Funeral held for Oklahoma native killed in training mission

HUGO, Okla. (AP) -- Funeral services were held Wednesday in Hugo for Navy Petty Officer Second Class Brian Joplin, who died during a training mission in the Middle East.<br/><br/>The Hugo native was remembered

Tuesday, October 11th 2005, 8:58 am

By: News On 6

HUGO, Okla. (AP) -- Funeral services were held Wednesday in Hugo for Navy Petty Officer Second Class Brian Joplin, who died during a training mission in the Middle East.

The Hugo native was remembered as a jovial mechanic who was comfortable working on everything from a superior's car to a vintage B-25 bomber.

Joplin most recently lived in Corpus Christi, Texas, with his wife and two daughters, ages 8 and 11. He fell out of a MH-53 helicopter in the Central Arabian Gulf when a trap door gave way and his harness broke.

He was an avid Oklahoma Sooners fan. An OU banner was displayed at the funeral service and the OU fight song was played.