Political Quotes

“I wish to remember the life and sacrifice of a remarkable young man, Army CW2 Randy L. Billings. Randy died December 17, 2013, of injuries he sustained when his helicopter crashed in Zabul Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Randy was born September 1, 1979, in Poteau, OK, and later moved to Heavener, OK. After graduating Heavener High School in 1997, he joined the military and served our country for 16 years. While attending flight school to Rucker, AL, Randy met his wife Ashley. Bonding through a mutual enjoyment of the outdoors, they were married in 2008. In September 2009, Randy transferred to the 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, and 1st Infantry Division in Fort Riley, KS. The couple made a home in Manhattan, KS, but they planned to move south after he retired from the military and start a family. Ashley and her family are suffering their second loss to war. Ashley Billings' brother died in a 2004 helicopter crash in Iraq. ``It's much harder because we've been through this before,'' she said. However, they were comforted by the knowledge that Randy ``loved what he did and was going to do it right.'' On December 17, 2013, Randy tragically died of injuries he sustained when his Black Hawk U-60 helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan. Five other soldiers on board were killed alongside of Randy. His uncle Hurschel Billings said, ``He really loved it.…”