Broken Arrow Soldier Describes Afghanistan Ceremony For Fallen Soldiers

Richard Clark, NewsOn6.com

CAMP SALERNO, Afghanistan -- A Broken Arrow soldier stationed in Afghanistan wrote his family an emotional letter describing the war-zone ceremony held in honor of two fallen comrades.

The father of Staff Sergeant Kyle J. Wachtendorf asked us to share his son's letter on NewsOn6.com. 

Sergeant Wachtendorf was in the same unit as Second Lt. Jered W. Ewy of Edmond and Specialist Augustus J. Vicari of Broken Arrow.  They died July 29 while conducting a dismounted patrol.

7/31/2011:  Related Story:  Broken Arrow Soldier Among Two Killed In Afghanistan

In his letter, Sergeant Wachtendorf describes the "Hero Ceremony" held at Camp Salerno, Afghanistan, as the bodies of the two soldiers were loaded onto a military transport plane for the flight back to the United States.

Read the letter from Sergeant Wachtendorf

Kurt Wachtendorf says his son Kyle graduated from Memorial High School before earning a bio-technology degree from OSU.  This is his second deployment to Afghanistan.  

He and his wife, Kelly, have a daughter who turns one year old on Sunday.

Kurt says his son is a career soldier and feels this is his calling.

News On 6 reporter Dan Bewley will have more on this story on the News On 6 at 5 p.m.