Ricky Salas Obituary

Hi, wow, I know this is really late- I´m not even sure why Ricky crossed my mind this evening, just had a very random memory of seeing a cardboard stand dedicated to men & women who served and I remember seeing his name and face on it and I was in shock. Here we are almost 20 years later and I´m googling his name on my phone looking for what? I´m not sure. My mind is running stray.

I will say this and be done soon enough; he was taken too soon.

We were friends in middle school in Graham, Tx. Funny story- I remember we met at the movies one day and he smelled of fish so I ask him why he stunk & he said shamelessly, he´d just been fishing before the movie. I couldn´t breathe, but I laughed.

He was a kind, happy, thoughtful, sweet soul. I´m so happy to see that in his short years he was able to find and fall in love, marry, and blessed with children.

Rest easy Ricky, you were one of the good ones. Till we all meet again, Mari

Thank you so much Peggy! May God be with you and bless you

To the family and friends of Pfc. Ricky Salas:
It has truly been my honor to sign Ricky's guest book these past few years. Unfortunately, due to complications from my Multiple Sclerosis, this may be the last message I'm able to write. Please forgive me and know that Ricky will always be remembered in my home.
With love and respect ~ Peggy

March 7, 2012
To the family and friends of Pfc. Ricky Salas:
Always remembering Ricky. "Some gave all."

Thank you so much Nelda. His birthday is nearing very soon. The pain open yet a little more as I see that day come and go. As I think of the day tears flow from my eyes. Wishing to see his handsome face or hear his beautiful voice or smeel his cologne at least one more time. God please help heal a broken heart.

Thinking of you as we all think of each other when we lose a SON/DAUG as we have too. No words are necessary, I as a Mom know how you feel and you know how I feel as a Mother Of a Fall Hero too. We are bonded. GOD Bless.
Nelda Galvan

To the family of PFC. Ricky Salas:
Please know that just as your loved one remains in your hearts and minds; his sacrifice, and that of your family, remains with the people he died defending. Words cannot express the gratitude we feel for his bravery and selflessness, or the heartache we feel for your loss. God bless and keep you always.

To the family and friends of Pfc. Ricky Salas:
Please accept my remembrance of Ricky on the anniversary of his passing and know that he will never be forgotten.
Peggy Childers
www.IraqWarHeroes.org

TO THE FAMILY OF RICKY, FROM HIS ROOM MATE IN BASIC, I KNOW I HAVENT SIGND THIS YET, BELIEVE ME I HAVE LOOKD AT IT QUITE A BIT, I JUST DIDNT KNOW WHAT TO SAY, SO HERE GOES, I AM ONE THE PEOPLE WHO HAD THE HONOR OF KNOWING HIM, HE WAS FUNNY, HE WAS KIND, AND HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND TO ME, BY THE WAY THIS IS FORMER PVT READ, I DONT KNOW WHY IT HAD TO HAPPEN, AND I WISH IT DIDNT, BUT WHATEVER THE REASON HE IS NOW GAURDING THE GATES OF HEAVEN AND I AM SO PROUD OF HIM, THE TIME I SPENT WITH HIM WAS MEMORABLE TO SAY THE LEAST LOL THE LAUGHS, THE HARD TIMES ALL OF IT ARE WHAT MADE HIM WHAT HE WAS, R.I.P BATTLE, AND YOUR MISSION IS COMPLETE, HOOOOOOOOOA.

Here in DC honoring you and all the great memories of you. Ilove you so much and miss you very much. You are my oldest son my friend and my hero!!!! Love ya Ric, Mom

missing my little brother every day but i hold him close in my heart always and for ever,

To the family and friends of Pfc. Ricky Salas:
Remembering Ricky on the anniversary of his passing. May our fallen heroes never be forgotten!
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org

HARD TO BELIEVE ANOTHER YEAR HAS PASSED, BUT YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART AND THOUGHTS ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES AND SCARAFICES TO KEEP US SAFE. FOR THAT I SAY THANK YOU CHON.. IT IS SO HARD FOR YOUR MOM, I WISH I WAS CLOSER SO I COULD BE THERE FOR HER,WE ALL LOVE AND MISS YOU SO MUCH!!!!LOVE TIA JAVONA

