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BHS grad dies in Afghanistan
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| By: Mark J. Crawford, Editor |
September 18, 2009 |
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Staff Sgt. Bryan Berky (right) is pictured in this Air Force photo with Tech Sgt. John Carrol when he was a senior airman with the 755th Expeditionary Mission Support Group, Explosive Ordinance Disposal Company Bravo. The photo was taken during an improvised explosive device detection operation in Nimruz Province, Afghanistan, on July 4, 2007.
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A Bradford High School graduate died in combat in Afghanistan over the weekend.
Bryan D. Berky was just 25 years old and one of three U.S. troops killed during an ambush near Bala Baluk, Afghanistan, on Saturday, Sept. 12. The Rapid City Journal quotes a U.S. military spokesperson as saying fighting continued for several hours after the initial ambush, and included NATO airstrikes of the insurgent-controlled region. The ambush involved roadside bombs, gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades.
Other casualties included Afghan army troops and Taliban militants.
The Journal is based in Rapid City, S.D., home of the Ellsworth Air Force Base where Berky was stationed. The staff sergeant was an explosives ordnance disposal technician assigned to the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron. Berky's job involved protecting troops from planted bombs by investigating and dismantling them. He died of wounds sustained from enemy fire.
According to MSNBC, it was his third tour of duty to Southeast Asia, and in an Air Force Times article, he expressed his love for his work.
"I love deploying. I get back and feel like I contributed because I can immediately see the end result of my work; not everyone can say that about their job," Berky said.
He was also aware his expertise and loyalty to his mission made him a target.
"A lot of terrorists are gunning for EOD operators because they know we're capable of disarming their main weapons," Berky told the Times.
"This is a grim reminder of the important work hundreds of our airmen are doing overseas today," said Col. Jeffrey Taliaferro, 28th Bomb Wing commander, in a news release about Berky's death.
Berky reportedly grew up in Starke and lived in Melrose. He graduate with the Class of 2002. The following year he married Erin Williams, whom he called his biggest crush in his profile at Classmates.com. They have an infant son, Harrison.
Berky listed his interests as playing music, golfing, jogging and snorkeling. He was in a band and wrote that his friends would describe him as the life of the party.
Berky's parents are William and Sonya Berky of Melrose. His brother, Jeremy, a Santa Fe College student, memorialized him on his My Space page, calling his brother a hero. There he also posted a photograph of a tattoo he received in honor of his brother, dedicating it with the caption, "For my brother, who fights for us and protects his fellow troops from bombs every day."
Members of the family flew to Delaware to await the return of Berky's remains to Dover Air Force Base and returned late Monday. A modest ceremony was held Thursday when the remains were flown into Gainesville.
The funeral service with full military honors will take place Saturday morning, Sept. 19, at 11 a.m. at Chapel in the Meadows, 4100 N.W. 39th Ave. in Gainesville.
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©Bradford County Telegraph 2010
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