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Soldier remembered at Fort Carson
Posted: 07.13.2011 at 10:33 PM
Updated: 07.14.2011 at 7:40 AM
Abbie Burke

Abbie Burke is a general assignment reporter for FOX21 News.

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Pfc Eric Soufrine  / FOX21 News: Adam Jukkola
Photo

FORT CARSON, COLO. -- The Mountain Post honored a Fort Carson soldier Wednesday who was killed in Afghanistan just two weeks before he was set to return home.

Pfc. Eric Soufrine died June 14 after insurgents attacked his unit with an IED. He was 22 years old.

Soufrine was laid to rest in his home state of Connecticut back in June. Wednesday his fellow soldiers said their goodbyes.

"He was a great kid, he was a great young man. He knew his job, he loved his job. He loved rolling out, he loved going on missions," Sgt. Jacob Kape said.

Soufrine arrived at Fort Carson in September. Despite having fewer than a year to get to know his new unit, he left a lasting impression.

"He was very easily trained, you didn't have to spend much time going over things with him. It was kind of one and done, and he was very profession about everything he did," Kape said.

Soufrine was 6'6" and easily stood out among his fellows soldiers, but they said it was more than just his height.

"He just had one of those personalities to you know, he wasn't the laid back shy kind of guy," Kape said.

Soufrine even gained the attention of his Battalion Commander.

"It's his character. Eric was just, he was a tremendously bright and energetic young man with a great sense of humor," Ltc. Craig Berryman said.

Soufrine was killed just two weeks before he was supposed to return home.

"It's very difficult for the entire formation, and it was difficult even for the battalion," Berryman said.

Berryman added they conducted a memorial service for Soufrine in Afghanistan and slowed down operations for a few days to allow his fellow soldiers some time to grieve.

Friends said a great soldier and a great man was lost that day.

"He'll never be forgotten. He did a great job in everything that he did, and I wouldn't change anything about him," Kape said. "It was an honor to be able to have served with Soufrine."

Soufrine is survived by his parents and two siblings.

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