'He was my best friend'

Image courtesy: U.S. Army

Last week, Spc. Alan Dikcis made a very important decision in his life. Even though he had been serving in Afghanistan since August, he decided to re-enlist, which the soldier undoubtedly knew could result in another combat tour. Tragically, Spc. Dikcis, 21, would not be able to continue serving his country. According to the Pentagon, he was killed on Friday in Kandahar when an improvised explosive device hit his vehicle.

For the Dikcis family in upstate New York, this is not their first encounter with the horrors of war. The Buffalo News reports that Alan's older brother, Stanley Dikcis, was badly wounded by a roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan when he served in the war zone. The Afghanistan veteran admits he is having a very hard time dealing with the shocking news.

“My brother was so dedicated to the Army,” said Dikcis, 23, who served in the 101st Airborne Division before his medical retirement. “He was my best friend, and he looked up to me so much. I’m still numb, trying to hold it all together. I’ve seen a lot of death.”

The grieving brother continued:

“[Alan] joined the Army because of me. He was so proud of me,” said Stanley, wiping tears from his eyes, sitting in the Gate Coffee Shop on Lockport Road with some of his brother’s friends, just a short distance from his family’s home.

It is critical that family, friends, and the Niagara Falls community come together to help Stanley during this time of unbearable pain, which they surely will. While this important story is a stark reminder of the dangers our troops face in Afghanistan, it is also a wake-up call to continue strengthening the national network of support for wounded veterans.

The fallen soldier's stepmother, Gricela Dikcis, told WIVB-TV that Al, as friends and family call him, was a very happy young man who was fascinated with motors. His job in Afghanistan was to repair damaged vehicles, which is among the Army's most dangerous assignments. Terrorists often stake out U.S. vehicles that have been previously attacked, hoping for an ambush opportunity when reinforcements arrive to survey the damage.

Despite the risks involved with his first tour, Spc. Alan Dikcis volunteered to do it all over again. The United States of America and Afghanistan would have ultimately been better places if he had gotten the chance to continue making a difference in people's lives. The Dikcis family has our unconditional support, sympathy, and attention during this tragic time.