penton. Tim lived most of his life as a Walton County resident. He graduated from Walton High School in 1997. Later, he served as a licensed fire fighter and paramedic with the State of Florida. Tim joined the United States National Guard on Jan. 19, 1996, and entered into active duty Army on March 14, 2003. Upon completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2006, he was assigned to 7th SFG (A) Fort Bragg, N.C., as a Special Forces medical sergeant. Tim's awards and decorations with the United States Army include: Good Conduct medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, Special Operations Dive Badge and the Special Forces Tab. Tim's military education includes: Special Operations Combat Course, Medic SK SUS, Airborne School, SERE (high risk) Training, Warrior Leader Course, Basic NCO CRS (BNCOC), Combat Diver Qualification Course, Dive Medical Technician Course. Tim is preceded in death by maternal grandparents: Hansel and Gladys O'Neal. Tim is survived by his father: Tommy Padgett and wife Marilyn of Waller Texas; mother; Glenda O'Neal Penton of DeFuniak Springs, Fla.; paternal grandparents, Eloise and Jack McDonald of Milton, Fla., and Eugene Padgett of Bambride, Ga.; one daughter; Summer Lynn Padgett of Gaskin, Fla.; one brother; Rex Padgett and wife Wendy of Molino, Fla.; and one sister; Serena Padgett of Pensacola, Fla., and fiancé Stacey Chapman of Key West, Fla. A time of visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, May 15, 2007, at the First United Methodist Church, 88 West Circle Drive, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, 2007, at the First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Jason Campbell officiating. In honor of Tim's request his final resting place will be in the Glendale Natural Preserve Cemetery in Glendale, with full military honors. Floral arrangements are being accepted or donations may be made to the First Apostolic Church, 440 West Orange Ave., DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435. United States Army Green Berets will serve as pallbearers and Walton County Fire Fighters will serve as honorary pallbearers. Clary-Glenn Funeral Home is in entrusted with the arrangements.
Updated Information (Northwest Florida Daily News: 14 May 2007)
The body of Army Sgt. Tim "Timmy" Padgett was flown into the DeFuniak Springs Airport at 10:15 a.m. Monday and carried in a procession through town. Residents began gathering at 10 a.m. on 11th street with flags to honor the procession as it headed toward Clary-Glenn Funeral Home on Park Avenue. Padgett was killed May 8 by enemy fire in Afghanistan. The lifelong Walton County resident was a Green Beret in the Army Special Forces assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, N.C. His body was flown in to Hurlburt Field on a C-130 and then transferred to a Special Forces helicopter for the final leg to the airport near his home, authorities said. Joel Glenn, of Clary-Glenn Funeral Home, said he had never had a war hero flown home in this fashion before. He added that Padgett's family was very honored that the U.S. Army was flying him in to the airport near his home. Glenn said U.S. Congressman Jeff Miller was planning to be on hand to greet Padgett's body. All first responders from South Walton Fire District and DeFuniak Springs Fire Department, where Padgett once worked, were also planning to attend. In addition, members of the Patriot Guard will be on hand this morning.
Twenty-eight-year-old Tim Padgett died Tuesday morning when he came under enemy fire in Tarin Kwot, Afghanistan. Padgett was a member of the Army's elite Green Berets. Military officials say Padgett, who served as a medic, was able to tie-off one of his wounds and stop the bleeding. However, he had several other wounds that turned out to be fatal. Glenda Penton says her son died fighting for something he believed in. "He loved what he was doing, he believed in what he was doing, and his doing what he was doing was his choice. He believed in what he was doing!" Padgett, was born and raised in Walton County and was well known from the north end of the county to the south. A lot of firefighters knew him well. Most people knew Padgett by his big smile, which he almost always wore. His fellow firefighters often called him "smiling Tim". Tim volunteered with the Argyle Volunteer Fire Department when he was a teenager and joined the Army National Guard when he was 17 years old. Tim later joined the South Walton Fire District (SWFD) as a firefighter/paramedic. Padgett's daughter, Summer Lynn, turned eight years old three days before her father was killed. Tim will be buried with full military honors and received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his service.
1st Battalion,
7th Special Forces Group,
Fort Bragg, N.C.
According to military records, Tim was the 589th soldier to die in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Obituary (Northest Florida Daily News: 13 May 2007)
Staff Sgt. Tim Padgett, age 28, of Fayetteville, N.C., passed away serving and defending his country in Operation Enduring Freedom in Southern Afghanistan on May 8, 2007. He was born on Jan. 13, 1979, in Geneva, Ala., to Tommy Gene Padgett and Glenda O'Neal Penton. Tim lived most of his life as a Walton County resident. He graduated from Walton High School in 1997. Later, he served as a licensed fire fighter and paramedic with the State of Florida. Tim joined the United States National Guard on Jan. 19, 1996, and entered into active duty Army on March 14, 2003. Upon completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2006, he was assigned to 7th SFG (A) Fort Bragg, N.C., as a Special Forces medical sergeant. Tim's awards and decorations with the United States Army include: Good Conduct medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, Special Operations Dive Badge and the Special Forces Tab. Tim's military education includes: Special Operations Combat Course, Medic SK SUS, Airborne School, SERE (high risk) Training, Warrior Leader Course, Basic NCO CRS (BNCOC), Combat Diver Qualification Course, Dive Medical Technician Course. Tim is preceded in death by maternal grandparents: Hansel and Gladys O'Neal. Tim is survived by his father: Tommy Padgett and wife Marilyn of Waller Texas; mother; Glenda O'Neal Penton of DeFuniak Springs, Fla.; paternal grandparents, Eloise and Jack McDonald of Milton, Fla., and Eugene Padgett of Bambride, Ga.; one daughter; Summer Lynn Padgett of Gaskin, Fla.; one brother; Rex Padgett and wife Wendy of Molino, Fla.; and one sister; Serena Padgett of Pensacola, Fla., and fiancé Stacey Chapman of Key West, Fla. A time of visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, May 15, 2007, at the First United Methodist Church, 88 West Circle Drive, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, 2007, at the First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Jason Campbell officiating. In honor of Tim's request his final resting place will be in the Glendale Natural Preserve Cemetery in Glendale, with full military honors. Floral arrangements are being accepted or donations may be made to the First Apostolic Church, 440 West Orange Ave., DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435. United States Army Green Berets will serve as pallbearers and Walton County Fire Fighters will serve as honorary pallbearers. Clary-Glenn Funeral Home is in entrusted with the arrangements.
