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Two Norwalkers expressed the same sentiment Wednesday on Facebook. "Many blessings David," Joe Esposito wrote of a young soldier who died Monday in Afghanistan. " ... I haven't seen you in quite some time, but I will always remember you. You are now amongst the angels watching over the lives of the people whom you have known." Rick Purdy wrote, "God bless you my old friend. ... I haven't seen you in years but you will always be remembered!"
David Richard Fahey, 23, served with the U.S. Army in the military police and was stationed in Kandahar province with only three months to go, according to another Facebook commenter, Cheyenne Davis, also a soldier. But the vehicle Fahey was riding in went over an improvised explosive device Monday, killing him.
The soldiers riding with Fahey were wounded, according to Mayor Richard Moccia, who said he got his information from Gov. Dannel Malloy. Fahey was the only casualty.
Fahey was born in Norwalk, Moccia said. He went to school in the city through sixth grade, according to Ponus Ridge Middle School Principal Linda Sumpter. She wasn't there when Fahey was a student, and neither were most of the staff members.
Moccia thought Fahey went to Massachusetts after seventh grade, staying there until he completed high school. Other accounts have Fahey living in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. Several members of the Facebook group R.I.P. David R. Fahey are from Yorktown Heights.
Fahey enlisted in Springfield, Mass., in 2007. "That's where he was," Moccia said, adding that Fahey finished high school there in 2008.
Fahey's father died recently. His mother is incarcerated. "He overcame obstacles," said Moccia, who was impressed by the accounts of Fahey's humorous spirit.
Fahey is survived by Betty Ettinger, an aunt in Shelton who is originally from Westport; and a grandmother in Norwalk. Other relatives raised him. An aunt and uncle were in Dover, Del., on Wednesday to receive Fahey's body.
Moccia said plans for his burial are not settled yet. If it's in Norwalk, he and other local politicians will attend. If it's at Arlington National Cemetery, a contingent of local veterans will make the trip to pay respects.
Fahey's death left a hole in many local hearts. "I miss him sooo much," Mike Standeiner said on Facebook. "I'm not a Fahey, but I helped raise him in the early years. As he grew from a boy to a man he touched my life in so many ways. He will be missed greatly!"
If you would like to share memories or photographs of David Fahey, email nchapman@mainstreetconnect.us or comment below.
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