Photo By Sgt. Melissa Hall | U.S. Army Spc. Nicolas Kudla walks pass after paying his final respects during the...... read more read more
KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - The indoor memorial ceremony for U.S. Army Pfc. Jeffrey Rice was packed with soldiers from the 584th Mobility Augmentation Company and guests on Forward Operating Base Walton, Afghanistan, July 27.
Rice died in a non-combat related incident July 16.
This was Rice’s second deployment to Afghanistan for route clearance operations within Kandahar province. He first deployed in January 2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
U.S. Army Capt. Joseph Frederick, 584th commander, spoke about Rice’s lifelong wish to become a soldier.
“I knew about Rice long before I took command, about his strengths, as well as his weakness and I quickly discovered his strong desire to be a soldier,” said Frederick. “As a child, he would politely inform his mother that he would be ‘guarding the perimeter’, protecting her from whatever danger might be lurking about.”
During his speech, Fredrick provided this message to the leaders and soldiers of 584th: “Danger is still lurking. We still have a mission to complete. So, all I ask is that you honor him by watching over one another and take up his position guarding the perimeter.”
U.S. Army Spc. Nicholas Kudla, a good friend of Rice, had this to say about the type of man Rice was, “Jeff was a kind, generous, honest and loyal. He was a man of integrity. I still can’t believe anyone could be capable of having such fortitude.”
U.S. Army chaplain Capt. Jason Bird took to the podium after Kudla.
“Rice was a young man whose life ended far too soon,” said Bird. “This is a man who had given much and, in fact; still had much to give in this life. Today we mourn, not just the loss of life, but all the loss of possibilities unfulfilled.”
Rice is survived by his mother, Sandy, and his sisters, Mary and Wendy Rice. He was preceded in death by his father, Bruce Rice. He will be missed and never forgotten by his brothers in arms of the 584th Mobility Augmentation Company and the men and women of the 223rd Engineer Battalion and the 411th Engineer Brigade.
| Date Taken: | 07.27.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 07.30.2012 04:22 |
| Story ID: | 92345 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TX, US |
| Hometown: | FORT CAVAZOS, TX, US |
| Hometown: | TROY, OH, US |
| Web Views: | 311 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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