Welcome to the Bonifay Police Department's Tribute to our local Military Hero's who have fallen to protect our freedom. This page was created as a special tribute to a mother who lost her son so far away, a person who we call a United States Marine, and a Hero... Marine Cpl. John Russell Cooper.

Marine Cpl. Cooper's mother Mrs. Kim Cooper is the store manager of the Express Lane Convience Store located at the intersection of Waukesha Street and North Avenue. I remember the first time I met Mrs. Cooper at the store and found out about her son and how she is high spirited and cherishes the opportunity to speak with each person that visits her store. She is able to carry out her love for the community and also be there for her family. I believe Mrs. Cooper is a very positive role model and hearing her story touched my heart and I felt I could give back to the community to those who have lost loved ones in the military by adding a place online to pay tribute to our local military hero's.

Marine Cpl. John Cooper, of Bonifay, Florida, stationed in Hawaii, passed away on Monday, July 18, 2005, due to complication from a severe head trauma.

John Russell Cooper, was born at Camp Pendleton, California, on September 5, 1983. He attended school in Kentucky and Georgia before the family moved in August 1990 to Bonifay, Florida. He attended 1st-12th grade there. In 7th grade, he was burned in a gasoline fire and the Shriners took him back and forth to Galveston, Texas for 6 years. He learned to walk again. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2001 before his senior year. He graduated from the Holmes County High in May 2002. On May 28th, 2002, he reported to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, South Carolina.

After successfully completing recruit training, he reported to the School of Infantry at Camp Geiger, North Carolina on September 4, 2002. On November 6, 2002, he reported to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, Alpha Company in Hawaii. In 2003, he deployed to the Philippines in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where they guarded an air base. In July 2004, they deployed to Okinawa, Japan, where he called at the end of August to say they were going to help fight the global war on terrorism. They went to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. Corporal Cooper was involved in Operation Phantom Fury and Operation Citadel. He saw combat in both Fallujah and Hit, Iraq. Corporal Cooper had extended for the opportunity to deploy to Afghanistan.

His awards and decorations include: Navy Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon(x2), National Defense Service Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Citation and Navy Unit Commendation.

John is survived by his parents, Tom and Kim; his brother, Paul and sister=in-law, Vicky, all from Bonifay, Florida; Grandmother, Delores Badker; and aunts, uncles, and cousins from Osage and the surrounding area.

He was a good friend and a good Marine and will be greatly missed.

If you have information about a local Fallen Military hero and you would like to add their information to this tribute page, Please contact the webmaster.