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHON, YOU ARE DEEPLY MISSED AND NEVER FORGOTTEN. I TALK TO YOUR MOM ALMOST EVERY DAY AND NIGHT, I WILL ALWAYS BE HERE FOR HER AND THE FAMILY,BUT KEEP GUIDING YOUR MOM, YOU ARE HER GUARDIAN ANGEL... LOVE TIA JAVONA

”Honor and Remember” - “Project Compassion” We love our Soldiers! We love our country and we cannot express enough love and compassion to the families of our fallen heroes. War does not discriminate – It breaks our hearts to see the faces of the fallen. We want to give this gift to you. We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization! Over 1,450 portraits have been completed and shipped to the parents and or spouse - at no cost as this is a gift from one American to another!
Contact us directly at [email protected] or go to www.heropaintings.com . If you have already had a portrait completed, we pray that you are enjoying the portrait and God Bless You.
Sincerely and Respectfully,
Kenna

It seems like the pain will never go away. My heart will never heal.Another year has come and gone but in my heart you will live forever because I love you so that I cant let go.I know God has you in his keeping and I will hold you in my heart. A wonderful heart stopped beating and a beautiful smile was laid to rest God broke my heart to prove to me he he only takes the BEST. I love you son!!!! Mom

To the family of Pfc. Ricky Salas:
Ricky gave the ultimate sacrifice and will be held in the hearts of Americans forever. I cannot and will not let our fallen heroes be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to you. "Some gave all."
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org

STILL IN MY HEART AND THOUGHTS ALL THE TIME CHON. DON'T WORRY I KEEP UP WITH UR MOM WHO MISSES YOU DEARLY ..LOVE TIA JAVONA

Though its been over a year brother i still remember our days together. I remember how we played horseshoes the day before outside the house. I wished everyday afterwards that it was all a bad dream and i'd wake up and see you back in the cot across from me. You will forever be in my thoughts and we don't forget our brothers who we've lost. Much love Rick miss you brother.

Dear Ricky,
Rest easy our brother, we will watch over them for you. It will be an honor to do so. Go with God.
Pat and Carole
Roswell NM

On this Memorial Day you are remembered and respected. Thank you Pfc Salas!

chon, time may go by, but you are always in my thoughts and prayers. i am so proud of you. love tia javona

Our continued thoughts and prayers out to the SALAS family.Knowing now what they have always known is one of many reasons that our HERO[S] shall NEVER be forgotten.Rest well brother as prommissed and in your honor that star spangled banner shall FOREVER wave.Your name stamped in steel is FOREVER clutched in the tallons,as your spirit FOREVER saors hogh in the skies in the symbol of our great nation....THANK..YOU......HO..YAAH.......B.V.C.

I was on the MTT team
stationed at Ft Tal Afar with
Ricky. He smiled a lot and
was always in good spirits.
He used to stop by and get
model cars to build in his
down time. We cooked BBQ
chicken and ribs a few hours
before he went on patrol. He
was a good man. I didn't
know him very well but I
think of him often.

SSG Shane Fletcher
311 Military Transition Team
Ft. Tal Afar, Iraq
Aug '05 - July '06

JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW CHON, YOU MAY BE GONE FROM EARTH BUT ALWAYS IN MY HEART, HAPPY BIRTHDAY HIJO...LOVE TIA JAVONA

There is nothing that I can say or do to take away the pain or bring you peace in your time of sorrow, but I will offer you and your family my heart felt condolences. I also offer you my prayers that in time the pain will easy and the memories of your HERO will carry you through each day and night. I want to thank your HERO, for his/her selfless act of becoming a member of the armed forces, his/her willingness to defend the United States of America, all that we hold sacred and for the sacrifice that will forever be etched in the memories of all those who knew him/her. Though tears can never bring him/her back, we hope that our tears express our gratitude for the sacrifice that he/she made and our sorrow at his/her passing. I believe for every fallen HERO there is a star shining brightly up above to remind us of the precious gift we were given.

Your mission on earth is complete and you are now a member of GOD’s Heavenly armed forces. Stand down brave warrior and take your rightful place in Heaven with all the HEROES who have passed before.

I made a special promise to LE RON A. WILSON, a dear family friend who joined the Army with three other friends, one of whom is my son (Le Ron was killed in action on 07/06/07 at the age of 18) on the day he was laid to rest as I touched his coffin, that I would never forget him nor would I forget those that gave their lives for our country before him, with him and after him and so when I came across www.legacy.com, I thought what a great way to keep my promise to Le Ron, so I will continue to leave tributes in each guest book until the day there is no longer the need to leave these tributes to a FALLEN HERO.

