Remembering a fallen soldier

A land mine blast in Afghanistan has left a gaping wound in the hearts of those close to Spc. Brett Hershey.\nHershey, an IU senior, and four other soldiers died after their vehicle drove over a land mine 30 miles south of Kabul, Afghanistan, while serving in the National Guard. The four deaths mark Indiana's largest one-day toll in combat operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq.\nWhile Roger and Roxanne Hershey mourned their son, they remembered him as "very likeable." \n"It was impossible not to like him," Roger Hershey said. "He was a lover of people and fun. Even in boot camp it was all about his friends and camaraderie."\nHershey was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, where members spoke of him as the nicest person they had ever met.\nSenior Reed Bailey, who met Hershey during his freshman year at North Central High School in Indianapolis, said news of his friend's death has left him in shock.\n"He was one of the most religious and nicest guys you had ever met and it makes you question why ... why him?" Bailey said. "It hasn't truly hit me. It's just a really sad, sad loss."\nDuring their senior year of high school Nate Graeser and Colin Stark, both IU seniors, signed up for the National Guard together with Hershey.\n"All throughout school it was always 'Nate and Brett' and then we joined the military together," Graeser said. "We were in the same unit, same section. We actually should have been (in Afghanistan) with him but Colin and I signed up for the officer program, and almost literally the next month they heard news they would be sent to Afghanistan."\nWhile he was known for his big heart, smile and witty comments, Hershey's greatest love in life was Jesus Christ.\n"Everyone knew Brett had a passion and fuel for life," Graeser said. "The ironic thing is that Brett's heart and passion was with Christ, and the military was just a means by which he could serve his country."\nRoger Hershey said his son's motivation stemmed from his devotion to his faith.\n"He had a relationship with Jesus Christ, and Christ was his life," he said. "It was the power of Christ and the love of Christ that gave him direction to care about other peoples' needs."\nEven during military training when they were exhausted at night and had to be up at 4 a.m., Hershey made time for his faith.\n"I'll never forget this one service we were leading," Graeser said. "Brett was reading this verse and he kept falling asleep in the middle of it."\nBefore he deployed last July the Hersheys spent a vacation together at a lake in North Carolina.\n"We had a great time together with family before he left. There was a lot of special time together so that was really good," Roger Hershey said. "He was able to come home for a two-week leave over Thanksgiving and that was the last time we saw him."\nHershey, who had recently been engaged and was set to be married in the fall, was seven credits short of graduation and was anticipated to return back to his family this July.\n"The last few days I've been recounting a lot of memories," Graeser said. "I think his life influenced a lot of people. That's definitely the testimony of his life. Everyone was better because of him."\nRoger Hershey said a memorial service is tentatively set for this Sunday during the afternoon at either IU or in Indianapolis and "will be a celebration of a life well lived."\n-- Contact Campus Editor Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.