Richie Cliff killed in Afghanistan, buried in West Ashley

Note: Latest updates at the bottom.

Mount Pleasant local and Wando High School graduate Richie Cliff was killed this Monday, September 29, in Afghanistan.

The 29-year-old was based out of Fort Bragg, N.C., and had joined the Army in 2002, the year he graduated from Appalachian State University. He leaves behind a wife and 3-week-old son.

Several stories are out there on Cliff's death, but The Post and Courier's is the best.

Cliff is the third South Carolinian to die in the War on Terror in recent weeks; On Sept. 25, Staff Sgt. Ronald Phillips Jr., 33, of Conway, died in Bahbahani, Iraq. On Sept. 21, Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Joseph Taylor, 25, died in Baghdad.

Some 600 U.S. troops have lost their lives in Afghanistan, and nearly 4,200 have died in Iraq.

Update October 2: The Post and Courier has done more reporting on the circumstances of Richie's death.

Update October 9: Richie was buried in West Ashley on Wednesday, October 8. The Post and Courier reports, in part:
At the intersection of Interstates 26 and 526, a lone state trooper stood in silent salute to the motorcade.

Beside Ashley River Road, a woman stood holding a handmade sign that read "Richie Cliff was a hero."

But then, everyone who drove by already knew that.

A sad tale for sure. Go read it.

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