A graduate of my alma mater Wofford College was killed last week in Iraq, along with a veteran brother-in-arms.
Military officials say Friday that two South Carolina Army National Guardsmen were killed in a helicopter accident at an air base in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.A statement by South Carolina Adjutant General Stan Spears says First Lieutenant Andrew C. Shields of Campobello and Chief Warrant Officer Patrick D. Leach of Rock Hill died in the crash. The soldiers were based at McEntire Air National Guard Station in Eastover.
Spears says Shields had served with the Guard for five years. He was a member of the South Carolina Army National Guard's Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 151st Aviation.
He graduated from Wofford in 2001 with a degree in chemistry. He is survived by a twin brother, Phillip, who was also in ROTC at Wofford, "It hurts. It's going to be very difficult for sure. It's going to be very difficult for all of us, for his classmates, his professors who taught him, all of us who remember him,"
Shields' sister-in-law, Leslie, fought back tears while talking briefly with The Associated Press. She says it was a big shock for the family and that her brother-in-law was a lovable guy and fun to be around.
Leach's buddies in Rock Hill called him "MacGyver" because he could fix anything. His brother-in-law, John Landstreet, says Leach's ambition was to be a pilot. Leach had served 18 years.
The military says the accident injured four others, but they have returned to duty.
US military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Paul Hastings says the crash occurred when an AH-64 Apache helicopter hit an UH-60 Black Hawk that was on the ground. He says the accident is under investigation and the cause had not been determined.
An e-mail from the college says a small tribute will take place Friday on campus.
Statement from Wofford College President Benjamin B. Dunlap:"Wofford College has suffered a common loss in the death of a recent graduate, 1st Lt. Andrew Shields, who was killed in Iraq last week.
"Tomorrow, Wednesday, Dec. 15, at noon, we will toll the bell of Old Main 21 times in memory of our student and friend. If you are on or near campus, when you hear the bell, please think of him. If you are not in the area, please take time at noon think of Andrew."
Count on it.
The Wofford motto is:
Intaminatis fulget honoribus - Untarnished, she shines with honor.
So too will the memory of First Lt. Andrew C. Shields '01, not the first and not the last of Wofford's men to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Posted by Alan at December 15, 2004 05:22 AM