By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
Recently, Chief Warrant Officer 4 (Ret) Stormy Ripley reached out to me requesting that I do a Soldier column on PFC Ricky Turner of Athens/Decatur who was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009. His sacrifice, I think, may have been even more significant to Stormy both because he was local and was also a part of the 82nd Airborne, which is the unit with which she served as a helicopter pilot. I was happy to comply after having attended the ceremony where Ricky was remembered when the mobile wall honoring those that had died in the Global War on Terror came to Athens in 2014. Though that was 12 years ago, I remember how the love of Ricky’s family struck me. The mobile GWOT wall was a 24-hour exhibit that was outside of the Alabama Veterans Museum, much like the mobile Vietnam Memorial wall that was here last fall on the Athens State University campus.
Ricky was born in Athens in 1988 and graduated from Decatur High School. He had a life-long desire to serve his country, and joined the Army on September 11, 2006. His dad said that Ricky “died doing what he wanted to do.” His Aunt Vicky said about Ricky fulfilling his life-long dream of military service that “he was so proud of that,” and that “he was a good boy with a good heart.”
Ricky served with the 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, and the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. He died on Jan. 16, 2009, in Baghdad of wounds he suffered when an improvised explosive device went off near his unit. The IED blew up the vehicle in which Ricky was riding. Sadly, Ricky left behind a young widow by the name of Nikki.
Lt. Col. (Ret) James Walker was Ricky’s ROTC commanding officer. He described Ricky as a “gentle giant,” as well as “an outstanding soldier.” Reverend Mike Webster at Ricky’s service talked both about how Ricky wanted to follow in the footsteps of his stepbrother, Sgt. Jimmy Grimes, and wanted to “find himself.” Webster also talked about the fact that the “Army was making him a stronger person.”
“He loved to play video games, and he loved to draw. He was an outstanding student in school. Anything he set his mind to he accomplished,” said Tammy Turner, another aunt.
Ricky was one of Dorothy Turner’s seven grandchildren. “He was a wonderful person, and I’m very proud of him,” said Dorothy. “He was very outgoing. When he stayed with us, he loved to fish in our pond and loved animals.”
In 2024, exactly 15 years after Ricky was killed, William Kuner wrote the following on a Facebook group whose purpose is to honor those in our area who have given their lives for our freedom:
I join with others as we honor and remember the life, service, and sacrifice of PFC Ricky Lee Turner, on this the anniversary of his KIA. A grateful Nation salutes you brave Veteran, Warrior and Patriot for your loyal and distinguished service to The United States of America. May the sacrifices you and so many others gave so freely NEVER be forgotten.
Amen. Rest in peace, PFC Turner, and thank you for laying down your life so we can be free.
By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
