Pfc Richard “Ricky” W. Hafer

21, US Army 

November 15 marks the anniversary of the passing of Today, 3/26/23 Pfc. Richard “Ricky” W. Hafer US Army, 21, from Cross Lanes WV. We honor and remember him, his family and his mother Kimberly Hafer, of Saltsburg PA. Rick was born Aug. 13, 1982, in Latrobe PA.

He assigned to the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. Rick killed Nov. 15, 2003, when two 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters crashed in Mosul, Iraq.

Ricky was a 2001 graduate of Laurel Valley High School, where he excelled at playing football and wrestling.

Ricky's love for his sisters led him to join the Army, family members said. "His sisters were his whole life," said Sherry Barclay, his former stepmother, who raised him for much of his childhood. "He said when he left that he wanted to keep our country safe for them to live in." He lived in Nitro, W.Va., and was based at Fort Campbell, Ky. 

At 6-feet-5-inches and 275 pounds, Hafer was known for his "commanding presence," 1st Sgt. Perry Bunn said. Ricky was a star defensive lineman in his Laurel Valley, Pa., high school, but poor grades kept him from entering college to play football. He hoped joining the Army would enable him to pursue his college football dream. "He wanted to prove to everybody that he could be somebody," Barclay said.

He is also survived by his sisters Heather and Holly and brother Nick Hafer. 

Let us always remember him and his family and... 

Say His Name.

#neverforget #SayTheirNames #rememberthefallen

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