Confirmed Mission for CPO Kameron Pratt, 34, Dallas, TX

On Friday, June 9,2006, an unidentified carjacker shot and killed Chief Petty Officer Kameron Pratt after dragging him from his pickup at his parents' home in Dallas' Red Bird area.

Chief Petty Officer Kameron Pratt had been at home on a two week leave recovering from a minor shoulder surgery.  He was to report to duty for his fourth overseas tour of duty in four years – the latest in the Middle East aboard the USS George Washington.

Kameron Pratt was a talented youth football player and eventually took up amateur boxing, competing as a welterweight and middleweight in tournaments. A fighter and writer, Mr. Pratt became sports editor for the student newspaper at Lincoln High School, where he graduated.

"He was always very excited. He was the life of the party," Kebreon Pratt said. He figured the Navy would help him earn a good salary and enlisted at age 30, nearly 12 years after he passed up an opportunity to enter the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md.

"You think of how many times he's probably escaped death out there in all the places he's been," his younger brother, Kebreon Pratt, said Saturday at the family's home. "And here he is "home" just trying to spend time with his baby. He was on cloud nine.  And then this happens."

CPO Pratt's wife also serves in the Navy and isn't due to return until August. Kameron's father, Leon Pratt, said he and his wife would continue to care for their granddaughter, as they had been lately.

While on leave Kameron doted on his 9-month-old daughter, Lailah, as one might expect of a father savoring two weeks' leave with a daughter he hardly knew as father and daughter had been half a world apart since early this year.

"Nothing seems right now. They took away somebody's nephew, a brother, a father," Kebreon Pratt said in the home's living room. "A soldier," Keanon Pratt said.

From the other side of the room, Leon Pratt listened; bowed his head. "A son," he said.

President John Kennedy once said “Ask not what your country can do for you but what can you do for your country”.

A family is always so proud of their children when they step up and decide to dedicate their life to the Armed Services. What more can you give than your life for your country?

 This family must be devastated. When someone joins the Armed Services to protect America’s Constitution they know their life could be in eminent danger. If they are called to defend this great nation they give freely and fight to the end.

The PGR has made our mission to honor these fallen hero’s and provide the greatest dignity and respect to the soldier and family. But to loose your life to a criminal, a citizen whose rights you have helped to defend is not acceptable.

CPO Kameron Pratt has given his life for the wrong reason and we as PGR need to make a maximum presence on this mission. I want the family to know how deplorable this act is and the overwhelming support they have from the PGR.

Lets gather our forces and make the maximum presence to honor this hero and family.

I hope this gathering of the Guard is so large several Ride Captains will be necessaary to handle the job.

Standing by to do what ever is needed.

Bill Watkins (Starz)

North Texas Ride Captain