REST IN PEACE, HERO, YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!!

PROUD MOTHER OF A U.S. SOLDIER
Currently stationed in Germany
Althea Barrett(Queens, NY)

Thank you for the sacrifice made by Pfc Salas and the sacrifice made by everyone who loves and misses him! May God bless all of you!!

I AM RICKY'S AUNT JAVONA RODRIGUEZ,I LEFT TEXAS BEFORE HIS WAS ALL GROWN UP,BUT I AM VERY PROUD OF HIM AND ALL SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN..I ALWAYS CALLED HIM CHON,MUCH LOVE TO YOUR FAMILY..TIA JAVONA

To everyone who has seen this guest book, I would like to thank you for the prayers. I was Ric's wife and mother of his 2 beautiful children. Not a day goes by that I don't think about my husband. Jordan and Jarrod miss their DADDY so much. The 3 of us pray for him every night and let him know we miss and love him greatly. OUR HERO!!! You were and are our rock. No more phone calls or letter, will our lives ever be the same? We miss you so much daddy and know we will see you again, but until then keep saying the same prayer we always said to the kids before bed. Love you and miss you with all our hearts DADDY!!! Always and Forever!

Please know how Deeply Sorry I was to learn of the loss of Pfc. Ricky Salas, one year ago.

The price this Brave Young Soldier and his family have paid for this country and for freedom, Will Never Be Forgotten.
May Ricky rest safely in the Loving Care of God and may the Grace and Comfort of the Lord continue to be with the Salas family.
There will Never be Enough Ways to Humbly Thank these Heroes for their Supreme Sacrifice, my brother among them. KIA~Vietnam, 1967.

"Cast thy burden upon the Lord,
and He shall sustain thee."
~ Psalm 55:22 ~

May the Peace of God and your memories of Ricky, remain in your heart always.
May this give you comfort and strength through the difficult days.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.

We have almost reached the one year mark for Ricky now. The pain hasnt gotten any different. It is still unbearable to me. I think of him daily and the things he would say and do as he was growing up. He was an inspiration and a joy. He was a totally awesome son. thanks to everyone for the moral support and the prayers that have helped us get through this time. Brenda

I'm sorry you had to die so young but I know you were fighting for OUR freedom. You are very brave and thanks for what you have did. I have a brother over there right now and he is so scared, this is his 3rd round there. Would you please look over him for me? Thank you. Good luck to your family....They should be very proud of you...

Dear Salas family,
Though I did not know your brave hero, I wanted to tell you thank you. Your wonderful soldier gave his life for his country, for us all, and his sacrifice is beyond words. Tears fall for him. I cannot tell you how my heart hurts as I look at his face, he was so young. As an Army wife myself, I have been lucky because my husband came home alive this time. Your family raised a hero who gave his all for those around him. He will be remembered for this, always. Thank you. Thank you for him. I wish I had words to make your loss better, but I don't. I can only tell you that he is a true hero and I am so sorry for your loss. Bless your heart. He is your Angel now. He will be remembered as the hero he is.

Ricky you were a kind soul, You made us all smile and you were just so sweet and happy... My prayers go out to your family. You will be missed...

Times goes by and we all have to live life to the fullest I read the article in the USA Today. It brought me back to memories of my sister in law that was killed in Irag back 2003 in March Lori Piestewa..God Bless Your Family and May the lord always be with you..

FROM: DESTINY 7 years old.
MY UNCLE RICKY WAS A GOOD UNCLE AND A GREAT HERO. YOU WILL ALL WAYS BE IN MY HEART. LOVE YOU UNCLE RICK.

PFC RICKY SALAS is and will all ways be a great little brother. little bro I LOVE ALL WAYS AND FOR MY LITTLE BROTHER YOU WILL BE.Your all ways in my heart. A GREAT HERO HE WILL ALWAYS BE.THANKS

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS. I HAVE JUST LEARNED OF YOUR GREAT LOSS. PLEASE HOLD TIGHT TO YOUR TREASURED MEMORIES THAT HIS SPECIAL SMILE MAY CONTINUE TO SHINE. FOR THE LITTLE ONES, DADDY WAS A HERO THAT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. MAY PEACE FIND YOU ALL IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME. GODSPEED SEMPER FI

Ricky was one of the best soldiers that I have had the honor of training. I was his Drill Sergeant at Fort Knox. He was a true leader, father and soldier. I think of him everyday and miss him very much. My prayers go out to his wife, kids and family. I will never forget him.

