‘Close-knit’ town mourns fallen soldier
U.S. Army Sgt. Dalida of Dunstable leaves wife, 4 kids
A heartbroken Dunstable family is remembering with grief and pride a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier killed Thursday in a training exercise involving demolitions.
“He had fulfilled his dream,” Paul Dalida said of his son in a brief phone interview yesterday. “He had fulfilled his dream with his career and his family and was the happiest he had ever been in his life.”
Staff Sgt. Alexander P. Dalida, 32, leaves a wife and four children, his father said.
Dalida, who was enrolled in the special forces qualification course at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School in Fort Bragg, N.C., died during a training exercise at the base that also left seven soldiers injured.
The cause of his death is under investigation, according to the military.
“Our primary focus right now is to care for his loved ones,” his commander, Col. Michael Kornburger, said in a statement. “We will honor Staff Sgt. Dalida and help his family in their time of need.”
Initial reports said the injuries happened in an explosion, but Lt. Col. Rob Bockholt, a spokesman for the U.S. Army’s Special Operations Command, said he could not confirm that.
“There was an incident that occurred on one of the ranges,” Bockholt said. “We’re looking into exactly what happened.”
Maj. Gen. Kurt Sonntag, commander of the special warfare center and school, described the special operations community as “close-knit” and Dalida’s death as “a reminder that a soldier’s job is inherently dangerous.”
“One mistake by anyone, and people get killed,” said Dunstable veterans service officer Joseph Dean, who worked in demolitions handling explosives in Vietnam.
Here, in this rural town of 3,300 just south of the Nashua, N.H., border, flags flew at half-staff yesterday outside the police and fire departments as people grappled with the loss of a native son.
“Everyone’s asking what they can do,” Dunstable police Chief James W. Dow said. “These young men and women enter the service, knowing they could pay the ultimate cost. When they do, it’s just so heart wrenching. … We will provide his family with whatever they need.”
Retired Dunstable fire Chief Charlie Rich remembered Dalida delivering the pizzas Rich’s son used to make at the shop across the street from the fire station when the two were growing up.
“He was a good kid. He worked hard,” Rich said. “We’re a small town. Something like this — you feel it. But this town will come together; there’s no doubt.”
Next door to the fire station, at West Auto Body, owner Brian West’s wife, Jen, put out a roadside sign that read: “We salute Staff Sgt. Dalida 4 his service and ultimate sacrifice,” and “Heartfelt sympathy to the Dalida family.”
Dalida enlisted in the army in September 2006. His service earned him numerous awards and decorations.