SSG. Derek Farley

 

August 17, 2010

                SSG Derek Farley gave his life while conducting EOD operations in Farah

Province, Afghanistan in support of TF RAIDER 1-4 Heavy Brigade Combat Team

in the early morning of 17 August 2010.

 

Derek Farley was a Soldier that had meaningful impact on everyone he engaged.

His former company commander shared the following with me:  "I remember meeting him

 the first time like it was yesterday.  As with all my Soldiers I wanted to get to know him and assess his skills, attributes, abilities, and of course get a sense of his weaknesses. 

 

What impressed me about Derek from the minute I met him was his humility and quiet professionalism.  In an instant you could see that Derek was special. 

He had recently completed a very tough twelve month deployment to OIF. 

 

He was seasoned, dedicated, and fiercely loyal.  He tasted the bitterness of death of

close friends, but harnessed the emotions to better himself and all those around him. 

He was the type of man that when he had something to say, everyone stopped to listen."

He was a dedicated warrior who gave his life in the defense of the principles

which have made our nation free.