I am Ricky's aunt it is still so hard for us to believe he is gone. We really miss him and want to thank everyone for their support and prayers. We just need to keep praying for the ones that are still over there. My husband is in Bagdad and my son will be deployed in September.Thanks again Rhonda

To all who it may affect, I was a soldier in C. Co 2/37 AR during our first deployment to Iraq and I met Ricky when he arrived to our company. He was an awesome guy and we clicked right off of the bat because we were both golfer's. We spent hours talking of home and golf and I am so sorry for his loss. He was a warrior and a true gentleman. I am currently an ROTC cadet at the University of Connecticut and will be back on active duty in less then 2 years. God bless his soul and to his wife and 2 beautiful children, let me tell you how much he loved you and how highly he spoke of you while we were in Germany together. God bless and stay strong. He is a true hero!!

I'm sorry for the loss of your son. he was a good man. ricky was moved to 3rd platoon from 2nd platoon since 3rd platoon was short on people. We were in the process of building our friendship and then it came to an abrupt end. Ricky was the driver or the humvee and i was the gunner. i don't remember much of anything. i'l miss ricky a lot and i hope everybody in your family is doing good.

Thank you to each of you for your notes they are so helpful to help us make it day-by-day. I am Ric's mom and it has been so very hard. Thanks again. [email protected]

My heart breaks as yet another service member has lost their life while serving their country.



I pray for Ricky & his family during this difficult time.



Please pray for all our troops and that they may return home soon.

My heartfelt sympathy to the Salas family in the loss of Ricky. I did not know Ricky, but my heart is broken and I am saddened for your loss of such a fine young person and hero. May God bring you peace in your heart as you reflect on all the wonderful memories you hold so close. Please know that you are in my heart and prayers. You are a hero and you will never be forgotten.

I send each of you a hug from the most inner part of my heart.

Love and Peace

Tom



To live in the hearts

of those you leave behind

is never to die"

~Robert Orr~

Psalm 23



1

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

3

He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.



This is a verse that I have found to be comforting to me during my husbands death. Remember that when it seems that no one else is round, God is still there with you! And he will be your rock! And that we now know our "Guardian Angel" personally!



My daughter,McKaLyne, and I send our heartfelt sympathy for your loss! God Bless this warrior, God Bless those whom serve freedom's cause! They are our true HERO's!!!!



If you need anything, please feel free to contact me!!!



Wife & Daughter of the Late

Sgt. Audrey Daron Lunsford

KIA May 23, 2005

To the family of PFC Salas, I have alot of respect for your son. I know this is hard for you all and I will be praying for you. I have a 22 year old brother in Afghanistan who is also a PFC in the US Army. May God be with you and all of our Americian Soldiers.

To the Family of Pfc. Ricky Salas:

My heart breaks again as I sign yet another guest book of another courgeous young man who gave his life so selflessly. We lost our son 12/1/05.

I know first hand there are no words right now that will bring you the comfort and peace you need. Just know that you are not alone. My heart, thoughts, and prayers are with you all as you mourn this loss. We don't know each other, will probably never meet, but will forever be united in the loss of our Heroes. We have, unfortunately joined a group, an ever-growing group of families in this situation. May God grant you peace and strength to get through this and be able once again to smile at a memory rather than have only the tears that flow so easily now. To be so proud of your loved one and so saddened at the same time is a mix of emotions very difficult to deal with. They will never be forgotten, never able to be replaced, but sometime, someday your memories will sustain you. This courageous soldier will forever now be your Angel watching over you all for the rest of your lives. It's what brings me peace and comfort and I hope it will you as well. If you ever want to talk, I'm only an e:mail away. God Bless this courageous soldier and his family.

Pam Adams (SFC Brent Adams, KIA 12/1/05 Ramadi, Iraq)

[email protected]

(Millersville, PA )

To the family of Pfc. Ricky Salas--I would like to express my condolences to your family. It deeply saddens me to think that another soldier has lost his life. God give you the courage and strength and grace to get you through the most difficult of times. Your soldier is a hero in my eyes and to America. Thank you Pfc Ricky Salas for your ultimate sacrifice. Rest in Peace.

A Proud 172nd Stryker Mom

Dianne Werner