FORT CARSON, Colo. —
A Fort Carson chaplain urged mourners to hold dear the service of three servicemen killed in an attack in Afghanistan, as hundreds gathered at the Army post Thursday to remember them.
Air Force Maj. Walter D. Gray, 38, of Conyers, Ga.; Army Maj. Thomas E. Kennedy, 35, of West Point, N.Y.; and Army Sgt. Maj. Kevin J. Griffin, 45, of Laramie, Wyo., died Aug. 8 when insurgents detonated suicide vests.
“Let us hold their service dear,” said Lt. Col. Keith Goode. “Let us make sure that their sacrifice is not in vain.”
Griffin and Kennedy were assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division based at Fort Carson.
Gray was an air liaison officer and flight commander for the Fort Carson-based 13th Air Support Operations Squadron, part of the 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
Scores of people dabbed their eyes under graying skies, while others wept softly during the memorial service, The Gazette reported (http://bit.ly/StDixZ).
Griffin served in Kuwait and the Balkans before deploying three times to Iraq. He had graduated from Riverton High School. The father of two had recently celebrated 25 years of marriage to his wife, Pam.
“The Army in this country has lost a great soldier and a champion,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Jody Heikkinen.
Kennedy deployed to Afghanistan in July. He had earned three Bronze Stars and attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., where he was on the hockey team. He is survived by his wife, Kami, and two children, Brody and Margaret.
“We know you are up there in the company of the great ones looking over us now,” said Maj. Timothy Knoth. “You will be on the ice with us each time we lace up.”
Gray was known as a perfectionist. He was killed days before his 11th wedding anniversary. His survivors include his wife, Heather, and their children Nyah, Garrett and Ava.
“Honestly, I don’t know if we can say rest in peace for David,” said Michael Fernihough, who was Gray’s pastor. “Because David’s just too busy worshipping his king.”
The three men received a 21-gun salute before a single trumpet broke the silence.
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