What a Tragedy

By KATIE AHERNkahern@citizen.com
Article Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Courtesy Photo/NH National Guard ARMY NATIONAL GUARD Cpl. Scott Dimond died as a result of combat injuries suffered Monday while on patrol in Afghanistan.
A National Guardsman from Franklin who served on the city's Police Department for 18 years has died in combat in Afghanistan.The New Hampshire National Guard on Tuesday said Cpl. Scott Dimond, 39, of Franklin, was killed in action on Monday. He served as an officer with the Franklin Police Department from 1988 until 2006 when he joined the New Hampshire National Guard full-time.Dimond died as a result of injuries sustained from an improvised explosive devise. He was traveling in a military convoy that came under enemy attack on Monday at 6:40 p.m. (Afghan time) in the vicinity of Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Friends described Dimond as a caring individual who was very active in his community as well as in the Police Department. Mayor Ken Merrifield remembered Dimond's volunteer efforts during election time. Merrifield said he was always at the polling station helping out."He was a great and very likable guy," Merrifield said.Franklin Police Chief Rodney Forey said the department is devastated."He was very well-liked both in the community and the department," he said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family."Fellow officer Joseph McCormack was very close to Dimond."He lived for the Franklin Police Department," McCormack said. He referred to the officers within the department as "a family." He mentioned how Dimond was always there for his friends, whether in a professional or personal way, and said "he'd give you the shirt off his back."Dimond had many friends in the community, "He will be missed greatly," said McCormack."He was a great guy, he worked very hard ... He will be missed," said Doug Boyd, former Franklin police chief. Boyd, who hired Dimond and eventually promoted him to sergeant, admired the officer's work ethic and said he really cared about his job.Dimond, a soldier with C Company, 3rd of the 172nd Mountain Infantry Regiment, was deployed in January as part of an N.H. Army Guard embedded tactical training team. They have been working as mentors to the Afghan National Army and country's police force. Dimond joined the N.H. Army Guard in 2006. Before deploying to Afghanistan, he also served as a member of the Guard Honors Team.Gordon King, who for many years covered Franklin for The Citizen, knew Dimond well and worked with him on many occasions and was very saddened to hear the news of his passing."He was one of the best police officers I ever worked with," King said, adding that he admired Dimond because he was serious but also had a sense of humor.Dimond is survived by his wife, Jen, and four children, two of whom are from a previous marriage. His family was unavailable for comment Tuesday evening.Kathy Fuller works with Jen Dimond at the Franklin Regional Hospital and has known Scott since he was a student at the high school."He was warm, outgoing and a great dad," Fuller said. She also recalled how he was very involved in the community. She said that he was always involved in sports. He played football in high school and served as the Pop Warner football coach for a time right out of school. Even as an adult, Fuller said Dimond was serious about keeping fit and lifted weights regularly.Fuller said that Jen has great support from the community in her time of loss. She said the family was "just a part of the community." She knows that a lot of people are reaching out to Jen including those from the church she is involved in. "She's a strong person, she'll get through this," Fuller said.Fuller believed this is the first Franklin resident to be killed in the current conflicts in the Middle East. Franklin Fire Chief Scott Clarenbach says this really hits home for residents. "It's a cruel reminder for Franklin of what we're in for," he said.Gov. John Lynch issued a statement saying, "My thoughts and prayers, and those of my wife Susan, are with the family of Cpl. Scott Dimond. ... Cpl. Dimond served his state and his nation with dignity, courage and honor. He was a hero who sacrificed protecting all of us. On behalf of the citizens of New Hampshire, our deepest sympathies go out to the entire Dimond family.""I am deeply saddened by the passing of Cpl. Dimond," Congressman Paul Hodes said in a written statement. "He served his country with honor and made the ultimate sacrifice defending our nation. My thoughts are with Cpl. Dimond's family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.""Our thoughts and prayers are with Scott's family during this time of deep sadness," said Maj. Gen. Kenneth Clark, the Adjutant General of the N.H. National Guard. "May they take some comfort in knowing that Scott was committed to serving others, both as a former police officer for the town of Franklin and a citizen-soldier. His sacrifice for our freedom will never be forgotten."Merrifield ordered flags lowered to half-staff at all city and school buildings immediately. He urged Franklin residents and businesses to lower their flags as well."As a law enforcement professional and as a soldier, Scott always made himself a shield between the people he served and any danger," Merrifield said. "Scott was a credit to the Franklin Police Department and to his country. His sacrifice will not be forgotten in the City of Franklin."

(I babysat his two oldest children for 5 years when I had my daycare. I can't even imagine how they are going to deal with this, I feel so bad for them. )