Portageville Armory to be named after local soldier killed in Iraq

PORTAGEVILLE -- Honor and dedication.

Those are two attributes among many Lt. Amos Camden Riley Bock showed during his service with the Missouri National Guard.

And they will be given to the fallen New Madrid soldier and his family Monday when the Portageville Armory is dedicated and renamed in his honor.

"Very soon after Lt. Bock was killed, some of his previous leaders and mentors from the Missouri National Guard immediately saw the significance of his service and thought about what we could do as an organization to help honor his memory," said Capt. Tammy Spicer of the Missouri National Guard, who is company commander for the 1140th Engineer Battalion. "The possibility of naming the Portageville Armory in his name seemed very fitting."

The naming committee of the Missouri National Guard also saw the prospect as fitting, which led to planning the dedication for Memorial Day on Monday.

Sgt. Jessica Sanders, administrative clerk, arranges chairs.

Sgt. Jessica Sanders, administrative clerk, arranges chairs.

"Memorial Day is to remember those who have given," Spicer said. "(The service) in Portageville on Memorial Day is even more fitting. You're recognizing a specific hometown hero who gave his life so recently."

Since the Portageville Armory was notified of the dedication, staff have worked to clean the building and do other tasks to prepare the 1957 building for the ceremony, said Sgt. Jessica Sanders, administration clerk. "We're trying to make everything look as nice as possible," she said. The sign on the front of the building, bearing Bock's name, is set to be unveiled Monday as well.

Bock died Oct. 23 from injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle while assigned to the 101st Airborne Division. He was the son of Riley and Jill Bock of New Madrid.

Bock began his career with Company C., 1140th Engineer Battalion of the Missouri National Guard in 1999. In 2000, he received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy, and he graduated from West Point in 2004 as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

Bock's father and his uncle, George Bock were also members of the 1140th. George Bock left the unit to serve as an officer in a medical unit in Kansas City. Riley Bock was there eight years as the company clerk and left the unit to serve in Brigade in St. Louis as a JAG officer.

"We are honored to have the Missouri National Guard honor the memory of our son in this manner. Our past association with this particular unit adds more meaning to the selection of this particular armory that will bear his name," Riley Bock said. "We appreciate the efforts of those in the Guard who helped him gain admission into West Point and assemble this memorial."

Maj. Gen. King Sidwell, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard, retired Missouri National Guard Brig. Gen. Hal Hunter, local officials and the Bock family will be on hand to help honor his memory.

There are several events around the state Sidwell could have gone to, but he chose to attend the dedication. "He looked at what was happening in Missouri and felt that Portageville was the place he needed to be to honor not only all the fallen soldiers but specifically Lt. Bock," Spicer said.

The dedication is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at the Portageville Armory, 400 W. 10th St. A reception will immediately follow the ceremony. Those who would like to attend can RSVP at (573) 638-9711.