Fallen Preston soldier returns home

A community in southeastern Idaho welcomed a fallen hero home Wednesday in a solemn ceremony.

Specialist Cody Moosman of Preston died July 3 in Afghanistan after enemies attacked his unit.

At Logan Cache Valley Airport the military held the honorable transfer ceremony.

“Today’s honorable transfer ceremony is a very, very solemn and emotional event in which the family receives the remains back from the military,” Idaho National Guard Public Affairs Officer Col. Tim Marsano said.

Volunteers surrounded the area with flags, and as family and friends looked on, Cody Moosman’s mother, father, siblings, nieces and nephews had their heartfelt reunion.

After the solemn ceremony, an honor guard took the flag-draped coffin to a waiting hearse, and began the drive back to Preston, Idaho.

Along the road into Preston, locals lined the streets waving flags to welcome a fallen son home.

“We’re all deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and neighbor Cody Moosman and we wanted to come out and show our support for not only him, but for his family,” Preston local Jimmy Jones said.

Hundreds from the community came out, along Highway 91 from Logan to Preston.

Since his death, Cody Moosman has been posthumously promoted by the military, from private first class to the rank of specialist.

“It’s got to be shown that he died under very honorable and extraordinary circumstances, which he did. It’s a way of showing the family the honor that this fallen soldier deserves,” Marsano said.

The funeral for Cody Moosman will be held at 11 a.m. on July 13 at the LDS North Stake Center in Preston.