‘Tight-knit’ community mourns one of its own

Jace Radke

Wednesday, March 26, 2003 | 11:29 a.m.

TONOPAH -- American flags are flying at half staff along the streets of this high desert town of about 3,600 residents after a local U.S. Marine was killed in Iraq over the weekend.

Many in the town, about 220 miles northwest of Las Vegas, never met 2nd Lt. Frederick E. Pokorney Jr., but that doesn't matter.

"I didn't really know him, but I know that he was from Tonopah," said Katie Borrego, who was minding her mother's craft store Tuesday. "It makes me want to cry, because I know he was over there serving in a war to keep my son and I safe.

"This is a tight-knit town, and we're proud of all of those who are serving from here."

Borrego was busy making red, white and blue pins with a yellow ribbon tied around them as news spread through town that Pokorney, 31, was killed in Iraq. Borrego planned to hand out the ribbons to residents.

Tonopah and others throughout the state remembered the first Nevadan killed in the war with Iraq. The state Assembly and Senate closed sessions in Pokorney's honor.

In Washington, D.C., Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Nevadans will "always be grateful for his sacrifice. The world is a better place because of his service to his country."

In Tonopah, residents were reminded of the sacrifice Pokorney and others made.

"I don't know the Marine that died, and neither do most of the kids here, but we know a lot of other people who have graduated recently and are in Iraq," said Krista Wharff, a 17-year-old, who is the assistant editor of the Tonopah High School newspaper.

Wharff was among the students who hung up posters in the school entryway Tuesday reminding students of those serving overseas, and of Pokorney who graduated from the school in 1989.

In the center of town sits a white gazebo adorned with six American flags just a few feet from a stone plaque featuring a carving of an F-117A Nighthawk, a stealth fighter that was initially based near Tonopah.

Ted Sauvageau, a math teacher at the high school, has lived in Tonopah for 20 years, and says that the town has always been proud of its military ties.

"Everybody knows that they do secret stuff out there in the desert, but we don't talk about it," Sauvageau said. "We've always supported the soldiers from here and things like the stealth."

The high school has scheduled a memorial service Friday in front of the school.

Karen Epperly, a local business owner, said she expects most of the town to show up for the 8 a.m. memorial. Epperly, a supporter of the war, said there isn't much in the way of anti-war protests in Tonopah.

"I haven't seen any, but that may be just because everyone in town has already spoken to me and they're now afraid to protest," Epperly said.

Arthur Johnson, an auto and wood shop teacher at the 153-student high school, said he often thinks about former students who are now serving their country.

"You don't want to lose any of your kids, but occasionally it does happen," said Johnson who taught Pokorney in auto shop. "These kids believe in what they are doing, and we support them."

As the sun set Tuesday evening two young boys walked down Tonopah's main drag selling bumper stickers emblazoned with "Support Our Troops," and an American flag. Residents strolled by the gazebo, while the boys looked to sell the stickers for $2 apiece.

"It's just the kind of town this is," Borrego said. "Growing up it drives you nuts because everybody knows what you're doing, but now that I'm a parent it's a great place to raise kids."