 |  |  |  |
RHS graduate Edgerton killed in Afghanistan
A 1995 Riverton High School graduate has been killed in Afghanistan.
Sgt. Donald R. “Rocky” Edgerton was killed in Afghanistan July 10 near Char Dara after sustaining injuries when his unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device.
Edgerton, who turned 33 the day before he was killed, was married with a 12-year-old daughter.
He was assigned to the 1st squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division from Fort Drum, New York.
His family owned Calhoun Carpet in Springfield before they left the area, and they attended St. Aloysius Catholic Church.
Edgerton played football for three years and competed in track for two years; he was also on the Math Team and in the Audio/Visual Aides Club.
“He was a good solid kid,” said RHS principal Bill Lamkey. “He was a real go-getter and a really hard worker.”
Current RHS teacher and coach Jeff Jesberg remembered Edgerton well.
“He was a hard-nosed, top-notch kid on and off the field,” said Jesberg, recalling that Edgerton was one of the football captains his senior year. “I was not surprised when he
enlisted, because he wanted to serve his country and he wanted to make a difference.”
He did not join the military immediately; according to his father Don, as quoted in the SJ-R, the Sept. 11 attacks motivated him.
Both Lamkey and Jesberg remembered his family’s support of the school and the football program.
“They were the type of people you wanted to be around and associate with,” said Jesberg. “He led by example and was a very dedicated, blue-collar kid.”
A 1995 Riverton High School graduate has been killed in Afghanistan.
Sgt. Donald R. “Rocky” Edgerton was killed in Afghanistan July 10 near Char Dara after sustaining injuries when his unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device.
Edgerton, who turned 33 the day before he was killed, was married with a 12-year-old daughter.
He was assigned to the 1st squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division from Fort Drum, New York.
His family owned Calhoun Carpet in Springfield before they left the area, and they attended St. Aloysius Catholic Church.
Edgerton played football for three years and competed in track for two years; he was also on the Math Team and in the Audio/Visual Aides Club.
“He was a good solid kid,” said RHS principal Bill Lamkey. “He was a real go-getter and a really hard worker.”
Current RHS teacher and coach Jeff Jesberg remembered Edgerton well.
“He was a hard-nosed, top-notch kid on and off the field,” said Jesberg, recalling that Edgerton was one of the football captains his senior year. “I was not surprised when he
enlisted, because he wanted to serve his country and he wanted to make a difference.”
He did not join the military immediately; according to his father Don, as quoted in the SJ-R, the Sept. 11 attacks motivated him.
Both Lamkey and Jesberg remembered his family’s support of the school and the football program.
“They were the type of people you wanted to be around and associate with,” said Jesberg. “He led by example and was a very dedicated, blue-collar kid.”
Issue Date: July 15, 2010
