Sister recalls ‘best friend’ brother who died in helo crash - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Sister recalls ‘best friend’ brother who died in helo crash

WOODBRIDGE, N.J. — Kathleen Reinhard wondered why she had not heard from her only sibling, Marine Cpl. Kevin Reinhard, on her birthday.

“The day before my birthday was the first day we were actually able to Skype with him and see his face,” said Kathleen Reinhard, sobbing. “That was on January 17th — the 18th for him because of the time difference. He was supposed to call back the next day to wish me a happy birthday, and now I know why he didn’t.”

It was about midnight Thursday when the Colonia family received the news that Kevin, 25, died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan that day.

“He was my best friend,” said Kathleen, 27. “We were very, very close. He was my confidant. We’re all dealing with this as best as we can. We’ll miss him terribly.”

Kevin Reinhard was among six Marines killed when a helicopter went down in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, defense officials confirmed Saturday. Military authorities said that enemy fire was not suspected as the cause of the crash, which remains under investigation.

Kevin Reinhard, the son of Kathleen and James Reinhard, grew up in Colonia. He attended St. John Vianney School and Colonia Middle School. In 2005, he graduated from St. Joseph High School in Metuchen. He attended Ramapo College during his freshman year, then transferred to Middlesex County College.

But with a strong desire to serve his country, Kevin interrupted his studies, and in spring 2008 enlisted in the Corps.

“He felt he needed to do something more, something better with his life than what he felt he was doing,” his sister said. “He wanted to serve his country, so he left school and enlisted.”

Reading from an obituary prepared by her family, while interjecting some of her own fond memories of her brother, Kathleen said that Kevin Reinhard was a crew chief on a Sikorsky Sea Stallion transport helicopter with the Hawaii-based Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, also known as the “Red Lions.”

“He only had a few short weeks left of his deployment when his helicopter crashed, resulting in his death,” she said. “It was his second deployment and supposed to be his last because he had only one more year left in his enlistment.”

Kevin loved to fly, Katherine said.

“He was always obsessed with flying — even as a kid,” she said. “He also loved his job.”

Kevin was a sports enthusiast and played volleyball at St. Joseph and Ramapo. He also had a great sense of humor, she said.

“Kevin was passionate about his commitment to family and friends,” she said. “He was easy to love and get along with. He was quick to make friends and dedicated to each and every one of them.”

He enjoyed the little things in life — like a good slice of pizza from Joey D’s in Metuchen and working on cars, she said.

He loved spending time at the beach in all kinds of weather and taking long drives to nowhere, she said.

“The two of us loved to drive,” she said. “He liked anything that is fast. One of my fondest memories was when I graduated from high school and I took him with me and we went on a 3,000-mile road trip. We went all over the place — Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. We had a great time. We had separate friends, but we always included each other in everything.”

Kevin’s death has not only come as a shock to his family, but to the community.

“It’s a horrible, horrible tragedy,” Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac said. “He is a true Woodbridge hero.”

McCormac said Kevin always wanted to be in the military. “He wanted to be a Marine,” he said. “We’ve got dozens if not a 100 or more residents that have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, and this is the first fatality for our township. We are very saddened by the news.”

McCormac said Kevin’s mother and aunt, Mary Beth Gerrity, are very involved with the American Legion Post 471’s Blue Star Family Support Group, which offers support to families who have member servings in the military and also sends packages to the troops.

“They have been two of the top volunteers for the Blue Star Support Group,” he said. “They are the best. They have offered comfort to families whose kids go into the service. They are there all the time, and for this to happen to Kathy is just shocking. Our hearts go out to the family.”

Kevin’s death certainly isn’t limited to Woodbridge borders.

“The school is devastated by his loss,” said Larry Walsh, president of St. Joseph High School in Metuchen. “He was a very nice young man — very affable. I remember in his senior year, he talked a lot about joining the military in the future. Apparently, he was living out those aspirations that he had talked about. We are saddened by any loss of an alumni, but to have one so young die during service to their country is a terrible loss.”

Principal John Anderson was assistant principal, dean of students, when Kevin attended St. Joseph.

“I didn’t really have to worry about Kevin disciplinewise, but I knew him from being on the volleyball team,” Anderson said. “He also helped to organize the tailgate parties for the hockey games. He came in and asked if that was OK, and we said that would be fine. He was the kind of person that I could trust. He was somewhat quiet, but he got things done.”

Kevin often talked about joining the military, the principal said.

“This was something he really wanted to do,” Anderson said. “My heart goes out to the entire family. It’s so tragic.”

Funeral arrangements have not yet been confirmed.

In lieu of flowers, a scholarship will be established in his name at St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, his sister said.