Bumgarner Oil Company in Hickory NC recently unveiled a second Fallen Heroes tank trailer that memorializes Marine Cpl. Benny G. Cockerham III, who was killed in action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq on Oct. 21, 2005.
The custom-wrapped trailer made its debut at Sandy Ridge Baptist Church in support of the church’s Fallen Heroes outreach program. Zach Bumgarner, general manager at Bumgarner Oil, is a member of the church.
“We are forever grateful for his sacrifice,” the company said in a Facebook post.
Cpl. Cockerham died while serving his second tour of duty in Iraq, where he received two Purple Hearts, the Combat Action Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Cockerham’s father, Ben Cockerham, was on hand at Sandy Ridge when the trailer was revealed.
According to local reports, the tanker will highlight Cockerham’s sacrifice as it travels throughout western North Carolina and northern South Carolina.
Bumgarner Oil, which has served the Hickory area since 1954, supplies oil-based fuels for home and commercial use, including industrial, automotive and heating fuels. The third-generation, family-owned company has four bulk plant operations and 13 company-owned convenience stores; and owns and operates its own transport company, B&B Transport.