Fallen Heroes of Operation Enduring Freedom

"I miss you bro......"

"Richard,
i miss you so very much. you were the greatest friend in the world. I still cry when i hear that old song on the radio, "right here waiting for you" still remember you calling me in the evenings when we were in high school, playing your guitar and singing it for me. that is a special memory i always have and always will carry with me. it has even somehow shaped me. i am very grateful for your sacrifice to this country and your family and pray every day that they may have peace knowing youre with the lord and we will all see you again. i think about you often and i bet those boys of yours are beautiful! continuous prayers and youre always in my heart."
melissa saavedra of raymore missouri

"Richard was a dear friend and it was the highest honor to be a pallbearer at his funeral. I still think about him all of the time. It's unbelievable how it will be five years since he passed away less than three months from now. I still keep in touch with many of my good friends from Broadview (Shawn, Tony, Tim, Anna, Amanda) and we talk about Richard all of the time. He is not forgotten, and is still loved by all.

(November 16, 2009)"
Steven Bellah of Raymore, Mo

"My name is Madison, I'm Richard's sister. I just wanted to thank everyone for their love and support for our family. Richard was the best brother anyone could ever dream of. He was also the most amazing son, father and husband. Richard has always been my hero being my big brother and all, but now he's not only my hero, but now he's a hero to many. I will miss him forever, there will always be a piece of me missing. I'm glad to know that someone who changed so many lives for the better and helped so many people, is MY brother, and now he's in heaven with God looking out for all of us. Anyone who got to know Rich is a very lucky person. Thank you again to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. If anyone who served with Rich has any information about anything at all please, please contact me. I have many unanswered questions. 816-616-4077 Thanks again! With love, Maddi (kiddo)"
Madison (kiddo) of Raymore, Mo

"Richard, honey, I need you"
your wife

"We send our condolences to the Family of Sp/4 Crane. Our family is a close one sharing the traits of brotherhood and honor, whether in battle or in just training. When one comrade falls, we all feel his loss. He was one of our own that gave his life so that we can have the freedoms we treasure so dearly that he gave his blood for them. We pray that God shall take care of his soul until we all meet again. I shall keep your family in our prayers. If we may be of help, please don't hesitate to let the unit know. We are always here to assist. We salute his memory."
Family of Patrick and Cathryn O'Dell,BSB,LPN, former member of 325th Field Hospital of Manchester, NH. USA

"Dear Family of Richard Crane:
To honor the Mo/Ks soldiers who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families,the professional portrait artists of the Grateful Hearts Project are offering to paint a portrait of the individual soldier for his family.

these 16'x20" original portraits are being offered completely free of charge in recognition of the sacrificies made by these brave soldiers and in condolence for their families loss.
Please email us at gratefulheartsproj@sbcglobal.net for more information.
Sincerely;
The artists of Grateful Hearts"
J. Gragg of Lee's Summit,Mo.

"November 11, 2007
To the family of Spc. Richard M. Crane:
Richard gave the ultimate sacrifice and will be held in the hearts of Americans forever. I cannot and will not let our fallen heroes be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to you. "Some gave all."
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org"
Peggy Childers of Carson City, NV

"I miss him so much. When does it get easier??"
Mrs. Richard Crane of Peculiar Mo

"If you are able,
save them a place
inside of you
and save one backward glance
when you are leaving
for the places they can
no longer go.
Be not ashamed to say
you loved them,
though you may
or may not have always.
Take what they have left
and what they have taught you
with their dying
and keep it with your own.
And in that time
when men decide and feel safe
to call the war insane,
take one moment to embrace
those gentle heroes
you left behind.
Major Michael Davis O'Donnell
1 January 1970
Dak To, Vietnam"
A Fellow Veteran of Florida

"My prayers are with you. My son just left for Boot Camp at Fort Benning this week. I can't imagine your loss. May God give you the daily strength. May you have God's blessed assurance that we will meet our loved ones again."
Kyle Jurries of Hamilton MI/USA

"Richard,
I would like to say thank you for your service and sacrific for our Country. And to your family, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to your family."
Mike Casey of El Paso, Texas

"To the family of:Richard M Crane I am so sorry for the loss of your love one. My heart cries out for you in your grief and you have my thoughts and prayers. He died a hero defending freedom. May you have the peace and understanding that only comes from God. Prayerfully we will all meet in Heaven one day where we will rest in the arms of Jesus. If you need prayer or need someone to talk to, please call or write my pastor: Rev. John Pearrell 11677 Brown Bridge Rd., Covington, GA 30016. (770)787-1015. Your friend in Jesus Christ, Polly Ballew Covington,Ga"

