Army Staff Sgt. Adam L. Dickmyer

Remember Our Heroes

Army Staff Sgt. Adam L. Dickmyer, 26, of Winston-Salem, N.C.

SSgt Dickmyer was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died Oct. 28, 2010 near Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

Winston-Salem, N.C. — Family and friends mourning a Winston-Salem native killed in Afighanistan say they also want to celebrate the way he lived his life.

Staff Sgt. Adam L. Dickmyer, 26, was killed Thursday by an improvised explosive device while on foot patrol near Kandahar, according to the Department of Defense.

"I was in disbelief," his father, David Dickmyer, of Winston-Salem, told WFMY News. "I just felt like I was robbed or something and was just shaking. It was very hard to believe. My one and only son."

Family friend Lanette Holmes remembered Dickmyer, who was married, as a kind man.

"You just couldn't meet him without being touched in some way," she said. "He had a really good heart."

The graduate of Carver High School in Winston-Salem always had his eyes on serving in the military, relatives said.

"He wanted to fight for his beliefs, and he wanted to make a difference," Holmes said. "He did that, and we couldn't want anymore for him." Dickmyer was an infantryman.

He joined the Army in 2002 and arrived at Fort Campbell in November 2009. He is survived by his wife, Melinda K. Dickmyer of Arlington, Va.; his father, David Dickmyer of Winston-Salem; and his mother, Stephanie L. Dickmyer of New Port Richey, Fla.

Dickmyer’s awards and decorations include Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Army Superior Unit Award; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Air Assault Badge; Expert Infantry Badge; Parachutists Badge; Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Identification Badge and Marksmanship Qualification Expert Badge.

Army Staff Sgt. Adam L. Dickmyer was killed in action on 10/28/10.