Community mourns fallen soldier

Family, friends and even some strangers are expected to fill Gerard J. Neufeld Funeral Home in Elmhurst for three nights beginning Friday, October 12 to honor Bayside soldier Chirasak Vidhyarkorn, 32, who died on September 29, in Diwaniyah, Iraq while serving as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Vidhyarkorn’s parents, who live in Thailand, have arrived in New York, but they do not wish to make any public comments until Friday, according to Chirasak’s aunt Saipun Kunatee, who also lives in Bayside.
“They [Chirasak’s parents] are very sad right now because they lost their son,” Kunatee said.
Vidhyarkorn, who was the 22nd soldier from Queens to die in Iraq, was promoted to Sergeant posthumously.
One neighbor, who asked not to be named, said that Vidhyarkorn seemed very close to his Bayside relatives. “He was wonderful, a nice guy,” she said.
Vidhyarkorn was assigned to the Ozark, Arkansas-based Battery C, 2nd Battalion, of the Arkansas Army National Guard’s 142nd Fire Brigade during his deployment to Tallil, Iraq. The Department of Defense said his death was non-combat related and is currently under investigation.
“This soldier was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq,” said Major General William D. Wofford, the adjutant general of Arkansas. “For that in itself we owe a great debt of gratitude. He joined our Arkansas soldiers just prior to the unit’s deployment in February of this year. He became part of a great team and part of our Guard Family.”
Comrades of the fallen soldier from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, 11th Transportation Battalion, Charlie Battery, 2-142nd Field Artillery held a memorial ceremony at the Post Chapel in Tallil, Iraq on Tuesday, October 2. Staff Sergeant Matthew Howard and Sergeant Christopher Tolbert, friends of Vidhyarkorn, both read tributes.
A pamphlet handed out at the service, listed information about Vidhyarkorn’s distinguished military career, during which he received 10 awards including a Bronze Star over a seven-year period.
Vidhyarkorn had originally enlisted in the Army in September 2000 as a 92W Water Purification Specialist. His first deployment to Iraq occurred in January of 2003, and he made a second trip there in July of that year before going on inactive duty beginning in December of 2003.
The Bayside soldier returned to active duty in December of 2006, and he was re-deployed to Iraq in February of this year. Reports said that Vidhyarkorn had plans to return to New York on leave just six days prior to his death.
“Our thoughts, prayers and support go out to his family at home,” Major General Wofford said. “I know my words will in no way fill the void this loss creates. I only pray they find comfort knowing he died in service to his country. He was called to serve, and he answered that call. He was a true patriot and will not be forgotten.”
Services for Vidhyarkorn will take place at the Gerard J. Neufeld Funeral Home, located at 88-04 43rd Avenue in Elmhurst, Friday, October 12 through Sunday October 14 from 6-9 p.m. A final service will take place on Monday.