Army Spc. Randall Landstedt

Remember Our Heroes

A young Pollock Pines CA man who wanted more than anything else to have a lifetime career in the military was tragically struck down April 6 in a vehicle accident while on leave in Florida.

Spc. Randall R.C. Landstedt, 22, who already had completed a tour in Afghanistan and had re-enlisted and was stationed at Ft. Drum, N.Y., was struck and killed in Crestview, Fla., earlier this month.

“He had just gotten to Florida that day,” said his mother Joanne Landstedt, 60, of Pollock Pines, wiping a tissue under her slightly swollen eyes this week as she spoke of her son to the Mountain Democrat.

“We lived in Pollock Pines, in Sierra Springs, since Randall was 6 years old,” said Joanne, who added that Randall attended local elementary and high schools, including Pinewood, Sierra Ridge, El Dorado High and Independence High. She pointed with pride to a photo that shows her son in 2002, one of three teen-aged boys among a group of a dozen lovely young ladies on a cheerleading squad that performed at the USA Regional Cheer Competition in Modesto.

Joanne and her husband, Daniel Landstedt, 55, last saw Randall in February, home on leave before reporting for his second tour after reenlisting last autumn.

“He loved it,” Joanne said of her son's feelings about the military and deciding to serve again. “He wanted to make a career of it. From second grade on, he said he wanted to join the Army.

“Randall kept a book that he wrote about family and friends, and it there we just discovered that at the age of 17 he wrote that he wished his dad would sign the paper so that he could enlist at that age,” said Joanne, showing the first small smile she could muster Tuesday afternoon. “His friends called him 'Lanny two-clips,'” she added, showing the Democrat a photo of a strong-featured youth crouched down, clutching the controls to a military automatic weapon.

Brother-in-law Neil Bronstein, 38, who is married to Randall's 44-year-old sister Rickie, said, “His friends knew him as a kind, generous, considerate, loyal, good friend.” Bronstein had traveled from the couple's home in San Diego to help his in-laws through the difficult time.

Mom Joanne said she wants to let the public know how much support the family has received from the military, including the Patriot Guard Riders who were to meet the plane carrying her son's body at Sacramento International Airport this week and then escort the hearse on its trip to Marysville for the funeral Saturday. Randall Ray Charles Landstedt was born in Yuba City Feb. 1, 1988, and will be laid to rest there.

“I have received so many phone calls from Ft. Drum,” Joanne continued. “I want to express that — how wonderful they have been. They're even having a memorial ceremony at the fort, and they are flying our family to New York for the unveiling of a plaque that will name a room for our son.”

Army Specialist Randall Landstedt twice received the Army Commendation Medal and received the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, an Army Service Ribbon, an Overseas Service Ribbon and the NATO Medal with an International Security Assistance Force bar.

From his obituary:
Specialist Randall Landstedt Born February 1, 1988 and passed away on April 6, 2010. Randall lived in Ft. Drum, NY, and spent the majority of his life in Pollock Pines, CA. He was born in Yuba City, CA. Randall is a decorated combat veteran who received two Army Commendation Medals, a Afghanistan Campaign Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, a Overseas Service Ribbon and a NATO Medal with ISAF bar. In addition to his military career, Randall also excelled in wrestling and motocross quad racing, and had a deep love for his family and rap music. He also loved visiting new places. Randall was an amazing son, brother, uncle and friend.

Randall is survived by his parents Joanne and Danny Landstedt of Pollock Pines, CA; his brother James Copeland, his nephew Andrew, and his niece Sarah also of Pollock Pines, CA; his sister Rickie Bronstein of San Diego, CA and his grandmother Elizabeth Musholt of Dobbins, CA.