Community mourns BF soldier
Members of the Patriot Guard Riders line up outside Bonners Ferry High School Friday, where a memorial service was held for former resident Joshua Kirk. Kirk, 30, was among eight killed when their military unit came under fire on Oct. 3 in Afghanistan. (Photo by GWEN ALBERS)
BONNERS FERRY — Bernadette Kirk Bonner asked those attending her son’s memorial service Friday to not only remember Joshua, but the seven others in his military unit who were killed in Afghanistan on Oct. 3.
“Few of us will ever now a life so full and a life so guided,” Bonner told the estimated 200 people attending the service at Bonners Ferry High School. “I’m a fortunate woman to have birthed and raised such a man.”
A decorated sergeant, Kirk’s unit came under fire in a remote, mountainous region near the Pakistan border when he was killed. It was the deadliest fighting seen by Fort Carson soldiers since Vietnam and the largest loss of life for the post in single battle in Iraq or Afghanistan.
During Friday’s service, the photos of all eight soldiers killed in the attack were displayed. In front of each was a vase of eight roses — seven black and one white in each. A framed letter from President Barack Obama expressing his sorrow to the family also was on display.
Also the son of the late John Kirk, Josh Kirk left behind his wife, Megan, and 2-year-old daughter, Kensington in addition to his mother and five siblings, of whom three live in Bonners Ferry.
“A lot of people have a brother. I had a great brother,” Josiah Kirk said during the service.
Although 5 years younger, Josiah Kirk said his brother always included him when it came to swimming, running around the woods and going to Lake Pend Oreille.
“Josh joined the military when I was 21. If he died, he wanted it to be in battle,” Josiah Kirk said. “He was in one of the worst fights in Afghanistan.”
Liz Fulton, also of Bonners Ferry, spoke of her old brother as someone she admired.
“Everything he did, he excelled in — martial arts, rock climbing and the military,” Fulton said.
Josh Kirk joined the military in the spring of 2005 and last November, after completing his first tour in Afghanistan, he decided to make the military a career. He re-enlisted in the Army in December 2008 and returned to Afghanistan in May.
“We were scared, but the pictures he sent didn’t paint war,” Fulton said. “I felt Josh would be fine. When I was told he died in combat, my heart fell to the floor. He will be forever loved and honored.”
Bonner, who works at Boundary Trading Co. in Bonners Ferry, showed incredible strength as she spoke about her late son and thanked the community for their calls, cards and encouragement.
“It has lifted our hearts and lessened our sorrow,” she said.
Bonner noted that Josh did not enlist in the military for economic reasons.
“It was about service to others,” she said. “Josh was a warrior. He was battle-hardened. The welfare of his men was paramount to him.”
Born in Thomaston, Maine, Kirk and his family moved to Bonners Ferry in 1983.
Joshua was part of Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
During his four years in the military, he received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, two NATO medals and a Combat Action Badge.
Joshua was buried with full military honors on Oct. 13 in Exeter, N.H., the hometown of his wife.