Today my walk was dedicated in honor of:
Army Sgt. Eric A. Fifer, Age 22 of Knoxville, TN.
KIA Oct. 7, 2005 in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom
He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Family, friends, I love you all.That was the last message sent by Sgt. Eric A. Fifer, 22, of the 82nd Airborne, to everyone on his e-mail list.
It was sent on Monday, Oct. 3. Four days later, Fifer, a South-Doyle High School graduate, was fatally wounded in a firefight when his dismounted patrol was attacked with small-arms fire in Haqlaniyah, Iraq, according to a Department of Defense press release.
Fifer’s parents, Bruce Eric Fifer of Ninety-Six, S.C., and Nancy Mellen of Knoxville, said he was shot in the chest. Another soldier also was killed in the firefight Friday, the Defense Department said. Both were with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
Fifer may have had a premonition.
He told one of his friends right before he left that he was afraid this one would not end well, that he knew he was going somewhere really dangerous, Mellen said.
And she said there was something unsettling about his last message, sent the night before he left for what would be his final mission.
He was always a joker, and usually signed his e-mails
Had a great walk. I want to thank everyone for their honks and waves in helping me honor this hero.
He will NOT be forgotten.
