Gifford E. Hurt
Profile
Age: 19
From: Yonkers, NY
Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Regiment, 214th Fires Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Sill, Okla.
Incident: Army Pfc. Gifford E. Hurt died Jan. 20, in Mosul, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a noncombat-related accident.
Died: January 20, 2010
Army background influenced decision to enlist
The Associated Press
Gifford Hurt’s parents are Army veterans, and he grew up on military bases.
No one was surprised when Hurt, of Yonkers N.Y., decided on an Army career and enlisted a year ago at age 18.
“All of our friends are in the military, and that’s all he knew,” said his mother, Lisa Davis.
Hurt’s assignment at Fort Sill, Okla., required him to work at the post while several others were deployed to Iraq. But when an opportunity arose, Hurt, known as “GJ,” eagerly volunteered to join them.
Hurt was a passenger in a Humvee in Mosul, Iraq, when it crashed Jan. 20, killing him. The Army says the crash was not combat related and is under investigation.
Hurt enjoyed boxing, basketball and weight training. He also was skilled at defusing conflicts, said Mike Henry, who went through basic training with him.
“There would be fights going on, and he would...