Family of Sgt. Adam J. Ray releases statement

Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. - Jim and Donna Ray, parents of Sgt. Adam J. Ray, release the following statement for news media use:

"On Tuesday February 9, 2010 we received news that our Son, Sgt Adam James Ray had been killed while serving in Afghanistan. Information on exactly what happened is not known to us at this time. The Army is doing an investigation. We have been told that Adam was clearing a culvert so that his Unit could pass safely when they were hit by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device)... Adam later died from his injuries. We find some comfort in knowing that one of Adams very best friends, Sgt. David Jones, was with him until the very end and tells us that Adam continued to crack jokes and laugh with them.

"We have been contacted by so very many people wanting to reach out to Adam's family. He spoke often of his friends and shared countless stories of their crazy antics. David Jones and Daniel Nye were Adam's closest friends. Daniel and Adam were planning on touring Europe when they got out of the service in the fall. David Jones (Jonsey) and Adam were teaching each other to play the guitar, and wrote some fabulous songs together with lyrics that probably only the two of them understood. Adam had many friends from Ft. Lewis and Korea and all over the world.

"Adam was a brave young man. He first wanted to join the Army after visiting a WWII museum when he was in the third grade. He fell in love with the military life (which I am sure he would say was very different than what he thought it would be). Yet he loved what he was doing. He hated the war but he truly believed that America was doing the right thing. What bothered him was the EVIL of the enemy... Adam was raised to love all and sacrifice for all. He once saved a puppy from being shot at ... he took it in and fed the puppy from his own rations until it was big enough to make it on its own.

"Adam adored his family. They were his focus. He wanted his brothers Zachary and Seth and sisters, Amanda and Betsy to grow up in a world where they had the freedom to love, work and pray without cause to worry about persecution. That is why he was doing what he was doing. Being Adam's parents was a privilege and an Honor. Adam has added so much JOY to our lives. The sorrow we feel today is overwhelming, too much to bear. Only God will get us through this, as HE know what the cost of pain is in sacrificing your own son for others.

"Adam was a true HERO! He lived in the hearts of all that knew and loved him.

"We find solace in John 15:13, 'Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

- Jim and Donna Ray

According to the Dept. of Defense, Sgt. Adam J. Ray, 23, of Louisville, Ky., died Feb. 9 in southern Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, at Joint Base Lewis McChord. The brigade deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in July, 2009.

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