I'd like to meet:
R.I.P. SGT RICHARD L. FORD--YOU ARE AND WILL ALWAYS BE A WONDERFUL FRIEND-I'LL MISS YOU AND YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTENA decorated soldier from East Hartford has died of wounds suffered in combat in Iraq EAST HARTFORD -- The Army's elite White Falcons was a regiment built on readiness, able to deploy within 18 hours of notification and parachute in among the enemy.. Sgt. Richard L. Ford, of East Hartford, joined the Fort Bragg, N.C.-based unit in 2004 Sgt. Richard L. Ford, 40, was on his third deployment to the country. He died Tuesday February 20,2007 of wounds from small arms fire near Baghdad. He became the 37th person with Connecticut ties to die in Iraq or Afghanistan since March 2002."Sergeant Ford honorably served with the White Falcons distinctly for the three years," his commander Lt. Col. Richard Kim said in a statement. "Richard possessed all the qualities of a great paratrooper. "As both a fatherly and brotherly figure, he was looked up to by many of his fellow paratroopers," said Lt. Col. Richard Kim, battalion commander, in a statement. "He contributed immensely to the readiness of the organization and will be sorely missedFord, 40, joined the Connecticut Army National Guard 1995 and entered active duty in 2004. That's when he was assigned to the White Falcons, the 2nd Battalion, 325th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.The unit traces its beginning to an infantry regiment activated in 1917 in Georgia that was known as the "All-American Division." Since then, the regiment has played key roles in major U.S. military operations, according to the unit's Web site. The group helped provide security for the October 2005 Iraqi national referendum and two months later Iraq's national parliamentary election.A decorated soldier, Ford had previously served in Iraq from December 2004 and March 2005. His second tour was from September 2005 through December 2005. Ford was the recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, and received an Army Commendation Medal with a "V" device for Valor in February 2005, for his role in an incident in Mosul.A specialist at the time, he helped save members of his crew while under enemy fire, according to the Defense Department.His son, Michael Patrick, of Bridgeport, called Ford his "greatest hero.""I would like everyone to know that I'm extremely proud of my dad's service to our country," Patrick said in a statement. "I love him deeply and will miss him terribly."In addition to his son, he is survived by his father, Mason Ford, of Colchester; a sister, Vanessa Migliore, of East Hartford; and a brother, Matthew O'Connor, of Lebanon.