San Francisco Chronicle -- Army Pfc. Raymond N. Spencer Jr., 23, of Sacramento County was a study in contrasts. He liked the movies "Top Gun" and "Finding Nemo," the History Channel and "South Park," country music and rock.
Spencer was a firefighter in Placer Hills before joining the Army. He coached youth ice hockey and played the game himself throughout the U.S. and Canada, at one point harboring ambitions to play professionally.He never got to start that family. He was scheduled to be home on July 1st, in time for his sister's wedding. He is coming home now, but not in the way he intended. He died on June 21, 2007. Insurgents in Baghdad attacked his unit with IED's and small arms fire.
He cherished his family, said his aunt, and wrote on MySpace, "My family has always been there for me and support everything I do. I plan to be the same way when I start my own family one day."
I had to let myself cool off for a couple of days because initially all I could feel was rage. I want this post not to stand as a rant or political statement. This post has one single purpose, helping the world carry the memory of a fallen hero who gave his life for a cause he believed in.
Pfc. Raymond Spencer, Jr., you will always be remembered. I salute you and all of your brothers-in-arms who make the ultimate sacrifice. May your family find comfort in their time of loss.
Pfc. Raymond Spencer, Jr., you will always be remembered. I salute you and all of your brothers-in-arms who make the ultimate sacrifice. May your family find comfort in their time of loss.
4 comments:
thank you so much! it means a lot to me that you would this for me. Ray was a great kid who was cut down in his prime. thank you for making others aware. Cissi
It is the least I can do.
Its sad to see that the world contains so much awfulness.
Kind of like the disillusionment a child feels upon realizing that Santa or the Easter Bunny doesn’t exist.
The respect our fallen protectors of freedom are shown is so seldom enough in my opinion.
Your post is concise, and respectful. His memory will live on in the hearts of others. You were right to hold off on posting until you could control your emotions. Rage is easy but intellectual reasoning and compassion take a cool head. This is probably my favorite and in my opinion your best post to date.
Never Forget
~Nina
Thank you Nina.
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