WKU News

The WKU ROTC program dedicated a renovated and refurbished cadet lounge Tuesday morning in memory of 1^st Lt. Eric D. Yates, a 2008 graduate from Rineyville who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2010.

Kathy Yates said her son would have been proud but humbled by the recognition. “Eric loved this school,” she said. “This is the best place to honor him.”

Eric Yates was killed in action Sept. 17, 2010, after an improvised explosive device detonated near his patrol. Yates served in the Army’s 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell.

Yates’ mother has made it her mission that his service and sacrifice are not forgotten. “We do what we can every day to honor him and keep his memory alive,” she said.

Col. Morgan Greene, Professor of Military Science, said the 1^st Lieutenant Eric D. Yates Cadet Lounge is a second home for cadets and serves as a reminder “to never forget those who have gone before you.”

The lounge, located in the ROTC offices at Diddle Arena, offers computers, desks and furniture for academic work as well as fitness equipment for physical wellness, said Dr. Corinne Murphy, Dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.

Dr. Murphy thanked the Yates family, alumni and others in attendance for their support of the ROTC program. She also thanked cadets for their service. “We couldn’t be more proud of you,” she said.

The dedication ceremony featured Chris Cruise, a military veteran and co-owner of Cruise Customs in Shepherdsville, unveiling a wooden American flag crafted from bourbon barrels.

Contact: ROTC, (270) 745-4293

-WKU-

Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.