"To the Family and Friends of Richard Crane,

I too had the honor of serving with Richard in Qandahar. I will always remember his wonderful talent on the guitar, I will always remember trading cryptography code back and forth, I will always remember our mutual love of novels and literature. May he Rest In Peace."
SGT. Bruce, USA, 325 BSB, 25th ID(L) of Hawaii, USA

"To the Crane family,
I served with your son in Kandahar and you should be very proud of him. We worked very long hours mending the injured when possible and consoling those to sick to save. He loved his country but his family much more. It was an honor serving with him."
Jose Acosta CAPT, MC, USNR of San Diego, California

"To the family and friends,

Our prayers are with you in this most difficult time and we thank you for your loved ones bravery and sacrifice. May God strengthen you from knowing that fellow Americans and people around the world care about you and grieve with you in your loss. Your loved one is a hero. Greater love have no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13.

God bless you.

Home Front Ministries
Shepherd of the Hills Church
Porter Ranch, CA""

"To Richard's Family and Friends:

On behalf of the Blanco-Caldas family, we send our sincerest condolences. We share the same loss ... the same pain. Our son returned safely from Afghanistan, only to lose his life in Iraq. Our prayers are with you in this most difficult time and we thank you for your soldier's bravery and sacrifice. He is truly a Hero, now guarding the Gates of Heaven!

Sincerely,

The Family of Capt. Ernesto M. Blanco-Caldas, 82nd Airborne
KIA Iraq 12/28/2003.
Gloria Caldas (The Big Ern's Mom) of San Antonio, TX
gcaldas48@aol.com"

"to every one who has left a message on here thank you. my name is liana crane. i am richards wife. he was a sweet man. he had a passion for life tha you dont find every day. he is and always will be my hero..
richard i love you and i will see you later"
liana of raymore mo

"To the family of Richard, we are so sorry for your loss. The pain is deep and hurts so much. Take courage in that this young man was there to defend our freedom. "The cost of freedom remains high, but the loss of freedom is higher" We lost our grandson in Naray, Afghanistan, 6/24/04. LCpl Juston Thacker 21 believed in freedom for all. These young men will live forever in the hall of heroes. God Bless you and yours."
Tom and Dixie Sisk of Princeton,WV

"To Richard's Family and Friends:

On behalf of the Blanco-Caldas family, we send our sincerest condolences. We share the same loss ... the same pain. Our son returned safely from Afghanistan, only to lose his life in Iraq. Our prayers are with you in this most difficult time and we thank you for your soldier's bravery and sacrifice.

Sincerely,

Gloria Caldas
Proud Mother of Fallen Hero
Capt. Ernesto "Big Ern" Blanco-Caldas
82nd Airborne, KIA Iraq 12/28/2003
San Antonio, TX
gcaldas48@aol.com"

"We Will NEVER FORGET !"
Please KNOW so many people share your sadness, and we are remembering your family in your loss and your deep grief. Your HERO, Richard , will be remembered by name. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. God Bless you ALWAYS. Pat & Sandi Breckenridge from Montana "

"To the family and friends of Spc. Richard Crane:
He was a fellow soldier and he will be missed. I will always remember how he was one of the quietest guys around, but when something needed to get done, he was the first to stand up and help. I'm honored to have known him and served with him."
SSG Bill Grieshaber of Independence, MO

"To the family of Richard, I am sorry to hear about your loss. Richard was a very sweet, kind, and funny. He was a good friend to have around. I will remember the fun times we had when we were in High School together at Ray-Pec. He will always be remembered."
Tanya of Platte City, Mo

"Thank you Richard Crane, you will not be forgotten. Your bravery goes beyond words. I want to express my deepest gratitude for your sacrifice. To the family and friends, my prayers and deep condolences in your loss. May God strengthen you from knowing that fellow Americans and people around the world care about you and grieve with you in your loss. God bless you all. A very appreciative fellow American,"
Leo Titus of Grayslake, Illinios

"To the family and friends of Spc. Richard Crane:
May God's grace be with you during your time of grief. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and we feel your loss and share in your sorrow. Bless Richard for the sacrifice he has made to make a better life for the rest of us."
The Ford Family of Wells, Nevada

"To the family and friends of Spc. Richard Crane:
I am saddened by the loss of your loved one. He will always be remembered as a hero for fighting for freedom. I hope that this website will be a source of comfort and encouragement for you during this difficult time, and in the future as you recall the memories of Richard, who continues to live on in your heart."
Tim Rivera of Powder Springs, Georgia