Army - Fort Mill, SC - November 7, 2003

Staff Sgt. Neff died when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter he was in was shot down by unknown enemy ordnance in Tikrit, Iraq. He was assigned to 5th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The 30 year old was one of 6 soldiers killed in the attack. Staff Sgt. Neff had the option to leave the military three years ago, but chose to stay. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division based in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Neff graduated from Fort Mill High School in South Carolina. His former English teacher Jane Langley says Neff’s death brings the war home. “For it to be our first casualty in York County, in a way it’s like you’ve lost a part of your family.” Neff was divorced and cared for his 9-year-old son. He was planning to re-marry when he returned home to Tennessee.