Sgt. William John Tracy

Sgt. William John Tracy, Jr., 27, was killed on February 25, 2003, when a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed in the Kuwaiti desert, one day short of his 28th birthday. He was born in Haverhill, Ma., on February 26, 1975, the son of William J. Tracy, Sr., and Dianne Childs and grew up in Weare, NH. He later moved to Webster, NH before joining the military eight years ago. He graduated from Merrimack Valley High School in Penacook, NH in 1993. Tracy spent one semester pursuing his love of art at the local school of technology before enlisting in the Marines. After four years in the Corps, he returned home for a short time before joining the Army to fly helicopters. Most recently, Tracy was stationed at the Aviano Air Base in Italy. He hadn't been home since Christmas of 2001, but Tracy remained close to his family through e-mail and long telephone calls. One of the things he learned to love the most about the military, was meeting people from around the world. He said he learned to bring toys and things with him for the people, so they would know that the U.S. Soldiers are good people and that the United States is a good country. He told his dad, he wanted to be an Ambassador for America. Family members include his father of Webster, NH, his mother of Manchester, his sister Sarah M. Tracy of Dunbarton, NH, his paternal grandmother Helen Tracy of Haverhill, Ma., his fiancee Linda, many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. SERVICES: A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday morning at 11 o'clock in the Webster Congregation Church, Webster, NH. Committal service with full military honors, will be at the NH State Veteran Cemetery, Boscawen, NH on Wednesday at 1 PM. The Phaneuf Funeral Homes & Crematorium, is in charge of arrangements