Zachary C. Reiff

A LIFE REMEMBERED

We speak the name.

Marine Cpl. Zachary C. Reiff died Nov. 21 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered Nov. 18 while conducting combat operations. Friends, superiors recall slain Marine By Daniel P. Finney The Des Moines (Iowa) Register A Marine from Preston, Iowa, died Nov. 21 at a hospital in Germany from injuries suffered three days earlier in Afghanistan. An improvised explosive device blew up and mortally wounded Zackery C. Reiff, 21, who was on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan. Reiff&rsquos brother, Kolby Reiff, told Preston school officials his brother died Nov. 21, said Dave Miller, Preston High School principal. Their parents, Marcia and Matt Reiff, flew to Germany on Nov. 19 to be by their son&rsquos side. Zackery Reiff graduated from Preston High School in 2007 where he played football, wrestled and ran track. &ldquoHe was a well-built young man who kept himself in good condition,&rdquo said Miller, the longtime high school principal who coached Reiff&rsquos father in football decades before. &ldquoHe was a good person who did his own thing and never caused anybody trouble.&rdquo Reiff, whose mother works as a teacher&rsquos aide for the school district, returned to Preston in September and spoke to several classes about his experiences as a Marine. &ldquoHe was proud to serve his country,&rdquo Miller said. Soon after word of Reiff&rsquos injuries became public, friends created a &ldquoPrayer Page for Zach Reiff &lsquoA True Hero&rsquo &rdquo on Facebook. More than 1,000 comments filled the page, beginning as prayers for his recovery and ending with sorrowful tributes to the fallen Marine and friend. Posters recalled Reiff kept in touch with friends in Preston, a Jackson County city of about 1,000 in northeast Iowa, by Skype. Rachel Mahoney recalled a night she and others performed a silly dance for Reiff via Skype. &ldquoI remember you told me it was cute when it really wasn&rsquot,&rdquo Mahoney wrote. &ldquoYou always knew how to put a smile on my face and knew all the right things to say. You were always worried about hurting me if you never came back and you were right, it does hurt.&rdquo Friend Tara Jaci Sue Cook recalled a pair of Preston track sweat pants Reiff loaned her and how she would never be able to return them. &ldquoI wish there was a way you could see how loved you are, but apart of me knows you already know,&rdquo she wrote. &ldquoIt&rsquos times like these that make me remember to always leave someone you love and care about with loving words. You never know when it will be your last good bye.&rdquo Maloney wrote one of Reiff&rsquos favorite songs was by the band Rise Against, a ballad called &ldquoHero of War,&rdquo which contains the lyrics: &ldquoI&rsquoll carry this flag to the grave if I must. Because it&rsquos a flag that I love and a flag that I trust.&rdquo