Otie Joseph Mcvey

Sergeant First Class, Otie Joseph McVey, 53, died Sunday November 7, 2004 at the VA Medical Center, Beckley, WV after a short illness. McVey became ill while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom at Camp Taji, Iraq. He was evacuated from Iraq in late September and sent to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. While at Walter Reed, McVey was visited by numerous Army Generals and high-ranking military officials who had continued to follow his progress and support his family. Born March 14, 1951 in Concho, WV he was the son of the late Carlos E. and Elsie C. Wiley McVey. His father-in-law, the late David Freeman Richmond of Oak Hill, also preceded him in death. McVey was employed by the West Virginia Department of Highways at Lookout WV. SFC McVey was called to Active Duty for Operation Iraqi Freedom and to serve with the 706th Transportation Company from Mansfield, OH in Iraq. Upon arriving in Iraq, McVey became acting First Sergeant with the 185th Corp Support Battalion Alpha Company at Camp Taji, Iraq where he was made acting First Sergeant and responsible for guarding the perimeter of Camp Taji. While in Iraq he was awarded several outstanding leadership commendations. McVey began his tenure in the military when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps serving from 1971-1975 and was stationed for a time in Okinawa, Japan. After leaving the Marine Corps in 1975, McVey joined the 193rd Engineering Company of the West Virginia Army National Guard. In 1983, SFC McVey joined the 80th division of the United States Army Reserves in Beaver, WV where he served as Supply Sergeant until being called back to Active Duty and being deployed to Iraq. SFC McVey was awarded numerous medals and awards throughout his tenure including: National Defense Service Medal, Marine Corp Good Conduct Medal, Human Service Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, WV State Service Ribbon, WV State Emergency Service Ribbon, Army Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit. McVey was active in the Oak Hill High School Band Boosters, member of the Board of the Oak Hill Swim Club, and Assistant Scout Master, Boy Scouts of America Troop 1335. Survivors include his loving wife of 26 years, Teresa Richmond McVey of Oak Hill; two sons Joseph Patrick and Sean Michael, both of Oak Hill; mother-in-law Susie Chapman Richmond, a sister Donna Carol Cullop and her husband Wiley of Ghent; a brother-in-law, Michael Stephen Richmond of Germantown MD; a sister-in-law Rebecca Richmond Jones and her husband, Charlie, of Oak Hill; nephews Aaron David Jones of Oak Hill, Michael Wayne Blake of Ghent, Jennings Carte of Winston Salem NC, Wiley Cullop, III of Shady Spring and a great-nephew Joshua Cullop of Ghent; a niece, Brenda Cullop Sullivan of Ghent; two great-nieces Tyler Sullivan and Jennifer Oliver, both of Ghent. Services will be held 2:00 pm Thursday, November 11, 2004, at the Oak Hill Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Greg Hostutler and Reverend Pete Lokant officiating. Burial will follow at High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill with full military honors conducted by the United States Army. Honorary pallbearers will be Larry Coleman, John Puckett, Randy Gorby, Jennings Carte, Keith Campbell, Michael Blake, Charlie Jones, and Joshua Cullop. Friends may call from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm Wednesday, November 10, 2004, at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill and one hour prior to the services at the church on Thursday. In honor of his children and in lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Oak Hill High School Band Boosters and the Boy Scouts of American Troop 1335, Oak Hill. Donations may be sent to Rt. 1 Box 56-S Oak Hill, WV 25901.