A small Pasco County community is set to honor one of its own by renaming the local post office.

  • Post Office to be renamed in honor of fallen Marine
  • Roger Fussell, 19, killed in 1969 in Vietnam
  • Dedication scheduled for November 6th

Marine Roger Fussell, of Elfers, was 19-years-old when he was killed on June 6, 1969. His family said he had only been serving in Vietnam for about three months when it happened.

Roger’s younger brother Tim Fussell said he remembers getting the news back home. At just 13-years-old, Fussell had been out fishing with friends.

“I knew something was wrong when I came back,” Fussell said.  “So I went on back to the house and that’s when mama told me.”

Roger joined the Marines shortly after graduating Gulf High School in 1968.

“I figured if anybody could make it home from the military, he could,” said sister Faye Shorter.

“He was just so sweet,” said Myra Fussell, another one of Roger’s sisters.

Now, after all these years, the Elfers post office on Madison Street is set to be renamed in Roger’s honor, thanks to a push by Congressman Gus Bilirakis’ office.

The dedication ceremony is set for November 6.