WELCOME TO WEST VIRGINIA BRIDGE RIDE: THE 65 ARE HOME.
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
#GoldStarMothers #GoldStar #goldstarfamilies #goldstarbridgeride
SSG Nicholas Harrison “Nick” Leach
28, Army National Guard
November 14 marks the passing of SSG Nicholas Harrison “Nick” Leach, 28, WV Army National Guard, of Parkersburg WV. We honor and remember him, his family and his mother Ann Leach (deceased) of Vienna WV. Nicholas Leach departed this life on November 14, 2009.
Nick was born July 9, 1981, in Parkersburg, W.Va. He was a graduate of Parkersburg High School class of 1999 and was a student of the WVU College of Mechanical Engineering. He was an Army veteran having served in Iraq with the 150th Armored Division of the West Virginia Army National Guard.
Nick was especially close to his cousins Allison and Logan Leach and his aunt, Lynn Leach. Allison Leach recently gave us some insight into who he was, and this is what she said:
“Nicholas was very passionate about his family, friends, and his faith. Nick was a natural cut-up, anytime he was around. He thrived on making people laugh and always had a new joke to tell at any family gathering. He always made the holidays special by making everyone laugh and everyone enjoyed his presence. His laughter was infectious.”
“Nick was an Eagle scout, loved the outdoors. He was a true survivalist and always prepared, but music was his true passion. He was a natural. It was as if he was born to play guitar. He could listen to any song, and minutes later, he could play it. A month into guitar lessons, he had Stairway To Heaven memorized. Classic rock was his favorite. He could sing and play any song asked of him. His guitar was his favorite possession.”
“He was also a huge mountaineer fan. Living in Morgantown and being a student, he got to enjoy the games and living student life. Nicholas was a student for 8 years. It took him extra time to complete his degree due to deployment and coming home with cancer.”
“The school issued his degree to the family a few months after his passing. He had finished but had not received his diploma. WVU held a bell ringing service for him and issued his degree to the family. He joined the service for an education and everything else that came with it. His education was very important to him. He was excited to become an engineer. He had the mindset of one.” “Nick was the light of our family, a wonderful person to be around. And always made light of every situation.”
Nicholas’s mother Ann Leach posted this poem on his tribute page a few years before her passing:
“At the rising of the sun and it’s going down
We remember them……
At the beginning of the year and when it ends,
We remember them……
As long as we live, they too will live.
They are part of us,
We remember them”
Let us always remember SSG Leach, his family, his mother and always…
Say His Name
May he rest in the arms of his beloved mother...
#neverforget
#SayTheirNames
#rememberthefallen
#nationalguard
#army
#GoldStarMothers #goldstarfamilies #GoldStar #goldstarbridgeride
