RIP.
TR
http://www.unionleader.com/article.a...a-da5f95a6a17b
NH soldier killed in Afghanistan
By KEVIN GRAY AND SHAWNE K. WICKHAM
New Hampshire Sunday News
Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010
New Hampshire has lost another young warrior: a 19-year-old Army soldier from Waterville Valley who was killed in Afghanistan on Friday.
PFC Marc Paul Decoteau was the son of Mark and Nancy Decoteau of Waterville Valley.
He was a standout student-athlete at Plymouth Regional High School, where his coach yesterday said the young man was "as good as they come." He enlisted in the Army after his graduation in 2008.
Decoteau was stationed in Afghanistan as part of a Psychological Operations unit based out of Fort Bragg, N.C., according to Maj. Greg Heilshorn of the New Hampshire National Guard, which assists the families of military casualties of all branches of the service.
Close family friend Bill Dauer of Plymouth, whose son, Spencer, played football with Marc Decoteau, said grief has hit the community "like a ton of bricks."
Four years ago, the idyllic family community was rocked when Army Capt. Doug DiCenzo, another Plymouth Regional graduate, was killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad.
"It's been very devastating and traumatic," said Dauer, who attended the U.S. Military Academy in the early 1980s with Decoteau's father, Mark. "You never expect this to happen to your family, your community or someone in your church."
Marc Decoteau played high school lacrosse and football at Plymouth, winning two football championships under coach Chuck Lenahan.
"He was there every day at practice, doing anything he could to benefit the team," Lenahan said. "He was one of those kids who never got in trouble. Everyone liked him. He was as good as they come."
Lenahan met with the Decoteau family yesterday to offer comfort.
"I can't imagine what the family is going through," Lenahan said. "Let me tell you, Marc was the apple of the old man's eye."
Mark Decoteau, the soldier's father, is town manager in Waterville Valley. The loss also is being felt in Warren, where Nancy Decoteau is town administrator.
Waterville Valley "is in disbelief and shock," said former selectman DeWitte "Tal" Kersh.
The Decoteaus were so proud of their soldier son, he said. "As I understand it, he was in a special program for uniquely qualified people, and I know he was taking some sort of advanced language seminar," Kersh said.
Joan Sweeney, chair of the Waterville Valley board of selectmen, called the young soldier's death "a horrible loss.
"In a small community, it is felt by everybody," she said.
Known as a resort community, Waterville Valley has only about 300 year-round residents, Kersh said, and folks immediately began organizing meals for the Decoteau family.
The Decoteaus have two other children, Maddie and Andrew.
Sweeney said there will be grief counselors at the high school on Monday, and she is working to bring someone to the town offices, as well, early this week. "Not just for our own personal grief, but how to help them," she said. " And how to talk to our children about it."
Decoteau's death, Sweeney said, "certainly brings the war a lot closer to home; there's no doubt about that."
Michael Clark is chairman of the Warren board of selectmen. He said Nancy Decoteau called him personally yesterday to tell him of her son's death.
It was just a few days ago that she was excited that Marc had managed to call home.
"Obviously, they're very proud of his accomplishments, as well they should be," Clark said. "This tragic passing of one more of America's finest has ... hit close to home. We all care deeply for Nancy."
He said the town of Warren will do whatever it can for the family. "We want them to know we love and support them during this difficult time.
"What we can do, we will."
A message of sympathy to the Decoteau family was posted yesterday on the Web site of the Waterville Valley Foundation. "No words can adequately express our sorrow, or our appreciation for all you do for our community and for all you have given," it stated.
News of Decoteau's death brought many young people who had gone to school with him home from college to be together, according to the Rev. Leo LeBlanc, pastor of Holy Trinity Parish. Many were at yesterday afternoon's Mass at St. Matthew Church in Plymouth, where Decoteau was remembered in prayer, LeBlanc said.
Mark Decoteau is scoutmaster for the troop sponsored by LeBlanc's parish; his other son, Andrew, is an Eagle Scout.
"Parishioners are very broken up," LeBlanc said.
He urged folks to turn to God and each other for comfort and strength. "Time like this, we need to cherish what we have and cherish one another even more, and support each other," he said. "Because times like this, you can't do this alone."
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