Sgt. Randy M. Haney
Sgt. Haney's memorial was lovingly written by twilight falling.
The DoD reports:
Sgt. Randy M. Haney, 27, of Orlando, Fla., died Sept. 6 in Nangarhar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fires. He was assigned to the 4th Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.
Randy Haney always thought of others before himself.
His mother, Amanda Macy, said Haney put himself unofficially in charge of
bolstering morale in his unit. And when he got a care package from home, the candy went to Afghan children.
"He was very proud of the fact that he helped people and that he was serving his country," added his mother-in-law, Cindy Alexopoulos of south Orange County. "He cared a lot about the kids and trying to help people who were there."
~ Orlando Sun Sentinel
"He wanted to make a difference. He wanted to help other people, even if it affected his own life," his wife, Katie said. "He felt like he was
helping his soldiers. And he knew when he was in Afghanistan that they made a difference."
~ Colorado Springs Gazette
Randy was known for his exceptional sense of humor. You can even see it in his military photo. It made him popular among his friends when he was
growing up in central and southern Florida. It also helped him catch the
attention of Katie, a cheerleader in his high school, who would later become his wife.
Haney met his wife, Katie, in an English class at Cypress Creek High School in early 1999, and the two quickly became best friends, Katie’s mother, Cindy Alexopoulos, said. Katie Haney was a cheerleader who was smitten after seeing her future husband run up a wall and flip over.
"That was Randy," said Alexopoulos, who was with her daughter at the
couple's Colorado home Monday night. "He liked to kid around.
"He had a very good sense of humor."
Randy was deeply affected by September 11. In 2002, he decided to enlist in the Army to help protect his country. In the same year, he and Katie were married. Randy was deployed to Afghanistan from 2005-2006, to Iraq from 2007-2008, and again to Afghanistan on Memorial Day this year. Despite three extended deployments in war zones in five years, he never lost his sense of humor.
In the meantime, life went on. Randy's daughter, Aubry, was born in 2004, and his son, Austin, was born just last year. Katie and Randy bought their first home this year in Colorado Springs after Randy was transferred to Fort Collins. He and Katie started making plans for the end of his military career.
Feeling he had done his duty for his country, Randy Haney hoped to leave the Army in 2010, Katie Haney said, and start his own martial arts studio. He was tired of leaving his family.
"He missed both his kids' first steps and first words, and he just wanted to be here," Katie Haney said, fighting off tears.
Colorado Springs Gazette
Katie got the news at 5:45AM on September 8 that their plans would never come to pass. She is still reeling.
"My husband Randy Haney Passed away yesterday when a missile struck his vehicle in Afghanistan. I am so sad and just lost about the news. I don't know which way is up and I feel broken. Why, why why...I miss my love and I will do anything to be with him right now. RIP Randy I love you forever"
~ Katie's MySpace page
Randy is survived by his wife, Katie; his 5-year-old daughter, Aubry and
18-month-old son, Austin; his mother, Amanda Macy; his brothers and sisters; and all of those whose lives he touched with his big heart and big smile.
Rest in peace, Randy Haney. Thank you so much for your loyal service. May your beautiful spirit soar free and be at peace forever, and may your light go on burning brightly in all those whose lives were so enriched by your presence.