Father of Mass. soldier killed in training exercise says son was ‘serving his country proudly’
“He was the happiest he'd ever been.”
The father of the Massachusetts soldier killed in a Thursday training exercise at Fort Bragg says “serving his country courageously” is his son’s legacy. Staff Sgt. Alexander P. Dalida, 32, of Dunstable, was killed in an exercise involving demolitions at U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School on the North Carolina military base. Seven others were also injured. The Army says his cause of death is under investigation. “Alexander was serving his country proudly for the best of reasons,” his father, Paul Dalida, told WCVB. “He was the happiest he’d ever been.”The 32-year-old was a student in the Special Forces Engineer Course and assigned to the 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne), according to a statement from the Army.“Our primary focus right now is to care for his loved ones,” Col. Michael Kornburger said in a statement. “We will honor Staff Sgt. Dalida and help his family in their time of need.”Dalida enlisted in September 2006 and was assigned to the Co. C, 2nd Bn., 60th Infantry Regiment, Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where he attended his basic training. Vinny Falco, a neighbor of Dalida’s, told Fox25 the soldier leaves behind a wife and children. “He was a great young man,” Falco said. “As we saw him grow and mature. It’s a heartbreak, lost his life for our country.”
Dunstable Police Chief James Bow told CBS Boston the news is a shock to the town.
“It’s truly a tragedy and, you know, we respect everybody that serves our country,” he told the station. “I think they know what they’re getting into, but any loss of a life for our country is truly tragic.
The chief said he’s spoken to Dalida’s family and they’ve requested their privacy.
Maj. Gen. Kurt Sonntag, the commander of the military school, described the special operations community as “a close-knit family” in a statement.
“Staff Sgt. Dalida’s death is a reminder that a Soldier’s job is inherently dangerous,” he said.
The army said Dalida’s awards and decorations included the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with one oak-leaf cluster, and the Combat Action Badge.
