MSG (RET) Joseph Vernon Powell

MSG (Ret.) Joseph Vernon Powell, 67, passed away at a Killeen nursing home August 29. Visitation for Mr. Powell is scheduled for Thursday, September 1, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Crawford-Bowers (1615 South Fort Hood Road Killeen Texas). Services for Mr. Powell are scheduled for Friday, September 2, at 10:00 am in the Crawford-Bowers Chapel with inurnment to follow the service at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery.

Mr. Powell was born April 27, 1944, to Vincent and Mary Powell in Kansas City, Missouri. He married Somjit Boonpan on April 10, 1972 at the American Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.

Mr. Powell retired from the U.S. Army in 1991 as a Master Sergeant. He served during the Vietnam conflict and received the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal (8th award), National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 2 silver and 2 bronze service stars, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon Numeral 6, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Badge with Palm, Expert Rifle Badge, and the Army Achievement Medal.

Mr. Powell was deeply committed to his fellow service members, especially to those who had faced and were struggling to deal with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTDS). Following his retirement from the U.S. Army Mr. Powell completed his bachelors’ degree and then completed a Masters in Social Work (MSW). He then committed the rest of his professional life to working with veterans and wounded warriors at the Austin Vet Center.

Mr. Powell is preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, Tassanee Carver, and a sister, Cathy Wilson.

Survivors include his wife of 39 years, Somjit, one daughter, Varnee Baney, one son, Sakda Powell, 5 brothers, Jerry of Raleigh, NC, Bill Powell of Bella Vista, AR, Brian Powell of Los Fresnos, TX, Mike Powell of Fresno, CA, Patrick Powell, of Tijuana, Mexico, 2 sisters, Alice of Houston and Maria Norton of Logan, UT, one granddaughter, Kathleen Kile of Virginia and Chawarat Boonpan of Thailand.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, [email protected] or call 877-832-6997.