Taking my Mum to the tattoo parlor tomorrow morning so she can get some work done and I think I'll get my memorial piece for Sergeant First Class William "Kelly" Lacey. This piece is long overdue, Kelly was KIA January of 2014. Just half a year after I had gotten out of the service. He was more than an Army Buddy, more than a leader, more than just a damn fine Soldier. Kelly looked out for us like we were family, tried to steer us straight not just in our military careers but to be better as a whole. He encouraged us to train harder, never stop learning, alway strive to be better than the day before and to look at the end game of what we were doing. When the time came for his final stand he fell on a pile of his own spent brass in a guard tower overlooking a base full of lives he swore to protect taking at least three of the attacking enemy with him. Courage all the way until his final breath when his tower was struck by an RPG. Though we only served together for three years he is someone that will be with me always. Until death comes for me Sergeant, save me a seat next to you in Valhalla.
Corporal Kevin Randall Hanie
25th Infantry Division
3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion