DHart
Flashlight Enthusiast
The words you never want to hear from a military officer or policeman. We heard them today.
Some of you may recall a thread I started some time ago about our son's use of the Solarforce flashlight helping to find a cache of arms in Afghanistan.
Sharon and I were informed by the military today our son/stepson, Specialist Elijah Rao, was killed by an IED earlier today in Afghanistan. His convoy was stopped at the site of an explosion. Elijah stepped out of the humvee and within moments, another IED was detonated, taking Elijah out. Something we have feared for years, but hoped would not come to pass.
Elijah served an extended (15 month) tour in Iraq before serving in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He was scheduled to come home in January on leave and then come home for good in May. Elijah has been posthumously promoted to Sargent E5, will receive the Purple Heart, and has been recommended to receive a Bronze Star.
He was an incredible, gentle, loving person and this hits really, really hard. Has a wife and 1 year old. The coming week will be very difficult. We were visited by two Army officers today and more will be here later tonight. We have a lot of grief and ceremony to move through this week, and beyond.
Here's is picture I recently took of Elijah.
I think we've cried enough for one day. About all we know to do is tell people who might want to know about this beloved 26 year old son, father, brother, friend.
Please pray for our brave young men and women who risk their lives for us in that hell hole of the middle east.
Some of you may recall a thread I started some time ago about our son's use of the Solarforce flashlight helping to find a cache of arms in Afghanistan.
Sharon and I were informed by the military today our son/stepson, Specialist Elijah Rao, was killed by an IED earlier today in Afghanistan. His convoy was stopped at the site of an explosion. Elijah stepped out of the humvee and within moments, another IED was detonated, taking Elijah out. Something we have feared for years, but hoped would not come to pass.
Elijah served an extended (15 month) tour in Iraq before serving in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He was scheduled to come home in January on leave and then come home for good in May. Elijah has been posthumously promoted to Sargent E5, will receive the Purple Heart, and has been recommended to receive a Bronze Star.
He was an incredible, gentle, loving person and this hits really, really hard. Has a wife and 1 year old. The coming week will be very difficult. We were visited by two Army officers today and more will be here later tonight. We have a lot of grief and ceremony to move through this week, and beyond.
Here's is picture I recently took of Elijah.
I think we've cried enough for one day. About all we know to do is tell people who might want to know about this beloved 26 year old son, father, brother, friend.
Please pray for our brave young men and women who risk their lives for us in that hell hole of the middle east.
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