A Sidney, Montana native was killed in Afghanistan earlier this week, as The Sidney Herald reports.
Sgt. 1st Class Darren M. Linde, 41, of Devils Lake, N.D., and formerly of Sidney, and Spc. Tyler J. Orgaard, 20, of Bismarck, were killed in action. Spc. Ian Charles Placek, 23, also of Bismarck, was wounded in the attack and is listed in stable condition at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.
Linde is survived by his wife, Adrienne, of Devils Lake, and four children. He also deployed to Iraq with the N.D. National Guard’s 164th Engineer Battalion from August 2007 to April 2008. Linde originally enlisted in the North Dakota Army National Guard in 1990. He served in the U.S. Army and Montana Army National Guard before returning to the North Dakota Guard in 2006. Since 2009, he served as a full-time instructor with the North Dakota National Guard’s 164th Regional Training Institute, Camp Grafton Training Center, Devils Lake.
The Sidney Herald piece features remarks from the North Dakota Adjutant General. Congressman-Elect Kevin Cramer also issued the following statement regarding the loss of the North Dakota National Guard soldiers in Afghanistan:
“Kris and I and our entire family extend our sympathies to the families of Pfc. Tyler Orgaard and Sgt 1st Class Darren Linde who died heroes in the cause of freedom. Words are an inadequate expression of our gratitude for their service and sacrifice for us and our nation. We are praying for their memories and the loved ones they leave behind, confident that our loving God will hold us all closer during this time of healing. We also pray for Ian Placek and his family as he recovers from his injuries and look forward to seeing him home soon.”
Meanwhile, Emilie Boyles with our Marks Group affiliates KXGN and KDZN in Glendive, Montana, (The Marks Group also owns a station in Sidney) shared this incredible video tribute in honor of SFC Linde. Boyles said the video was put together by Linde’s daughter.
Alexis Fleener’s song on YouTube is titled, “Original- for my Dad.” Click below to watch this heartbreaking video tribute to her Dad, it will make anyone who has served, or has family who have served, incredibly proud and thankful for her words.