Fallen Tennessee officer, soldier families have mortgages paid off by Tunnel to Towers

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--The family of a former country music singer turned police officer who died of a heart attack had the mortgage on their home paid off along with five other Gold Star families.

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to helping the families of first responders, launched following the death of firefighter Stephen Siller who lost his life during 9/11.

During the organization's Never Forget Concert at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, the organization announced the mortgages of six Gold Star families have had their mortgages paid off. The concert, which included performances by Old Dominion and Brantley Gilbert, hosted 750 first responder and military families.

Retired country music singer turned Franklin Police Department Officer Jeff Carson was among those honored during the concert. At the time of his death in March, Carson had just finished going back to the studio to recut a previously recorded song called "God Saved The World."

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Carson is survived by his wife Kim Cooper Carson, son Dayton Grei Herndon Carson, mother Virginia Norton, brother Steve Herndon, sister Karen Spurlock, as well as aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews.

In addition to Carson, the foundation also paid off the mortgages of three fallen Army soldiers from Middle Tennessee and a Marine Corps Captain from Nashville. Below are their stories as shared by Tunnel to Towers:

U.S. Army SPC Russell Shane Hercules Jr. from Clarksville, Tennessee was killed serving in Afghanistan in 2009. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart for his bravery and courageous deeds. He was just 22 years old and left behind his wife Victoria, his two children and two stepchildren.

U.S. Army SGT Louie Ramos from Clarksville, Tennessee died in May 2011 from injuries sustained when insurgents attacked his unit in Afghanistan. Ramos received several awards while serving, including the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, the Air Assault Badge, and the Parachutist and Pathfinder Badge(s).

He is survived by his wife, Yesenia, two children and a stepson.

U.S. Army SGT William Bernard McKenna, 41 from Mount Juliet, Tennessee, died three days after Christmas in 2010, losing his battle with T-cell Lymphoma. It was less than a year after he came home from his second and final tour in Iraq. He is survived by his wife, Dina and his two daughters.

USMC Captain Travis Walker Brannon from Nashville, Tennessee died in 2019 in a training accident. During his time served, he was awarded the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Brannon was 30 when he died. He is survived by his wife, Virginia, and his daughter.