A post office in Lakeland, Florida has been renamed in honor of a U.S. Marine who was killed in Afghanistan nearly 20 years ago.
Cpl. Ronald Payne, Jr., 23, was killed in action on May 7, 2004, during a rocket-propelled grenade attack in Tawara.
“Corporal Payne was a shining example of the best America has to offer,” said Rep. Scott Franklin (R-FL), during the June 16 renaming ceremony. “The impact of his selfless service on this country and on those who knew him continues to this day. It is an honor to rename this post office in his honor, so his legacy and sacrifice live on for current and future generations in our community.”
Franklin introduced legislation directing the U.S. Postal Service Building located at 6000 South Florida Ave. in Lakeland to be renamed in honor of Payne. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law on Dec. 27, 2022.
“Today Lakeland honors one of our own who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of America,” Franklin said.
Related
Payne Jr. was born on Dec. 31, 1980, in Lakeland. He graduated from Mulberry High School in 1999 before enlisting in the Marines Corps. He deployed with the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in 2003 during the initial invasion of Iraq.
The experienced combat leader volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan. He was the first Marine killed in ground combat in Tawara.
Payne was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star with Valor for saving the life of Staff Sgt. Jason Thompson, who was surrounded after being wounded during the exchange.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
Related
