Oct 16, 2008 5:43 pm US/Eastern
Beverly Loses First Soldier Since Vietnam War
Stephen Fortunato Killed By Roadside Bomb
By Reporter Jim Smith
BEVERLY (WBZ) ―
The town of Beverly is mourning its first loss of a soldier in combat since the Vietnam War.
On Monday, Army Spc. Stephen Fortunato was killed in a roadside bomb. It was his first day back in Afghanistan after a 19-day leave back home in Beverly.
"It's tough. It's very tough," said Fortunato's brother, Joseph. "It's one of those things you don't expect to happen to your family, and then boom and there it is. It's really tough."
Fortunato's close knit family is now struggling with the loss of a husband, a brother, and a son.
"I just know that there's a place for him in heaven because he died a hero," said Fortunato's mother, Elizabeth Crawford.
The 25 year old was acting as a gunner on a Humvee when he died in a roadside bombing.
"He told me the night before he left 'don't be afraid, don't worry. I'm very well-trained. I'll be alright,'" Crawford said. "It's still a shock when they said it. I couldn't believe it. I thought they made a mistake, but when you see two officers at your door it's not good."
Fortunato's two younger brothers, Joseph and Anthony, are devastated.
"My mom – god, I love her so much," Anthony said. "I don't know what to do without my brother, and seeing her like this – it's so tough, so tough on us because three weeks ago I had two brothers. Now I have one."
"My brother texted me that Stephen was dead," Joseph said. "I broke down right there. It was almost too hard to even understand at that point. I thought he was joking so I was like what? He was like 'yeah, Steve died in an explosion.' I just broke down right there."
Fortunato's mom must now live with only the memories, including a bittersweet keepsake -- a Mother's Day card from her son with an audio message she will always treasure: "Hey Mom, Happy Mother's Day. I love you and I'll see you soon."
"It's so tough. We all miss him, and I hope he knows that."
Fortunato is the first Beverly soldier killed in action since the Vietnam War. His family says funeral arrangements are incomplete. They're waiting for his remains to be brought back from Afghanistan in Beverly.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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