I just flipped pass National Geographic and watched a documentary on the Green Berets (US Army Special Forces) and was floored when I saw his picture on the screen. I went to high school with Staff Sergeant Chay and while not one of my closet friends, I remember him very fondly during my high school days. He made sure I didn’t crack my skull open when I tried to do handstands during gym since he was on the gymnastics team. He leaves behind two children and a widow. Please take a moment to read his story below and if you feel inclined to, make a small donation to help his family.
The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Staff Sergeant Kyu H. Chay, 34, of Fayetteville, NorthCarolina, died on October 28, 2006, in the Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan, from injuries suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his combat patrol. Chay was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. A New Yorker killed while helping to fight the war on terror is being remembered as a wonderful son, brother, husband, and father.
Sergeant Kyu H. Chay, 34, who survived a tour in Iraq, died Tuesday in Afghanistan, when a roadside bomb exploded near a convoy in which he was riding.
“He was such a kind, generous person,” said Kyu T. Chay, Sergeant Chay’s brother. The men shared the same first name, a tradition in some Korean families.
Kyu T. Chay said their parents are devastated. Sam and Soon Chays are well known and highly regarded in Chappaqua, where the family operates a dry cleaning store.
The brothers were born in South Korea, and moved with their parents to New York in the 1980s. Both graduated from the Bronx High School of the Sciences and attended SUNY-Albany
Sergeant Chay, an Arabic linguist with the Special Forces, joined the Army in 2001, a few months before the 9/11 terror attacks. His brother said Sgt. Chay was motivated by gratitude to America for the opportunities his parents found here.
“He always appreciated coming to this country,” said Chay. “He loved being American, loved being here, appreciated everything this country offered to him, and he wanted to give back in some way.”
Sergeant Chay was married to Cathy, his college sweetheart at SUNY-Albany. Before joining the army, Chay studied law at Brooklyn Law School.
The Chays lived in North Carolina with their two children, five-year old Jason and 10-month old Kelly.
“My sister-in-law is a strong woman,” said Chay. “She’s being strong for her children, but of course she’s suffered great trauma.”
Cathy Chay told the Associated Press “he was just a wonderful father and husband to me.”
Kyu T. Chay said no man could have been a better brother.
“He loved me a great deal, and I loved him,” Chay said. “He was my best friend, and I just have good memories of how we grew up together.”
Sergeant Kyu H. Chay will be honored at several ceremonies in the days ahead. His Army family will salute him at Fort Bragg next week. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on November 13, 2006. His family will hold a memorial service for him in Westchester County on November 19, 2006.
A memorial fund has been established to help provide for Sgt. Chay’s children.
Donations may be sent to:
Sergeant Kyu Chay Memorial Fund
350 W. 42nd Street
Unit #18-B
New York, New York 10036