Updated Information (Northwest Florida Daily News: 14 May 2007)
The body of Army Sgt. Tim "Timmy" Padgett was flown into the DeFuniak Springs Airport at 10:15 a.m. Monday and carried in a procession through town. Residents began gathering at 10 a.m. on 11th street with flags to honor the procession as it headed toward Clary-Glenn Funeral Home on Park Avenue. Padgett was killed May 8 by enemy fire in Afghanistan. The lifelong Walton County resident was a Green Beret in the Army Special Forces assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, N.C. His body was flown in to Hurlburt Field on a C-130 and then transferred to a Special Forces helicopter for the final leg to the airport near his home, authorities said. Joel Glenn, of Clary-Glenn Funeral Home, said he had never had a war hero flown home in this fashion before. He added that Padgett's family was very honored that the U.S. Army was flying him in to the airport near his home. Glenn said U.S. Congressman Jeff Miller was planning to be on hand to greet Padgett's body. All first responders from South Walton Fire District and DeFuniak Springs Fire Department, where Padgett once worked, were also planning to attend. In addition, members of the Patriot Guard will be on hand this morning.
1st Battalion,
7th Special Forces Group,
Fort Bragg, N.C.
According to military records, Tim was the 589th soldier to die in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Obituary (Northest Florida Daily News: 13 May 2007)
Staff Sgt. Tim Padgett, age 28, of Fayetteville, N.C., passed away serving and defending his country in Operation Enduring Freedom in Southern Afghanistan on May 8, 2007. He was born on Jan. 13, 1979, in Geneva, Ala., to Tommy Gene Padgett and Glenda O'Neal Penton. Tim lived most of his life as a Walton County resident. He graduated from Walton High School in 1997. Later, he served as a licensed fire fighter and paramedic with the State of Florida. Tim joined the United States National Guard on Jan. 19, 1996, and entered into active duty Army on March 14, 2003. Upon completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2006, he was assigned to 7th SFG (A) Fort Bragg, N.C., as a Special Forces medical sergeant. Tim's awards and decorations with the United States Army include: Good Conduct medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, Special Operations Dive Badge and the Special Forces Tab. Tim's military education includes: Special Operations Combat Course, Medic SK SUS, Airborne School, SERE (high risk) Training, Warrior Leader Course, Basic NCO CRS (BNCOC), Combat Diver Qualification Course, Dive Medical Technician Course. Tim is preceded in death by maternal grandparents: Hansel and Gladys O'Neal. Tim is survived by his father: Tommy Padgett and wife Marilyn of Waller Texas; mother; Glenda O'Neal Penton of DeFuniak Springs, Fla.; paternal grandparents, Eloise and Jack McDonald of Milton, Fla., and Eugene Padgett of Bambride, Ga.; one daughter; Summer Lynn Padgett of Gaskin, Fla.; one brother; Rex Padgett and wife Wendy of Molino, Fla.; and one sister; Serena Padgett of Pensacola, Fla., and fiancé Stacey Chapman of Key West, Fla. A time of visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, May 15, 2007, at the First United Methodist Church, 88 West Circle Drive, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, 2007, at the First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Jason Campbell officiating. In honor of Tim's request his final resting place will be in the Glendale Natural Preserve Cemetery in Glendale, with full military honors. Floral arrangements are being accepted or donations may be made to the First Apostolic Church, 440 West Orange Ave., DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435. United States Army Green Berets will serve as pallbearers and Walton County Fire Fighters will serve as honorary pallbearers. Clary-Glenn Funeral Home is in entrusted with the arrangements.
Updated Information (Northwest Florida Daily News: 14 May 2007)
The body of Army Sgt. Tim "Timmy" Padgett was flown into the DeFuniak Springs Airport at 10:15 a.m. Monday and carried in a procession through town. Residents began gathering at 10 a.m. on 11th street with flags to honor the procession as it headed toward Clary-Glenn Funeral Home on Park Avenue. Padgett was killed May 8 by enemy fire in Afghanistan. The lifelong Walton County resident was a Green Beret in the Army Special Forces assigned to the 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, N.C. His body was flown in to Hurlburt Field on a C-130 and then transferred to a Special Forces helicopter for the final leg to the airport near his home, authorities said. Joel Glenn, of Clary-Glenn Funeral Home, said he had never had a war hero flown home in this fashion before. He added that Padgett's family was very honored that the U.S. Army was flying him in to the airport near his home. Glenn said U.S. Congressman Jeff Miller was planning to be on hand to greet Padgett's body. All first responders from South Walton Fire District and DeFuniak Springs Fire Department, where Padgett once worked, were also planning to attend. In addition, members of the Patriot Guard will be on hand this morning.
