Two Tennessee families, along with hundreds of friends, relatives, and fellow troops, are grieving the loss of two volunteer warriors who can never be replaced. According to a Pentagon release, Capt. Marcus Alford and Chief Warrant Officer Billie Grinder were killed Sunday in Qayyarah, Iraq, when their helicopter made a hard landing. Above is a file photo of a similar OH-58D Kiowa Warrior chopper.The Knoxville News reports that Capt. Alford, 28, leaves behind a son and a daughter. His family travelled to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to receive the hero pilot's flag-draped casket. Alford is from Knoxville.
According to to The Tennessean, Chief Warrant Officer Grinder, 25, grew up in Smyrna and lived in Gallatin. Her Facebook page shows a vibrant young woman who was enjoying life. She loved the Twilight books, The Knot wedding website, and her country. Particularly striking is her 684 Facebook friends, showing she touched many lives, and that many will miss her smile.
One person clearly in anguish is Maj. Gen. Max Haston, Tennessee's adjutant general.
"Words cannot express my extreme sorrow at the loss of these outstanding soldiers, and my heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families and friends of these valiant warriors. Tennessee has lost two brave volunteers who truly believed in what they were doing to ensure a free Iraq. We are still a nation at war and we must continue to keep our soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in our daily thoughts and prayers."
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