R.I.P. Pfc. Eric D. Currier

Marine Pfc. Eric D. Currier
Died February 17, 2010 serving during Operation Enduring Freedom

21, of Londonderry, N.H.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died Feb. 17 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

(The following is taken from unionleader.com of Feb. 20, 2010) LONDONDERRY – Private 1st Class Eric D. Currier, a Londonderry High School graduate with a life-long goal of serving his country as a Marine, was killed Wednesday during combat operations in Afghanistan.

Currier, 21, was part of an offensive in the Helmand province in Afghanistan conducted by the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, according to a news release yesterday from the U.S. Department of Defense.

Currier's brother, Brent Currier, was stationed with the Army in Hawaii.

Eric Currier enlisted in March 2009 and was deployed to Afghanistan last month. He had received the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

He leaves his wife, Kayla Currier, 21. According to an announcement in the Londonderry Times, they were married last September.

The news sent shock waves through the community. By the end of the day yesterday, more than 700 people, including friends and family members, had linked to a tribute page in Eric Currier's honor on Facebook open to the general public. The site listed Currier as a "Brother, Son, Nephew, Husband, Grandson, Friend, Family, a MARINE."

"Eric, you will always be remembered as the hero and special person that you were," grandmother Rita Hileman posted on the site. "You will always be in all our hearts. You were such a great young man who was always respectful and kind to everyone and me. You were so proud to be a Marine and serve our country."

Similar comments from community members appeared on unionleader.com.

"Very sad news," Town Councilor Paul DiMarco posted. "My deepest condolences to the family and friends of this young Marine. God bless you and RIP."

Cars belonging to friends and family could be seen lining the front driveway of the 13 Peabody Row home of Currier's parents, Kevin and Helen Boudreau. Saying he wanted to ensure family privacy during a difficult time, Brent Currier met members of the media and strangers outside in the driveway to ask all to keep a respectful distance. Brent Currier declined to discuss any specifics about what happened, but said he was extremely proud his brother had the opportunity to serve as a Marine.

"He was a Marine. I don't want anyone to confuse that with anything else," Brent Currier said. "I'm in the Army, and even I admit it is different. Better."

Eric Currier was a 2006 graduate of Londonderry High School's Adult Education Program, a night-school program designed to help students complete their high school education. Londonderry High School Principal Jason Parent was head of the program when Eric was a student.

Special bonds form between teachers and parents in the after-school program, Parent said, because often the students who are enrolled put in extra effort and study time to attain their diploma.

Parent said he continued to follow Eric's progress after he had graduated.

"Our teachers got to know Eric very well through the program," Parent said. "He wanted to be a U.S. Marine even then, and we were all very proud of what he had accomplished."

Gov. John Lynch and Congressmen Paul Hodes and Carol Shea-Porter all released statements regarding the loss, saying their prayers were with the family.

"My thoughts and prayers and those of my wife, Susan, are with the family of Marine Pfc. Eric Currier," Lynch said. "Pfc. Currier served our nation with courage and honor, and he sacrificed protecting all of us. On behalf of the citizens of New Hampshire, our deepest sympathies go out to the Currier family."

Brent Currier said his family was planning to keep funeral services closed to the public and although the sympathies offered were appreciated, the greatest gift state residents could give the family now was privacy.

"We are going through a lot right now," Brent Currier said. "I don't want anything else out there."