GRAFENWOEHR, Germany - With heavy hearts and quiet sorrow Soldiers and civilians packed the Grafenwoehr Chapel Aug. 26 to remember Staff Sgt. Derek Farley of the 702nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company who was killed while dismantling an Improvised Explosive Device in the Farah Province of Afghanistan Aug 17.
The Chapel was filled to capacity and standing room only as Soldiers and Families showed up in droves, filling the chapel to maximum and finally crowding around the doors. During the memorial ceremony, Farley was fondly remembered by his colleagues and peers.
"I thought Staff Sgt. Farley was one of the best young EOD team leaders I've ever been privileged to have worked with. I was looking forward to his return so I could watch him pass on his knowledge to the group of young EOD Soldiers who have recently arrived from EOD School," said Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Daniels, the 702nd EOD Co. operations sergeant. "There have been few guys that I've known in my career that I've respected and loved as much as Derek. In many ways, I considered him the little brother I never had but had always wished for."
"Derek knew the dangers and never flinched; in fact he was intrepid and went straight to his work, even at the point where he was a week from changing out with his replacement and redeploying. He was selfless, telling his parents that he knew he was protecting the lives of his fellow Soldiers every time he went outside the wire," said 1st Sgt. Alfred Rebara, the 702nd EOD Co. first sergeant. "The EOD technician's purpose is to protect life and property, and Derek fulfilled that mission with a heartfelt desire to do well."
"Derek embodied the guy who was everyone's friend and loved to give that one armed shoulder hug when you walked over. Derek never had an enemy or a problem he couldn't solve. He lived and loved everyone so deeply. And it was once said people loving deeply have no fear of death. I can attest to that. Derek loved deeply and gave his life proudly so other Soldiers could come home. He had no fear of death and gave his life so that others may live," said Spc. Johnathan Gilley, a 702nd EOD Co. communications specialist.
"We will honor Derek in all we do. There is a long line of EOD Soldiers, past and present, who will never forget their friend, their beloved brother in arms and their hero," said Capt. Stewart McGurk, the 702nd EOD Co. commander.
At the conclusion of the Soldier's remembrances, the 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion's command team, Lt. Col. Reed Hudgins and Command Sgt. Maj. Bryan Witzel, presented a ceremonial Warhammer to Farley's memorial. This icon of the battalion had been touched by the members of the battalion to symbolize the Soldiers' commitment to Farley's family to carry on his legacy and honor his memory.
The closure of the ceremony was the scene of an hour-long vigil as Soldiers, civilians and dignitaries solemnly filed up to the memorial in pairs to salute, place mementoes and bid farewell.
Also in attendance were Maj. Gen. Patricia McQuistion and Command Sgt. Maj. James Spencer from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, Brig. Gen Steven Salazar and Command Sgt. Maj. Darieus ZaGara from the 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Center, German representatives from the Polizei and Forest Service, the 702nd EOD Co.'s sister unit, the Freihung Bundeswehr Reserves, and Soldiers and civilians from the 18th CSSB.
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