Fort Benning soldier remembered as courageous leader

<p>Army Spc. Richard A. Hardy was remembered Friday as a courageous leader who gave his life as Iraqis voted on a new constitution.</p><p>Hardy, 24, formerly of Bolivar, was stationed at Fort Benning, Ga. He was on his second tour of duty in Iraq when he was killed in Ar Ramadi with four comrades Oct. 15. An improvised explosive device detonated near their Bradley Fighting Vehicle.</p><p>The Rev. Edward Keck, who officiated at the Mass at the Church of the Holy Trinity near Zoar, offered a moment of silence for the four soldiers who died with Hardy. He emphasized that death is not the end.</p><p>"We're here to see that Ricky will see life in a new way," Keck said.</p><p>Many area residents stood at attention with American flags as the funeral procession passed along the four-mile route from the church to the cemetery.</p><p>His body was laid to rest in St. Stephen's Catholic Cemetery in Bolivar, about 60 miles southeast of Cleveland.</p><p>Brig. Gen. Tod Carmony presented the casket flag to Hardy's mother, Doris Espenschied Hardy of Massillon, and a second flag to his father, Richard D. Hardy of Dennison.</p><p>Carmony, deputy commander for the 38th Infantry Division, said Hardy was a member of a team and the younger soldiers would have looked up to him and followed his lead. He noted that on the same day Hardy died, millions of Iraqis braved death to vote.</p><p>"By being there, Richard gave the Iraqi people a chance to move a step closer to freedom and democracy," he said.</p><p>Richard Hardy said afterward that he was very proud of his son. He said the military is in Iraq for a cause, "so we can do what we do here, I guess."</p><p>Hardy was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x1cdb998)</p>