Memorial Set for Marine with Local Roots Killed in Afghanistan

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Updated: 3:35 PM Jan 27, 2012 Memorial Set for Marine with Local Roots Killed in Afghanistan Funeral services are now set for a Marine with Orange County roots who was killed in a NATO helicopter crash in Afghanistan last week. Posted: 3:08 PM Jan 27, 2012 Email Address: news@newsplex.com

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January 27, 2012

UPDATE

Flags will be flown at half-staff in Iowa this weekend in honor of U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Travis Riddick, most recently of Centerville, Iowa.

Master Sgt. Riddick, who has deep roots in the Central Virginia town of Gordonsville, was killed in action Saturday, Jan. 21 in a NATO helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan.

A memorial service will be held in his honor Sunday, Jan. 29 in Centerville. Iowa Governor Terry Branstad will attend and says the flag flown over the state Capitol on the day of the funeral will be presented to Master Sgt. Riddick's family at a later date.

Master Sgt. Riddick previously lived in the Orange County community of Locust Grove where his wife worked as a teacher at Locust Grove Elementary.

He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Riddick; six children, Victoria Riddick and Levi Riddick and Charles Lovelace, Matt Lovelace, James Lovelace and Zachary Lovelace; his parents, John and Barbara Riddick; and two brothers, Tim and Troy Riddick.

January 20, 2012

A U.S. Marine with local roots was among six soldiers killed in a NATO helicopter crash Thursday in Afghanistan. It's news families of men and women serving in the armed forces dread hearing.

"They were watching the news and the little crawl came over the bottom saying that a helicopter had gone down in Afghanistan. They were like, please don't let it be Travis," Nancy Beasley said of the family's reaction.

But Master Sgt. Travis Riddick was on the helicopter. According to an article on a Department of Defense online journal, he was a member of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing Forward. The article references him as crew chief of a CH-53-D Sea Stallion, an old helicopter from the Vietnam War era still in service today.

The Taliban is claiming credit for shooting it down, but U.S. officials deny that, saying the crash appears to be from a technical error.

"There are no indicators that there is a Taliban involvement. We are trying to find the background behind this incident. At the moment it looks like a technical mistake," ISAF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Carsten Jacobson.

Riddick and his wife, Jennifer, a teacher a Locust Grove Elementary School, met in the late-90s. They were stationed in Hawaii but list their last home town as Gordonsville in Orange County. "Jenny and him were dating then and they got married a little after that and stayed in the Locust Grove area," Beasley said.

Riddick, originally from Iowa, worked in Washington D.C., serving on Air Force One with then-President Bill Clinton. His wife was notified Thursday night of his passing.

Riddick's uncle posted the news of his death on Facebook Friday morning, asking friends to pray for Jenny and her family. And this isn't the first tragedy the family. His wife's cousin, 22-year-old Leonard Cowherd, was killed while serving in Iraq nearly eight years ago.

Adding to the anguish, Riddick's tour of duty was scheduled to come to an end next month and he was considering retirement. Now, the Orange County community joins a nation in mourning.

"Today, I decided to hang my American flags out in honor of Travis," Beasley said. "I'm just thankful I got to know him."

In addition to his wife, Master Sgt. Riddick leaves behind his parents, who live in Iowa, a son, four stepsons and a daughter. His body will return to the United States in the coming days.

Latest Comments

Posted by: GC Citizen on Jan 20, 2012 at 09:58 PM

Thoughts and prayers to this heroic family.

Posted by: Shawn Location: Charlottesville on Jan 20, 2012 at 07:34 PM

Let me know when his flight comes in. My American Legion Post could provide backup to the Marine Honor Guard.

Click here to post or read all 2 comments.

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