Sgt. 1st Class Richard J. Herrema, 27, of Hudsonville, Mich., died April 25, 2006
A Fort Bragg soldier with one of the Army's most elite units was killed in a helicopter assault in Baghdad.
He placed only God above his family and loved life, and was a thoughtful man, doing things such as hiring a limo for his younger sisters prom.
He entered the Army in January 1999, and was assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. There he quickly moved up the ladder with his strive for being the best one could be.
The News & Observer report, described his last assignment as "a team member assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command." Herrema, who in 2003 was made a Special Forces instructor after just four years in the Army, had a long list of qualifications, even by Special Operations standards.
Instead of the usual two-man notification team from a local base, six soldiers from Fort Bragg, including some of Herrema's friends, came to Michigan to break the bad news Tuesday, he said.
Herrema was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star Medal for valor, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Purple Heart.
Rick we miss you and thank you for your services.
Please stop by and sign the families Guest Book for Rick.
Edit: One of the points I missed earlier when I wrote this was how God works in mysterious ways. My wife's sisters son Daryl, was a medic in Iraq and when Rick was transferred in to his unit, Daryl was there to take care of and process Rick when he noticed the name that was coming in. Daryl was able to comfort the family with the fact that Rick did not suffer in his passing.
Wow...what a great hero...way too many stories like this...but it makes me proud to be an American.
HE obviously was good...and committed. Sad but fitting that he be remembered this Memorial Day weekend.
Wow. May God bless you and your family. I am sorry for your loss, but very proud of him and every person who has laid down their life for our country. There is no greater love than this, to lay down your life for another.
Thank you stopping by, I will be back to comment to each of you. Families on the way and I'm still here in the robe, better scoot.
Have a great day in The Rain,
Duane
Duane~ I am so sorry for the loss. It is so sad. Keep his memory close to your heart. I know you are proud of him. Enjoy your company!
I'm teary eyed Duane, and am sending warm prayers to all. What a wonderful and brave young man.
Duane, as we are on the Memorial Day weekend thank you for honoring one of our fallen heroes. We owe so much in our society from those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
His young face is on my mind and his family is in my prayers. Thanks for helping to put a face on Memorial Day. May God bless all of our military men and women.
It's so easy to think of Memorial Day as a day off and forget to remember. What keeps us connected are stories like this. Thanks.
Thank you for your service. And may God bring peace and comfort to you and yours.
Jeff & Mona, thank you for stopping by, I share in your Pride of being an American!
Gary, was one of the best. Most times the family had no idea where Rick was with his security level. Rick loved what he was doing and his country. President Bush invited Rick's Mom & Dad to the White House and honored them personally one on one, for their son's service.
Thank you for taking the time to stop by and your comment.
Duane
Very nice memorial. You must feel honored to have known such an individual.
Dave
Carol, thank you for taking the time to stop by and comment. Your comment is refreshing and thoughtful.
Have a great day in The Rain,
Duane
Vickie, thank you. The pain still runs through his parents daily, but they have become advocates by going to many funeral's and helping other family's through their loss.
We enjoyed our son and three grand daughters for a day on the deck, hot dogs, Popsicles, munchies, and hot tubing for the girls. Great way to spend the day. Thanks for the wish.
Kris, thank you for your warm thoughts. I know it has to be tough for his mom, dad and sisters this Holiday, my thoughts and prayers are with them.
Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
May we Remember our service men and women forever!
Your post is, indeed, a great tribute to Rick's memory, Duane. He was an honorable man endowed with great courage and will always be loved and remembered. The commemoration of his life through your post is the reason enough for all of us to have pride, on Memorial Day, or any day, to be Americans.
Gary Woltal, I agree, there are a lot of families that have lost loved ones throughout the history of the World, may we remember them all. Not only our US soldiers, but worldwide for doing their jobs.
Thank you for stopping by, Duane
Elaine, thank you for stopping by. Rick's parents are fantastic God loving parents who feel there's a plan for every reason.
Thanks for your kind words. May your Memorial day be a great one.
Duane
Morning Duane,
My heart and prayers go out to you and your family this Memorial Day weekend. Thank you for posting the rememberance, Rick was truly a man of men.
Joey, I have done the same for many years before. It still is a day off which we can all enjoy, (and we are) but keeping in mind the true meaning of why we are all able to enjoy the freedom of this weekend.
Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your Holiday.
Duane
Robert, thank you for stopping by. Your brother and family will be in my thought and prayers on his 3rd trip back to Iraq. Thank you to him for his service to our country.
Thank you for stopping by and signing the familes guest book, I know they appreciate the care of people. That was nice of you.
God bless him.
I am so sorry for your loss Duane. What a nice way to honor your loved one (with this post) . May God Bless you and his family.
Dave, I am. I married into the family and proud of Rick's accomplishments and giving spirit.
Thank you for taking the time to stop by and comment.
Duane
David, thank you for your kind words and thoughtfulness. Here's to your Holiday weekend, may it be a great one.
Remember always!
Hi Duane, many do not know the issues that people face. Rick made the supreme sacrifice for our freedom to do what we do...."proudly we hail" I am a Vietnam Vet and feel so lucky and blessed by those that followed and gave so much. Very nice post Duane. No one can understand the loss but I can tell you Rick is standing proud.
Duane, What a moving and beautiful tribute to a wonderful person....Thank you so much for sharing that.
Thank you for the link to his family's guest book. I'll go there.
Hal, thank you for stopping by. Great comment on a man of men. Rick liked to excel in all he did while he training his fellow soldiers told us.
Steve, thank you for your thoughts.
Hope your holiday weekend is going well,
Duane
April, thank you. This is the day to remember and honor all past and current service men and women, including those in fire and police departments.
Gary, thank you for stopping by and honoring one of West Michigan's fallen with your kind words.
Thank you for your service as a Vet, I am grateful to you for our freedom.
Duane
Carole, thank you. He was a good man, and his legend lives on in our memories.
Heath, thank you. I know the family appreciates the guest book comments. Thanks for taking the time to stop by and wish them well.
Duane
Duane- a touching tribute to a family member- my thoughts and prayers to you and your family. Stories like yours always personalize the war. As a mother to sons, my heart goes out to the young soldier's parents.
Duane, that was a wonderful tribute to Rick. I am so sorry for your loss. We as Americans forget sometimes to say thank you to our soldiers as well as their families. Thank you!
Carol, thank you for stopping by and honoring Rick. Rick's parents have been an inspiration to other families who have lost "children" and spouses.
Gary, I wanted to say thank you again, this time for taking the time to sign Rick's guest book, very thoughtful of you.
Duane
Becky, I agree, it's the families that get lost in the Thank You shuffle. After seeing what Rick's family has gone through I feel for all the families who have lost loved one.
Thank you so much for stopping by,
Duane
Thank you for remembering the true meaning of Memorial Day.
Barb, you are welcome. Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and comment. May your day in The Rain be the best!
Duane
DUANE - Thanks for sharing this story. I left a message in the guest book, and I hope that others will do the same. I've featured this in Active Rain Addicts.