Army Sgt. David J. Luff Jr.

Remember Our Heroes

Army Sgt. David J. Luff Jr., 29, of Hamilton, Ohio

Sgt. Luff was assigned to 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; died Nov. 21, 2010 in Tikrit, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small-arms fire.

Maj. Dave Eastburn, a spokesman for the 25th, said Luff was providing security as the military leaders met with local community leaders. He said Luff was part of the crew on a Stryker armored vehicle.

Luff had moved to Hawaii in 2009 after completing basic and individual training at Fort Knox, Ky., and a first assignment in Fort Lewis, Wash., Eastburn said. He is survived by a wife and 6-month-old child.

The 1999 Hamilton High School graduate was the son of Lucy and David Luff.

“He was a really good guy,” said his sister Stacy Garrison, as she fought back tears. Garrison, the eldest of the four Luff siblings, said her parents were on a plane Monday evening traveling to help make arrangements.

It was Luff’s second tour of duty in Iraq, Garrison said. He was home in May when his wife, Katie Halcomb Luff, gave birth to their first child, a son named Aidan. The couple married in 2008, she said.

“He was with him about a month before he was deployed,” Garrison said.

Her brother was a Cincinnati Bengals football fan and loved his family, Garrison said.

Hamilton has lost several hometown soldiers during the war. Last Friday, Purple Heart recipient Army Specialist Benjamin Mitchell of Hamilton was featured on ABC News, showing an Afghanistan battle via his helmet camera.

U.S. Forces-Iraq, the American military command in the country, said in a news release that a U.S. soldier died from enemy fire during "advisory operations," but provided no other details.

His sister, Stacy Garrison, said Luff had deployed once before to Iraq, the Middletown (Ohio) Journal newspaper reported.

Luff was home in May when his wife gave birth to their first child, a son named Aidan, the newspaper said.

About 3,700 Stryker Brigade soldiers are in northern Iraq on a yearlong deployment that began in June and July.

Four other Stryker Brigade soldiers have been killed — two by an Iraqi army soldier, one by a roadside bomb and one in a grenade attack on a vehicle.

Another 800 Schofield soldiers have started deploying to Iraq with the 25th Infantry Division headquarters. The bulk of the soldiers will leave after Thanksgiving.

Dear Dave and Lucy,
Words cannot describe the pain I am feeling for you this evening. My son, Randy, was notified last night by a friend that your Dave had paid the ultimate sacrifice. First, let me say, he is truly a Hero. I know how very proud you are of him. Please know that you are in our prayers. Mom is so sad for you also. We have shared together, laughed together and cried together throughout our lives. We want you to know we are here for you and whatever you may need. God bless you and your daughter-in-law and grand baby. Best regards, Connie Ratliff Jones ~ Connie Jones, Hamilton, Ohio

noonespecial - 11/22/2010 5:44 PM
He was married to Katie Halcomb Luff also of Hamilton, they have a 6 month old son together. Dave was an American Hero, great husband and father. We will always love you and our prayers are with katie and aiden

Army Sgt. David J. Luff Jr. was killed in action on 11/21/10.